Friends of Kenilworth Aquaticgardens
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CONNECT NEIGHBORS AND VISITORS TO KENILWORTH AQUATIC GARDENS THROUGH STEWARDSHIP, PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN COOPERATION WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.
- Income
- $499,177
- Spending
- $402,764
- Spent on programs
- 70%
- Reserves
- 6.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 442
- Highest pay
- $116,451, 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
Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 6.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 17% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 109% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1570% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 96% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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)
- $155,223 spent. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT - FOKAG PROVIDES SAFE, CULTURALLY ENRICHING EVENTS YEAR-ROUND TO HELP CONNECT PEOPLE TO THE PARK; HOSTING WELL-ATTENDED FAMILY DAYS, SUMMER CONCERT SERIES, AND AN ANNUAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST. FOKAG ALSO PROMOTES AND SUPPORTS THE PARK'S SIGNATURE ANNUAL LOTUS AND WATER LILY FESTIVAL, WHICH ATTRACTS AN AVERAGE OF 13,000 VISITORS EACH YEAR.
- $101,775 spent. EDUCATION - THROUGH A ONE-WEEK SPRING BREAK CAMP AND A TWO-WEEK SUMMER CAMP, FOKAG INTRODUCES HUNDREDS OF LOCAL CHILDREN FROM THE SURROUNDING UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO THE PARK, A PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN OR RARELY VISITED RESOURCE IN THEIR BACKYARD. CAMPERS EXPLORE THE WETLANDS, PONDS, PLANTS, AND ANIMALS ALONGSIDE TEENS AND ADULTS FROM THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEN VENTURE TO OTHER LOCAL PARKS TO EXPAND THEIR EXPERIENCES. THESE PROGRAMS FOSTER A SENSE OF BELONGING AND LIFELONG APPRECIATION FOR NATURE.
- $26,536 spent. STEWARDSHIP - FOKAG PROVIDES PERSONNEL, FINANCIAL, AND MATERIAL RESOURCES TO HELP MAINTAIN THE PARK. OVER THE YEARS, MANY FOKAG VOLUNTEERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF THEIR TIME TO REMOVE AND PICK-UP TRASH AND SUPPORT VARIOUS PARK PROJECTS. IN ADDITION, GRANTS SECURED BY FOKAG HAVE BEEN USED TO UPGRADE PARK TRAILS AND INFRASTRUCTURE, DESIGN AND INSTALL INFORMATIONAL SIGNS, AND PURCHASE AMENITIES TO ENHANCE EVERY VISITORS EXPERIENCE. FOKAG REGULARLY ACQUIRES AND DONATES MUCH-NEEDED SUPPLIES, SUCH AS LANDSCAPING TOOLS AND MATERIALS, AND NATIVE PLANTS. FURTHERMORE, FOKAGS FUNDRAISING EFFORTS HAVE ALSO ENABLED THE PARK TO UTILIZE LOCAL YOUNG ADULTS' WORK CREWS FOR RESTORATION PROJECTS; HENCE, REINFORCING COMMITMENT TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THE PARK.
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 June 2008.
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.