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Friends of the Wissahickon Inc

EIN 23-6251649 · Philadelphia, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CONSERVE THE NATURAL BEAUTY AND WILDNESS OF THE WISSAHICKON VALLEY AND STIMULATE PUBLIC INTEREST THEREIN.

Income
$3.6 million
Spending
$4.8 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
19
Volunteers
2,215
Highest pay
$179,583, 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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 61% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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

    17 of 17 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 (4)
  1. $3.0 million spent. INFRASTRUCTURE THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMMING OF THE ORGANIZATION INCLUDES SEVERAL KEY PROJECT AREAS ORGANIZED AROUND THE MAN-MADE BUILT ELEMENTS OF THE PARK INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TRAILS, BUILDINGS, SIGNS, FENCES, MASONRY AND PARKING AREAS.
  2. $865,556 spent. ENGAGEMENT THE ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING AT FOW ENABLES THE STAFF AND DIRECTORS OF FRIENDS OF THE WISSAHICKON TO INFORM AND INVOLVE THE PUBLIC IN THE FRIENDS OF THE WISSAHICKON'S MISSION OF STEWARDSHIP AND SERVICE. THE SIGNATURE INITIATIVE UNDER ENGAGEMENT IS THE ORGANIZATION'S COMPREHENSIVE VOLUNTEER PROGRAMMING, WHICH MAKES SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALL OF OUR STEWARDSHIP ACTIVITIES. IN 2024, VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED OVER 17,179 HOURS OF DIRECT SERVICE TO THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE WISSAHICKON VALLEY PARK, WITH AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF OVER _$546,292 (USING THE MOST RECENT AVAILABLE VALUATION OF VOLUNTEER SERVICES IN PENNSYLVANIA (2023), ASSESSED AT $31.80 PER HOUR BY INDEPENDENT SECTOR). IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION HAS IMPLEMENTED OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AS PART OF THE LITTLE FRIENDS OF THE WISSAHICKON and JUNIOR STEWARDS PROGRAMS.
  3. $181,666 spent. HABITAT THE HABITAT PROGRAMMING INCLUDES TWO SIGNATURE EFFORTS, THE PROTECT OUR WATERSHED (POW) PROGRAM AND THE ECOLOGICAL LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN. POW IS A LAND CONSERVATION AND CITIZEN EDUCATION PROGRAM FOCUSED ON REDUCING THE IMPACT OF STORM WATER RUNOFF IN THE WISSAHICKON VALLEY PARK. THE ECOLOGICAL LAND MANAGEMENT (ELM) PLAN IS A STRATEGIC EFFORT TO COORDINATE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION EFFORTS IN AND BORDERING THE PARK.
  4. OTHER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS THE WISSAHICKON VALLEY; VALLEY GREEN INN SURROUNDING LANDSCAPING; AND STRUCTURES COMMITTEE TO REBUILD AND MAINTAIN THE HISTORIC STRUCTURES IN THE WILDLIFE COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT NATURE WALKS AND LECTURES.

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 2024.

    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 June 1952.

    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.