Riverside Park Conservancy Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O
- Income
- $10.9 million
- Spending
- $12.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 2.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 51%
- Employees
- 127
- Volunteers
- 4,500
- Highest pay
- $303,397, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.6 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 11% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2526 of 26 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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)
- $5.4 million spent. FIELD OPERATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS:THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE MAINTENANCE AND RESTORATION WORK PERFORMED IN THE PARK BY PAID STAFF, TRAINED VOLUNTEERS, AND/OR OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS. TASKS INCLUDE HORTICULTURAL RESTORATION AND CARE, BALLFIELDS MAINTENANCE, TENNIS COURT MAINTENANCE, PAINTING, AND SMALL REPAIRS, E.G., BY ELECTRICIANS, PLUMBERS, MASONS, OR OTHER PROFESSIONALS HIRED BY THE CONSERVANCY. FIELD OPERATIONS ALSO INCLUDES THE PURCHASE OF VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT TO SUPPORT THIS WORK.
- $3.4 million spent. PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS:THE CONSERVANCY PRODUCES HUNDREDS OF ANNUAL PROGRAMS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BOTH FREE AND FEE-BASED. FREE EVENTS INCLUDE CONCERTS, FITNESS CLASSES, OUTDOOR MOVIES, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, GUIDED TOURS, CHILDREN'S PROGRAMMING, AND LARGE FESTIVALS SUCH AS THE WESTSIDE COUNTY FAIR, THE LITTLE RED LIGHTHOUSE FESTIVAL, AND THE HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING. FEE-BASED PROGRAMS INCLUDE TENNIS INSTRUCTION AND THE SUMMER SPORTS CAMP, BOTH OF WHICH ALSO OFFER NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID.
- $1.6 million spent. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTIONTHIS REFERS TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PARK. FOR 2024, THESE PROJECTS INCLUDED RECONSTRUCTION OF THE 106TH STREET STAIRS, THE INSTALLATION OF NEW FITNESS EQUIPMENT AT 151ST STREET, THE INSTALLATION OF NEW MULTISPORT COURT SURFACES AT 105TH STREET, THE INSTALLATION OF NEW WROUGHT IRON FENCING AT 135TH STREET, THE INSTALLATION OF 21 NEW SOLAR POWERED TRASH RECEPTACLES IN NORTH PARK, THE PLANTING OF NEW STREET TREES ALONG RIVERSIDE DRIVE, AND THE PURCHASE OF NEW VEHICLES FOR USE BY CONSERVANCY OPERATIONS STAFF. GENERALLY, THESE EXPENSES ARE PAYMENTS TO OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS BUT MAY ALSO INCLUDE ASSOCIATED COSTS SUCH AS PRINTING AND COPYING, DESIGN DRAWINGS, SIGNAGE, PERMIT FEES, AND RELATED POSTAGE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1988.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 21, 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.