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Friends of Princeton Open Space

EIN 23-7259355 · Princeton, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

IN PRINCETON: ACQUIRING OPEN SPACE FOR PRESERVATION, PROTECTING NATURAL RESOURCES, MAINTAINING ACCESSIBILITY TO TRAILS AND PROVIDING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. IN THE PRINCETON REGION: WORKING WITH GROUPS TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT OPEN SPACE AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$296,157
Spending
$313,534
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
9.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
7
Volunteers
900

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

Financial health

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 94% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 21 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.

  • 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 June 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 (3)
  1. $147,921 spent. FRIENDS OF PRINCETON OPEN SPACE PROTECTS NATURAL RESOURCES BY PRESERVING LAND AND MANAGING THE BILLY JOHNSON MOUNTAIN LAKES NATURE PRESERVE, ON WHICH IT HOLDS THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. INVASIVE PLANTS ARE REMOVED AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROJECTS ARE CONDUCTED; NATIVE PLANTS ARE GROWN, PLANTED AND MAINTAINED BY OR UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE DIRECTOR, NATURAL RESOURCES AND STEWARDSHIP.
  2. $15,929 spent. FRIENDS OF PRINCETON OPEN SPACE BOARD MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS HAVE MAINTAINED OVER 8 MILES OF TRAILS IN MOUNTAIN LAKES OPEN SPACE AREA AND HAVE RESTORED AND MAINTAINED TRAILS THROUGHOUT THE MUNICIPALITY. SIGNIFICANT WORK IS COMPLETED TO CLEAR TRAILS OF SEASONAL OVERGROWTH. FOPOS HAS ADDED STONE STEPS, FOOTBRIDGES AND BOARDWALKS TO VARIOUS TRAILS TO MAKE THEM MORE ACCESSIBLE.
  3. $91,042 spent. FRIENDS OF PRINCETON OPEN SPACE HAS PRESENTED EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND SPEAKERS AT THE BILLY JOHNSON MOUNTAIN LAKES NATURE PRESERVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THE COMMUNITY ON TOPICS SUCH AS GARDENING WITH NATIVE SPECIES, INVASIVE SPECIES, AND THE FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE GREATER MOUNTAIN LAKES OPEN SPACE AREA. FOPOS HAS ALSO CO-SPONSORED EVENTS SUCH AS GUIDED TRAIL WALKS WITH OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL/EDUCATIONAL GROUPS. THE BOARD AND OTHER MEMBERS CONTRIBUTED TOWARDS SUPPORT FOR STAFFING AND EXPENSES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1983.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

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