The mission of the Memorial Park Conservancy is to restore, preserve and enhance Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
91¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$1.1M 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

FY2023 · 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
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $2.1M a year · 9% of revenue · last 6 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
91%
of spending
Looks good: 91% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.1M
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $21.6M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Fine: 2.5 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
5
named funders · $799K
Looks good: 5 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.7M
7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 7% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
25
of 25 voting members
Looks good: 25 of 25 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$10.4M
-68% vs prior year
Spent
$25.6M
To programs
91%
Net assets
$39.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$10.4M
FY2023▼ -68%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$21.0M
FY2021$34.0M
FY2022$32.4M
FY2023$10.4M
FY2024$18.9M
FY2025$22.0M
Expenses
$25.6M
FY2023▲ +27%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$24.1M
FY2021$30.4M
FY2022$20.2M
FY2023$25.6M
FY2024$13.7M
FY2025$12.3M
Net assets
$39.2M
FY2023▼ -28%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$38.7M
FY2021$42.4M
FY2022$54.5M
FY2023$39.2M
FY2024$45.2M
FY2025$56.2M

From the FY2023 Form 990 (year ending May 2023) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2023 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Oct 2000.

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

Where the money goes

91 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 91% · $23.4M Management & general 4% · $944K Fundraising 5% · $1.3M

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

30 people listed on the 990; $1.1M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2022); the FY2023 filing did not itemize Part VII
President & CEO
$408,461Pt VII · Sec A
Executive Vice President
$303,538Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President of Engagement
$146,977Pt VII · Sec A
SR. Director of Park Operations
$144,231Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Development
$105,256Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Shellye Arnold’s $495K as President & CEO (thru 10/24) is at the 91st percentile of top reported officer pay among 324 $10–100M environment 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 · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Shellye Arnold$494,833$444,743$408,461$353,718$302,273$247,109
Randy Odinet—$205,696$303,538$275,731$242,500$183,077
Cara Lambright————$289,631$171,297
Chris Ballard$244,787$59,101————
Holli Clements$198,353$175,510$146,977$119,613——
Elizabeth Taylor$157,789$112,765————
Corri Pfeiffenberger——$144,231———
Carolyn White————$134,000$113,552

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.

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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

Restores, preserves, and enhances a large urban park for community enjoyment.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $23.4M · in their own filed words · FY2022
01

See Schedule Omaster Plan

-Construction of the Running Complex began June 2022. The project includes a new parking lot, running track, restroom, a rally pavilion, and a cafe. The Roy H. Cullen Timing Track and Event Plaza were opened in November 2023. The Cafe will open in April 2024.

$19.2Mprogram expense
02

See Schedule O Welcoming and Engaging Park Visitors

The Conservancy has placed a strong focus on activating new and existing areas of Memorial Park for creative and diversified programmatic offerings in order to embrace Houston's vibrant array of cultures.

$2.8Mprogram expense
03

See Schedule O Operating and Maintaining the Park

The Conservancy operated and maintained 1,100 acres of Memorial Park's 1,500 acres, exceeding contractual requirements for frequency of cleaning, mowing, and other services. The Conservancy advances its mission through improving Park amenities, supporting forestry management initiatives, planting native tree varieties, maintaining…

$1.4Mprogram 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
See all 5 funders →

By the numbers

The FY2023 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$10.4M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$9.1M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$342K
Money outPt IX
$25.6M
Ln 25
Programscol B$23.4M
Managementcol C$944K
Fundraisingcol D$1.3M
Owns and owesPt X
$39.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$5.4M
Total assetsLn 16$41.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.7M
PeoplePt VI, VII
30
listed · VII A
PaidVII A5
Voting boardVI 1a25
IndependentVI 1b25
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$9.1M
Government grantsLn 1e$2.0M
Noncash giftsLn 1g$60K
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$1.3M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$1.1M
Investment incomeLn 3$342K
Gains on assetsLn 7$17K
Total revenueLn 12$10.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
SavingsLn 2$5.4M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$5.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$21.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$378K
Total assetsLn 16$41.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.7M
Net assetsLn 32$39.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 559
VolunteersI 62,319
Fiscal year endsHeaderMay
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 FY23End FY23
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$8.1M$5.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$31.9M$21.6M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$308K$378K
Total assetsLn 16$57.2M$41.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.7M$2.7M
Net assetsLn 32$54.5M$39.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$953K$659K$119K$175K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.9M$2.0M$385K$562K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$58K$48K$4K$6K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$386K$300K$32K$54K
Payroll taxesLn 10$299K$211K$36K$52K
Legal feesLn 11b$4K$3K$1K
Accounting feesLn 11c$18K$18K
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$36K$36K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1.2M$814K$118K$236K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$3K$10$3K
Office expensesLn 13$586K$419K$86K$80K
Information technologyLn 14$185K$95K$35K$54K
TravelLn 17$17K$15K$800$2K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$88K$64K$8K$16K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$114K$114K
InsuranceLn 23$89K$3K$87K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$18.7M$18.7M
All other expensesLn 24e$32K$3K$15K$14K
Total functional expensesLn 25$25.6M$23.4M$944K$1.3M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $22.0M$12.3M$9.7M$56.2M 990 PDF
FY2024 $18.9M$13.7M$5.1M$45.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 Viewing $10.4M$25.6M−$15.2M$39.2M 990 PDF
FY2022 $32.4M$20.2M$12.3M$54.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 $34.0M$30.4M$3.6M$42.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $21.0M$24.1M−$3.1M$38.7M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2023 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $10,371,789 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $31,395,383$9,124,904
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $1,036,789$1,074,658
I-10 Investment incomePrior year −$1,628$342,034
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$4,762−$169,807
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $32,425,782$10,371,789
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 $4,022,013$4,606,026
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$36,250
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $16,153,686$20,955,995
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $20,175,699$25,598,271
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $12,250,083−$15,226,482
Part VI · Governance 25 of 25 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body25
VI-1b Independent voting members25
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 $10,371,789 across 10 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$1,337,007
VIII-1e Government grants$2,016,591
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$5,771,306
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$60,279
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$9,124,904
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $1,074,658$1,074,658
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $325,369$325,369
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $16,665$16,665
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$169,807−$169,807
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $1,074,658 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $172,227$10,371,789
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $25,598,271 across 18 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $658,600 · Management $118,725 · Fundraising $175,207$952,532
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,964,021 · Management $384,908 · Fundraising $561,643$2,910,572
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $47,797 · Management $4,237 · Fundraising $5,987$58,021
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $299,517 · Management $31,744 · Fundraising $54,337$385,598
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $211,402 · Management $36,155 · Fundraising $51,746$299,303
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $3,018 · Management $1,356$4,374
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $17,500$17,500
IX-11e Professional fundraising feesFundraising $36,250$36,250
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $814,322 · Management $117,725 · Fundraising $235,614$1,167,661
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $10 · Fundraising $2,767$2,777
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $419,473 · Management $86,278 · Fundraising $80,124$585,875
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $95,495 · Management $35,080 · Fundraising $54,015$184,590
IX-17 TravelPrograms $15,006 · Management $800 · Fundraising $1,670$17,476
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $64,119 · Management $7,764 · Fundraising $15,852$87,735
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $114,293$114,293
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $2,600 · Management $86,855$89,455
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $18,651,771$18,651,771
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $3,305 · Management $15,345 · Fundraising $13,838$32,488
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $23,364,749 · Management $944,472 · Fundraising $1,289,050$25,598,271
Part X · Balance sheet $41,882,048 assets, 12 lines filed
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $8,050,429$5,360,403
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $16,907,932$14,587,619
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $828$5,647
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $308,325$377,639
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $31,925,782$21,550,740
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $57,193,296$41,882,048
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $2,728,027$2,723,441
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,728,027$2,723,441
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $9,628,014$10,488,656
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $44,837,255$28,669,951
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $54,465,269$39,158,607
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $57,193,296$41,882,048
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $39,158,607 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$10,371,789
XI-2 Total expenses$25,598,271
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$15,226,482
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$54,465,269
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$80,180
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$39,158,607

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2023 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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