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Gateway Arch Park Foundation

EIN 27-2128072 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O.

Income
$4.8 million
Spending
$6.6 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
9.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 45%
Employees
15
Volunteers
125
Highest pay
$261,673, executive director

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: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 39% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 77% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 26 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    19 of 19 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 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. $5.1 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE O.IN 2024, GATEWAY ARCH PARK FOUNDATION CONTINUED ITS EFFORTS IN CONSERVATION, PRESERVATION, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AT GATEWAY ARCH NATIONAL PARK. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:CONSERVATION: THROUGH ITS CO-MANAGED VOLUNTEER PROGRAM WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, FOUNDATION VOLUNTEERS REMOVED MORE THAN 5,100 POUNDS OF TRASH FROM ENTERING THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DURING THREE RIVERFRONT CLEANUPS, TWO OF WHICH OCCUR BI-ANNUALLY. IN 2024, THE FOUNDATION ALSO INTRODUCED NEW DROP-IN DAYS OF SERVICE, A NEW ECOLOGICAL MONITOR POSITION THAT DOCUMENT THE PARK'S WILDLIFE, AND BIOBLITZ EVENTS.PRESERVATION: TOGETHER WITH NPS, THE FOUNDATION CONTINUED PROGRESS ON THE RENOVATIONS OF THE OLD COURTHOUSE, WHICH WILL FEATURE ALL-NEW EXHIBIT GALLERIES, STRUCTURAL UPDATES, NEW HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS, RENOVATED CEILINGS AND FLOORING, A NEW FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM, AN ACCESSIBLE ELEVATOR, AND GENERAL REMEDIATION AND RESTORATION. THE FOUNDATION ALSO ADDED NEW POWER SOURCES TO THE NORTH GATEWAY OF GATEWAY ARCH NATIONAL PARK TO BETTER SUPPORT CONCERTS AND FESTIVALS IN THE 7.5-ACRE OUTDOOR EVENT SPACE. FOUNDATION VOLUNTEERS ALSO WORKED TO DIGITIZE 15 YEARS OF CITYARCHRIVER PROJECT DOCUMENTATION.EDUCATION: IN 2024, THE FOUNDATION'S JOURNEY FUND SUPPORTED 3,046 STUDENTS AND EDUCATORS FROM UNDER-RESOURCED SCHOOLS AND YOUTH GROUPS TO RECEIVE FREE ARCH VISITS. THROUGH THE ASSISTANCE OF PRIVATE GRANTS, THE FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPORTED AN OUTDOOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, "PADDLE YOUR PARK," WHICH WELCOMED 232 LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUED TO ENSURE EQUITABLE INTERNET ACCESS THROUGHOUT THE PARK'S 91 ACRES AND IN KIENER PLAZA WITH FREE PUBLIC WI-FI AND FUNDED THE 24/7 LIVESTREAMS OF TWO WEBCAMS FROM THE TOP OF THE ARCH. IN 2024, 6,400 USERS CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN 270,000 VIEWS TO THE WEBCAMS. NEW IN FALL 2024, THE FOUNDATION ALSO INTRODUCED BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOURS FOR FOUNDATION MEMBERS TO CONNECT THEM WITH EACH OTHER AND UNIQUE INSIGHTS INTO THE MUSEUM'S RENOVATIONS, ST. LOUIS HISTORY, AND ONGOING PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMING THAT MEMBERSHIP HELPS SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE PARK. TRAILS AND RAILS VOLUNTEERS ALSO SPENT 923 HOURS SHARING THE HERITAGE OF OUR REGION WITH PASSENGERS ABOARD AMTRAK TRAINS THAT TRAVEL IN THE ST. LOUIS REGION.COMMUNITY PROGRAMS: THE FOUNDATION'S YOGA PROGRAMS SAW MORE THAN 1,650 PARTICIPANTS, WITH ANOTHER 232 AT A PARTNER'S FITNESS SERIES IN THE FALL. THE WEEKEND-LONG BLUES AT THE ARCH FESTIVAL SAW MORE THAN 15,500 ATTENDEES. 2024 ALSO SAW THE RETURN OF ARCH BARK, WHICH WELCOMED MORE THAN 1,200 PEOPLE AND THEIR DOGS ENJOYING AN AFTERNOON AT THE NATIONAL PARK. WINTERFEST SAW MORE THAN 52,000 PEOPLE IN KIENER PLAZA OVER 19 DAYS, WITH 462 PARTICIPANTS IN THE WINTERFEST 5K.IN 2024, THE FOUNDATION'S CO-MANAGED VOLUNTEER PROGRAM WELCOMED 464 VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING 23 CORPORATE/COMMUNITY GROUP DAYS OF SERVICE. VOLUNTEERS DONATED 6,132 HOURS OVER 1,604 SHIFTS IN AREAS SUCH AS MUSEUM VISITOR SERVICES, CONSERVATION PROJECTS, MEMBERSHIP PROJECTS, SPECIAL EVENTS, ADMINISTRATIVE PROJECTS, AND MORE.

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

  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 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 2024.

    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 May 2010.

    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.