Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse, located in East Fairmount Park, has been a treasured destination for over 100 years. Its mission is to provide and promote opportunities for unstructured free play for children. Smith contributes to the development of healthy children, strong families, and safe communities by:1) Maintaining a proud tradition for free family admission;2) Partnering with community-based organizations to reach a diverse audience; and 3) Advocating for the importance of play.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
64¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$123K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2020 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $436K a year · 26% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
64%
of spending
Worth a look: 64% of spending went to programs; under 65%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$123K
to officers and key staff · 16% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 16% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
3 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $4.4M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 3.3 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $9K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$108K
2% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 2% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
20
of 20 voting members
Looks good: 20 of 20 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.2M
Spent
$790K
To programs
64%
Net assets
$5.7M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$2.2M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.2M
FY2021$1.2M
FY2022$1.2M
FY2023$2.3M
FY2024$1.6M
Expenses
$790K
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$790K
FY2021$1.7M
FY2022$1.1M
FY2023$1.4M
FY2024$1.3M
Net assets
$5.7M
FY2020
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$5.7M
FY2021$829K
FY2022$805K
FY2023$1.4M
FY2024$1.7M

From the FY2020 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2020 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2024) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Mar 2004.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

64 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 64% · $507K Management & general 21% · $164K Fundraising 15% · $119K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? Claim to add context

Who runs it and what they're paid

21 people listed on the 990; $123K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$122,538Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Frances Hoover’s $141K as Executive Di is at the 59th percentile of top reported officer pay among 1842 $1–10M recreation & sports nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Frances Hoover$140,632$132,797$126,378$120,324$122,538

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Smith Memorial Playgrounds executive salaries →

On this list? Claim this org

Something off? Claim to add context

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Provides and promotes unstructured free play opportunities for children.

Questions for Smith Memorial Playgrounds

Tap to ask. Smith Memorial Playgrounds sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Smith Memorial Playgrounds answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this org? Add your story

1 program · $507K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Smith memorial playground and playhouse, located in east fairmount park, has been a treasured destination for over 100 years. Its mission is to provide and promote opportunities for unstructured free play for children.

$507Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$9K

By the numbers

The FY2020 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.2M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$19K
Investment incomeLn 3$12K
Money outPt IX
$790K
Ln 25
Programscol B$507K
Managementcol C$164K
Fundraisingcol D$119K
Owns and owesPt X
$5.7M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$217K
Total assetsLn 16$5.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$108K
PeoplePt VI, VII
21
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a20
IndependentVI 1b20
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$2.2M
Government grantsLn 1e$553K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$25K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$19K
Investment incomeLn 3$12K
Other incomeLn 4–11$19
Total revenueLn 12$2.2M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$217K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$217K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$4.4M
Other assetsLn 15$15K
Total assetsLn 16$5.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$108K
Net assetsLn 32$5.7M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 546
VolunteersI 60
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY20End FY20
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$257K$217K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0$4.4M
Total assetsLn 16$3.1M$5.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$0$108K
Net assetsLn 32$3.1M$5.7M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$126K$79K$31K$16K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$307K$189K$79K$40K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$6K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$30K$23K$3K$4K
Payroll taxesLn 10$36K$22K$9K$5K
Accounting feesLn 11c$31K$31K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$102K$53K$4K$46K
Office expensesLn 13$13K$7K$3K$3K
TravelLn 17$10K$10K
InsuranceLn 23$32K$31K$636$318
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$82K$81K$1K
All other expensesLn 24e$15K$7K$2K$6K
Total functional expensesLn 25$790K$507K$164K$119K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest $1.6M$1.3M$337K$1.7M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.3M$1.4M$817K$1.4M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.2M$1.1M$113K$805K 990 PDF
FY2021 $1.2M$1.7M−$480K$829K 990 PDF
FY2020 Viewing $2.2M$790K$1.4M$5.7M 990 PDF

More to add? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support O · Explanations
See the full FY2020 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,183,901 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,425,090$2,153,009
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $117,031$19,025
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $62,708$11,848
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$19
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $1,604,829$2,183,901
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $0$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $544,322$504,761
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $744,752$285,174
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $1,289,074$789,935
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $315,755$1,393,966
Part VI · Governance 20 of 20 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body20
VI-1b Independent voting members20
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,183,901 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1a Federated campaigns$3,120
VIII-1b Membership dues$1,052
VIII-1c Fundraising events$25,493
VIII-1e Government grants$552,769
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,570,575
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$2,153,009
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $19,025$19,025
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $11,848$11,848
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $19$19
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $19,044 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $11,848$2,183,901
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $789,935 across 12 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $78,815 · Management $31,341 · Fundraising $15,922$126,078
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $188,565 · Management $78,508 · Fundraising $39,884$306,957
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $5,761$5,761
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $23,332 · Management $3,109 · Fundraising $3,793$30,234
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $21,752 · Management $9,270 · Fundraising $4,709$35,731
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $30,744$30,744
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $52,674 · Management $3,561 · Fundraising $45,918$102,153
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $6,918 · Management $2,927 · Fundraising $3,326$13,171
IX-17 TravelPrograms $9,990$9,990
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $30,830 · Management $636 · Fundraising $318$31,784
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $80,913 · Management $1,125$82,038
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $7,443 · Management $2,333 · Fundraising $5,518$15,294
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $506,993 · Management $163,554 · Fundraising $119,388$789,935
Part X · Balance sheet $5,854,318 assets, 12 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $256,910$217,318
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$1,185,273
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $0$4,437,075
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $497,390$14,652
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,118,423$5,854,318
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expenses$6,079
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $0$102,000
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $0$108,079
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $1,021,225$4,352,876
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $2,097,198$1,393,363
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,118,423$5,746,239
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,118,423$5,854,318
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $5,746,239 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,183,901
XI-2 Total expenses$789,935
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$1,393,966
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,118,423
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$1,233,850
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$5,746,239

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2020 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

Your org? Add context

Made it to the end? Claim this org

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.