Downtown Frederick Partnership works to enhance, promote and preserve the vitality, livability and diversity of Downtown Frederick, a national main street community.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
92¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 559 volunteers and 5 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $122K a year · 6% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
92%
of spending
Looks good: 92% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$137K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 3.6 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
9
named funders · $489K
Looks good: 9 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$154K
12% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 12% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
18
of 18 voting members
Looks good: 18 of 18 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.3M
+9% vs prior year
Spent
$2.2M
To programs
92%
Net assets
$1.1M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$2.3M
FY2025▲ +9%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$1.3M
FY2022$1.9M
FY2023$2.1M
FY2024$2.1M
FY2025$2.3M
Expenses
$2.2M
FY2025▲ +6%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$1.4M
FY2022$1.6M
FY2023$1.9M
FY2024$2.1M
FY2025$2.2M
Net assets
$1.1M
FY2025▲ +13%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$469K
FY2022$733K
FY2023$936K
FY2024$1.0M
FY2025$1.1M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jun 1990.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

92 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 92% · $2.0M Management & general 6% · $132K Fundraising 2% · $45K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

19 people listed on the 990; $137K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
Executive Director
$137,198Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Kara Norman’s $137K as Executive Director is at the 40th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2832 $1–10M community development nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Kara Norman$137,198$130,483$115,233$112,604$114,843

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Downtown Frederick Partnership INC executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Promotes and preserves downtown Frederick through community events, residential and business development programs, and tourism initiatives that attract thousands of visitors annually.

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $2.0M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Organization formed to enhance, promote and preserve the vitality, livability and diversity of downtown frederick, maryland. Current major programs include live downtown, work downtown, stay downtown, play downtown and connect downtown.

$2.0Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 9 funders →
Grants paid · 27 grants · $283K · 2020–2024
Downtown Professional Building LLCFY2024$10,000
South Carroll Opportunity Fund LLCFY2023$25,000
Elan Pottery LLCFY2023$10,000
South Carroll Opportunity Fund LLCFY2023$10,000
City of FrederickFY2023$8,985
Matthias Link Properties of MDFY2023$7,200
Lesmar LLCFY2023$6,808
Citizens Ballroom LLCFY2022$25,000
Unitemized GrantFY2022$16,325
McClintock Distilling LLCFY2022$15,398
Nelson Coleman JewelersFY2022$10,000
Engineering Real Estate LLCFY2022$10,000
One N Market LLCFY2022$10,000
Hoffman Borthers Ice Cream LLCFY2022$5,303
Ferguson Properties LLCFY2021$21,729
Soma Investments LLCFY2021$14,000
Frederick Strength and ConditioningFY2021$10,000
See all 27 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.3M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$963K
Investment incomeLn 3$40K
Money outPt IX
$2.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.0M
Managementcol C$132K
Fundraisingcol D$45K
Owns and owesPt X
$1.1M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$656K
Total assetsLn 16$1.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$154K
PeoplePt VI, VII
19
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a18
IndependentVI 1b18
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.3M
Government grantsLn 1e$601K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$963K
Investment incomeLn 3$40K
Gains on assetsLn 7−$5K
Total revenueLn 12$2.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$656K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$656K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$576K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3K
Total assetsLn 16$1.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$154K
Net assetsLn 32$1.1M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 55
VolunteersI 6559
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$599K$656K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$490K$576K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$4K$3K
Total assetsLn 16$1.1M$1.3M
LiabilitiesLn 26$133K$154K
Net assetsLn 32$1.0M$1.1M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$94K$94K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$163K$143K$18K$2K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$273K$215K$26K$31K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$6K$6K$189$58
Other employee benefitsLn 9$25K$18K$4K$3K
Payroll taxesLn 10$37K$26K$9K$2K
Accounting feesLn 11c$30K$30K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$981K$981K
Office expensesLn 13$39K$32K$4K$3K
OccupancyLn 16$6K$5K$552$434
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$9K$9K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$1K$1K
InsuranceLn 23$8K$7K$835$657
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$493K$453K$38K$2K
All other expensesLn 24e$10K$10K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.2M$2.0M$132K$45K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $2.3M$2.2M$118K$1.1M 990 PDF
FY2024 $2.1M$2.1M$38K$1.0M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.1M$1.9M$185K$936K 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.9M$1.6M$299K$733K 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.3M$1.4M−$30K$469K 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,291,700 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,145,990$1,289,111
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $921,625$962,686
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $26,834$39,903
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,094,449$2,291,700
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $106,961$93,529
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $414,778$503,534
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $1,534,774$1,576,865
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,056,513$2,173,928
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $37,936$117,772
Part VI · Governance 18 of 18 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body18
VI-1b Independent voting members18
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,291,700 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$601,118
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$687,993
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,289,111
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $962,686$962,686
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $44,473$44,473
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax −$4,570−$4,570
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $962,686 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $39,903$2,291,700
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,173,928 across 15 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $93,529$93,529
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $143,036 · Management $17,879 · Fundraising $1,626$162,541
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $215,433 · Management $25,774 · Fundraising $31,483$272,690
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $5,512 · Management $189 · Fundraising $58$5,759
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $17,876 · Management $4,049 · Fundraising $3,323$25,248
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $26,023 · Management $8,781 · Fundraising $2,492$37,296
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $29,901$29,901
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $981,067$981,067
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $31,767 · Management $3,864 · Fundraising $3,042$38,673
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $4,534 · Management $552 · Fundraising $434$5,520
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $9,223$9,223
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $1,425$1,425
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $6,864 · Management $835 · Fundraising $657$8,356
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $452,925 · Management $38,284 · Fundraising $1,705$492,914
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $9,786$9,786
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,997,575 · Management $131,533 · Fundraising $44,820$2,173,928
Part X · Balance sheet $1,296,220 assets, 14 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $598,693$655,695
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $33,923$50,000
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $13,094$9,750
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $857$2,029
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $4,275$2,850
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $490,036$575,896
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $1,140,878$1,296,220
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $105,364$122,138
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $28,000$32,165
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $133,364$154,303
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $898,685$945,543
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $108,829$196,374
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $1,007,514$1,141,917
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $1,140,878$1,296,220
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $1,141,917 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,291,700
XI-2 Total expenses$2,173,928
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$117,772
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$1,007,514
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$16,631
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$1,141,917

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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