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Friends of Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks

EIN 26-2332568 · Westerville, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair64 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENHANCE PUBLIC USE AND ENJOYMENT OF FRANKLIN COUNTY METRO AREA PARKS, SEEK OUT PUBLIC SUPPORT, AND ADVOCATE FOR THE PARKS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

Income
$262,921
Spending
$199,212
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
29.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
20

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 85% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 29.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 (5)
  1. $26,674 spent. FRIENDS OF COLUMBUS AND FRANKLIN COUNTY METRO PARKS PARTNERED WITH THE METRO PARKS IN SUPPORT OF THE TREE AND BENCH PROGRAM. THE TREE AND BENCH PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE PARKS BY PLACING TREES AND BENCHES IN THE PARKS. DONATIONS ARE RECEIVED BY GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS WHICH ALLOW THEM TO PLACE TREES AND BENCHES IN HONOR OF LOVED ONES FOR ALL TO ENJOY.
  2. $83,402 spent. FRIENDS OF THE COLUMBUS AND FRANKLIN CO METRO PARKS HOSTED COMMUNITY EVENTS TO BRING THE METRO PARKS TO THE COMMUNITY IN A NEW WAY BY ENCOURAGING CENTRAL OHIO RESIDENTS TO EXPERIENCE THE PARKS AND EDUCATE THEM ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PARKS. THESE EVENTS HELPED TO INTRODUCE NEW PEOPLE TO OUR METRO PARKS THROUGH FUN, INTERACTIVE EVENTS AND CREATED WAYS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO APPRECIATE AND ADVOCATE FOR THE METRO PARKS. EVENTS INCLUDED YAPPY HOUR, SCIOTO FESTIVAL, BLENDON WOODSTOCK, AND THE WINTER HIKE SERIES. FRIENDS OF THE METROPARKS ALSO PROVIDES A PASSPORT PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE THE RESIDENTS TO VISIT ALL OF THE PARKS FRANKLIN COUNTY OFFERS AND FACILITATES DONATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR VARIOUS PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
  3. $67,340 spent. THE FRIENDS OF COLUMBUS AND FRANKLIN COUNTY METRO PARKS SUPPORTS THE METRO PARKS BY ASSISTING WITH VARIOUS OPERATIONAL EXPENSES SUCH AS PERSONNEL COST SUPPORT AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF PARK ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMS.
  4. $12,059 spent. FRIENDS OF COLUMBUS AND FRANKLIN COUNTY METRO PARKS PARTNERED WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING TO GROUPS WHOSE GOALS ALIGNED WITH FRIENDS OF COLUMBUS AND FRANKLIN COUNTY METRO PARKS' MISSION OF MAKING THE METRO PARKS ACCESSIBLE TO MORE PEOPLE. THE FRIENDS OF COLUMBUS AND FRANKLIN COUNTY METRO PARKS ALSO FACILITATES VARIOUS DONATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARKS, INCLUDING PROVIDING FLOWERS FOR THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN, PURCHASING PLAQUES FOR THE MEMORIAL BRICK PROGRAM, AND OTHER PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
  5. FRIENDS OF COLUMBUS AND FRANKLIN COUNTY METRO PARKS PARTNERED WITH ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING TO GROUPS WHOSE GOALS ALIGNED WITH FRIENDS OF COLUMBUS AND FRANKLIN COUNTY METRO PARKS' MISSION OF MAKING THE METRO PARKS ACCESSIBLE TO MORE PEOPLE. THE FRIENDS OF COLUMBUS AND FRANKLIN COUNTY METRO PARKS ALSO FACILITATES VARIOUS DONATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PARKS, INCLUDING PROVIDING FLOWERS FOR THE BUTTERFLY GARDEN, PURCHASING PLAQUES FOR THE MEMORIAL BRICK PROGRAM, AND OTHER PARK IMPROVEMENTS.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2011 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2011.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 October 2014.

    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 November 4, 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.