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Redwood City Parks and Arts Foundation

EIN 45-4990174 · Redwood City, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO AID, ASSIST, PROMOTE, ADVOCATE AND DEVELOP SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC PARK FACILITIES, RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING VISUAL PERFORMING AND PUBLIC ART AND CIVIC EVENTS IN THE REDWOOD CITY COMMUNITY. TO ADVOCATE, ADVANCE, AND DEVELOP SUPPORT FOR PARKS, RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMING, COMMUNITY SERVICES, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, AND THE ARTS IN REDWOOD CITY AND SURROUNDING UNINCORPORATED AREAS.

Income
$619,747
Spending
$622,218
Spent on programs
76%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 44%
Employees
1
Volunteers
300

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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 56% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    76% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 28 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: 91 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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. $473,097 spent. HOSTED VALENTINE'S MESSAGE FUNDRAISER - DONORS' VALENTINE MESSAGES WERE DISPLAYED ON LARGE LED SCREEN ON COURTHOUSE SQUARE WITH LARGE LIGHTED FLORAL HEART IN FRONT OF IT FOR PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES.PLANNED AND HOSTED CHALK FULL OF FUN IN DOWNTOWN REDWOOD CITY ON JULY 3 AND 4.HOSTED THE ANNUAL FUNDRAISER, PICNIC EN BLANC, TO RAISE FUNDS FOR A COMMUNITY NEED.HOSTED A PRE-SUMMER FUNDRAISER FOR MUSIC ON THE SQUARE.PROVIDE VOLUNTEERS (THE BUCKET BRIGADE) FOR MUSIC ON THE SQUARE FUNDRAISING AT THE 13 FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERTS HOSTED BY THE CITY OF REDWOOD CITY.CO-HOSTED OKTOBERFEST (AN EVENT OVER 9 DAYS IN SEPTEMBER) WITH THE CITY OF REDWOOD CITY.CO-HOSTED 4 PUB IN THE PARK EVENTS IN LOCAL PARKS DURING THE SUMMER WITH THE CITY OF REDWOOD CITY.MAINTAINED AND MANAGED VOLUNTEER KINDNESS AMBASSADOR PROGRAM TO PROVIDE STAFFING AT THE MAGICAL BRIDGE PLAYGROUND, AND PLANNED AND HOSTED 10 EVENTS AT THE PLAYGROUND.PLANNED AND HOSTED MAGICAL MUSIC & MOTION, WHICH IS 11 LIVE PERFORMANCES AT MAGICAL BRIDGE PLAYGROUND. FACILITATED OTHER PROGRAMMING AT THE MAGICAL BRIDGE PLAYGROUND.SUPPORT CONCESSION SALES AT ZOPPE CIRCUS WHICH IS HOSTED BY THE CITY OF REDWOOD CITY.SPONSORED AND SUPPORTED AN INCLUSION FESTIVAL IN RED MORTON PARK.FOUNDATION CONTINUED A NEWSLETTER AND SWITCHED TO CONSTANT CONTACT FOR DISTRIBUTION WHICH IS AVAILABLE THROUGH DONOR PERFECT SUBSCRIPTION.PROVIDED A GRANT TO THE CITY OF REDWOOD CITY'S PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPT FOR THE PURCHASE OF ARCADE AND VIDEO GAMES TO CREATE A PUBLIC CENTER FOR VIDEO GAMING.MAINTAINED CHARLES SCHWAB ACCOUNTS FOR FOUNDATION FUNDS, PRCS GRANT FUNDS AND THE LIABILITY ACCOUNT. PARTNERED WITH EMMA TAYLOR OF PENINSULA PUZZLERS TO CO-HOST TWO JIGSAW PUZZLE TEAM COMPETITIONS.MAINTAINED A MEMBERSHIP WITH THE CHAMBER SAN MATEO COUNTY.CONTINUED FISCAL SPONSORSHIP OF OYE LATINX CONFERENCE.SPONSORED THE BRAVEMAKER FILMFEST.SPONSORED DIA DE LOS MUERTOS IN NOVEMBER HOSTED BY CASA CIRCULO CULTURAL.BOARD MEMBERS CONTINUED A MONTHLY WORK GROUP MEETING, IN ADDITION TO REGULAR MONTHLY BOARD MEETINGS. RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE CHAN ZUCKERBERG INITIATIVE TO CONTINUE THE ARTS PROGRAMMING PLAN FOR THE CZI COMMUNITY SPACE. IMPLEMENT THE CZI COMMUNITY SPACE ARTS PROGRAMMING PLAN BY CONVENING AN ART ADVISORY WORK GROUP AND ISSUING A CALL FOR ART.HOSTED ONE ART EXHIBITION OPENING AT THE CZI COMMUNITY SPACE.WE CONTINUED TO HAVE A PART-TIME ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FROM JAN. 2024 THROUGH SEPT. 2024 AT WHICH TIME SHE RESIGNED.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2012.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.