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San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation

EIN 94-3306697 · San Mateo, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO CARE FOR, LEARN ABOUT AND ENJOY SAN MATEO COUNTY PARKS. WE FUND PROJECTS, PROGRAMS AND VOLUNTEER EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE 23 SAN MATEO COUNTY PARKS, FROM IMPROVING PLAYGROUNDS AND INTERPRETIVE FACILITIES TO STEWARDING THE PARKS' NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS.

Income
$711,421
Spending
$688,365
Spent on programs
69%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 83%
Employees
3
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$129,744, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% 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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    7 of 7

    Has a 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 June 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. $476,825 spent. SEE SCHEDULE OALL OF THE FOUNDATION'S PROGRAMS HAVE A SINGLE FOCUS-PROMOTING, ADVOCATING FOR, PRESERVING, AND IMPROVING SAN MATEO COUNTY PARKS. THE SUPPORT FROM THE FOUNDATION IS DIRECTED TOWARDS:- MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING PARK INFRASTRUCTURE;- PROVIDING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES PARTICULARLY FOR UNDERSERVED YOUTH;- PROTECTING AND RESTORING HABITAT FOR THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES;- SUPPORTING VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS;- MANAGING THE SAN MATEO COUNTY PARKS COMMEMORATIVE BENCH AND TABLE PROGRAM.THIS SUPPORT IS EXECUTED BOTH DIRECTLY THROUGH THE FOUNDATION'S OWN SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND INDIRECTLY THROUGH ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO SAN MATEO COUNTY PARKS.THE FOUNDATION FUNDS SAN MATEO COUNTY PARKS' PRESENCE ON THE FREE APP STQRY, PAYS FOR THE PARK ENTRY FEES FOR SAN MATEO COUNTY HEALTH PATIENTS AS PART OF THE FOUNDATION'S PARK PRESCRIPTION PROGRAM, HAS PROVIDED PART OF THE FUNDING FOR THE REMOVAL OF DISEASED AND DANGEROUS TREES AT COYOTE POINT, AND SUPPORTED MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AT MEMORIAL PARK. THE FOUNDATION AWARDS SMALL GRANTS TO COUNTY PARK RANGERS TO PURCHASE WILDFIRE-PREVENTION AND OTHER TOOLS, REPAIR BRIDGES AND CULVERTS, AND INSTALL NEW ADA AMENITIES SUCH AS WATER FOUNTAINS. IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, AMONG OTHER EFFORTS, THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS STEWARDSHIP OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES AT HUDDART PARK. CONSERVATION EFFORTS HAVE FOCUSED ON THE REMOVAL OF FIRE-PRONE FRENCH BROOM WHICH HAS ALLOWED IRIS, MONKEYFLOWER, AND HONYESUCKLE TO RETURN ON ITS OWN.THE FOUNDATION SPONSORS "BICYCLE SUNDAY", A YEAR-ROUND EVENT THAT CLOSES CANADA ROAD TO AUTOMOBILES EVERY SUNDAY SO CYCLISTS HAVE SAFE, CAR-FREE ACCESS TO THE ROAD.THE FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPORTS VOLUNTEER GROUPS IN ACCOMPLISHING THEIR MISSIONS RANGING FROM TRAINING DOCENTS TO ORGANIZING GROUPS FOR LITTER CLEANUP, TO PROVIDING TOOLS FOR WEEDING AND REPLANTING WITH NATIVE PLANTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 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 June 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 February 1999.

    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.

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