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Lincoln Park Conservancy

EIN 36-3320423 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF THE LINCOLN PARK CONSERVANCY IS TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE INSPIRING BEAUTY OF CHICAGO'S LARGEST AND MOST VISITED PARK FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE BELIEVE THAT BEAUTY MATTERS. THAT IT HAS THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER TO LIFT OUR SPIRITS, HEAL OUR BODIES, UNITE OUR COMMUNITIES, AND ACT AS SANCTUARY FROM THE PACE AND PRESSURES OF CITY LIFE. AS STEWARDS OF THIS URBAN REFUGE, THE LINCOLN PARK CONSERVANCY IS DEDICATED TO ENSURING THAT THE PARK REMAINS A WORLD CLASS DESTINATION FOR ALL BY WORKING WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS TO PROTECT, RESTORE, AND MAINTAIN THE PARK AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL POSSIBLE.

Income
$819,038
Spending
$735,516
Spent on programs
64%
Reserves
8.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
22
Volunteers
1,600
Highest pay
$129,501, 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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    64% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 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 98% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 (3)
  1. $265,347 spent. EDUCATION/VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS - 1) NORTH POND GARDENERS/CORPORATE WORKDAY PROGRAM: TRAIN AND MANAGE CORPS OF 1500 VOLUNTEERS TO PLANT WILDFLOWERS, SEED, IDENTIFY AND REMOVE INVASIVE SPECIES, PRUNE AND MULCH TREES/SHRUBS, MAINTAIN NATIVE PLANTS IN URBAN PRAIRIES, WOODLANDS AND WETLANDS, REMOVE LITTER AND EDUCATE THEM ON THE IMPORTANCE OF NATIVE PLANTS AND ANIMALS TO OUR ENVIRONMENT AND REGIONAL HISTORY. VOLUNTEERS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN SEVERAL PARK CLEAN-UP DAYS INCLUDING LARGE GROUPS ON EARTH DAY AND PUBLIC LANDS DAY. VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED OVER 2,000 SERVICE HOURS TO THE PROGRAM IN 2024. 2) LINCOLN PARK DOCENTS: IN 2024 WE HAD 87 ACTIVE DOCENTS THAT INTERACTED WITH OVER 31,000 VISITORS. THEY ALSO CONDUCTED 22 FORMAL GROUP TOURS AND 13 WILDFLOWER WALKS AROUND NORTH POND.
  2. $121,747 spent. MAINTENANCE OF DONOR-RESTORED PARK SITES - STAFF RESTORED AND MAINTAINED THE ALFRED CALDWELL LILY POOL, NORTH POND NATURE SANCTUARY, AND OTHER PREVIOUS PROJECTS IN LINCOLN PARK.
  3. $80,152 spent. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANNING - COMPLETED RENEWAL PLAN FOR THE LINCOLN MONUMENT AND FLORAL GARDENS AND THE AREA OF SOUTH LINCOLN PARK SURROUNDING THEM. CONTINUED THE RESTORATION OF THE HISTORIC PAVILION, ADDED NEW PLANTS AND TREES, REMOVED HAZARD AND INVASIVE TREES, ADDED PLUMBING UPGRADES AND REPAIRED LIGHTING AT THE ALFRED CALDWELL LILY POOL. FINISHED AQUATIC PLANTING OF THE NORTH POND NATURE SANCTUARY.

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 October 13, 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 November 1984.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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