Memorial Park Conservancy Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Memorial Park Conservancy is committed to preserving, restoring, & enhancing Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow. This supports public use, recreation, & education in accordance with conditions of conveyance to the City of Houston.
- Income
- $22.0 million
- Spending
- $12.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 71%
- Reserves
- 22.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 74%
- Employees
- 100
- Volunteers
- 418
- Highest pay
- $516,148, president & ceo (thru 10/24)
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 22.5 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 44% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 17% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1571% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 25 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 May 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 (3)
- $4.3 million spent. Welcoming and Engaging Park Visitors: Memorial Park Conservancy ("MPC") regularly provides a diverse range of free and low-cost community events, spanning from cultural festivals to engaging educational activities. This year the Conservancy broadened its programming to emphasize health and wellness by offering free yoga classes, meditation, Pilates sessions and soccer clinics for kids.Continued on Schedule O.FY25 Highlights include:-Live at Live Oak, presented by H-E-B, consisted of four free events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, Diwali, Lunar New Year, and Black History Month.-Celebrated Make Music Day with free performances by local artists. Visitors enjoyed family-friendly acoustic sets at Live Oak Court, serving as a beautiful reminder of the power of music to bring people together.-Held nine Star Parties in collaboration with the Houston Astronomical Society. These free family-friendly events featured powerful telescopes and knowledgeable volunteers, who helped guests observe the celestial sights.-Fubolito in the City, produced by Dynamo and Dash Charities, offered free 90-minute soccer clinics designed to engage children and young athletes.-Held nine Health and Wellness events. These free fitness classes aimed to improve both mental and physical well-being of all participants.
- $3.2 million spent. Master Plan: In April 2025, Memorial Park Conservancy unveiled plans for Memorial Groves, and shortly after began preliminary site work and ecological restoration for the project. This new space will pay tribute to the Park's history while further enhancing its natural beauty and providing expanded opportunities for recreation, education, and relaxation. The project will introduce new space for remembrance and recreation, including quiet spaces for reflection, archaeological features, trails for walking and cycling, adult workout areas, open lawns for play and picnicking, a visitor center, and a large playground with an adjacent covered pavilion.
- $1.3 million spent. Operating and Maintaining the Park: The Conservancy operates and maintains 1,100 acres of Memorial Park's 1,500 acres, aspiring to implement the principles of exceptional park management and stewardship. The Conservancy furthers its mission by enhancing park amenities, backing forestry management initiatives, planting native species, maintaining both natural and paved trails, and tending to landscaped areas within the Park.Continued on Schedule O.FY25 Highlights include:-Vale Asche Playground Area improvements such as a new swing set beds with safety surfacing, new wood installed on picnic tables, and installation of parking blocks.-Stretching Deck Improvements such as a new deck, fitness equipment, additional water fountain, and new trees. -Automatic gates installed at Running Complex and Picnic Loop.-Safety bollards installed on the Commuter Trail at Picnic Loop and the pedestrian path at Crestwood and Memorial Drive.-Over 50 trees in the Clay Family Eastern Glades and more than 30 in the Sports Complex were pruned to promote healthy tree structure.- More than 100 trees across the Park were fertilized using targeted amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to improve tree health.At Memorial Park Conservancy, volunteers play a crucial role in the restoration and maintenance of the Park. FY25 Volunteer Highlights include:- Volunteers dedicated a total of 910 hours, engaging in diverse projects throughout the Park.- Volunteers assisted in collecting 3 cubic yards of trash, removing 46 cubic yards of invasive species, spread 16 cubic yards of mulch and relocated 2,600 plants.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, 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 May 2025.
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 October 2000.
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.