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Memorial Park Association Inc

EIN 59-2765584 · Jacksonville, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MEMORIAL PARK ASSOCIATION, INC. IS A 501(C)(3) FLORIDA NON-PROFIT ENTITY DEDICATED TO THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF MEMORIAL PARK IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

Income
$130,997
Spending
$146,636
Spent on programs
96%
Reserves
55.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 98%
Employees
0
Volunteers
14

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 84 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 55.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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.

  • 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, 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 (2)
  1. $99,455 spent. MEMORIAL PARK ASSOCIATION, INC. IS A 501(C)(3) FLORIDA NONPROFIT ENTITY DEDICATED TO THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF MEMORIAL PARK IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THE ASSOCIATION WAS CREATED IN 1986 BY A GROUP OF PARK ENTHUSIASTS AND LOCAL PHILANTHROPISTS CONCERNED WITH MEMORIAL PARK'S PERSISTENT STATE OF DECLINE AND DISREPAIR, JUST A YEAR AFTER MEMORIAL PARK WAS INCLUDED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AS PART OF THE RIVERSIDE (NOW RIVERSIDE-AVONDALE) NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT. MEMORIAL PARK IS LOCATED AT 1620 RIVERSIDE AVENUE NEAR THE 5 POINTS AREA OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA AND IS ONE OF JACKSONVILLE'S BEST LOVED TREASURES. LOCATED ALONG THE BANKS OF THE MAJESTIC ST. JOHNS RIVER, THIS SIX-ACRE PARK DRAWS VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA COMMUNITY. SOON AFTER ITS FORMATION, THE ASSOCIATION ENTERED AN ADOPT-A-PARK AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, WHICH ENABLES IT TO PERFORM VARIOUS OPERATIONS AND MAINENANCE FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING NECESSARY PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS, CONSISTENT WITH THE HISTORICAL CHARACTER OF THE PARK AND CONCURRENT WITH THE CITY'S OBLIGATION TO MAINTAIN MEMORIAL PARK FOR THE GREATER PUBLIC GOOD. IN 1988, THE ASSOCIATION COMMISSIONED ITS FIRST RESTORATION PLANS FOR THE PARK. IN 1992, A PROJECT TO RESTORE THE ICONIC MEMORIAL SCULPTURE SPIRITUALIZED LIFE WAS INITIATED, THE FIRST SINCE THE SCULPTURE'S INSTALLATION IN 1924. OTHER RESTORATIONS FOLLOWED IN 2004 AND 2019. SINCE THEN, THE ASSOCIATION FACILITATED AND FUNDED NUMEROUS PROJECTS TO FURTHER PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE PARK, INCLUDING THE INSTALLATION OF ORNAMENTAL METAL FENCING AROUND THE PERIMETER, UPGRADES TO THE IRRIGATION AND LIGHTING SYSTEMS, THE PLANTING OF OAKS AND OTHER NATIVE VEGETATION, THE RENOVATION OF THE ENTRANCE PIERS, PLAZA, BALUSTRADES, AND FOUNTAIN BASIN, CLEANUP OF THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED BY HURRICANE IRMA IN 2017, AND THE DEDICATION OF MARBLE BENCHES TO HONOR IMPORTANT FRIENDS OF MEMORIAL PARK. OF PARTICULAR NOTE IS THE 2010 INSTALLATION OF TWO LARGE SCALE BRONZE EAGLES CREATED BY ARTIST DIANE LAFOND INSETTA TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL CONCRETE EAGLES THAT HAD BEEN DAMAGED AND DESTROYED. TYPICALLY, THE ASSOCIATION ALSO ORGANIZES AND HOSTS NUMEROUS SPEAKERS, MUSICAL EVENTS, AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES IN THE PARK. AFTER A PAUSE BECAUSE OF COVID 19, THESE ACTIVITIES HAVE RESUMED. MEMORIAL PARK ASSOCIATION, INC. IS A 501(C)(3) FLORIDA NONPROFIT ENTITY DEDICATED TO THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF MEMORIAL PARK IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THE ASSOCIATION WAS CREATED IN 1986 BY A GROUP OF PARK ENTHUSIASTS AND LOCAL PHILANTHROPISTS CONCERNED WITH MEMORIAL PARK'S PERSISTENT STATE OF DECLINE AND DISREPAIR, JUST A YEAR AFTER MEMORIAL PARK WAS INCLUDED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AS PART OF THE RIVERSIDE (NOW RIVERSIDE-AVONDALE) NATIONAL HISTORIC DISTRICT. MEMORIAL PARK IS LOCATED AT 1620 RIVERSIDE AVENUE NEAR THE 5 POINTS AREA OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA AND IS ONE OF JACKSONVILLE'S BEST LOVED TREASURES. LOCATED ALONG THE BANKS OF THE MAJESTIC ST. JOHNS RIVER, THIS SIX-ACRE PARK DRAWS VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA COMMUNITY. SOON AFTER ITS FORMATION, THE ASSOCIATION ENTERED AN ADOPT-A-PARK AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, WHICH ENABLES IT TO PERFORM VARIOUS OPERATIONS AND MAINENANCE FUNCTIONS, INCLUDING NECESSARY PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS, CONSISTENT WITH THE HISTORICAL CHARACTER OF THE PARK AND CONCURRENT WITH THE CITY'S OBLIGATION TO MAINTAIN MEMORIAL PARK FOR THE GREATER PUBLIC GOOD. IN 1988, THE ASSOCIATION COMMISSIONED ITS FIRST RESTORATION PLANS FOR THE PARK. IN 1992, A PROJECT TO RESTORE THE ICONIC MEMORIAL SCULPTURE SPIRITUALIZED LIFE WAS INITIATED, THE FIRST SINCE THE SCULPTURE'S INSTALLATION IN 1924. OTHER RESTORATIONS FOLLOWED IN 2004 AND 2019. SINCE THEN, THE ASSOCIATION FACILITATED AND FUNDED NUMEROUS PROJECTS TO FURTHER PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE PARK, INCLUDING THE INSTALLATION OF ORNAMENTAL METAL FENCING AROUND THE PERIMETER, UPGRADES TO THE IRRIGATION AND LIGHTING SYSTEMS, THE PLANTING OF OAKS AND OTHER NATIVE VEGETATION, THE RENOVATION OF THE ENTRANCE PIERS, PLAZA, BALUSTRADES, AND FOUNTAIN BASIN, CLEANUP OF THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED BY HURRICANE IRMA IN 2017, AND THE DEDICATION OF MARBLE BENCHES TO HONOR IMPORTANT FRIENDS OF MEMORIAL PARK. OF PARTICULAR NOTE IS THE 2010 INSTALLATION OF TWO LARGE SCALE BRONZE EAGLES CREATED BY ARTIST DIANE LAFOND INSETTA TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL CONCRETE EAGLES THAT HAD BEEN DAMAGED AND DESTROYED. TYPICALLY, THE ASSOCIATION ALSO ORGANIZES AND HOSTS NUMEROUS SPEAKERS, MUSICAL EVENTS, AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES IN THE PARK. AFTER A PAUSE BECAUSE OF COVID 19, THESE ACTIVITIES HAVE RESUMED.
  2. $41,717 spent. IN 2012, MEMORIAL PARK ASSOCIATION INITIATED MAJOR PLANNING EFFORTS TO RESTORE AND REHABILITATE MEMORIAL PARK TO ITS ORIGINAL GRANDEUR. WITH THE AID OF ATLANTA-BASED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT DAVID SACKS (RLA), THE ASSOCIATION DEVELOPED A MASTER PLAN AND CORRESPONDING 1.5 MILLION FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO USE THE FOUNDATION FOR THIS RESTORATION PROJECT. MR. SACKS UNDERTOOK PAINSTAKING RESEARCH INTO THE HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PARK, SKETCHES AND PLANS OF HARDSCAPE AND PLANTIGS, AND CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN NINAH CUMMER AND THE OLMSTEAD BROTHERS. TO DATE, THE ASSOCIATION HAS INVESTED OVER 936,000 IN THE REHABILITATION OF PLANTED BEDS AND RESTORATION OF ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES IN THE PARK.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 2025.

    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 August 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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Forest Lawn Memorial-Park Association (Glendale, CA), EIN 95-0743320. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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.