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Downtown Natchez Alliance

EIN 86-2232134 · Natchez, MS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceWeak47 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ADVANCE DOWNTOWN NATCHEZ AS A VIBRANT COMMERCIAL AND CULTURAL DISTRICT.

Income
$164,494
Spending
$107,868
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
22.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 71%
Employees
1
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$39,587, executive director

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 22.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% 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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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 (1)
  1. $101,409 spent. IN 2023, DOWNTOWN NATCHEZ ALLIANCE (DNA) CONTINUED ITS WORK AS A MISSISSIPPI MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION (MMSA) MEMBER TO IMPLEMENT THE MAIN STREET FOUR POINT APPROACH, AS WELL AS FACILITATING THE CITY'S DOWNTOWN NATCHEZ MASTER PLAN. DNA MADE A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION TO THE MISSISSIPPI MAIN STREET REVITALIZATION GRANT PROGRAM (MMSRG) FOR A PROJECT TO LANDSCAPE THE PUBLIC PARK AT THE DEPOT ON THE BLUFF. ALSO,THROUGH MMSA, SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION FOR TWO ROUNDS OF ARPA GRANT FUNDS WAS MADE FOR $161,400. THE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO CARRY OUT DNA'S TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY OF PLACEMAKING WITH RECREATION OF ORIGINAL BALCONIES AND INSTALLATION OF AWNINGS ON HISTORIC COMMERCIAL DOWNTOWN BUILDINGS. DNA ALSO PARTNERED WITH MMSA AND OTHER MISSISSIPPI TOWNS IN A USDA GRANTFUNDED FOR THE REAL ESTATE GAME PLAN AND SHOWCASE WITH CONSULTANT JOE BORGSTROM, TO PRODUCED A POSSIBILITIES AND PRO FORMA PROGRAM. ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, DNA ALSO MANAGED THE ENGINEERING/LANDSCAPE DESIGN TEAM TO CREATE A DETAILED CONSTRUCTION PLAN FOR HIRAM REVELS PLAZA, A NEW PUBLIC PARK TO BE LOCATED IN THE BLACK HISTORY DISTRICT DOWNTOWN. IN ADDITION, DNA HOSTED SEASONAL EVENTS THROUGHS THE YEAR,INCLUDING: RING IN SPRING, CELEBRATE THE BLOOMS CREPE MYRTLE FESTIVAL, CHRISTMAS IN JULY, DOWNTOWN NATCHEZ PUMPKIN PATCH FESTIVAL, HOLIDAY HOST & TOAST OPEN HOUSES. THE KEEP NATCHEZ BLOOMING AWARDS FOR BEAUTIFICATION WERE PRESENTED. DNA'S 2D ANNUAL DOWNTOWN PUMPKIN PATCH FESTIVAL LASTED ONE MONTH AS A FAMILY ACTIVITY DOWNTOWN. THE DOWNTOWN HALLOWEEN RUBBER DUCKIE SCAVENGER HUNT BROUGH HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN DOWNTOWN TO FIND THE RUBBER DUCKS. DNA ALSO PRODUCED A HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE ON THE SECOND SUNDAY IN NOVEMBER, AND WORKED WITH THE CHRISTMAS IN NATCHEZ ORGANIZATION ON HOLIDAY SEASON EVENTS THAT ADD VALUE TO DOWNTOWN. OTHER ACTIVES INCLUDE "DESTINATION DOWNTOWN," DNA'S NEWSPAPER COLUMN, WHICH WAS PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER TO PROMOTE DNA'S MISSION AND THE COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES THAT DOWNTOWN OFFERS. MONTHLY MERCHANT MEETINGS WERE HOSTED BY DNA IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATCHEZADAMS COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. A DOWNTOWN BUILDING INVENTORY WAS CREATED AND UPDATED TO IDENTIFY VACANT BUILDINGS THAT NEED RESTORATION AND ALSO LOCATIONS OF POTENTIAL NEW BUSINESSES. IN 2023, THERE WAS A NET GAIN OF THREE NEW BUSINESSES AND THREE EXPANSIONS OF EXISTING BUSINESSES.

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 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 February 2023.

    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 October 21, 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.