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Madison Square Park Conservancy Inc

EIN 14-1859935 · New York, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MADISON SQUARE PARK CONSERVANCY IS THE NONPROFIT ENTRUSTED BY THE CITY OF NEW YORK TO OPERATE MADISON SQUARE PARK, A 6.2-ACRE PUBLIC SPACE IN THE HEART OF MANHATTAN. OUR MISSION IS TO CONSERVE, MAINTAIN, AND PROGRAM THIS EVER-EVOLVING HISTORIC GREEN SPACE, INCLUDING RAISING 100% OF THE PARK'S OPERATING BUDGET. ANCHORING A DIVERSE AND VIBRANT LIVE-WORK COMMUNITY, MADISON SQUARE PARK IS BOTH AN INTIMATE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK AND AN INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION FOR 60,000 DAILY VISITORS. IT IS ALSO A PUBLIC GARDEN, URBAN FOREST, WILDLIFE HABITAT, PUBLIC ART EXHIBITION SPACE, A HAVEN FOR CHILDREN AND PETS TO PLAY, AND ONE OF NEW YORK CITY'S MOST TRANSCENDENT AND WELCOMING PLACES.

Income
$8.7 million
Spending
$7.4 million
Spent on programs
65%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
53
Volunteers
670
Highest pay
$224,501, director and martin friedm

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 74% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    65% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    29 of 29 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

    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 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 (4)
  1. $2.6 million spent. PUBLIC ART: IN 2024, MSPC CELEBRATED THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR PUBLIC ART PROGRAM WITH FOUR COMMISSIONS IN MADISON SQUARE PARK AND BEYOND, INCLUDING MAJOR SCULPTURAL PROJECTS BY ROSE B. SIMPSON AND NICOLE EISENMAN, A VIBRANT TULLE INSTALLATION BY ANA MARA HERNANDO, AND A DYNAMIC PROCESSIONAL PERFORMANCE BY MARA MAGDALENA CAMPOS-PONS. THESE WORKS AND ACCOMPANYING FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS ALLOWED US TO REFLECT ON THE BREADTH OF THE ART PROGRAM'S 20-YEAR HISTORY AND IMPACT WHILE USHERING IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARTISTS. IN ADDITION, WE PRODUCED A SCHOLARLY CATALOG ABOUT EACH COMMISSION, A MAJOR PUBLICATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM'S FIRST 20 YEARS, A SHORT DOCUMENTARY, A MONTHLY PODCAST SERIES INTERVIEWING ALUMNI ARTISTS, AND OUR ANNUAL PUBLIC ART SYMPOSIUM.
  2. $1.9 million spent. PARK OPERATIONS & HORTICULTURE: MSPC'S OPERATIONS AND HORTICULTURE TEAMS CARE FOR AND MAINTAIN THE PARK AT THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF CARE FOR OVER 60,000 DAILY VISITORS, INCLUDING PRESERVING THE PARK'S HISTORIC TREE CANOPY; MAINTAINING OUR LUSH LAWNS AND PERENNIAL GARDENS, INCLUDING FIVE PLANT COLLECTIONS SELECTED TO ENSURE BLOOMS IN EVERY SEASON; CURATING SEASONAL FLOWER DISPLAYS; LEADING SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES; AND OFFERING FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND TOURS TO EDUCATE AND ENGAGE PARKGOERS OF ALL AGES. MADISON SQUARE PARK IS THE LIVING, BREATHING HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY, ENHANCING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF ALL WHO VISIT AND LIVE OR WORK NEARBY, AS WELL AS PROVIDING SHELTER AND SAFE HABITAT FOR A SURPRISINGLY DIVERSE POPULATION OF WILDLIFE.
  3. $31,784 spent. PARK CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: MSPC HIRED A GEOTECHNICAL FIRM TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION INTO SUBSURFACE CONDITIONS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE PARK TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE(S) OF WATER IN OUR OFFICE BENEATH SHAKE SHACK AND RECOMMEND SOLUTIONS FOR ADDRESSING THE RESULTING SEEPAGE AND OCCASIONAL FLOODING. THIS WORK WILL INFORM A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR A MASTERPLAN FOR THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE PARK. IN ADDITION, DESIGN WORK WAS DONE FOR A STRUCTURE TO HOUSE MSPC'S AND SHAKE SHACK'S DUMPSTERS ON MADISON AVENUE.
  4. $261,046 spent. EVERY YEAR, MSPC HOSTS HUNDREDS OF FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND EVENTS IN THE PARK. HIGHLIGHTS IN 2024 INCLUDED ART, HORTICULTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL, WELLBEING AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BIRDWATCHING AND FOREST BATHING, OUR ANNUAL "BARK IN THE PARK" DAY OF PET-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES, OUR SUMMER CONCERT SERIES WITH CARNEGIE HALL CITYWIDE, "MOVIES UNDER THE STARS, AND THE 112TH LIGHTING OF OUR HOLIDAY TREE - THE LONGEST-RUNNING PUBLIC ILLUMINATED TREE IN THE U.S.

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

  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 October 13, 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 December 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 February 2003.

    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 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.