Washington Parks & People
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To protect, restore and promote sound park management in the Washington DC metropolitan area. (See Continuation on Schedule O)
- Income
- $991,371
- Spending
- $779,703
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 80%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $102,037, 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
Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 2% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 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
Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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)
- $651,337 spent. DC Green Corps- the DC Green Corps, based at the New Marvin Gaye Community Greening Center in the watts branch sub- watershed of the Anacostia River, provides a city- wide gateway to 50 different green career tracks in urban and community forestry and forest- based ecosystem and watershed restoration helping under- served sub- watershed communities across the city. The Green Corps job program focuses on environmental justice, sustainable native reforestation, riparian buffer planting, invasive removal, urban agriculture and arboriculture, and green controls of urban systems, such as storm and sewer flows. The Green Corps and Center have a referral system to help participants connect to jobs through a wide range of agencies, professional and trade associations, trades and professions and industries. Education and Outreach- Washington Parks and People offers programs that inform the public about the various uses and the history of public parks located in the Washington DC metro area. Community Harvest- The Community Harvest program reconnects underserved people with land, food, jobs and justice. The centerpiece of the program is community partnership awards of mini- grants, land reclamation, planning and design, trees, seeds, tools, technical assistance, job training, volunteer support, fiscal sponsorship and advocacy for community greening efforts. The organization continues to partner with the local and federal governments and diverse communities to reclaim parklands across the District of Columbia, with current focus on Marvin Gaye Park in Far Northeast DC and Meridian Hill/ Malcolm X Park in Columbia Heights. The organization also owns and operates four community impact hubs: its headquarters at the Josephine Butler Parks Center facing Meridian Hill/ Malcolm X Park, its program base at the RIverside Healthy Living Center in Far Northeast DC, the Columbia Heights Green, and the Piney Spring Green in Petworth. Each of these has a range of community health, youth, recreation, education, arts, agriculture, and environmental reclamation and training impacts that radiate out across the city.
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 October 13, 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 November 6, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1992.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 November 4, 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.