Our West Bayfront
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF OUR WEST BAYFRONT (OWB) IS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE WEST BAYFRONT NEIGHBORHOODS BY PROMOTING CIVIC INVOLVEMENT, THOUGHTFUL DEVELOPMENT, HISTORICAL PRESERVATION, AND NEIGHBORHOOD PRIDE.
- Income
- $550,259
- Spending
- $611,096
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 4.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 59%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 185
- Highest pay
- $85,000, executive director
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
Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 28% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 40% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (3)
- $152,327 spent. REPAIR ASSISTANCE TO PROPERTY OWNERS:OWB WORKS CLOSELY WITH PROPERTY OWNERS IN A TARGETED, BLOCK BY BLOCK APPROACH TO STRENGTHENING THE NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN THE WEST BAYFRONT. OWB PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO PROPERTY OWNERS, TO HELP THEM MAKE REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXTERIOR OF THEIR BUILDINGS, STRENGTHENING THE TAX BASE, STABILIZING THE MARKET, AND INCREASING PRIDE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. TYPICAL PROJECTS INCLUDE ROOF REPLACEMENT, WINDOW REPLACEMENT, PAINTING, SIDING, AND PORCH REPAIRS.
- $346,799 spent. PROPERTY ACQUISITION AND RENOVATIONS:OUR WEST BAYFRONT WORKS WITH THE CITY OF ERIE'S LAND BANK AND OTHER PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY AND ACQUIRE DETERIORATED PROPERTIES IN NEED OF RENOVATION THAT ARE NOT BEING ADDRESSED BY PRIVATE MARKET CONDITIONS. THE TRANSFORMATION OF THESE PROPERTIES CONTRIBUTES TO OWB'S TARGETED REVITALIZATION GOALS AND HELPS TO STABILIZE THE MARKET IN THE TRANSITIONAL NEIGHBORHOODS THAT OWB SERVES. IN ADDITION TO CREATING NEW AFFORDABLE QUALITY HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL SPACES, THE TRANSFORMATION OF THESE PROPERTIES HAS INDIRECT BENEFITS FOR THE ENTIRE BLOCK BY IMPROVING BLIGHTED AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS.
- $11,961 spent. PUBLIC SPACE IMPROVEMENTS:OWB PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF ERIE AND NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS TO CONCEPTUALIZE, DESIGN, AND IMPLEMENT IMPROVEMENTS TO COMMUNITY SPACES INCLUDING PUBLIC PARKS, STREETSCAPES, VACANT LOTS, AND COMMUNITY GATEWAYS. THESE IMPROVEMENTS ENCOURAGE USE OF PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES, HELP RESIDENTS FEEL SAFER AND MORE COMFORTABLE IN PUBLIC SPACES, AND GENERALLY ENHANCE THE APPEAL OF THE COMMUNITY TO STABILIZE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
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
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since November 2017.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 October 7, 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.