Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Durham Sports Commission

EIN 81-4953773 · Durham, NC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE DURHAM SPORTS COMMISSION'S MISSION IS TO CREATE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT BY LEADING THE COMMUNITY'S EFFORTS TO ATTRACT, SUPPORT, AND PROMOTE YOUTH, AMATEUR, COLLEGIATE, AND PROFESSIONAL SPORTING AND RECREATIONAL EVENTS.

Income
$491,316
Spending
$452,050
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
10.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 82%
Employees
0
Volunteers
63

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 98% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $121,415 spent. BID EVENTS: IN 2024-2025, THE DURHAM SPORTS COMMISSION DID NOT SUBMIT ANY NEW BIDS FOR EVENTS. THE DSC HOSTED THE NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FROM 2021-2024, WITH THE 2024 EVENT GENERATING $411,913 IN ECONOMIC IMPACT. THE DSC ALSO HOSTED THE ACC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, WHICH GENERATED $8,717,472 IN ECONOMIC IMPACT.
  2. $86,307 spent. OWNED EVENTS: 2024 MARKED THE FOURTH ANNUAL CHAMPION DURHAM CLASSIC, HOSTED AT HILLSIDE HIGH SCHOOL. THE TOURNAMENT HAD SEVEN GIRLS TEAMS AND FIVE GUYS TEAMS COMPETING, WITH 647 SPECTATORS IN ATTENDANCE. IN APRIL 2025, THE DSC ALSO HOSTED THE THIRD ANNUAL EMERGING WOMEN IN SPORTS LEADERSHIP SUMMIT, COLLABORATING WITH WOMEN LEADERS IN SPORTS. HOSTED AT THE DURHAM CONVENTION CENTER, THE EVENT HAD 207 REGISTERED ATTENDEES AND 30 SPEAKERS WITH 33 EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND 56 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED.
  3. $166,325 spent. GRANTS: IN 2024-2025, THE DSC GAVE 24 GRANTS AND SUPPORTED A TOTAL OF 48 EVENTS. THESE INCLUDE LARGE ECONOMIC IMPACT EVENTS LIKE THE RUSSELL BLUNT EAST COAST INVITATIONAL. IN ADDITION, THE DSC GAVE OUT $2,000 IN ONE TEAM, ONE DURHAM FUND GRANTS, PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN YOUTH SPORTS TO 10 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS TWO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
  4. $42,863 spent. ALL OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2018.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.