Cincinnati Parks Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To build broad based private/public partnerships supporting the conservation and enhancement of our City's parks and greenspaces.
- Income
- $3.2 million
- Spending
- $2.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 16.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 71%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 1,910
- Highest pay
- $178,909, president and ceo
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
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 16.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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 2540 of 40 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.
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)
- $2.0 million spent. Our mission to do more in Cincinnati Parks starts with a simple belief: small acts, like planting a tree, joining a park clean-up or donating to a project in your neighborhood park-can grow into something powerful. In 2024, thanks to the generous support of donors, volunteers and partners, we continued to turn small beginnings into lasting change. Together, we raised more than $2.6 million for projects, conservation efforts and programs-and distributed $1.2 million directly into Cincinnati Parks. Our Impact included:Improving more parks:- After removing 3 acres of invasive species from Glenway Park in 2023, we continued reimagining this space for the future and raised $300K towards park improvements.- Together, we raised over $850K in support of capital projects that help keep our parks safe, beautiful and welcoming.Supporting more conservation:- We planted over 1,260 trees citywide, with a focus on priority neighborhoods with the Green Cincinnati Plan.- We funded the Conservation Stewardship Program to train volunteers on how to safely and effectively remove invasive species from our parks.- Our oblitterators events in Owl's Nest, Eden, Burnett Woods, MLK Jr., Seasongood Square, Stanbery and Mt. Airy removed nearly 9,000 lbs. of litter to help keep our parks clean.Activating more parks:- We awarded grants to 21 neighborhood park CPACs to fund free family events in Cincinnati Parks.- We made our Family Fun Days in Smale Riverfront Park extra fun thanks to partnerships with the Cincinnati Fire Department, Cincinnati Fire Foundation and Queen City Book Bank.- We raised $190,000 for programming and events in Cincinnati Parks, supporting Family Fun Days in Smale, Avondale and Ezzard Chares Parks, Burnet Woods Yoga, Krohn Conservatory shows and be.well with Cincinnati Children's Hospital. -We welcomed 2,000 attendees to the second annual DJ Festival, which we hosted in Sawyer Point.- We met 100s of dogs and named one of them the unofficial mascot of Cincinnati Parks, with our Cincy Barks contest.- Our volunteers donated 9,700 hours in tree planting, invasive species and litter removal, roller skating, special events and more.Every tree planted, every class hosted, every park improved-each started with a small act. Thank you for helping us grow something extraordinary. Let's keep planting, protecting and celebrating Cincinnati Parks-one acorn at a time.
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 July 1995.
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.