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Prospect Park Alliance Inc

EIN 11-2843763 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

In partnership with the City of New York and the community, the Prospect Park Alliance restores, develops, and operates Prospect Park for the enjoyment of all by caring for the natural environment, preserving historic design, and serving the public through facilities and programs.

Income
$30.2 million
Spending
$18.1 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
16.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 63%
Employees
212
Volunteers
2,767
Highest pay
$306,552, president

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 40% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 66% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    35 of 35 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 (4)
  1. $6.0 million spent. Visitor Services and Events: Prospect Park receives more than 10 million visits each year and the Alliance serves visitors to the Park by offering a variety of fee-based recreational activities, public and private events, and food service operations. Recreational activities include a year-round tennis center and carousel rides in the summer. A variety of food and beverage services are available in the park, private events may be held at a number of different locations, and public events are coordinated throughout the year. The Alliance also sublicenses the LeFrak Center and works closely with the operator to provide a variety of year round recreational activities.
  2. $3.3 million spent. Design and Construction: Prospect Park Alliance restores the landscapes and buildings within the Park while preserving the historic design. Projects go through a design and approval process, in partnership with the City of New York Department of Parks and Recreation, and are supervised during construction by Prospect Park Alliance. Projects designed by Prospect Park Alliance have won a number of prestigious awards.
  3. $3.7 million spent. Field Operations: Prospect Park Alliance partners with the City of New York Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) in caring for the Park's natural environment. The Landscape Management Team monitors, restores and maintains 250 acres of natural areas, coordinating volunteers and the Alliance's Woodlands Youth Crew in this work. The Alliance also provides maintenance staff, supplementing the staff of NYC Parks in cleaning the Park as well as providing a crew to make repairs.
  4. $1.7 million spent. Prospect Park Alliance offers educational programs teaching visitors about the natural world and its stewardship, helping to support the Alliance's mission to maintain the Park as a resource for New York City, especially those New Yorkers from underserved and low to mid-income neighborhoods. The Park's Audubon Center and Lefferts Historic House Museum provide important educational and cultural programming. Prospect Park also has a very active Volunteer Corps that is made up of community members who donate their time and energy and are critical to the ongoing maintenance and restoration of the Park.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 1987.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.