Friends of Francis Park
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
FRANCIS PARK IS OWNED BY THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, WHICH HAS LIMITED FUNDS TO MAINTAIN THE PARK. A GROUP OF CITY RESIDENTS GOT TOGETHER AND FORMED FRIENDS OF FRANCIS PARK (FOFP), A 501(C)(3) CORPORATION, TO PRESERVE, IMPROVE, SUPPORT AND PROMOTE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK AND TO HELP FUND AND IMPLEMENT IMPROVEMENTS IN FRANCIS PARK. FOFP WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, OUR ALDERPERSON AND THE CITY PARKS DEPARTMENT. FOFP IS FUNDED THROUGH PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS AND THE NET PROCEEDS FROM THE ANNUAL RUN FOR THE HILLS, FOOT GOLF EVENT, AND ART IN THE PARK. IT HAS NO PAID EMPLOYEES. THE CITY PARKS DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS OUR 2ND WARD ALDERPERSON HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN ALL OF OUR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS OR FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES IN THE PARK AND MUST APPROVE ANY IMPROVEMENTS OR ACTIVITIES PROPOSED BY FOFP BEFORE THEY ARE IMPLEMENTED OR SCHEDULED.
- Income
- $106,316
- Spending
- $84,251
- Reserves
- 19.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 84%
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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)
- $82,073 spent. FOFP IS FUNDED THROUGH PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS, GRANTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS. AS IN PRIOR YEARS, DUE TO LIMITATIONS ON CITY RESOURCES, FOFP, ALONG WITH OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS, FUNDED SOME GRASS CUTTING FOR THE PARK AS WELL AS COSTS TO REMOVE AND CLEAN UP DEAD TREES IN THE PARK. FOFP ALSO FUNDED RESTORATION OF THE PARK'S HANDBALL COURTS; A WINTER CLEAN UP OF THE NATIVE GARDEN AREA; PARK MAINTENANCE, LANDSCAPE WORK, AND TREES/FLOWERS FOR THE PARK; MAINTENANCE OF THE DAVID R. FRANCIS STATUE AREA; AND MAINTENANCE AND CLEAN UP OF THE PARK'S BEAUTIFUL AND ICONIC LILY POND. THE ST. LOUIS HILLS SPECIAL BUSINESS DISTRICT PROVIDED FUNDING FOR THE HANDBALL COURTS' RESTORATION. IN 2025, FOFP PROMOTED THE PARK THROUGH ITS ANNUAL RUN FOR THE HILLS, FOOT GOLF, AND ART IN THE PARK EVENTS. THESE EVENTS WERE HELD IN THE PARK AND WERE ATTENDED, CUMULATIVELY, BY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. IN 2018, FOFP COMPLETED THE CAMPAIGN FOR A STATUE OF DAVID R. FRANCIS, FOR WHOM THE PARK IS NAMED AND WHO DONATED THE LAND FOR FRANCIS PARK TO THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS ON CHRISTMAS EVE 1916. ADDITIONALLY, IN 2018, THE STATUE WAS INSTALLED, DEDICATED AND DONATED TO THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. THEREAFTER, FOFP CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN THE AREA SURROUNDING THE STATUE.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.
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 2011.
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.