Overview
What is Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks?
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is a key collaborator with California State Parks, dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the state parks and beaches in Santa Cruz County and Coastal San Mateo County. By fostering community partnerships, they invest in these cherished spaces, funding projects that support education, conservation, facilities improvements, and cultural events. Their work encompasses providing visitor services, operating stores, and raising funds for park improvements and staff. Key activities include expanding educational programs for underprivileged students, preserving old-growth redwoods, hiring maintenance staff, funding interpretive services, and supporting volunteer and staff training. They have also made technological improvements, restored historic structures, administered a beach wheelchair program, and funded facilities upgrades. Their recent achievements include expanding an equity field trip program, funding tree pruning, employing field staff, and restoring the Horse Barn doors at Wilder Ranch.
Official website here: www.thatsmypark.org
What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?
Charity Navigator Rating: 96% (Four-Star out of Four Stars)
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks has received a commendable Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator, which reflects the organization's strong accountability and financial health. The score emphasizes the effectiveness of their fiscal management, with a 90.53% program expense ratio indicating that the majority of their funding directly supports park-related projects. The organization boasts a fully independent board and stringent policies regarding financial oversight, demonstrating a commitment to transparency and responsible governance.
User feedback highlights the organization’s extensive contributions to local state parks, particularly in funding educational programs and recovery efforts following natural disasters. Reviewers praise the Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks for their proactive response to community needs and their role in maintaining park accessibility for all, especially through initiatives like the "Kids to Parks" program. The partnership with California State Parks has been crucial in restoring and preserving the natural beauty and infrastructure of the parks.
While the reviews are overwhelmingly positive, one board member noted room for improvement, indicating that there are ongoing challenges faced by the organization. Overall, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is recognized as a vital resource in the community, effectively enhancing the experience and accessibility of state parks in the area.
This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator and Great Nonprofits.
Is Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks legitimate?
Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks submitted a form 990, which is a tax form used by tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., indicating its operational transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.
Heare are some key statistics you may want to consider:
Executive Compensation: $318,365
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $3,152,572
For more financial information, click here
Official website here: www.thatsmypark.org
What is the mission statement of Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks?
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks works closely with California State Parks to ensure the thriving and accessibility of parks and beaches in Santa Cruz County and Coastal San Mateo County. Their mission involves providing services and funding for education, conservation, facilities improvements, historic preservation, and cultural events, among others. They employ field staff, manage visitor services, operate stores, and contribute to fundraising, grant-writing, and volunteer recruitment. Accomplishments in the past year include expanding an equity field trip program, funding maintenance staff, employing volunteers, and making technological improvements. They have also funded educational programs, restored historic properties, and administered beach wheelchair programs.
Official website here: www.thatsmypark.org
Who is the CEO of Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks?
Bonny Hawley is the Executive Dir. of Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks.
Official website here: www.thatsmypark.org
What is the revenue of Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks?
Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks's revenue in 2022 was $8,027,824.
Official website here: www.thatsmypark.org
Who are the executives of Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks and what are their salaries?
The average compensation at Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks during 2022 was $22,686. There are 153 employees and 24 volunteers at Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks.
Here are 16 key members and their salaries:
- Compensation: $169,812
- Related: $0
- Other: $9,183
- Compensation: $135,307
- Related: $0
- Other: $8,118
- Compensation: $113,861
- Related: $0
- Other: $25,509
- Compensation: $104,154
- Related: $0
- Other: $6,411
- Compensation: $106,124
- Related: $0
- Other: $3,900
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
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- Other: $0
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- Other: $0
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- Other: $0
Official website here: www.thatsmypark.org
Where can I find the form 990 for Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks?
Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2022 and can be accessed here.
Official website here: www.thatsmypark.org
Learn more at the official website: www.thatsmypark.org
Mission Statement of Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, a vital partner to California State Parks, is committed to ensuring that parks and beaches throughout Santa Cruz County and Coastal San Mateo County thrive and remain accessible to all. This nonprofit organization works creatively to support these cherished spaces, investing in various services and funding to promote education, equity and inclusion, conservation, facilities improvements, historic preservation, and cultural events.
Through innovative community partnerships, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks provides essential visitor services, operates stores in five parks and online, and generates revenue for parks improvement projects and funding for park employees. The organization also employs staff to manage various aspects such as fundraising, volunteer recruitment, event and project management, historic preservation, technology, equity and outreach, accounting, strategic planning, and communications and public relations.
In the past year, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks has made significant strides in its mission. The organization expanded its Kids2Parks equity field trip program, served over 2,000 students, facilitated Big Basin tree pruning to save old-growth redwoods, funded maintenance staff at Castle Rock State Park, and employed 94 field staff to support park operations. Additionally, the organization has funded volunteer and staff training, supplies, and support services, funded 33 State Park Interpreters for educational programs, and made technological improvements to enhance accessibility.
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks has also been active in outreach events, coordinating projects at the Castro Adobe State Historic Park, and administering the Beach Wheelchair program. The organization has made facilities upgrades such as the District Power Equipment shed, Castle Rock kiosk window, and Sunset firewood shed, and received the Dolkas-Mertz grant to build a Virtual Mission Bell Exhibit kiosk. Overall, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is dedicated to preserving and enhancing California State Parks, making them thrive and remain accessible to all.
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Impact
June, 2024
Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks has a significant impact on the preservation, accessibility, and overall enhancement of parks and beaches throughout Santa Cruz County and Coastal San Mateo County. They have played a vital role in supporting education, equity, conservation, facilities improvements, historic preservation, and cultural events in these areas.
Some specific accomplishments of Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks include expanding the Kids2Parks equity field trip program, funding maintenance staff at Castle Rock State Park, providing educational programs at local parks and beaches, coordinating various preservation and improvement projects, and making technological enhancements for better accessibility and visitor experience.
Their dedication and collaborative efforts have resulted in tangible benefits such as saving old-growth redwoods, facilitating trail clean-ups, supporting park operations with field staff, funding volunteer and staff training, implementing facilities upgrades, and engaging in community outreach events. Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks is truly instrumental in ensuring that these natural and cultural heritage sites thrive and remain accessible to all.
This information is meant to be a general summary of Friends Of Santa Cruz State Parks. Please take the time to review official sources before making any decisions based upon the content provided here.
Financials
This financial information is from Propublica.
Other financial information:
This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2022.
- Investment Income: $12,260
- Program Service Revenue: $6,969,790
- Gross Receipts: $8,027,824
Assets and Liabilities:
- Total Assets: $7,735,235
- Total Liabilities: $1,111,578
- Net Assets: $6,623,657
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Programs
Programs are reported by nonprofits in their tax forms and are normally their tax-exempt activities.
PARK USE FEES
Revenue
$6,531,272
RETAIL SALES
Revenue
$438,518
Organization Details
Founding Year
1976
Phone
(831) 429-1840Principal Officer
Bonny Hawley
Main Address
1543 PACIFIC AVENUE 206, SANTA CRUZ, CA, 95060
Website
www.thatsmypark.orgNTEE Category
Code: C60 - Environment
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