Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PPFF'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE STEWARDSHIP OF PENNSYLVANIA'S STATE PARKS AND FORESTS.
- Income
- $1.7 million
- Spending
- $1.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- 3.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 66%
- Employees
- 12
- Volunteers
- 2,876
- Highest pay
- $104,427, president
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: 80 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 7% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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 47% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no 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
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
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 (1)
- $1.2 million spent. THE THEME FOR 2024 WAS 'LEAP IN', WHICH CELEBRATED THE LEAP YEAR AND PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE, INFORM, AND CONSERVE THROUGH VARIOUS MODES. FROM AN EDUCATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, WE PROVIDED ARTICLES AND INFORMATION ON NEW WAYS TO RECREATE IN STATE PARKS AND FORESTS. WE USED OUR PLATFORMS OF NEWSLETTERS, BLOGS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA, TO SHARE INFORMATION ON NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND LOOKED AT WAYS TO ENGAGE VOLUNTEERS, BOTH AT PPFF AND THROUGH OUR CHAPTERS. THIS INCLUDED MULTIPLE CORPORATE VOLUNTEER DAYS. IN THIS REALM, WE LAUNCHED TWO NEW VOLUNTEER CHAPTERS, WHO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. WE ALSO PROVIDED INFORMATION, IN COOPERATION WITH DCNR, ON VIEWING THE SOLAR ECLIPSE. OUR INFOGRAPHICS FOCUSED ON SAFETY AND SKILL BUILDING. WE INVESTED IN STUDIES TO SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA OUTDOOR CORPS. WE EXPANDED OUR ONLINE BOOK CLUB, WITH TWELVE VIRTUAL MEETINGS, SEVERAL OF WHICH INCLUDED THE AUTHORS OF THE BOOKS. WE EXPANDED THE CONSERVATION HERITAGE PROJECT WEBSITE TO EXPLORE MORE UNTOLD STORIES, TO INSPIRE A NEW GENERATION OF CONSERVATIONISTS. ADDITIONALLY, WE ALSO ASSIST IN THE COMPLETION OF THE STATE PARK HISTORY BOOK, CAPTURING THE HISTORY FROM 2016 -2023. WE FOCUSED ON TRAIL FUNDS TO ASSIST PARKS/FORESTS IMPROVE TRAIL CONDITIONS. WE RESTORED CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS STRUCTURES. 2876 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 40,169 HOURS OF SERVICE VALUE OF VOLUNTEER TIME: 1,345,259.81 233 SERVICE PROJECTS 165 SPECIAL EVENTS ATTRACTING 70,104 PEOPLE CONCERTS, YOGA, PADDLES, HERITAGE DAYS, FISHING DERBIES, MOVIE NIGHTS, AND MORE 190 OTHER EVENTS, 12,991 595,533 RAISED BY FRIENDS THINGS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH PPFF AND FRIENDS GROUPS: 6200 STUDENTS REACHED THROUGH 210 PROGRAMS SUPPORTED THROUGH EITC DONATIONS 5506 TREES PLANTED 4295 STUDENTS AND OTHERS REACHED THROUGH 14 OUTREACH EVENTS 465 PEOPLE REACHED VIA 10 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS 420 MILES OF TRAILS BUILT OR MAINTAINED 211 BLUEBIRD BOXES/BIRD PROJECTS 201TRAILS MAINTAINED 35 AMPHITHEATERS OR OTHER EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES BUILT OR MAINTAINED 30 GARDENS PLANTED OR MAINTAINED 24 TRAIL BRIDGES OR CULVERTS BUILT OR MAINTAINED 18 AMPHITHEATERS/EDUCATIONAL AREAS 17 ROADSIDE CLEANUPS 14 SPANISH LANGUAGE RADIO SHOWS HELD 12 BENCHES 12 BUILDINGS, EQUIPMENT OR SIMILAR ITEMS MAINTAINED 12 CONSERVATION BOOKS DISCUSSED 9 COLOR CORRECTING VIEWFINDERS PLACED 8 TRAINING PROGRAMS HELD FOR VOLUNTEERS 8 PICNIC TABLES 8 PLAYGROUNDS BUILT OR UPDATED 7 CORPORATE VOLUNTEER DAYS 5 BANQUET TABLES 4 PLAYGROUNDS MAINTAINED 4 HISTORIC STRUCTURES MAINTAINED 3 INTERNS 3 LNT PROGRAMS 2 VIDEOS RELEASED 2 ADA CANOE AND KAYAK LAUNCHES INSTALLED 2 INTERPRETIVE PANELS PLACED 1 FISHING PIER 1 RANGER E-BIKE PURCHASED 1 CAMPGROUND HOST GOLF CART 1 PUBLIC WEBINAR HELD 1 PICNIC PAVILION 1 LARGE FIRE RING EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES PURCHASED- WATER QUALITY TEST KITS, PROGRAM SUPPLIES, ETC PA OUTDOOR CORPS CREWS SUPPORT TAXIDERMY PROJECTS BUS TRANSPORTATION FEES PAID TO REDUCE TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS THE THEME FOR 2024 WAS 'LEAP IN', WHICH CELEBRATED THE LEAP YEAR AND PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE, INFORM, AND CONSERVE THROUGH VARIOUS MODES. FROM AN EDUCATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, WE PROVIDED ARTICLES AND INFORMATION ON NEW WAYS TO RECREATE IN STATE PARKS AND FORESTS. WE USED OUR PLATFORMS OF NEWSLETTERS, BLOGS, AND SOCIAL MEDIA, TO SHARE INFORMATION ON NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND LOOKED AT WAYS TO ENGAGE VOLUNTEERS, BOTH AT PPFF AND THROUGH OUR CHAPTERS. THIS INCLUDED MULTIPLE CORPORATE VOLUNTEER DAYS. IN THIS REALM, WE LAUNCHED TWO NEW VOLUNTEER CHAPTERS, WHO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING. WE ALSO PROVIDED INFORMATION, IN COOPERATION WITH DCNR, ON VIEWING THE SOLAR ECLIPSE. OUR INFOGRAPHICS FOCUSED ON SAFETY AND SKILL BUILDING. WE INVESTED IN STUDIES TO SUPPORT THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA OUTDOOR CORPS. WE EXPANDED OUR ONLINE BOOK CLUB, WITH TWELVE VIRTUAL MEETINGS, SEVERAL OF WHICH INCLUDED THE AUTHORS OF THE BOOKS. WE EXPANDED THE CONSERVATION HERITAGE PROJECT WEBSITE TO EXPLORE MORE UNTOLD STORIES, TO INSPIRE A NEW GENERATION OF CONSERVATIONISTS. ADDITIONALLY, WE ALSO ASSIST IN THE COMPLETION OF THE STATE PARK HISTORY BOOK, CAPTURING THE HISTORY FROM 2016 -2023. WE FOCUSED ON TRAIL FUNDS TO ASSIST PARKS/FORESTS IMPROVE TRAIL CONDITIONS. WE RESTORED CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS STRUCTURES. 2876 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 40,169 HOURS OF SERVICE VALUE OF VOLUNTEER TIME: 1,345,259.81 233 SERVICE PROJECTS 165 SPECIAL EVENTS ATTRACTING 70,104 PEOPLE CONCERTS, YOGA, PADDLES, HERITAGE DAYS, FISHING DERBIES, MOVIE NIGHTS, AND MORE 190 OTHER EVENTS, 12,991 595,533 RAISED BY FRIENDS THINGS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH PPFF AND FRIENDS GROUPS: 6200 STUDENTS REACHED THROUGH 210 PROGRAMS SUPPORTED THROUGH EITC DONATIONS 5506 TREES PLANTED 4295 STUDENTS AND OTHERS REACHED THROUGH 14 OUTREACH EVENTS 465 PEOPLE REACHED VIA 10 EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS 420 MILES OF TRAILS BUILT OR MAINTAINED 211 BLUEBIRD BOXES/BIRD PROJECTS 201TRAILS MAINTAINED 35 AMPHITHEATERS OR OTHER EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES BUILT OR MAINTAINED 30 GARDENS PLANTED OR MAINTAINED 24 TRAIL BRIDGES OR CULVERTS BUILT OR MAINTAINED 18 AMPHITHEATERS/EDUCATIONAL AREAS 17 ROADSIDE CLEANUPS 14 SPANISH LANGUAGE RADIO SHOWS HELD 12 BENCHES 12 BUILDINGS, EQUIPMENT OR SIMILAR ITEMS MAINTAINED 12 CONSERVATION BOOKS DISCUSSED 9 COLOR CORRECTING VIEWFINDERS PLACED 8 TRAINING PROGRAMS HELD FOR VOLUNTEERS 8 PICNIC TABLES 8 PLAYGROUNDS BUILT OR UPDATED 7 CORPORATE VOLUNTEER DAYS 5 BANQUET TABLES 4 PLAYGROUNDS MAINTAINED 4 HISTORIC STRUCTURES MAINTAINED 3 INTERNS 3 LNT PROGRAMS 2 VIDEOS RELEASED 2 ADA CANOE AND KAYAK LAUNCHES INSTALLED 2 INTERPRETIVE PANELS PLACED 1 FISHING PIER 1 RANGER E-BIKE PURCHASED 1 CAMPGROUND HOST GOLF CART 1 PUBLIC WEBINAR HELD 1 PICNIC PAVILION 1 LARGE FIRE RING EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES PURCHASED- WATER QUALITY TEST KITS, PROGRAM SUPPLIES, ETC PA OUTDOOR CORPS CREWS SUPPORT TAXIDERMY PROJECTS BUS TRANSPORTATION FEES PAID TO REDUCE TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS
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 2025.
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 2000.
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.
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