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National Main Street Center
National Main Street Center reported $17.7 million in revenue and $19.4 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $84.53 went to program services, $12.39 to management and general costs and $3.08 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 72.0% of the total. Government grants made up 32.1%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $308,452 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 18 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 415% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $19MFor context, the median across 479 covered community improvement & capacity building charities: $90.45 programs, $9.31 management, $0.24 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $18MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 84.5% | 89.1% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 12.4% | 9.2% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 3.1% | 0.2% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.05 | $0.00 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 72.0% | 80.1% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 32.1% | 14.9% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 27.1% | 11.9% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $308,452 | $291,103 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 1.59% | 1.49% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 18 | 5 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 4.5 | 9.2 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 12 of 12 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseNmsc partners with a range of nationally recognized corporations, foundations, government entities, and organizations to deliver grants and technical services to support thriving local economies and inviting spaces. Through these partnerships, nmsc was able to provide technical assistance and capacity building to back underrepresented small business owners and community organizations for long-term success and resilience
Nmsc focuses on delivering excellent benefits and high value services to the nmsc network through its membership program. Nmsc provides members with cutting edge resources, training, research and networking opportunities. Nmsc membership includes access to a wide range of educational materials, the e-newsletter, Main Street news, features articles about best practices, new trends in the field, showcases successful programs, and shares strategies for incorporating historic preservation into existing community development efforts
Nmsc field services staff offers a wide range of training seminars and workshops, all tailored to meet community needs, and advance historic-preservation based community economic development. Commonly requested workshops and seminars included a variety of historic preservation and organizational development topics, such as the basics of real estate finance, small business development, how to facilitate effective meetings, recruit volunteers, develop a fundraising plan and build an effective membership program. Nmsc also provided customized training workshops and seminars on topics of concern…
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Officer, 35.0 hrs/week | $293,764 | $0 | $14,688 | $308,452 |
| CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER Officer, 35.0 hrs/week | $197,369 | $0 | $9,868 | $207,237 |
| CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER Key employee, 35.0 hrs/week | $182,900 | $0 | $9,145 | $192,045 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL & ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Officer, 35.0 hrs/week | $181,692 | $0 | $9,085 | $190,777 |
| VP OF FIELD SERVICES - DOWNTOWN (THRU 07/2024) Highest compensated employee, 35.0 hrs/week | $169,371 | $0 | $8,469 | $177,840 |
| CHIEF PROGRAMS OFFICER Key employee, 35.0 hrs/week | $162,875 | $0 | $8,144 | $171,019 |
| VICE PRESIDENT OF MAIN STREET PROGRAMS Highest compensated employee, 35.0 hrs/week | $136,021 | $0 | $6,801 | $142,822 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH Highest compensated employee, 35.0 hrs/week | $127,197 | $0 | $6,360 | $133,557 |
18 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from National Main Street Center (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.1M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b12 · 12 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2No
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 50
- Volunteers Part I, line 613
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| RURAL COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP Professional consulting | $330,132 |
| RAILS TO TRAILS CONSERVANCY Professional consulting | $202,409 |
| CTL ENGINEERING INC Professional consulting | $196,163 |
| DOWLING STREET LLC Professional consulting | $193,017 |
| PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES Professional consulting | $183,266 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 11 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
2 private foundations reported grants to National Main Street Center totaling $850K on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from National Main Street Center's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for National Main Street Center, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 National Main Street Center spent in FY2025, $84.53 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- WorkSource MontgomeryRockville, MD · revenue $18M · programs 86.0% · FY2025
- East Missouri Action AgencyPark Hills, MO · revenue $18M · programs 92.2% · FY2025
- Tennessee Technology Development CorpNashville, TN · revenue $18M · programs 93.1% · FY2025
- Partnership for Economic InnovationTempe, AZ · revenue $18M · programs 97.5% · 2022
- Los Angeles County FacilitiesSeattle, WA · revenue $18M · programs 100.0% · FY2025
All community improvement & capacity building charities · Largest charities in District of Columbia
Questions people ask
How much of National Main Street Center's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, National Main Street Center reported that 84.5% of its $19.4 million in expenses went to program services, 12.4% to management and general and 3.1% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does National Main Street Center pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation National Main Street Center reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $308,452, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does National Main Street Center get its money?
Of $17.7 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 72.0% came from contributions and grants (including 32.1% from government grants) and 27.1% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is National Main Street Center a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 46-1405965 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202621269349302247 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202540429349301609 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202410469349301541 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202300459349301925 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202230469349301743 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202110469349301661 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 46-1405965: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.