Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Portland Parks Foundation

EIN 93-1319970 · Portland, OR

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE PORTLAND PARKS FOUNDATION MOBILIZES SUPPORT TO IMPROVE PORTLAND'S SYSTEM OF PARKS, NATURAL AREAS, AND PUBLIC SPACES. WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF THESE PLACES TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES, ADDRESS HISTORIC INEQUITIES, AND CREATE A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR EVERYONE IN PORTLAND. WE SEEK TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE BY LISTENING TO COMMUNITIES AND RALLY RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP REALIZE THEIR VISION. WE COLLABORATE WITH INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INSTITUTIONS TO DEVELOP LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LIVABILITY AND BEAUTY OF OUR CITY. WE WORK TO CREATE THE BROADEST POSSIBLE ACCESS TO RECREATION, CREATIVITY, EDUCATION, AND PLAY IN OUR PARKS AND OPEN SPACES. WE HELP PEOPLE HELP PARKS.

Income
$801,439
Spending
$665,970
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
17.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
4
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$113,950, executive director

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 17.9 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 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    69% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 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 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 (3)
  1. $310,351 spent. MOBILIZING PARKS GROUPS AND VOLUNTEERS - PORTLAND PARKS FOUNDATION (PPF) MOBILIZES PARKS GROUPS AND VOLUNTEERS THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AIMED AT BUILDING CAPACITY OF ORGANIZATIONS AND NEW, STRATEGIC WAYS OF OPERATING THROUGH GRANTMAKING, AWARDS, WORKSHOPS AND SPECIAL EVENTS.IN 2024, PPF'S SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM SUPPORTED 25 LOCAL FRIEND GROUPS AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS PROMOTING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PARKS, NATURAL AREAS, COMMUNITY GARDENS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS ($52,000 TOTAL AWARDED). CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.PPF ALSO CELEBRATED VOLUNTEERISM THROUGH OUR PARKS CHAMPION AWARDS AND RECOGNIZED EMERGING LEADERS THROUGH OUR LEADERSHIP AWARD, THE JOEY POPE AWARD FOR PARKS LEADERSHIP. BOTH AWARDS OFFER GRANTS TO THE HONOREES ORGANIZATIONS OF CHOICE. GRANTS AND AWARDS ARE SELECTED BY COMMUNITY-LED REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO HAVE AN OPTION TO RECEIVE A STIPEND FOR THE PARTICIPATION OR DIRECT A GRANT TO AN ORGANIZATION OF THEIR CHOICE IN ALIGNMENT WITH PPF'S MISSION. THE JOEY POPE AWARD FOR PARKS LEADERSHIP WILL EVENTUALLY BE FUNDED THROUGH AN ENDOWMENT. ALSO IN 2024, PPF CONTINUED TO OFFER FREE WORKSHOPS THROUGH THE FRIENDS & ALLIES SUMMITS, A TWICE YEARLY PROGRAM DEVELOPED TO SUPPORT PARKS GROUPS AND VOLUNTEERS ON RELEVANT TOPICS.
  2. $102,433 spent. CAPITAL PARKS PROJECTS - IN 2024, PPF DEVELOPED THE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO RENOVATE THREE NEW PLAYGROUNDS INCLUDING GEORGE PARK, RAYMOND PARK, AND PORTLAND HEIGHTS PARK. PPF ALSO COMPLETED THE DESIGN DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO RESTORE THE THOMPSON ELK FOUNTAIN FOR THE CITY.
  3. $47,249 spent. PARKS PROGRAMMING AND MAINTENANCE - IN 2024, PPF PROVIDED FISCAL SPONSORSHIP FOR THREE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS HOSTING CULTURAL EVENTS AND YOUTH PROGRAMMING IN PARKS.

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

  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 November 6, 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 2024.

    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 September 2001.

    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 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.