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Charleston Parks Conservancy

EIN 20-8375561 · Charleston, SC

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

To inspire the people of Charleston to connect with their parks and together create stunning public spaces and a strong community.

Income
$3.8 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
41.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
investment income, 57%
Employees
23
Volunteers
2,049
Highest pay
$215,066, executive director

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 41.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 245% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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, 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 (1)
  1. $1.7 million spent. PARK RENOVATIONS:The Park Renovations Program aims to restore, re-establish, and create more climate-sustainable park spaces. With the increase in climate change and stormwater flooding, this program evaluates the needs of individual park challenges and creates mitigation strategies. Strategies can include renovation of plant material and horticultural displays, replacing or removing hardscape and non-permeable surfaces, and working with the City of Charleston Parks Department to optimize usage of the parks for the community. In 2024, we improved the parks at Tiedmann Nature Center, Wragg Square, and Corrine Jones. We identified Colonial Lake as our 2025 renovation and improvement project.GARDEN IN THE PARKS:Through the Garden in the Parks Program, the Conservancy provides routine care and maintenance for more than 20 public parks. Volunteers work alongside the Conservancy staff to care for and manage these park spaces. In 2024, volunteers provided over 6,800 hours of service to their community parks.GROW IT FORWARD: The Conservancy maintains 3 community gardens and provides opportunities for community members to lease garden plots (180 plots available) and have volunteer and educational opportunities through this program. The Conservancy also maintains 58 plots where staff grows organic produce that is then harvested and distributed to partner organizations for food access. In 2024, the Conservancy grew and distributed over 5,000lbs of produce. In 2024, we added a new project to this program with a half-acre food forest at Mulberry Pond Park in West Ashley.ART IN THE PARKS: The Conservancy uses an Art Master Plan, created in 2019, to guide the implementation of public art within the park spaces that we manage. These public artworks can be temporary or permanent and are meant to engage volunteers and community members on various disciplines of art, including visual arts, theater, vocal performance, and more. In 2024 the Conservancy implemented the installation of the first public sculpture artwork on the West Ashley Bikeway.EDUCATION: The Conservancy works to engage all ages of community members in educational components of horticulture and public park management. This includes bringing school children to the parks for field trips and lessons, doing educational outreach at schools, hosting and teaching workshop series about plants, wildlife, food access, and more. In 2024, we hosted educational courses on herbs, food preservation, pollinator habitats, honey bee production, urban tree canopy, bird watching, and much more.EVENTS: The Conservancy hosts a variety of events throughout the year, large and small scale, engaging nearly 8,000 community members annually. Our larger, signature events work to further our mission of connecting people to their parks and building community by gathering crowds in park spaces that we manage. The smaller events, like Music in the Parks, engage intimate neighborhood crowds to network and connect with each other in the park space.

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 May 2007.

    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.