Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PRESERVE THE GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS, ENHANCE THE PARK VISITOR EXPERIENCE, AND BUILD A COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO CONSERVING THE PARKS FOR THE FUTURE.
- Income
- $54.7 million
- Spending
- $50.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 8.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 43%
- Employees
- 401
- Volunteers
- 8,394
- Highest pay
- $569,730, chief executive officer
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
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 77% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 8.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% 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
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (environment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2525 of 25 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
0 of 10Did not give 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 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 (3)
- $17.5 million spent. PARK INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES:THE PARKS CONSERVANCY OPERATES THE ALCATRAZ CELLHOUSE TOUR, WHICH INCLUDES THE AWARD-WINNING ALCATRAZ AUDIO TOURS, AS WELL AS ALCATRAZ NIGHT TOURS AND BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS. WE HOST OVER 1.4 MILLION VISITORS ANNUALLY ON ALCATRAZ ISLAND. WE ALSO OPERATE INTERPRETIVE RETAIL AND VISITOR CENTERS OPEN YEAR-ROUND SERVING MILLIONS OF LOCAL AND OUT-OF-TOWN VISITORS ANNUALLY AT SEVEN LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE PARKS: ALCATRAZ ISLAND, MUIR WOODS, FORT POINT, PRESIDIO, CRISSY FIELD WARMING HUT, LANDS END, AND GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE. PURCHASES AT OUR VISITOR CENTERS HELP SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS THAT SUSTAIN OUR PARKS.
- $12.4 million spent. PARK PROJECTS AND CONSERVATION:SUPPORTS STEWARDSHIP OF THE RICH NATURAL, HISTORIC AND RECREATION RESOURCES OF PARKLANDS. ENCOMPASSES BUILDING AND MAINTAINING MULTI-USE SPACES, RESTORING SENSITIVE ECOSYSTEMS, PROTECTING ENDANGERED SPECIES, GROWING NATIVE PLANTS, REHABILITATING HISTORIC STRUCTURES, CONSTRUCTING OVERLOOKS, INSTALLING VISITOR AMENITIES, AND CREATING NEW PARK EXPERIENCES FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY SCIENCE AND NURSERY PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO ENGAGE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN HABITAT CONSERVATION, SCIENTIFIC MONITORING AND CLIMATE IMPACTS TO THE PARKLANDS.
- $6.1 million spent. YOUTH, VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS:CONNECTS PEOPLE TO PARKS THROUGH YOUTH PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES ACROSS THREE FOCUS AREAS: (I) YOUTH PROGRAMS; (II) COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP & ENGAGEMENT; AND (III) VOLUNTEERS & INTERNSHIPS. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, WE STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND PARKS, FOSTERING STEWARDSHIP AND LIFELONG APPRECIATION FOR PUBLIC LANDS.
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
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 September 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 May 1985.
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.