Central Park Conservancy
Central Park Conservancy reported $172.9 million in revenue and $166.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $79.43 went to program services, $14.93 to management and general costs and $5.64 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was contributions and grants: 63.9% of the total. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $1,286,350 (EX-OFFICIO (PRESIDENT/CEO)). 128 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 167% between FY2020 and FY2025. Source: Form 990, FY2025.
Where $100 of spending went
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part IX, line 25 · total expenses $166MFor context, the median across 237 covered recreation & sports charities: $88.05 programs, $10.89 management, $1.06 fundraising (medians computed separately, so they may not sum to $100).
Where $100 of revenue came from
The fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 · Form 990, Part VIII · total revenue $173M- Contributions & grants (non-government)$63.53 $111M
- Program service revenue$16.68 $29M
- Investment income$19.79 $34M
Other revenue was negative: −$1.1M. The bar shows the positive sources only.
The 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 79.4% | 84.4% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 14.9% | 10.4% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 5.6% | 1.0% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.08 | $0.05 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 63.9% | 25.2% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 16.8% | 61.0% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $1,286,350 | $365,322 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 0.77% | 2.14% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 128 | 6 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 48.4 | 14.9 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 54 of 55 | 100.0% |
A median is context, not a target: hospitals, universities, food banks and grantmakers spend in very different ways. What these measures can and can't tell you.
What the money paid for, in its own words
FY2025 · Form 990, Part III · the three largest programs by expenseDesign and construction in connection with the restoration of Central Park as america's foremost major urban public space. The conservancy has carried out a restoration management plan for the park, and managed the capital restoration of a number of significant landscapes and facilities
As the official manager of Central Park, the conservancy is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance and operation of the park. Activities include: landscape maintenance, playground maintenance, tree care, turf care, and preservation of historic monuments. The conservancy has set new standards in excellence in park care. It has transformed Central Park into a model for urban parks worldwide
The conservancy public programs take advantage of the invaluable resources in Central Park providing education, recreation, and volunteer programs that serve the community. In addition, the conservancy provides services at the following six visitor centers in the park: the davis center, charles a. Dana discovery center, north meadow recreation center, belvedere castle, dairy visitor center and gift shop, and chess and checkers house
Highest reported compensation
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section A · roles as filed; names are in the filing, not here| Role | From this org | From related orgs | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EX-OFFICIO (PRESIDENT/CEO) Director/trustee, officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $1,211,800 | $0 | $74,550 | $1,286,350 |
| CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $746,635 | $0 | $76,015 | $822,650 |
| CHIEF OF PARK OPERATIONS Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $544,054 | $0 | $72,369 | $616,423 |
| CHIEF COMM. & ENG THROUGH 7/5/24 Officer, 35.00 hrs/week | $379,432 | $0 | $58,000 | $437,432 |
| SENIOR VP FOR CAPITAL PROJECT Key employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $356,100 | $0 | $53,759 | $409,859 |
| VICE PRESIDENT FOR PEOPLE & CULTURE Key employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $343,414 | $0 | $63,458 | $406,872 |
| SENIOR VP FOR PHILANTHROPY Key employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $337,405 | $0 | $64,331 | $401,736 |
| CHIEF OF STAFF & VP OF STR. INIT. Highest compensated employee, 35.00 hrs/week | $325,770 | $0 | $74,597 | $400,367 |
128 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from Central Park Conservancy (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $4.0M (Part IX, line 5).
6 years of filings
Form 990, Parts I, VII, IX and X · each row is that year's own filing, linkedGovernance answers, as filed
FY2025 · the organization's own yes/no answers; explanations, if any, are in Schedule O of the filing · what each means- Voting board members, and how many are independent Part VI, lines 1a–1b55 · 54 independent
- Audited financial statements Part XII 2bYes
- Conflict-of-interest policy Part VI 12aYes
- Whistleblower policy Part VI 13Yes
- Document retention policy Part VI 14Yes
- Independent process for top executive pay Part VI 15aYes
- Board given the 990 before filing Part VI 11aYes
- Family or business ties among insiders Part VI 2Yes
- Aware of a significant diversion of assets Part VI 5No
- Excess benefit transaction with an insider Part IV 25aNo
- Loans to or from insiders outstanding Part IV 26No
- Lobbying, or a 501(h) election in effect Part IV 4Yes
- Over $15,000 of professional fundraising services Part IV 18Yes
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bYes
- Employees Part I, line 5509
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,967
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| E W HOWELL CO LLC Construction | $31,169,520 |
| C&L CONTRACTING CORP Construction | $9,488,169 |
| TAIT TOWERS MANUFACTURING LLC Construction | $7,423,160 |
| FGI CORPORATION Construction | $6,396,906 |
| ALPINE CONSTRUCTION & LANDSCAPING CORP Construction | $6,028,812 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 107 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
437 private foundations reported grants to Central Park Conservancy totaling $31M on their tax year 2023 Form 990-PF returns. See which foundations, on WHOFUNDS.
Source: WHOFUNDS open grant graph, matched from Form 990-PF Part XV.
Correct a figure or respond
Every number above is copied from Central Park Conservancy's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for Central Park Conservancy, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 Central Park Conservancy spent in FY2025, $79.43 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Mountain West ConferenceColorado Springs, CO · revenue $166M · programs 93.3% · FY2025
- Special OlympicsWashington, DC · revenue $186M · programs 84.7% · 2024
- University of Louisville Athletic AssociationLouisville, KY · revenue $143M · programs 94.2% · FY2025
- Southeast Volusia Healthcare CorporationNew Smyrna Beach, FL · revenue $215M · programs 92.6% · 2024
- Usta National Tennis CenterPurchase, NY · revenue $140M · programs 99.4% · 2024
All recreation & sports charities · Largest charities in New York
Questions people ask
How much of Central Park Conservancy's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, Central Park Conservancy reported that 79.4% of its $166.1 million in expenses went to program services, 14.9% to management and general and 5.6% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does Central Park Conservancy pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation Central Park Conservancy reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $1,286,350, for the role of EX-OFFICIO (PRESIDENT/CEO) (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does Central Park Conservancy get its money?
Of $172.9 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 63.9% came from contributions and grants and 16.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is Central Park Conservancy a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 13-3022855 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(a)(vi))), and its records show contributions as tax-deductible. Form 990 filings on record here cover tax years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. A filing shows what the organization reported; it doesn't by itself show whether a program works.
Sources
- FY2025: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, object 202640759349300914 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202530569349301508 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202440869349301304 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202331219349300643 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202211099349300616 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202120889349300322 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 13-3022855: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.