Parks California
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 52 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
AS CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS' STATUTORY NON-PROFIT PARTNER, WE HAVE A CLEAR MISSION - TO HELP STRENGTHEN PARKS AND INSPIRE ALL PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE THESE EXTRAORDINARY PLACES.
- Income
- $4.4 million
- Spending
- $10.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 2.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 53%
- Employees
- 30
- Volunteers
- 62
- Highest pay
- $287,056, board director, president & ceo
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
Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 25% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 144% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 52 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 12 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, 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)
- $9.0 million spent. ACCESS & BELONGING:PARKS CALIFORNIA WORKS TO ENSURE EVERYONE FEELS WELCOME IN CALIFORNIA'S PUBLIC LANDS BY REMOVING BARRIERS, UPLIFTING COMMUNITY VOICES AND CO-CREATING EXPERIENCES WHERE ALL PEOPLE CAN BUILD A LIFELONG RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE. WITH OUR PARTNERS, WE REMOVE PHYSICAL, CULTURAL, AND FINANCIAL BARRIERS SO THAT EVERYONE CAN EXPERIENCE THE NATURE, STORIES, AND HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA'S PUBLIC LANDS.PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.CLIMATE & STEWARDSHIP:PARKS CALIFORNIA HELPS CARE FOR CALIFORNIA'S PUBLIC LANDS - FROM MOUNTAINS AND FORESTS TO COASTLINES AND RIVERS - SO THAT EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THESE PLACES FOR GENERATIONS. WE INVEST IN CLIMATE RESILIENCE, STEWARD IMPORTANT ECOSYSTEMS, AND USE SCIENCE-BASED TOOLS TO KEEP OUR LANDSCAPES HEALTHY. BY SUPPORTING TRIBAL PARTNERSHIPS, WE HONOR INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND CULTURAL PRACTICES THAT SHAPE HOW WE CARE FOR THESE LANDS TODAY.PARKS FOR THE FUTURE:PARKS OF THE FUTURE IS PARKS CALIFORNIA'S COMMITMENT TO REIMAGINING HOW PUBLIC LANDS ARE CARED FOR AND EXPERIENCED. BY WORKING TOGETHER WITH PARTNERS, WE HELP BUILD AN INCLUSIVE, RESILIENT PARK SYSTEM THAT REFLECTS CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS PREPARED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A CHANGING WORLD. FROM WILDFIRE RECOVERY TO NEXT-GENERATION WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, WE HELP KEEP CALIFORNIA'S PUBLIC LANDS VIBRANT, RESILIENT, AND WELCOMING FOR EVERYONE.
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
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 November 6, 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 2025.
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 March 2019.
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 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.