Downtown Cleveland Alliance
Downtown Cleveland Alliance is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to building a dynamic downtown. It is committed to making downtown cleveland the most compelling place to live, work, play, and visit in the region.dca, working hand in hand with downtown property owners, creates forums for communication and involvement by a diverse group of downtown stakeholders, including local development corporations, city and county governments, civic and arts organizations, residents, young professionals, and business stakeholders. By facilitating the collaboraiton of these groups, Downtown Cleveland Alliance strives to enhance the quality of life in the urban core by implementing initiatives like the clean and safe program, economic development assistance, marketing and special events, advocacy and strategic projects.
Downtown Cleveland Alliance at a glance
In short: Downtown Cleveland Alliance gave $106K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $35K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $106,250
- -42.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $35,417
- -42.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $48,000
- Total assets
- $4,335,670
- +28.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Downtown Cleveland Alliance funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Group Plan Commission ($50K). Together the top 3 received $106K.
Grant Size Distribution
74 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 58 grants of 74 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Downtown Cleveland Alliance gives
- Giving fell 87% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $106K (2024) to $1.2M (2020). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $106K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Group Plan Commission Cleveland, OH | To Support Operations. | $50,000 |
| Playhouse Square District Development Corporation Cleveland, OH | Neighborhood & Economic Development | $48,000 |
| Ohm Advisors Cleveland, OH | Neighborhood & Economic Development | $8,250 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,335,670 | $9,039,850 | $8,800,441 | $106,250 | 3 | $69,380 |
| 2023 | $3,386,568 | $10,819,719 | $11,607,895 | $183,250 | 3 | $48,462 |
| 2022 | $3,608,248 | $10,662,475 | $11,773,919 | $890,000 | 3 | $4,014 |
| 2021 | $4,884,612 | $9,424,862 | $9,534,095 | $805,782 | 6 | $111,568 |
| 2020 | $4,975,849 | $8,841,221 | $8,579,258 | $1,192,391 | 59 | $150,661 |
| 2019 | $4,674,137 | $8,969,569 | $8,553,366 | $297,250 | 4 | $83,809 |
About Downtown Cleveland Alliance
Based on IRS filings
Downtown Cleveland Alliance is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Cleveland, OH. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $4.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $106K. Net investment income was $69K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Downtown Cleveland Alliance is led by Michael Deemer, President & CEO since 2021 (on filings since 2019); 4 of 36 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael Deemer
President & CEO
Executive Vice President → Executexecutive Vice President, 2020
Executexecutive Vice President → President & CEO, 2021
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$138K (2019) → $263K (2024)
Rob Falls
Chair
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dave Blate
Vice President Finance & Administration
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$104K (2022) → $117K (2024)
Edward Eckart Jr.
Senior Vice President of Operations
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$114K (2022) → $106K (2024)
Audrey Ann Gerlach
Chief of Staff
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$109K (2023) → $118K (2024)
Bob Rosing
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Jenkins
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Sandvick
Vice Chairman
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kira Hennessey
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Ferchill
Board Member
Treasurer → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Fanger
Immediate Past Chair
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2023
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Nipper
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Aaron Perchota
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dominic Ozanne
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Grace Gallucci
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeremy Johnson
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marcie Gilmore
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brett Lindsey Jan-Apr
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Grady Jan-Apr
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Lane Jul-Current
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Morrison Jan-Apr
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cheryl Yetka Jan-Apr
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christine Nelson
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Debbie Berry Jul-Current
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Felton Thomas Jr Jul-Current
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
India Birdsong Terry
Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ira Kaplan Jul-Current
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Bechtel Jan-Apr
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Patterson
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura Bloomberg Jul-Current
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mera Cardenas
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susanna Krey Jan-Apr
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Teresa Metcalf Beasleyjan-Apr
Vice Chair
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Warren Blazy Iii Jul-Current
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Will Dalman
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Yoofi Ocran Jan-Apr
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (62)
- Former: Brian Grady (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Bruce Morrison (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Jeff Bechtel (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Teresa Metcalf Beasley (2019–2023) — Vice Chair
- Former: Brett Lindsey (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Cheryl Yetka (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Christine Nelson May-Current (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Gina Vernaci Jan-Feb (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Heather Holmes Jan-Jul (2023) — Executive Vice President
- Former: India Birdsong Terry May-Cur (2023) — Secretary
- Former: James Haviland (2023) — Employee
- Former: Jeff Patterson May-Current (2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Jim Folk Jan-May (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Len Komoroski Jan-May (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Mera Cardenas May-Current (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Mike Carney Jan-May (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Renee Csuhran Jan-May (2023) — Secretary
- Former: Susanna Krey May-Current (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Tj Asher Jan-May (2023) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Will Dalman May-Current (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Yoofi Ocran (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Antonin Robert (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Gina Vernaci (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jim Folk (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Len Komoroski (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Ray Mueller (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Renee Csuhran (2019–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Tj Asher (2019–2022) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Heather Holmes (2021–2022) — Executive Vice President
- Former: Aaron Perchota Mar-Current (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Cheryl Wearsch (2022) — Board Member
- Former: David Heller Jan-Mar (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Deb Janik Mar-Current (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Dominic Ozanne Mar-Current (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Jeff Linton Jan-Mar (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Marcie Gilmore Mar-Current (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Mike Carney Mar-Current (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Scott Wolstein Jan-May (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Thomas Starinsky (2022) — Vice President of Urban Planning & Design
- Former: David Heller (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Doug Miller (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Jeff Linton (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Karen Paganini (2019–2021) — Chair
- Former: Scott Wolstein (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Thomas Yablonsky (2019–2021) — Executive Vice President
- Former: Adam Fishman Jan-Mar (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Brett Lindsey Sept-Current (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Cheryl Wearsch Mar-Current (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Frank Sinito Jan-Mar (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Joseph A. Marinucci Jan-Apr (2021) — Former President & CEO
- Former: Matthew Nipper Mar-Current (2021) — Board Member
- Former: Adam Fishman (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Daniel Walsh (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Frank Sinito (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Joseph A. Marinucci (2019–2020) — President & CEO
- Former: Tim Burke (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Art Falco (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Cathy Kilbane (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Ej Burke (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Jennifer Neundorfer (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Laura Clark (2019) — Executive Vice President
- Former: Zachary Paris (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $263K, to Michael Deemer (President and CEO). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Downtown Cleveland Alliance
How much does Downtown Cleveland Alliance give each year?
Downtown Cleveland Alliance gave $106K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $183K across 3 grants.
What is Downtown Cleveland Alliance's typical grant size?
Downtown Cleveland Alliance's median grant in 2024 was $48,000, and its average grant was $35,417, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Downtown Cleveland Alliance give grants?
Downtown Cleveland Alliance gives mostly in Ohio: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (3 grants).
Does Downtown Cleveland Alliance give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Downtown Cleveland Alliance's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is Downtown Cleveland Alliance?
Downtown Cleveland Alliance reported $4.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $9.0M.
What is Downtown Cleveland Alliance?
Downtown Cleveland Alliance is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in Cleveland, OH. It holds $4.3M in total assets as of 2024.
What is Downtown Cleveland Alliance's EIN?
Downtown Cleveland Alliance's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1775903. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS November 16, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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