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Friends of Tryon Creek Park

EIN 23-7079356 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF FRIENDS OF TRYON CREEK, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OREGON STATE PARKS, IS TO INSPIRE EVERY COMMUNITY TO IDENTIFY, CULTIVATE OR RECLAIM THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE IN THIS CHERISHED URBAN FOREST.

Income
$2.3 million
Spending
$2.9 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 70%
Employees
26
Volunteers
145
Highest pay
$132,280, executive dir.

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 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 18 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

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $1.5 million spent. IN 2025, FOTC COMPLETED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW EDUCATIONAL FACILITY ON-SITE AT TRYON CREEK STATE NATURAL AREA. THIS COST INCLUDES PERMITTING, MATERIAL COST AND CONSTRUCTION LABOR. FOTC PROVIDED MANAGEMENT, OVERSIGHT, AND DIRECTION FOR THE PROJECT. NEW FACILITY WAS COMPLETED IN 2025, ALLOWING FOR PROGRAM EXPANSION AND FURTHERING PARTNERSHIPS WITH DIVERSE COMMUNITIES OF PARK STEWARDS.FOTC FUNDRAISED THE ENTIRETY OF THE PROJECT, WHICH WILL BE OWNED BY OREGON STATE PARKS. FACILITY HONORS THE INDIGENOUS CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE LOWER WILLAMETTE RIVER BASIN AND WILL SERVE THOUSANDS OF YOUTH AND FAMILIES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
  2. $496,849 spent. NATURE DAY CAMPS, SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, CULTURAL ECOLOGY PROGRAMMING, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.FOTC FACILITATES CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY THROUGH DIVERSE PROGRAMMING THAT SUPPORTS TRYON CREEK STATE NATURAL AREA. CULTURAL ECOLOGY PROMOTES THE AUTHENTIC CULTURAL NARRATIVE OF THE TRYON CREEK LANDSCAPE. FOTC WORKS TO BENEFIT INTERGENERATIONAL AUDIENCES THROUGH A CONNECTION WITH THE NATURAL WORLD. FOTC PROGRAMMING FOCUSES ON INTER-DISCIPLINARY STEM APPROACHES TO BUILDING FUTURE LEADERS AND STEWARDS THROUGH PLACE-BASED OUTDOOR EDUCATION FOR YOUTH, FAMILYS, AND ADULTS.
  3. $309,919 spent. ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION AT TRYON CREEK STATE NATURAL AREA.FOTC MANAGES PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT THE ECOLOGICAL FUNCTION OF TRYON CREEK STATE NATURAL AREA. TREE PLANTINGS, LAND TENDING, REMOVAL OF NON-NATIVE SPECIES THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS, VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, AND CLASSES. IN 2025, FOTC COMPLETED A CULTURAL AND CLIMATE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT OF THE NATURAL AREA IN COLLABORATION WITH OREGON STATE PARKS. FOTC FACILITATED THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEER AND STUDENT EXPERIENCES DIRECTLY WORKING WITH AND IMPROVING THE FOREST LANDSCAPE.

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 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 September 1970.

    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.

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