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The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy

EIN 23-2882145 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE BY ENHANCING AND STEWARDING PITTSBURGH'S PARKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$8.5 million
Spending
$7.7 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
-1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 73%
Employees
85
Volunteers
1,200
Highest pay
$295,812, president/ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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

    41 of 41 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 September 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 (4)
  1. $1.7 million spent. THE PITTSBURGH PARKS CONSERVANCY PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH TO PLAN, FUND, AND IMPLEMENT CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT ENHANCE THE ACCESSIBILITY, ECOLOGICAL HEALTH, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF PITTSBURGH'S PUBLIC PARKS. THROUGH THE LEVERAGING OF PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY AND PUBLIC INVESTMENT, THE CONSERVANCY ADVANCES THE RESTORATION OF HISTORIC LANDSCAPES, REHABILITATION OF PARK AMENITIES AND FACILITIES, WATERSHED AND HABITAT IMPROVEMENTS, TRAIL AND ACCESSIBILITY PROJECTS, AND THE CREATION OF VIBRANT PUBLIC SPACES THAT SERVE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ACROSS THE REGION.
  2. $1.3 million spent. THIS PROGRAM ADVANCES THE LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP AND ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT OF PITTSBURGH'S PARKS THROUGH EXPERTISE IN HORTICULTURE, URBAN FORESTRY, HISTORIC LANDSCAPE PRESERVATION, ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION, NATURAL AREA MANAGEMENT, AND CAPITAL PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION. CONSERVANCY STAFF WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH AND PUBLIC PARTNERS TO IMPLEMENT PARKS MASTER PLANS, MAINTAIN AND RESTORE CRITICAL PARK INFRASTRUCTURE AND LANDSCAPES, IMPROVE ECOSYSTEM RESILIENCE AND BIODIVERSITY, AND SUPPORT RESEARCH AND PLANNING INITIATIVES THAT STRENGTHEN THE SUSTAINABILITY OF PITTSBURGH'S URBAN PARK SYSTEM.
  3. $1.4 million spent. THIS PROGRAM ENGAGES RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES THROUGH EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO DEEPEN PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF PITTSBURGH'S PARKS AND NATURAL RESOURCES. THE CONSERVANCY PROVIDES YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS, VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, INTERPRETIVE EXPERIENCES, PUBLIC EVENTS, CAREER READINESS, AND COLLABORATIVE EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES THAT PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PUBLIC GREEN SPACE, OUTDOOR LEARNING, AND MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY CONNECTION TO PITTSBURGH'S PARKS.
  4. $1.2 million spent. THIS PROGRAM ADVANCES LONG-RANGE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY-DRIVEN CAPITAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES FOR PITTSBURGH'S PARKS. THE PITTSBURGH PARKS CONSERVANCY WORKS COLLABORATIVELY WITH RESIDENTS, PUBLIC AGENCIES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DEVELOP PLANS AND PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE PUBLIC ACCESS, ECOLOGICAL HEALTH, RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIVITY ACROSS THE PARKS SYSTEM. THROUGH STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, TECHNICAL PLANNING EXPERTISE, AND CROSS-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS, THE CONSERVANCY HELPS GUIDE PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS FROM CONCEPTUAL VISION THROUGH PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION WHILE STRENGTHENING LONG-TERM PUBLIC AND PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT FOR PITTSBURGH'S PARKS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 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 September 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 September 1997.

    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.