National Recreation & Park Association
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION (NRPA) IS THE LEADING NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO BUILDING STRONG, VIBRANT AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE POWER OF PARKS AND RECREATION. NRPA ADVANCES THIS VISION BY INVESTING IN AND CHAMPIONING THE WORK OF PARK AND RECREATION PROFESSIONALS AS A CATALYST FOR OVERALL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. NRPA'S NETWORK OF MORE THAN 60,000 PARK AND RECREATION PROFESSIONALS AND ADVOCATES REPRESENTS PUBLIC SPACES IN URBAN COMMUNITIES, RURAL SETTINGS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. NRPA CHAMPIONS AND SUPPORTS THE FIELD OF PARKS AND RECREATION THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, ADVOCACY, GRANTS AND PROGRAMS, RESEARCH, PUBLICATIONS AND MORE.
- Income
- $24.3 million
- Spending
- $23.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 6.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 48%
- Employees
- 94
- Volunteers
- 1,225
- Highest pay
- $475,568, president & ceo
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
Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.3 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 31% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 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 36% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2529 of 30 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 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 (6)
- $5.8 million spent. PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS - NRPA LEVERAGES ITS RELATIONSHIPS WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT KEY CORPORATIONS, FOUNDATIONS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING GREATER RESOURCES TO LOCAL PARK AND RECREATION AGENCIES. FOCUSING ON ADVANCING OUR STRATEGIC GOAL OF MAXIMIZING COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, NRPA MANAGES COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE AND PROVIDES TRAINING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, RESOURCES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND GRANT FUNDS TO LOCAL PARK AND RECREATION AGENCIES TO INCREASE ACCESS TO QUALITY PARKS AND GREEN SPACES, IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND CREATE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. IN SUPPORT OF THESE GOALS, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED OVER $1.7 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING, IMPACTING MORE THAN 3.2 MILLION PEOPLE THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS.
- $4.5 million spent. ANNUAL CONFERENCE - THE NRPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS THE LARGEST GATHERING OF PARK AND RECREATION PROFESSIONALS IN THE UNITED STATES. EACH YEAR, THIS HIGHLY ANTICIPATED EVENT ATTRACTS 8,400+ PARTICIPANTS, WHICH INCLUDES 225+ EDUCATION SESSIONS AND 500+ EXHIBITING COMPANIES ON THE TRADESHOW FLOOR. EDUCATION SESSIONS COVER TOPICS SUCH LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC RELATIONS, PLANNING, DESIGN AND MAINTENANCE, RECREATION PROGRAMMING, AND MORE. BOOTH DISPLAYS IN THE EXHIBIT HALL FEATURE A VARIETY OF PARK AND RECREATION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES INCLUDING PLAYGROUND AND MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT, LIGHTING, FLOORING AND ATHLETIC SURFACES, UNIFORMS, SCORE BOARDS, SHELTERS, PUBLIC RESTROOMS, SPLASH PADS, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND SOFTWARE AND ARTS AND CRAFTS. THE NRPA ANNUAL CONFERENCE CONNECTS PARK AND RECREATION PROFESSIONALS WITH PEERS, CONTACTS FOR PURCHASING THE SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS NEEDED FOR THEIR AGENCIES, AND PROVIDES LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT INSPIRE IDEAS AND CONCEPTS TO HELP PARK AND RECREATION PROFESSIONALS LEARN, GROW AND IMPROVE THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.
- $3.1 million spent. CERTIFICATION AND ACCREDITATION - NRPA HAS OVER 25,000 CERTIFIED INDIVIDUALS IN THE AREAS OF AQUATIC FACILITIES, PLAYGROUND SAFETY, GENERAL PARKS AND RECREATION, AND EXECUTIVE PARKS AND RECREATION. THE NRPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS ESTABLISHED THE NATIONAL CERTIFICATION BOARD TO ADMINISTER THE NRPA PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GOALS AND VALUES OF THE ASSOCIATION. EACH PROGRAM REVIEWS BEST PRACTICES THROUGH A JOB ANALYSIS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 5 YEARS AND EXAMINATIONS ARE UPDATED ACCORDINGLY. NRPA ALSO HAS 222 ACCREDITED PARK AND RECREATION AGENCIES (INCLUDING MUNICIPAL THROUGH STATE AND MILITARY). THE NRPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS ESTABLISHED THE COMMISSION FOR ACCREDITATION OF PARK AND RECREATION AGENCIES (CAPRA) TO ADMINISTER THE ACCREDITATION PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GOALS AND VALUES OF THE ASSOCIATION. THE CAPRA ACCREDITATION STANDARDS ARE REVIEWED APPROXIMATELY EVERY 5 YEARS, AND THE ACCREDITATION PROGRAM IS UPDATED ACCORDINGLY. ACCREDITATION STANDARDS INCLUDE FOCUS AREAS SUCH AS AGENCY MISSION AND PURPOSE, COMMUNITY AND PARK PLANNING, HUMAN RESOURCES, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, RISK MANAGEMENT AND MORE.PUBLICATIONS AND ADVERTISING - NRPA REACHES ITS MEMBERS THROUGH A VARIETY OF PUBLICATIONS, INCLUDING ITS AWARD-WINNING MAGAZINE, PARKS & RECREATION, WHICH IS READ BY APPROXIMATELY 207,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY. NRPA ALSO WORKS WITH ADVERTISERS TO PROMOTE THEIR PRODUCTS TO MEMBERS VIA TOOLS SUCH AS PRINT ADS IN NRPA'S MAGAZINE, DIGITAL ADS ON THE WEBSITE, AND DIGITAL ADS INCLUDED IN EMAIL MARKETING CONTENT. ADDITIONAL PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE; COMPREHENSIVE TOOLKITS, AN ANNUAL REPORT, RESEARCH AND EVALUATION REPORTS, EMAIL MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS, A DEDICATED BLOG, NRPA PODCAST, AND A SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE.
- $2.1 million spent. MARKETING AND ENGAGEMENT - THE MARKETING AND ENGAGEMENT TEAM DRIVES THE ORGANIZATION'S OVERALL COMMUNICATION, MARKETING, AND ADVOCACY STRATEGY. OUR GOAL IS TO RECRUIT, CONNECT AND ENGAGE PARK AND RECREATION PROFESSIONALS TO ADVANCE OUR MISSION AND TO LEVERAGE OUR RESEARCH, PROGRAM AND COMMUNICATION RESOURCES TO ADVOCATE FOR DURABLE INVESTMENT IN PARK AND RECREATION SYSTEMS. THROUGH OUR ANNUAL PARK AND RECREATION MONTH CAMPAIGN, WE PROVIDE TOOLS, RESOURCES AND TEMPLATES AND DRIVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN OUR CORE MESSAGE THAT PARK AND RECREATION SYSTEMS ARE CRITICAL COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
- $2.0 million spent. MEMBERSHIP DUES - NRPA HAS OVER 65,000 MEMBERS, INCLUDING PARK AND RECREATION PROFESSIONALS AND ADVOCATES. NRPA ALSO OFFERS EXCLUSIVE MEMBER NETWORKS TO SUPPORT THEIR PROFESSIONAL NEEDS. THESE NETWORKS DELIVER ENHANCED OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATIVE EXCHANGES BETWEEN MEMBERS AND THE CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN MULTIPLE GROUPS ON A NATIONAL LEVEL, INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 50 NETWORK MEETINGS A YEAR. THEY ALSO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS TO ENGAGE IN LEADERSHIP ROLES AND GIVE BACK TO THE FIELD OF PARKS AND RECREATION. ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY IS THROUGH NRPA CONNECT, AN ONLINE PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING TOOL THAT ALLOWS PARK AND RECREATION PROFESSIONALS TO CONNECT ACROSS THE COUNTRY. MEMBERS RECEIVE INFORMATION, ASK INDUSTRY QUESTIONS, AND GET INSIGHT INTO TRENDS IN THE FIELD FROM THEIR PEERS AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS. NRPA CONNECT HOLDS OVER 4,000 MEMBER-SHARED RESOURCES.PUBLIC POLICY - NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN A RESOURCE FOR PARK AND RECREATION PROFESSIONALS TO SUPPORT BELONGING, WELL-BEING AND JOY IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. WE KNOW WHEN PARK AND RECREATION AGENCIES ARE WELL-FUNDED AND ABLE TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES, EVERYONE BENEFITS. THROUGH OUR PUBLIC POLICY WORK, WE SEEK TO DRIVE DURABLE INVESTMENT IN PARKS AND RECREATION AS CRITICAL COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE.
- $1.9 million spent. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - NRPA PROVIDES PARK AND RECREATION PROFESSIONALS WITH LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND HELP THEIR PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS TO EFFECTIVELY MEET THE ESSENTIAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE. WHAT'S MORE, NRPA CONSISTENTLY KEEPS THE FIELD UP TO DATE ON CONSERVATION AND RESILIENCY EFFORTS, HEALTH AND WELLNESS INITIATIVES, AS WELL AS ACHIEVEMENTS IN ADVANCING ACCESS TO PARKS AND RECREATION CENTERS FOR ALL. RESEARCH AND LEARNING - NRPA IS AN ULTIMATE RESOURCE FOR BEST PRACTICES, CASE STUDIES, AND COMPREHENSIVE DATA THAT ARE NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR PARK AND RECREATION PROFESSIONALS AND THE WIDER COMMUNITIES THEY SUPPORT. OUR SERVICE AND PUBLICATION OFFERINGS INCLUDE EVALUATIONS OF DIRECT SERVICES AND PROGRAMS (INCLUDING BOTH CAPITAL AND OPERATIONAL INVESTMENTS BY PARK AND RECREATION AGENCIES), NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE SURVEYS OF PARK AGENCIES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHO ENGAGES WITH PARKS AND RECREATION, WHITE PAPER REPORTS ON SPECIAL TOPICS (E.G., THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF PARKS) OFTEN DONE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEADING SCHOLARS AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS, PEER-REVIEWED ACADEMIC JOURNALS ON PARK AND RECREATION TOPICS MANAGED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ROUTLEDGE TAYLOR FRANCIS GROUP, AND TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON INDUSTRY-LEADING DATA, RESEARCH, AND EVALUATION PRACTICES. FOR EXAMPLE, NRPA PARK METRICS IS THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SOURCE OF BENCHMARKS AND INSIGHTS FOR PARK AND RECREATION AGENCIES NATIONALLY SINCE ITS LAUNCH IN 2009, ALLOWING AGENCIES TO BUILD CUSTOM REPORTS AND COMPARE THEIR AGENCIES' CHARACTERISTICS TO OTHERS (E.G., NUMBERS OF RESIDENTS, ACREAGE OF PARKLAND, PROGRAMMATIC OFFERINGS, STAFF SIZE, REVENUE, AND MUCH MORE).
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
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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 June 1933.
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 November 4, 2026.
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