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Friends of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Dagny Johnson

EIN 84-3717252 · Key Largo, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood72 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FRIENDS OF JOHN PENNEKAMP IS A VOLUNTEER NON-PROFIT CORPORATION SUPPORTING CONSERVATION & STEWARDSHIP & ENHANCING EXCEPTIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL, EDUCATIONAL & RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCES AT BOTH JOHN PENNEKAMP & DAGNY JOHNSON STATE PARKS.

Income
$145,221
Spending
$65,693
Spent on programs
67%
Reserves
38.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
0
Volunteers
25

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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 38.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 55% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 34% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    67% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Good: 72 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 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.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (6)
  1. $18,675 spent. PLACED A NEW PARK MARINE RESOURCE VESSEL INTO SERVICE.
  2. $7,734 spent. PROVIDED COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS INCLUDING NATIVE PLANT DAY, HALLOWEEN EVENT, CAMPFIRE PROGRAM, EDUCATION SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS.
  3. $7,396 spent. HOSTED OCEAN FRONT CLEAN-UP AND MANGROVE BOARDWALK IMPROVEMENT DAYS. IMPLEMENTED A BEACH RE-NOURISHMENT PROGRAM. CREATED THE JUSTIN MANDISH SEAGRASS RESTORATION FUND.
  4. $7,250 spent. INSTALLED CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM CAM TO ALLOW CONTINUOUS MONITORING, RELEVANT DATA COLLECTION AND SPECIES & OBJECT ID IN OUR LOCAL WATERS.
  5. $2,786 spent. GENERATED AND EMPLOYED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT OF BOTH JOHN PENNEKAMP & DAGNY JOHNSON STATE PARKS.
  6. THE ORGANIZATIONS PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE IS TO ACT AS A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION WHICH FUNCTIONS AS A CITIZEN SUPPORT ORGANIZATION (CSO), AS SUCH ORGANIZATION IS DEFINED AND REGULATED BY THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OR OTHER AGENCY WHICH COMES TO SUBSTITUTE IT, IN ORDER TO GENERATE AND EMPLOY ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT OF AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF JOHN PENNEKAMP CORAL REEF STATE PARK & DAGNY JOHNSON KEY LARGO HAMMOCK BOTANICAL STATE PARK THROUGH: 1 EVENTS, WORKSHOPS AND ACTIVITIES. 2 OUTREACH PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNICATIONS, SPECIAL EXHIBITS AND INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS. 3 FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES TO SEEK ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO AUGMENT THE STATE PARKS EXISTING

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

  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 December 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 December 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.

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.