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Forest Park Forever Inc

EIN 43-1427062 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO RESTORE, MAINTAIN AND SUSTAIN FOREST PARK, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, AS ONE OF AMERICA'S GREAT URBAN PUBLIC PARKS FOR A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF VISITORS TO ENJOY, NOW AND FOREVER.

Income
$42.3 million
Spending
$21.2 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
4.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 79%
Employees
110
Volunteers
1,911
Highest pay
$462,848, president and 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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 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 50% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 88% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    31 of 31 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $8.9 million spent. PARK OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE: FOREST PARK FOREVER PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS TO MAINTAIN THE CITY'S LARGEST PARK TO ACCOMMODATE 15.5 MILLION VISITORS ANNUALLY. OUR NONPROFIT EMPLOYS A TEAM OF HORTICULTURISTS, GARDENERS, NATURE RESERVE TECHNICIANS AND AN ECOLOGIST TO MAINTAIN THE PARK'S LANDSCAPES AND NATURAL AREAS, AND ENGINEERING, MAINTENANCE AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE PROFESSIONALS WHO COORDINATE WITH THE CITY AND CONTRACTORS TO MAINTAIN AND REPAIR PARK INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING SIDEWALKS AND ROADS, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND FIELDS, STATUES AND MONUMENTS. (Expenses $ 529,139 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) COMMUNICATION/COMMUNITY AWARENESS - FOREST PARK FOREVER SERVES AS A HUB OF INFORMATION FOR THE ST. LOUIS REGION ON AMENITIES AND EVENTS IN FOREST PARK, PARK IMPROVEMENTS AND TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CLOSURES, AND CULTURAL OFFERINGS. THESE ARE COMMUNICATED THROUGH THREE SEASONAL PRINT NEWSLETTERS, BI-WEEKLY EMAIL NEWSLETTERS, SOCIAL MEDIA, PUBLIC WEBSITE WITH 316,000 ANNUAL VISITS, AND VISITOR CENTER STAFF RESPONDING TO IN-PERSON QUESTIONS. THE ORGANIZATION PUBLISHES A FREE VISITOR GUIDE WITH MAPS OF THE PARK AND ITS AMENITIES, DISTRIBUTED IN THE PARK AND AT REGIONAL TOURIST DESTINATIONS, AND IT MANAGES A FREE INTERACTIVE, GPS ENABLED ONLINE MAP THAT ENGAGES 114,000 USERS ANNUALLY.
  2. $5.7 million spent. FOREST PARK FOREVER MAINTAINS FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO FLEXIBLY ADDRESS THE PARK'S LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM NEEDS WHILE ENSURING CONTINUED PARK ACCESS FOR VISITORS. FUNDS ARE ALSO RAISED FOR MULTI-YEAR CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT RESTORE OR IMPROVE MAJOR PARK FEATURES, AND WHICH FOREST PARK FOREVER IMPLEMENTS. IN 2024 SUCH PROJECTS INCLUDED COMPLETING THE MULTI-YEAR RESTORATION OF THREE LAKES ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE PARK, CONSTRUCTING BASKETBALL COURTS IN THE NORTH OF THE PARK NEAR OTHER COURT SPORTS AMENITIES, AND COMPLETING DESIGN FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF STEINBERG SKATING RINK, PAVILION AND SURROUNDING 22 ACRES, TO BE CALLED THE GLADE.
  3. $1.6 million spent. EDUCATION, VOLUNTEER, AND VISITOR SERVICES - FOREST PARK FOREVER OPERATES THE DENNIS AND JUDITH JONES VISITOR AND EDUCATION CENTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH EXPLORE ST. LOUIS. THIS CENTER WELCOMES AND ASSISTS PARK USERS BY PROVIDING FOREST PARK MAPS, INFORMATION AND DIRECTIONS AND ACCESS TO VISITOR RESOURCES FOR THE ST. LOUIS REGION. THE CENTER ALSO SERVES AS A GATHERING SPOT FOR RUNNERS, WALKERS AND CYCLISTS, BIRDERS, AND VARIOUS FITNESS GROUPS. VISITOR SERVICES ARE DELIVERED VIA TRAINED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE PAID STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS. THE CENTER INCLUDES A CAFE, SPECIAL EVENT AND MEETING SPACES, CLASSROOMS, EXHIBIT SPACE, PUBLIC RESTROOMS, SECURE LOCKER FACILITIES, A FULLY ACCESSIBLE PLAYGROUND, RACQUETBALL AND HANDBALL COURTS, FREE PUBLIC WIFI AND A BIKE REPAIR STATION. IN 2024, AN ESTIMATED 238,000 VISITORS AND PARK USERS CAME THROUGH THE VISITOR AND EDUCATION CENTER. (Expenses $ 529,139 including grants of $ 0)(Revenue $ 0) COMMUNICATION/COMMUNITY AWARENESS - FOREST PARK FOREVER SERVES AS A HUB OF INFORMATION FOR THE ST. LOUIS REGION ON AMENITIES AND EVENTS IN FOREST PARK, PARK IMPROVEMENTS AND TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CLOSURES, AND CULTURAL OFFERINGS. THESE ARE COMMUNICATED THROUGH THREE SEASONAL PRINT NEWSLETTERS, BI-WEEKLY EMAIL NEWSLETTERS, SOCIAL MEDIA, PUBLIC WEBSITE WITH 316,000 ANNUAL VISITS, AND VISITOR CENTER STAFF RESPONDING TO IN-PERSON QUESTIONS. THE ORGANIZATION PUBLISHES A FREE VISITOR GUIDE WITH MAPS OF THE PARK AND ITS AMENITIES, DISTRIBUTED IN THE PARK AND AT REGIONAL TOURIST DESTINATIONS, AND IT MANAGES A FREE INTERACTIVE, GPS ENABLED ONLINE MAP THAT ENGAGES 114,000 USERS ANNUALLY.
  4. $529,139 spent. COMMUNICATION/COMMUNITY AWARENESS - FOREST PARK FOREVER SERVES AS A HUB OF INFORMATION FOR THE ST. LOUIS REGION ON AMENITIES AND EVENTS IN FOREST PARK, PARK IMPROVEMENTS AND TEMPORARY TRAFFIC CLOSURES, AND CULTURAL OFFERINGS. THESE ARE COMMUNICATED THROUGH THREE SEASONAL PRINT NEWSLETTERS, BI-WEEKLY EMAIL NEWSLETTERS, SOCIAL MEDIA, PUBLIC WEBSITE WITH 316,000 ANNUAL VISITS, AND VISITOR CENTER STAFF RESPONDING TO IN-PERSON QUESTIONS. THE ORGANIZATION PUBLISHES A FREE VISITOR GUIDE WITH MAPS OF THE PARK AND ITS AMENITIES, DISTRIBUTED IN THE PARK AND AT REGIONAL TOURIST DESTINATIONS, AND IT MANAGES A FREE INTERACTIVE, GPS ENABLED ONLINE MAP THAT ENGAGES 114,000 USERS ANNUALLY.

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 April 1987.

    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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