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St Louis County Parks Foundation

EIN 61-1747076 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood75 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

AS THE OFFICIAL NONPROFIT PARTNER OF THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT, THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY PARKS FOUNDATION WORKS TO INCREASE PUBLIC APPRECIATION, STEWARDSHIP, AND USE OF COUNTY PARKS. THE FOUNDATION ENVISIONS A FUTURE IN WHICH EVERY PERSON IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY HAS ACCESS TO VIBRANT, WELCOMING, AND WELL-CARED-FOR PARKS THAT STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES, IMPROVE HEALTH, CONNECT PEOPLE WITH NATURE, AND PRESERVE OUR REGION'S SHARED HERITAGE.

Income
$607,252
Spending
$758,068
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
1.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 53%
Employees
0
Volunteers
50

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 25% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 126% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 49% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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, 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)
  1. $715,501 spent. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ARE THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY PARKS FOUNDATION. THE FOUNDATION RAISES AND STEWARDS PRIVATE, PUBLIC, AND PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT TO CARE FOR, RESTORE, ACTIVATE, AND ENHANCE ST. LOUIS COUNTY PARKS, CREATING PROGRAMMATIC IMPACT IN THE FOLLOWING FUNDING PRIORITY AREAS: (1) PARK EQUITY - ST. LOUIS COUNTY PARKS ARE PUBLIC ASSETS THAT SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE, WELCOMING, AND BENEFICIAL TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE REGION. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PARK IMPROVEMENTS IN HIGH-NEED AREAS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO QUALITY GREEN SPACE, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACES. IN 2025, THIS PRIORITY INCLUDED SUPPORT FOR THE REVITALIZATION OF KINLOCH PARK, A MAJOR INVESTMENT IN A HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY PARK. (2) RECREATION - PARKS PROVIDE PLACES FOR RESIDENTS TO GATHER, PLAY, LEARN, AND CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS IMPROVEMENTS THAT ENHANCE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND CREATE DESTINATIONS FOR FAMILIES, CHILDREN, AND VISITORS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY PARK SYSTEM. IN 2025, THIS INCLUDED SUPPORT FOR THE NEW OUTDOOR CLASSROOM AT THE QUEENY PARK CHILDREN'S GARDEN CLUB AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ABE PHILLIPS TRAIL AT GREENSFELDER PARK. (3) HISTORIC PRESERVATION - ST. LOUIS COUNTY PARKS INCLUDE HISTORICALLY AND CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS, LANDSCAPES, AND PLACES THAT HELP TELL THE STORY OF THE REGION. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PROJECTS THAT PRESERVE THESE ASSETS FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. IN 2025, THIS INCLUDED PRESERVATION WORK AT NIMS MANSION IN BEE TREE PARK AND AFRICAN SCHOOL NO. 4 IN FAUST PARK, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FOR THE WALL THAT HEALS AT JEFFERSON BARRACKS. (4) ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP - THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PROJECTS THAT ENHANCE NATURAL LANDSCAPES, STRENGTHEN ECOLOGICAL VALUE, AND PROMOTE LONG- TERM STEWARDSHIP OF THE COUNTY PARK SYSTEM. IN 2025, THIS INCLUDED ESTABLISHING A NEW OAK GROVE AT QUEENY PARK, PLANTING NATIVE TREES, AND INSTALLING A BIORETENTION BASIN WITH NATIVE PLANTS AT KINLOCH PARK. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ARE THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY PARKS FOUNDATION. THE FOUNDATION RAISES AND STEWARDS PRIVATE, PUBLIC, AND PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT TO CARE FOR, RESTORE, ACTIVATE, AND ENHANCE ST. LOUIS COUNTY PARKS, CREATING PROGRAMMATIC IMPACT IN THE FOLLOWING FUNDING PRIORITY AREAS: (1) PARK EQUITY - ST. LOUIS COUNTY PARKS ARE PUBLIC ASSETS THAT SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE, WELCOMING, AND BENEFICIAL TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE REGION. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PARK IMPROVEMENTS IN HIGH-NEED AREAS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO QUALITY GREEN SPACE, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY GATHERING PLACES. IN 2025, THIS PRIORITY INCLUDED SUPPORT FOR THE REVITALIZATION OF KINLOCH PARK, A MAJOR INVESTMENT IN A HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY PARK. (2) RECREATION - PARKS PROVIDE PLACES FOR RESIDENTS TO GATHER, PLAY, LEARN, AND CONNECT WITH ONE ANOTHER. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS IMPROVEMENTS THAT ENHANCE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND CREATE DESTINATIONS FOR FAMILIES, CHILDREN, AND VISITORS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY PARK SYSTEM. IN 2025, THIS INCLUDED SUPPORT FOR THE NEW OUTDOOR CLASSROOM AT THE QUEENY PARK CHILDREN'S GARDEN CLUB AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ABE PHILLIPS TRAIL AT GREENSFELDER PARK. (3) HISTORIC PRESERVATION - ST. LOUIS COUNTY PARKS INCLUDE HISTORICALLY AND CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS, LANDSCAPES, AND PLACES THAT HELP TELL THE STORY OF THE REGION. THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PROJECTS THAT PRESERVE THESE ASSETS FOR PUBLIC BENEFIT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. IN 2025, THIS INCLUDED PRESERVATION WORK AT NIMS MANSION IN BEE TREE PARK AND AFRICAN SCHOOL NO. 4 IN FAUST PARK, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FOR THE WALL THAT HEALS AT JEFFERSON BARRACKS. (4) ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP - THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS PROJECTS THAT ENHANCE NATURAL LANDSCAPES, STRENGTHEN ECOLOGICAL VALUE, AND PROMOTE LONG- TERM STEWARDSHIP OF THE COUNTY PARK SYSTEM. IN 2025, THIS INCLUDED ESTABLISHING A NEW OAK GROVE AT QUEENY PARK, PLANTING NATIVE TREES, AND INSTALLING A BIORETENTION BASIN WITH NATIVE PLANTS AT KINLOCH 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 November 6, 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 March 2015.

    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 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.