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Erie Downtown Development Corporation

EIN 82-0709054 · Erie, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO SERVE AS A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCING NON-PROFIT CORPORATION TO STRENGTHEN THE CORE ASSETS OF THE DOWNTOWN ERIE AND DRIVE REVITALIZATION ACROSS THE REGION.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
57%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
32
Highest pay
$280,467, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 84% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 120% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    57% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 57% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (5)
  1. $1.1 million spent. TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA (THE "CITY").
  2. TO COMBAT COMMUNITY DETERIORATION, PROVIDE RELIEF TO THE POOR AND DISTRESSED, STABILIZE, AND GENERALLY TO OTHERWISE PROMOTE REDEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY'S DOWNTOWN.
  3. TO LESSEN THE BURDENS OF GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY BY OVERSEEING PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN AND LEVERAGE THE CITY'S DOWNTOWN CORE ASSETS.
  4. TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMY OF THE CITY BY DEVELOPING, ATTRACTING, EXPANDING, AND RETAINING BUSINESS, INDUSTRIAL, EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, CIVIC, COMMUNITY AND OTHER ENTERPRISES IN THE CITY AND THEREBY DEVELOPING, ATTRACTING, EXPANDING, AND RETAINING JOBS FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY; AND SOLELY FOR THE ABOVE PURPOSES, THE CORPORATION IS EMPOWERED TO EXERCISE ALL RIGHTS AND POWERS CONFERRED BY THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA UPON NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS, INCLUDING, BUT WITHOUT LIMITATION THEREON, TO SOLICIT AND RECEIVE FUNDS AND ANY OTHER PROPERTY OR INTERESTS IN PROPERTY BY GIFT, GRANT, BEQUEST, DEVISE, BARGAIN PURCHASE OR ANY SIMILAR TRANSACTION, AND TO HOLD, ADMINISTER, INVEST AND DISBURSE SUCH FUNDS AND PROPERTY AND SUCH INCOME AS MAY BE GENERATED THROUGH THE INVESTMENT OF SUCH FUNDS AND PROPERTY, EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE, RELIEF OF THE UNDERPRIVILEGED, AND SUCH OTHER CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES RELATED THERETO, INCLUDING TO USE, APPLY, INVEST AND REINVEST THE PRINCIPAL AND/OR INCOME THEREFROM OR DISTRIBUTE THE SAME FOR THE ABOVE PURPOSES.
  5. TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMY OF THE CITY BY DEVELOPING, ATTRACTING, EXPANDING, AND RETAINING BUSINESS, INDUSTRIAL, EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, CIVIC, COMMUNITY AND OTHER ENTERPRISES IN THE CITY AND THEREBY DEVELOPING, ATTRACTING, EXPANDING, AND RETAINING JOBS FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY; AND SOLELY FOR THE ABOVE PURPOSES, THE CORPORATION IS EMPOWERED TO EXERCISE ALL RIGHTS AND POWERS CONFERRED BY THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA UPON NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS, INCLUDING, BUT WITHOUT LIMITATION THEREON, TO SOLICIT AND RECEIVE FUNDS AND ANY OTHER PROPERTY OR INTERESTS IN PROPERTY BY GIFT, GRANT, BEQUEST, DEVISE, BARGAIN PURCHASE OR ANY SIMILAR TRANSACTION, AND TO HOLD, ADMINISTER, INVEST AND DISBURSE SUCH FUNDS AND PROPERTY AND SUCH INCOME AS MAY BE GENERATED THROUGH THE INVESTMENT OF SUCH FUNDS AND PROPERTY, EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PROMOTION OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE, RELIEF OF THE UNDERPRIVILEGED, AND SUCH OTHER CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES RELATED THERETO, INCLUDING TO USE, APPLY, INVEST AND REINVEST THE PRINCIPAL AND/OR INCOME THEREFROM OR DISTRIBUTE THE SAME FOR THE ABOVE PURPOSES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

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

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2017.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.