Guadalupe River Park Conservancy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Guadalupe River Park Conservancy provides community leadership for the development and active use of Guadalupe River Park & Garden through education, advocacy and stewardship.
- Income
- $2.0 million
- Spending
- $1.9 million
- Spent on programs
- 75%
- Reserves
- 1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 79%
- Employees
- 34
- Volunteers
- 2,000
- Highest pay
- $145,911, executive dir.
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
Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 25% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 27% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1575% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 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 (1)
- $1.4 million spent. The Conservancys environmental programs offer high-quality nature-centered education, awareness, and enrichment to youth and the general public in our region. Our programs utilize the park and gardens as a natural lab to teach hands-on lessons and instill a sense of environmental stewardship. The education program provides science-based field trips to students of public and private schools, adapted field trips for students with special needs, homeschooled students, and various community groups. The organization also provides free or low-cost fitness, gardening, and other enrichment classes for the general public. In 2024, we provided 148 programs engaging over 1,200 youth through our education and enrichment programs and 9,600 participants in our regular River Trail tours, nature walks, and special park activities.The organizations community engagement and advocacy efforts focus on promoting the parks use and development. Window on the River Park is our signature annual celebration where we uplift our communitys commitment to nurturing and cherishing the Guadalupe River Park, San Joses front yard and a civic greenway that connects people to nature and each other. Pumpkins in the Park brings thousands of visitors to enjoy a fun-filled family celebration and spread awareness of the park as one of our regions unique natural resources. The Guadalupe River Art Walk initiative connects artists to the River Park to help enhance public space and advocate for the preservation of our natural habitats through visual public art installations, with a new mural painted in 2024. The Rotary PlayGarden, San Joses first all-inclusive playspace, welcomed 83,000 visitors to engage with the River Park.Stewardship includes recruiting volunteers, individuals, and corporate groups to help care for a historic orchard, a rose garden and other demonstration gardens through integrated pest management practices. These beautification efforts are critical to the City of San Jose and benefit the chinook salmon and the steelhead trout in the river. Volunteers help with trail clean up, program staffing, and other tasks as necessary. In 2024, 2,000 volunteers provided 6,500 hours of stewardship, removing 9,000 pounds of trash and debris, and supported the delivery of our programs and development of park amenities.
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 June 1988.
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.
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.