Cincinnati Parks Foundation FY2021 filing

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To build broad based private/public partnerships supporting the conservation and enhancement of our City's parks and greenspaces.

Form 990 Part I, line 1, FY2021. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 31-1429016) · Dispute this line
501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
78¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$130K 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

FY2021 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
The IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
The latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.1M a year · 31% of revenue · last 5 filings
A surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
78%
of spending
78% of spending went to programs.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$130K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending.
Part VII, Section A
14.7 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $16.4M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
14.7 months of spending in cash.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $4K
3 funders name it on their filings.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$24K
0.1% of total assets
Liabilities are 0.1% of assets.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
37
of 37 voting members
37 of 37 voting members are independent.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Revenue
$5.8M
+188% vs prior year
Spent
$2.2M
To programs
78%
Net assets
$20.8M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$5.8M
FY2021▲ +188%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.0M
FY2021$5.8M
FY2022$4.4M
FY2023$3.2M
FY2024$3.2M
Expenses
$2.2M
FY2021▲ +1%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$2.2M
FY2021$2.2M
FY2022$3.6M
FY2023$2.3M
FY2024$2.6M
Net assets
$20.8M
FY2021▲ +31%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$15.8M
FY2021$20.8M
FY2022$19.1M
FY2023$21.1M
FY2024$22.3M

From the FY2021 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

You’re viewing the FY2021 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 Jul 1995.

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

Where the money goes

78 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 78% · $1.7M Management & general 8% · $175K Fundraising 14% · $302K

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

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Who runs it and what they're paid

42 people listed on the 990; $130K paid to officers and key staff (Part VII, Section A).

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$129,738Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Trustee
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Jennifer Spieser’s $149K as President and CEO is at the 64th 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Jennifer Spieser$148,973$141,652$148,805——
Jennifer M Spieser———$129,738$120,293

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 Cincinnati Parks Foundation executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

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

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Builds partnerships to conserve and improve city parks and greenspaces.

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1 program · $1.7M · in their own filed words · FY2021
01

Expenses incurred at specific parks in the Cincinnati Area in order to further conserve and enhance public greenspace.

Form 990 Part III, line 4, FY2021. The organization’s own words, as filed with the IRS. Find it at the IRS (EIN 31-1429016) · Dispute this line
$1.7Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

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

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$4K
See all 3 funders →
Grants paid · 5 grants · $4.9M · 2020–2024
Cincinnati Park BoardFY2024$556,501
Cincinnati Park BoardFY2023$574,414
Cincinnati Park BoardFY2022$2,060,654
Cincinnati Park BoardFY2021$769,732
Cincinnati Park BoardFY2020$979,062

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$5.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.5M
Investment incomeLn 3$967K
Other incomeLn 4–11$340K
Money outPt IX
$2.2M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.7M
Managementcol C$175K
Fundraisingcol D$302K
Owns and owesPt X
$20.8M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.7M
Total assetsLn 16$20.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$24K
PeoplePt VI, VII
42
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a37
IndependentVI 1b37
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$4.5M
Government grantsLn 1e$184K
Investment incomeLn 3$967K
Other incomeLn 4–11$340K
Gains on assetsLn 7$611K
Total revenueLn 12$5.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$2.7M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$2.7M
Pledges and grants receivableLn 3$1.7M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$16.4M
Total assetsLn 16$20.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$24K
Net assetsLn 32$20.8M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 57
VolunteersI 6307
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Investment feesPt IX, Sch D
Investment fees, as reportedPt IX 11f$77K
Share of the $10.1M endowmentSch D 1g0.76%
Typical, median of 2,202 orgs0.44%
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
LineFY21FY20FY19FY18FY17
End of yearLn 1g$10.1M$9.2M$8.8M$7.3M$7.0M
AddedLn 1b$60K$1.0M$617K
SpentLn 1d–1f$169K$145K$393K
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.1M$2.7M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$14.5M$16.4M
Total assetsLn 16$16.0M$20.8M
LiabilitiesLn 26$119K$24K
Net assetsLn 32$15.8M$20.8M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$770K$770K
Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Ln 5$157K$80K$28K$49K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$424K$216K$76K$132K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$19K$9K$3K$6K
Payroll taxesLn 10$37K$19K$7K$12K
Legal feesLn 11b$74K$38K$13K$23K
Accounting feesLn 11c$25K$13K$4K$8K
Investment management feesLn 11f$77K$39K$14K$24K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$28K$14K$5K$9K
Information technologyLn 14$20K$10K$4K$6K
TravelLn 17$17K$9K$3K$5K
InsuranceLn 23$14K$7K$2K$4K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$540K$505K$13K$22K
All other expensesLn 24e$13K$7K$2K$4K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.2M$1.7M$175K$302K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 LatestFiled with the IRS Oct 27, 2025 $3.2M$2.6M$607K$22.3M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Nov 7, 2024 $3.2M$2.3M$920K$21.1M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Nov 7, 2023 $4.4M$3.6M$782K$19.1M 990 PDF
FY2021 ViewingFiled with the IRS Nov 15, 2022 $5.8M$2.2M$3.6M$20.8M 990 PDF
FY2020Filed with the IRS Oct 5, 2021 $2.0M$2.2M−$173K$15.8M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

A · Public support D · Assets and endowments I · Grants O · Explanations
See the full FY2021 990
Part I · Summary $5,802,905 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $1,412,929$4,496,079
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $0$0
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $212,375$966,735
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $392,166$340,091
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,017,470$5,802,905
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $979,062$769,732
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $601,723$637,095
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $609,696$805,580
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,190,481$2,212,407
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$173,011$3,590,498
Part VI · Governance 37 of 37 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body37
VI-1b Independent voting members37
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
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 $5,802,905 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$184,060
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$4,312,019
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$4,496,079
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $356,041$356,041
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $610,694$610,694
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax $339,967$339,967
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $124$124
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $0 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,306,826$5,802,905
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,212,407 across 14 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $769,732$769,732
IX-5 Pay of officers and key staff (Part IX, line 5)Programs $80,028 · Management $28,245 · Fundraising $48,645$156,918
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $216,481 · Management $76,405 · Fundraising $131,587$424,473
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $9,481 · Management $3,346 · Fundraising $5,763$18,590
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $18,928 · Management $6,681 · Fundraising $11,505$37,114
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $37,633 · Management $13,282 · Fundraising $22,875$73,790
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $12,630 · Management $4,458 · Fundraising $7,677$24,765
IX-11f Investment management feesPrograms $39,273 · Management $13,862 · Fundraising $23,872$77,007
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $14,126 · Management $4,986 · Fundraising $8,587$27,699
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $9,987 · Management $3,525 · Fundraising $6,070$19,582
IX-17 TravelPrograms $8,615 · Management $3,040 · Fundraising $5,236$16,891
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $6,888 · Management $2,431 · Fundraising $4,187$13,506
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $504,921 · Management $12,678 · Fundraising $21,926$539,525
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $6,537 · Management $2,306 · Fundraising $3,972$12,815
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,735,260 · Management $175,245 · Fundraising $301,902$2,212,407
Part X · Balance sheet $20,775,378 assets, 11 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,087,761$2,710,048
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $350,825$1,690,620
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $14,528,049$16,374,710
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $15,966,635$20,775,378
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $23,205$24,455
X-24 Unsecured notes and loans payableStart of year $96,200$0
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $119,405$24,455
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $658,470$3,043,271
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $15,188,760$17,707,652
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $15,847,230$20,750,923
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $15,966,635$20,775,378
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $20,750,923 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$5,802,905
XI-2 Total expenses$2,212,407
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$3,590,498
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$15,847,230
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$1,313,195
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$20,750,923

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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