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The Fund for Parks and Recreation in Boston

EIN 04-2784811 · Boston, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceFair62 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS WITH CLEAN, GREEN, SAFE, AND ACCESSIBLE OPEN SPACE IN MORE THAN 2,300 ACRES OF PARK LAND THROUGHOUT THE CITY INCLUDING PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, ATHLETIC FACILITIES, CITY SQUARES, URBAN WILDS, STREET TREES, THREE ACTIVE CEMETERIES, SIXTEEN HISTORIC BURYING GROUNDS, AND TWO GOLF COURSES. OUR DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 217 CITY PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS AND ATHLETIC FIELDS, TWO GOLF COURSES, 65 SQUARES, 17 FOUNTAINS, 75 GAME COURTS, 16 HISTORIC AND THREE ACTIVE CEMETERIES, URBAN WILDS, FOUR HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC FIELDS, AND APPROXIMATELY 125,000 TREES, ALL COVERING 2,346, 1,000 OF WHICH COMPRISE THE HISTORIC EMERALD NECKLACE. WE ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE THAN 45,000 STREET TREES.

Income
$13.6 million
Spending
$8.6 million
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
14
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$194,880, cfo, collector-treasurer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 37% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 5% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    0 of 2 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    0 of 5

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

  • 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 June 30, 2025, 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 (3)
  1. $3.0 million spent. FUNDS, GRANTS OR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE USED TO PROVIDE BOSTON RESIDENTS WITH RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS.
  2. $1.1 million spent. FUNDS, GRANTS OR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE USED TO PROVIDE BOSTON RESIDENTS WITH RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS AT THE FRANKLIN PARK GOLF COURSE.
  3. $1.4 million spent. FUNDS, GRANTS OR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE USED TO PROVIDE BOSTON RESIDENTS WITH RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS AT THE GEORGE WRIGHT GOLF COURSE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.

    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 August 2007.

    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 November 4, 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.