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Fair Park First

EIN 83-1837875 · Dallas, TX

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair50 out of 100GovernanceFair65 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH THE CORPORATION IS ORGANIZED ARE: A) TO OPERATE EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC OR LITERARY PURPOSES WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE CODE, BY ENGAGING DIRECTLY IN SUPPORT OF SUCH PURPOSES OR BY MAKING DISTRIBUTIONS TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FOR USE, BY THE DISTRUTEES, IN SUPPORT OF SUCH PURPOSES; B) TO OVERSEE OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT OF HISTORIC AND ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT LANDMARKS, PUBLIC PARKS, AND PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT VENUES AND RELATED PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES; AND C) TO ENGAGE IN ANY AND ALL LAWFUL ACTIVITIES INCIDENTAL TO THE FOREGOING PURPOSES, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE RESTRICTED HEREIN. THE CORPORATION SHALL NOT CARRY ON, OTHER THAN AS AN INSUBSTANTIAL PART OF ITS ACTIVITIES, ACTIVITIES THAT ARE NOT IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS PURPOSES.

Income
$22.0 million
Spending
$19.5 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 93%
Employees
7
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$147,130, interim executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 50 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 62% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 22 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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)
  1. $16.9 million spent. FAIR PARK FIRST'S, A TEXAS NONPROFIT'S MISSION IS TO RESTORE, REVITALIZE, AND RENEW FAIR PARK, A 138-YEAR-OLD, 277-ACRE NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, IN ORDER TO ATTRACT ATTENTION FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, THE REGION, AND THE NATION. AS THE CONSERVATOR AND MANAGER OF THIS CITY OF DALLAS PROPERTY, FAIR PARK FIRST FOCUSES ON THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF BUILDINGS AND ART, ALONG WITH THE RESTORATION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE ENTIRE CAMPUS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO ENGAGES IN ACTIVATION THROUGH MAJOR EVENTS AND LOCAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING. FAIR PARK HAS RECEIVED EXTENSIVE ACCOLADES THROUGHOUT ITS HISTORY. IT WAS THE SITE OF THE 1936 TEXAS CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION AND THE 1936 WORLD'S FAIR, AND IT BOASTS THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF ART DECO ART AND ARCHITECTURE IN THE WORLD. RECOGNIZED AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, IT STANDS ALONGSIDE THE ALAMO AS A SIGNIFICANT SITE. AS AN EPICENTER OF ART DECO AND "TEXANIC" DESIGN, WITH BUILDINGS, MURALS, AND SCULPTURES CREATED BY RENOWNED ARTISTS, ARCHITECTS, AND CRAFTSMEN, IT IS TRULY A CROWN JEWEL OF TEXAS. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2019, FAIR PARK FIRST HAS SECURED OVER $400 MILLION IN PUBLIC AND PHILANTHROPIC INVESTMENTS TO RESTORE BUILDINGS AND ART, CREATE GREENSPACE, AND REJUVENATE THE PARK FOR A NEW CHAPTER IN ITS LONG HISTORY.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 2019.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. 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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