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21st Century Parks Inc

EIN 20-1780317 · Louisville, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

21ST CENTURY PARKS SERVES AS A STEWARD ENTRUSTED TO PRESERVE AND SUSTAIN UNEXCELLED PARKLANDS THAT REFLECT THE NEEDS AND VALUES OF OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY. THE GOAL OF THE PARKLANDS OF FLOYDS FORK IS TO OPERATE A WORLD-CLASS, SYSTEMIC ADDITION TO LOUISVILLE'S PARK SYSTEM; IF DONE RIGHT, THE OUTCOME IS THE CREATION OF THE FINEST URBAN EDGE IN THE COUNTRY.

Income
$5.7 million
Spending
$8.1 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
93
Volunteers
65
Highest pay
$375,152, president and asst treasurer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 43% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 December 31, 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. $5.5 million spent. RECREATION:21ST CENTURY PARKS INC. DEVELOPS, FUNDS AND OPERATES THE PARKLANDS OF FLOYDS FORK. THIS OVER 4,000-ACRE PUBLIC PARK IS COMPLETE, MAKING IT THE LARGEST URBAN PARK SYSTEM BUILT IN THE NATION IN AT LEAST THE LAST 20 YEARS. EVEN MORE UNIQUE, THIS PARK CHARGES NO ADMISSION FEE AND OPERATES WITHOUT RECEIVING ANNUAL PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS FOR OPERATIONS. IN 2025, THE PARKLANDS HOSTED NEARLY 4 MILLION VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE REGION. THESE VISITORS HIKED AND BIKED THE 46 MILES OF MULTI-USE TRAILS, PADDLED 22 MILES OF FLOYDS FORK AND PLAYED GAMES ON 20 MULTI-USE SPORTS FIELDS. IN COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS, 21ST CENTURY PARKS STOCKED MORE THAN 10,000 FISH IN THE PARKLANDS LAKES AND STREAMS FOR THE ANGLING COMMUNITY, PROVIDED 81 PLOTS FOR COMMUNITY GARDENS AND REGISTERED ALMOST 400 DOG OWNERS AT THE BARKLANDS DOG PARK. AREA INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES CONTRIBUTED 1,500 VOLUNTEER HOURS IN THE PARKLANDS.
  2. $811,204 spent. CONSERVATION: 21ST CENTURY PARKS, INC. IS DEDICATED TO THE CONSERVATION AND ENRICHMENT OF THE LAND FOR WHICH IT IS RESPONSIBLE. THE ORGANIZATION EMPLOYS A FULL-TIME GARDENING AND NATURAL AREAS TEAM THAT REMOVED INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES ON MORE THAN 145 ACRES; MAINTAINED OVER 400 ACRES OF NATIVE MEADOWS; AND TREATED & CARED FOR THE THOUSANDS OF TREES AND SHRUBS PLANTED IN THE PARKLANDS. WE PARTICIPATED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM: THE PARKLANDS PERFORMED RESTORATION WORK ON MORE THAN 50 ACRES WHICH INCLUDED ESTABLISHMENT OF RIPARIAN CORRIDORS, BRUSH AND WEED MANAGEMENT. 21ST CENTURY PARKS INC. ALSO MAINTAINS TWO GROVES OF ENDANGERED AMERICAN CHESTNUT TREES. IN 2025, 21ST CENTURY PARKS, INC. HARVESTED OVER 600 CHESTNUTS FOR PLANTING WITHIN THE PARKLANDS.
  3. $724,027 spent. EDUCATION:21ST CENTURY PARKS, INC. PROVIDES DYNAMIC, LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCES FOR LOUISVILLE-AREA YOUTH THAT CONNECT THEM WITH THE OUTDOORS AND OUR NATURAL KENTUCKY LANDSCAPE. THESE EXPERIENCES ARE DESIGNED TO INCITE CURIOSITY ABOUT OUR NATURAL WORLD WHILE FOCUSING ON STEM EDUCATION CURRICULUM THROUGH OUR OUTDOOR CLASSROOM PROGRAMMING. IN 2025, OUR EDUCATION TEAM DELIVERED OVER 26,600 EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING MORE THAN 14,000 SCHOLARSHIPS TO TITLE 1 STUDENTS FOR IN-PARK FIELD TRIPS AND IN-CLASSROOM OUTREACH.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 April 2005.

    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.