Friends of the Patapsco Valley State Park Ltd
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO SUPPORT THE PARK BY PROMOTING STEWARDSHIP THROUGH PROGRAMMING, SUSTAINABLE RECREATION, AND THE PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF ITS NATURAL RESOURCES.
- Income
- $472,964
- Spending
- $382,215
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 2.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 55%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 1,010
- Highest pay
- $103,339, 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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 78% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 61 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no 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 (4)
- $56,649 spent. THE PATAPSCO FUN SERIES IS A MULTI-DATE VOLUNTEER TRAIL BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE PROJECT THAT CONTRIBUTES VOLUNTEER HOURS TO PATAPSCO VALLEY STATE PARK.
- $166,819 spent. OUTREACH ACTIVITIES AND PARK PROJECTS ARE ONGOING DURING THE YEAR THROUGH THE MOBILE VISITOR CENTER AND VARIOUS PARK ACTIVITIES. SUCH ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES AND KIOSKS DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED TO SUPPORT ALL TRAIL USERS, MARKING OF TRAILHEADS, SIGNING THE EXTENSIVE TRAIL SYSTEM, AND MAINTAINING AND UPDATING PLAYGROUND SPACE AT HOLLOFIELD TO MAKE IT A FULLY ACCESSIBLE AMERICAN DISABILITY ACT-COMPLIANT PLAY SPACE TO ALLOW VISITORS OF ALL ABILITIES TO CONNECT TO NATURE THROUGH PLAY, EXPLORATION, AND REFLECTION.
- $53,976 spent. TRAIL RUNS IN THE PICKALL AREA OF PATAPSCO VALLEY STATE PARK. THE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS ARE GRASSROOTS, LOW-KEY, AND FOCUSED ON BUILDING INVESTMENT AND ACCESS FOR ALL PARK USERS. REGISTRATION IS LIMITED 100 PEOPLE, FIRST COME FIRST SERVED EXCEPT FOR THE PATAPSCO HERITAGE GREENWAY FAMILY FUN RUN, HELD ON THE LAST DAY OF THE SERIES THAT'S OPEN TO EVERYONE, EVERY AGE, EVERY EVERYTHING.
- $18,957 spent. ADAPTIVE PROGRAMS UTILIZE EQUIPMENT AND EXPERIENCES TO INSURE PATAPSCO VALLEY STATE PARK IS INCLUSIVE OF VISITORS WHO MAY HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS.PATAPSCO TRAIL FEST IS A WEEKEND EVENT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER THE DIVERSE USER GROUPS OF THE PARK TO RAISE AWARENESS AND STEWARDSHIP OF THE PARK. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE HIKING, TRAIL RUNNING, MOUNTAIN BIKING, KAYAKING, CAMPING, ETC.
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 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 2024.
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 April 1998.
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.