Austin Parks Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 54 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO ENHANCE PEOPLE'S LIVES BY MAKING OUR PUBLIC PARKS, TRAILS AND GREEN SPACES BETTER THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM, INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING, ADVOCACY AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT.
- Income
- $12.3 million
- Spending
- $11.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 20.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 76%
- Employees
- 23
- Volunteers
- 12,115
- Highest pay
- $243,486, ceo
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: 85 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 20.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 11% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 54 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a 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 (4)
- $3.2 million spent. PARK IMPROVEMENTS: DURING 2024, APF CONTINUED TO MAKE IMPACTFUL PARK IMPROVEMENTS. THREE OF THE LARGEST PARK IMPROVEMENTS DURING THE YEAR WERE: DEEP EDDY POOL REPAIR AND LIGHTING, PAN AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD PARK BALLFIELD LIGHTING, AND REPAIRS TO THE ZILKER HILLSIDE THEATER STAGE. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR MORE DETAIL ON APF PROJECTS COMPLETED IN 2024. OTHER PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS INCLUDED BASKETBALL COURT RENOVATIONS AT WALNUT CREEK METRO PARK AND GARRISON DISTRICT PARK AS WELL AS NEW PAVILIONS AT POMERLEAU POCKET PARK AND OERTLI NEIGHBORHOOD PARK. MORE THAN 30 YEARS AGO, IN 1992, THE SEED OF AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION WAS PLANTED. APF STARTED AS A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION AND WE ARE CONTINUING AND EXPANDING THOSE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WHILE DOING MORE THAN EVER BEFORE TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S NEARLY 400 PARKS, TRAILS AND GREEN SPACES. HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WE'VE CELEBRATED IN THE PAST YEAR: WE CONTINUED TO RENOVATE BASKETBALL COURTS ACROSS THE CITY WITH THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS AS PART OF THE PLAYATX INITIATIVE THAT WAS LAUNCHED IN 2023. WE ALSO CONTINUED WORKING ON A NUMBER OF PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AT SCENIC BOOK POCKET PARK, ROSEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, PARQUE ZARAGOZA, LITTLE WALNUT CREEK AND HIGHLAND NEIGHBORHOOD PARK, JUST TO NAME A FEW. PLANNING ALSO CONTINUED FOR OUR LARGEST PROJECT TO DATE: AN ALL ABILITIES PLAYGROUND, TO BE BUILT AT ONION CREEK METRO PARK. APF REGULARLY INVESTS IN ZILKER PARK IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AND 2024 WAS NO DIFFERENT. IN ADDITION TO FUNDING A FULL STAGE REPLACEMENT FOR THE ZILKER THEATER, APF ALSO CONTRIBUTED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE SAND IN ZILKER'S EXISTING VOLLEYBALL COURTS TO MAKE THEM MORE PLAYABLE THIS SUMMER. AND OF COURSE, WE CAN'T FORGET ABOUT THE RETURN OF THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD: THE ZILKER EAGLE MINI TRAIN. IN 2024, APF HOSTED 32 IN THE PARK SERIES EVENTS IN PARKS ACROSS ALL TEN COUNCIL DISTRICTS. THESE FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS WELCOMED MORE THAN 3,200 ATTENDEES WHO JOINED US FOR PLAYDATES IN THE PARK, MOVIES IN THE PARK, FITNESS IN THE PARK AND ART IN THE PARK. AND WE CAN'T REFLECT ON THE YEAR WITHOUT CELEBRATING OUR ROBUST VOLUNTEER PROGRAM: IN 2024, MORE THAN 12,000 INCREDIBLE VOLUNTEERS DEDICATED THEIR TIME TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN 136 PARKS IN AUSTIN, DONATING MORE THAN 36,000 HOURS OF WORK AND COMPLETING 284 PARK VOLUNTEER AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS. IN ADDITION TO THE MAINTENANCE PROVIDED BY OUR VOLUNTEER WORKDAYS AND IMPD, APF INVESTS IN SPECIAL, SHORT-TERM PROJECTS, AS WELL AS LONG-TERM, STRATEGIC IMPROVEMENTS. BY PROVIDING DESIGN ASSISTANCE AND FUNDING PARK RENOVATIONS ALL OVER THE CITY, WE ARE INCREASING ACCESS AND IMPROVING THE USABILITY OF SOME OF OUR CITY'S MOST WELL-LOVED PARKS, AS WELL AS THOSE THAT NEED HELP TO BECOME THE URBAN SANCTUARIES THEY ARE MEANT TO BE. HERE ARE PROJECTS COMPLETED IN 2024: - ALAMO POCKET PARK PLAY EQUIPMENT, INSTALLATION, SAFETY SURFACING AND LIMESTONE BLOCKS, $128,348 TOTAL COST - ARMADILLO NEIGHBORHOOD PARK INVASIVE REMOVAL AND TRAIL WORK, $10,713 TOTAL COST - BARTHOLOMEW DISTRICT PARK CREEK CROSSING FOR DISC GOLF, $7,368 TOTAL COST - BARTON CREEK GREENBELT INVASIVE REMOVAL AND TRAIL WORK, $91,536 TOTAL COST - APR LIFEGUARD TRAINING, $100,000 TOTAL COST - APR PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS, $100,000 TOTAL COST - DEEP EDDY MUNICIPAL POOL LIGHTING INSTALLATION AND POOL WALL REPAIR, $206,734 TOTAL COST - OERTLI NEIGHBORHOOD PARK PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF PAVILIONS, $95,342 TOTAL COST - PAN AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD PARK BALL FIELD LIGHTING REPLACEMENT AND ELECTRICAL, $248,710 TOTAL COST - EARL J POMERLEAU POCKET PARK PAVILION AND ELECTRICAL, $149,844 TOTAL COST - WALNUT CREEK METROPOLITAN PARK BASKETBALL COURT RENOVATION, $136,850 TOTAL COST - ZILKER METROPOLITAN PARK DEEP TINE AERATOR, $44,888 TOTAL COST - ZILKER HILLSIDE THEATER STAGE REPAIR, $148,943 TOTAL COST - ZILKER METROPOLITAN PARK VOLLEYBALL SAND, $25,125 TOTAL COST ONE OF THE BIGGEST ROADBLOCKS TO COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE ENHANCEMENT OF THEIR NEARBY PARK IS ACCESS TO DESIGN AND PLANNING. APF WORKS WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO ADDRESS THE DESIGN BACKLOG. IN 2024 COMMUNITY INITIATED DESIGN SERVICES PROJECTS INCLUDED: - JAMESTOWN: WE COMPLETED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN LATE 2024, AND SUBMITTED THE CONCEPT PLAN TO THE COA FOR APPROVAL IN 2025. - AGAVE: WE FINISHED THE INITIAL DESIGN PROCESS FOR AGAVE IN 2024, BUT HAD TO MAKE UPDATES TO THE PLANS IN 2025 AND WILL START CONSTRUCTION IN LATE 2025. - GRAND MEADOW: WE FINISHED THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS AND SUBMITTED THE FINAL REPORT TO COA IN LATE 2024, WHICH WERE APPROVED IN 2025.
- $3.3 million spent. PARK ACTIVATION, PROGRAMMING, VOLUNTEERISM & PARK MAINTENANCE: APF ENGAGES THE COMMUNITY AND WORKS TO FILL THE GAP IN PUBLIC FUNDING BY PROVIDING VITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO KEEP THE CITY'S PARKS IN GOOD CONDITION. APF'S PARK ACTIVATION AND PROGRAMMING INCLUDES SPRING AND FALL IT'S MY PARK DAY, WHERE THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS COME TOGETHER TO IMPROVE AND MAINTAIN THEIR PARKS; THE PARKS SUMMIT WHICH PROVIDES AN OPEN FORUM FOR DISCUSSION BETWEEN EXPERTS AND STAKEHOLDERS ON IMPORTANT TOPICS; PLAYDATES IN THE PARK, MOVIES IN THE PARK AND THE ADOPT-A-PARK PROGRAM, WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS BECOME THE STEWARDS OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND HAVE THE OPTION OF OPENING A SPONSORED FUND ACCOUNT TO EFFICIENTLY FUNDRAISE AND REINVEST IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY PARKS. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL DETAIL.
- $534,077 spent. PARK ADOPTER SUPPORT: FUNDING WAS AWARDED TO PARK ADOPTER GROUPS FOR DESIGN AND IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS. APF OVERSEES ALL PROJECTS AND PAYS CONTRACTORS DIRECTLY SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL DETAIL REGARDING GRANTS AWARDED IN 2024 AND PROJECTS FROM PRIOR GRANT AWARDS, COMPLETED IN 2024. ACL MUSIC FESTIVAL GRANTS AWARDED IN 2024 (DOES NOT INCLUDE GRANTS ITEMIZED IN SCHEDULE I) ONION CREEK DOG PARK: LIMESTONE BLOCK SEATING ($4,870) STECK VALLEY: TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS ($17,000) CCCN (WALNUT BLUFFS TRAIL HEAD): NATURE PLAY (1ST OF 3 LOCATIONS COVERED BY SAME GRANT AWARD OF $26,500 TOTAL) CCCN (RON RIGSBY): NATURE PLAY (2ND OF 3 LOCATIONS COVERED BY SAME GRANT AWARD OF $26,500 TOTAL) CCCN (HERITAGE OAKS): NATURE PLAY (3RD OF 3 LOCATIONS COVERED BY SAME GRANT AWARD OF $26,500 TOTAL) ROSEWOOD BRITTON, DURST, HOWARD, AND SPENCE BUILDING (BDHS): WALL OF HONOR ($5,500) ROY G. GUERRERO: BASKETBALL COURT ($550,000) ACL MUSIC FESTIVAL GRANTS COMPLETED IN 2024 PEAS/CUNNINGHAM SCHOOL PARK: GARDEN IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIR ($5,000) WALNUT CREEK METRO: ICE STORM MAINTENANCE ($2,500) - AWARDED IN 2023 PASTOR CRAIG NEIGHBORHOOD PARK: NEIGHBORHOOD INFORMATION KIOSK ($29,000) PARQUE ZARAGOZA: SHADE TREES ($6,000) ARMADILLO NEIGHBORHOOD PARK: POISON IVY AND INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL ($10,000) FESTIVAL BEACH COMMUNITY GARDEN: STUDIO BALCONES SITE PLAN ($4,800) GEORGIAN ACRES: LITTLE FREE LIBRARY ($600) UMLAUF: VISION PLAN ($25,000) ONION CREEK DOG PARK: LIMESTONE BLOCK SEATING ($4,870) STECK VALLEY: TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS ($17,000) CCCN (WALNUT BLUFFS TRAIL HEAD): NATURE PLAY (1ST OF 3 LOCATIONS COVERED BY SAME GRANT AWARD OF $26,500 TOTAL) CCCN (RON RIGSBY): NATURE PLAY (2ND OF 3 LOCATIONS COVERED BY SAME GRANT AWARD OF $26,500 TOTAL) CCCN (HERITAGE OAKS): NATURE PLAY (3RD OF 3 LOCATIONS COVERED BY SAME GRANT AWARD OF $26,500 TOTAL)
- $1.8 million spent. OTHER PROGRAM EXPENSES INCLUDE $1,793,079 PRIMARILY OF FUNDS TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND APPROXIMATELY $200,000 IN MAINTENANCE COSTS IN ZILKER PARK PAID BY APF RELATED TO THE AUSTIN CITY LIMITS (ACL) MUSIC FESTIVAL. THE ACL FESTIVAL IS THE LARGEST ANNUAL PARK ACTIVATION PROGRAM HELD BY AUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION AND BRINGS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD INTO ONE OF AUSTIN'S PREMIER PARKS EACH YEAR.
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 December 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 October 21, 2026.
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