Foundation Park Conservancy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To make Ariel-Foundation Park a world class example of adaptive reuse that honors its industrial heritage and makes it the focal point for recreation, entertainment, and social interaction in Knox County.
- Income
- $278,205
- Spending
- $423,855
- Spent on programs
- 92%
- Reserves
- 2.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 8
- Volunteers
- 98
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 8% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.7 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 52% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 57% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1592% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
5 of 250 of 6 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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)
- $391,239 spent. Community benefit activities included caring for 250 acres of revitalized greenspace and adjacent neighborhood properties under the ownership and/or care of the Conservancy; promoted outdoor recreation throughout the year, including hosting a Total Solar Eclipse viewing event, welcoming 4,100 visitors on April 8; hosted and/or partnered on seven concerts including one in celebration of July 4th; hosted the City of Mount Vernons July 4th fireworks event welcoming 8,000 guests to the park, plus more than 130 other events throughout the park season; provided two themed sunset social events; continued redevelopment of a native prairie, now designated the Delano Field of Discovery; marketed the park including nine paid social media ads and a feature in Ohio Magazines March/April edition; supported social media and website engagement with 568,000 views on Facebook and 972 follows, plus 29,000 visitors to the parks website; managed 104 community lighting requests for the tower or downtown bridge to promote, honor and celebrate special messages from community members; hosted the Knox County Career Center AFJROTC Raider Competition; managed rentals of park pavilions and three event venues; established a sustainable lawn fertilization and weed prevention program for the park; and, partnered in improving area housing stock availability through transfer of 15 neighborhood property parcels to the Knox County Land Bank for future redevelopment in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity of Knox County.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.
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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 2009.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.