Railroad Park Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
RAILROAD PARK INSPIRES ENERGY, REVITALIZATION AND A SENSE OF PLACE IN BIRMINGHAM BY STIMULATING CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ACTIVITY WITHIN AND AROUND THE PARK.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 11.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 76%
- Employees
- 9
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $142,512, 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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 11.4 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 3% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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: 92 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2519 of 19 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
7 of 7Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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)
- $1.5 million spent. RAILROAD PARK IS A 19-ACRE GREEN SPACE IN THE HEART OF BIRMINGHAM THAT CELEBRATES THE INDUSTRIAL AND ARTISTIC HERITAGE OF OUR GREAT CITY. SITUATED ALONG 1ST AVENUE SOUTH, BETWEEN 14TH AND 18TH STREETS, THE PARK IS A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM AND THE RAILROAD PARK FOUNDATION. HAILED AS "BIRMINGHAM'S FRONT LAWN," RAILROAD PARK PROVIDES A HISTORICALLY RICH VENUE FOR LOCAL RECREATION, FAMILY ACTIVITIES, CONCERTS, AND CULTURAL EVENTS, WHILE CONNECTING BIRMINGHAM'S DOWNTOWN AREA WITH SOUTHSIDE AND UAB'S CAMPUS. RAILROAD PARK HAS BEEN THE CATALYST FOR TREMENDOUS CHANGE IN THE PHYSICAL LANDSCAPE OF BIRMINGHAM AND IN THE PERCEPTION OF WHAT BIRMINGHAM CAN BE. IN 2024, RAILROAD PARK FOUNDATION CONTINUED TO FOCUS ON FOUR PRIMARY GOAL AREAS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY, HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AND FORTIFYING THE PARK AND THE ENVIRONMENT.ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTSHERE ARE SOME OF THE WAYS RAILROAD PARK FOUNDATION PROMOTED THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF OUR CITY AND SUPPORTED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACROSS BIRMINGHAM IN 2024:- PROMOTED LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMMING: - FACILITATED MAGIC CITY POP-UP PLAZAS ONCE A MONTH APRIL THROUGH SEPTEMBER, SHOWCASING MORE THAN 50 LOCAL MERCHANTS AND LOCAL FOOD VENDORS. - HOSTED MICHAEL'S @ THE BOXCAR, OPEN SEASONALLY (APRIL-OCTOBER, WHICH PROVIDED DELICIOUS LUNCH OPTIONS AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE. - WELCOMED NEARLY 500,000 VISITORS IN 2024. - NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS CONTINUED, STIMULATING FURTHER INVESTMENT, DEVELOPMENT, AND ECONOMIC GROWTH WITHIN THE CITY. NEW BUSINESS OPENINGS INCLUDE DOGTOPIA- PARKSIDE. - ONGOING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND THE CONTINUED RENOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF MULTI-FAMILY AND COMMERCIAL SPACE ADDED TO THE MORE THAN 40 NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND BUSINESS OPENINGS SINCE 2010. - RECOGNIZED BY USA TODAY 10BEST AS THE 7TH BEST CITY PARK IN THE U.S. FAMILIES & COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTSRAILROAD PARK FOUNDATION PROVIDED DYNAMIC, DIVERSE PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE FAMILIES & COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE CONTINUATION OF COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO PROVIDE FREE PROGRAMMING TO BIRMINGHAM RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR: - MORE THAN 140 CLIENT EVENTS WERE HOSTED AT RAILROAD PARK IN 2024, WHICH INCLUDED EVERYTHING FROM BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND CORPORATE EVENTS TO THE ANNUAL AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION'S HEART WALK. - CELEBRATED 5TH ANNUAL PROTECTIVE PRESENTS PICNIC AT RAILROAD PARK: - FREE EVENT CELEBRATED BIRMINGHAM'S COMMUNITY - PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTED OUR CITY'S ABUNDANT TALENT BY SPOTLIGHTING ENTERTAINERS, ARTISTS, SMALL BUSINESSES AND FOOD VENDORS REPRESENTING MANY OF BIRMINGHAM'S 99 NEIGHBORHOODS. - FEATURED MORE THAN 40 BIRMINGHAM-BASED SMALL BUSINESSES, GENERATING MORE THAN $9,000 IN TAXABLE SALES FOR THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM. - OFFICERS FROM 57 NEIGHBORHOODS WERE OFFICIALLY REPRESENTED ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT, WHICH INCLUDED A SPECIAL CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF OUR 99 NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS' OFFICERS. - MORE THAN 2,000 PEOPLE ATTENDED THIS FREE COMMUNITY EVENT.- IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY, PROVIDED 19 ACRES OF GREENSPACE FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO ENJOY QUALITY TIME TOGETHER AND ENGAGE WITH NATURE. - HOSTED HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES FOR THE FREE 4TH OF JULY FAMILY FESTIVAL, WHICH FEATURED LIVE MUSIC, FOOD VENDORS, & CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES. HEALTH & WELLNESS HIGHLIGHTSHERE ARE SOME OF THE WAYS RAILROAD PARK FOUNDATION PROMOTED HEALTH & WELLNESS FOR OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY IN 2024: - GET HEALTHY ON THE RAILROAD SPONSORED BY BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF ALABAMA RETURNED FOR A 14TH SEASON, REACHING 6,614 PARTICIPANTS. CLASSES INCLUDED BOXING CARDIO, HIP HOP CARDIO, ZUMBA, YOGA AND LINE DANCING, AS WELL AS THE ADDITION OF TWO WEEKLY SENIOR FIT CLASSES THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSION. - HOSTED THE POPULAR GET HEALTHY ON THE RAILROAD COOKING CLASS SERIES FOR A 9TH YEAR, PROVIDING MORE THAN 300 PARTICIPANTS FREE PRODUCE AND RECIPE CARDS TO REPLICATE HEALTHY COOKING AT HOME. - PRESENTED OUR 5TH ANNUAL SENIOR FIT HEALTH FAIR, WHICH PROVIDED MORE THAN 100 SENIORS WITH FREE EXERCISE CLASS DEMONSTRATIONS, HEALTHY REFRESHMENTS, AND VALUABLE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION PROVIDED BY A VARIETY OF LOCAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS. - SELF-GUIDED WALKING WORKOUT EXERCISE STATIONS ALONG 1ST AVENUE SOUTH CONTINUED TO INSPIRE AN AVERAGE OF 10,000 WEEKLY PARK VISITORS AND INCLUDED ENGLISH & SPANISH TRANSLATIONS OF THE WORKOUTS. FORTIFYING THE PARK & THE ENVIRONMENT RAILROAD PARK FOUNDATION WORKED TIRELESSLY TO FORTIFY THE PARK & ENVIRONMENT AND PROVIDE A WORLD-CLASS GREENSPACE FOR APPROXIMATELY 500,000 VISITORS AND COUNTLESS SPECIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS. RAILROAD PARK ENHANCES ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH FOR ALL: - OFFERED 19 ACRES FOR NATURAL EXPLORATION, INCLUDING PONDS, STREAMS AND 100,000+ PLANTS AND TREES THAT HAVE LED TO A VASTLY INCREASED DIVERSITY OF INSECTS AND BIRDS. THIS CREATES A MORE ROBUST AND DIVERSE ECOSYSTEM, WHICH LEADS TO HEALTHIER PLANTS, ANIMALS AND BIRMINGHAM RESIDENTS. - PROVIDED A THRIVING HABITAT FOR MORE THAN 120 SPECIES OF BIRDS, WHICH IS ESPECIALLY CRUCIAL AS RESEARCH SHOWS MORE THAN HALF OF U.S. BIRD POPULATIONS ARE SHRINKING. PROACTIVE CONSERVATION IS THE FASTEST, MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO PREVENT BIRDS FROM BECOMING ENDANGERED. - NOURISHED HEAVILY USED LAWNS, GARDENS, WATER FEATURES, AND TREES - BOTH FOR HEALTH AND ENJOYMENT, AND TO HELP THOUSANDS OF SPECIES OF NATIVE FLORA AND FAUNA THRIVE. - MAINTAINED THREE MILES OF RAILROAD PARK WALKING TRAILS, WHICH PROVIDE A GREAT WALKING, RUNNING AND BIKING EXPERIENCE FOR THOUSANDS OF RAILROAD PARK VISITORS EACH WEEK. - SUPPORTED EMOTIONAL, MENTAL, AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING FOR BIRMINGHAM RESIDENTS AND BEYOND. TIME SPENT IN GREENSPACES PROMOTES GENERAL FITNESS, REDUCES STRESS, AND BOOSTS MENTAL HEALTH. RAILROAD PARK IS PROUD TO OFFER A PLACE OF RESPITE FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS IT, INCLUDING OUR MOST UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ABUNDANT GREENSPACE. - SERVED AS BIRMINGHAM'S "FRONT LAWN." MANY BIRMINGHAM RESIDENTS DRIVE FROM THEIR HOMES OR TAKE THE BIRMINGHAM XPRE
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 October 13, 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 April 2003.
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 October 21, 2026.
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