National Recreation and Park Association
National Recreation and Park Association reported $24.3 million in revenue and $23.1 million in expenses for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Of every $100 it spent, $84.53 went to program services, $10.99 to management and general costs and $4.48 to fundraising. Its largest source of revenue was program service revenue such as fees, sales and contracts: 47.8% of the total. Government grants made up 11.4%. The highest compensation it reported for one person was $475,568 (PRESIDENT & CEO). 20 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation. Revenue rose 21% 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 $23MFor context, the median across 371 covered environment charities: $85.82 programs, $10.80 management, $3.38 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 $24MThe 990 scorecard · same measures for every charity, no grades
| Measure | FY2025 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Program services Part IX 25(B) ÷ 25(A) | 84.5% | 83.6% |
| Management & general Part IX 25(C) ÷ 25(A) | 11.0% | 10.5% |
| Fundraising Part IX 25(D) ÷ 25(A) | 4.5% | 3.3% |
| Fundraising cost per $1 of contributions Part IX 25(D) ÷ Part VIII 1h | $0.13 | $0.03 |
| Contributions & grants share of revenue Part VIII 1h ÷ 12 | 32.9% | 87.6% |
| Government grants share of revenue Part VIII 1e ÷ 12 | 11.4% | 4.8% |
| Program service revenue share Part VIII 2g ÷ 12 | 47.8% | 3.2% |
| Highest reported compensation Part VII-A, columns D–F | $475,568 | $293,532 |
| Highest compensation as share of expenses Part VII-A ÷ Part IX 25(A) | 2.05% | 1.74% |
| People paid over $100,000 Part VII, line 2 | 20 | 7 |
| Net assets, in months of expenses Part X 33(B) ÷ monthly expenses | 9.9 | 18.8 |
| Independent voting board members Part VI 1a–1b | 29 of 30 | 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 expensePrograms and partnerships - nrpa leverages its relationships with several different key corporations, foundations, the federal government, and nonprofit organizations to bring greater resources to local Park and Recreation agencies. Focusing on advancing our strategic goal of maximizing community health and well-being, nrpa manages communities of practice and provides training, technical assistance, resources, professional development, and grant funds to local Park and Recreation agencies to increase access to quality parks and green spaces, improve health outcomes, and create resilient…
Annual conference - the nrpa annual conference is the largest gathering of Park and Recreation professionals in the united states. Each year, this highly anticipated event attracts 8,400+ participants, which includes 225+ education sessions and 500+ exhibiting companies on the tradeshow floor. Education sessions cover topics such leadership and management, public relations, planning, design and maintenance, recreation programming, and more. Booth displays in the exhibit hall feature a variety of Park and Recreation products and services including playground and maintenance equipment…
Certification and accreditation - nrpa has over 25,000 certified individuals in the areas of aquatic facilities, playground safety, general parks and recreation, and executive parks and recreation. The nrpa board of directors established the national certification board to administer the nrpa professional and occupational certification programs in accordance with the goals and values of the association. Each program reviews best practices through a job analysis approximately every 5 years and examinations are updated accordingly. Nrpa also has 222 accredited Park and Recreation agencies…
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRESIDENT & CEO Director/trustee, officer, 38.00 hrs/week | $398,231 | $0 | $77,337 | $475,568 |
| FINANCIAL AND OPERATING OFFICER Officer, 38.00 hrs/week | $225,476 | $0 | $67,914 | $293,390 |
| COMMUNICATIONS & ENGAGEMENT OFFICER Officer, 38.00 hrs/week | $207,700 | $0 | $55,875 | $263,575 |
| CHIEF EDUCATION AND EQUITY OFFICER Officer, 38.00 hrs/week | $186,077 | $0 | $62,421 | $248,498 |
| CHIEF PARTNERSHIP OFFICER Officer, 38.00 hrs/week | $191,876 | $0 | $45,278 | $237,154 |
| AND MEMBERSHIP OPERATIONS Highest compensated employee, 38.00 hrs/week | $164,957 | $0 | $51,268 | $216,225 |
| DIRECTOR OF CONFERENCES Highest compensated employee, 38.00 hrs/week | $136,102 | $0 | $55,639 | $191,741 |
| SENIOR DIRECTOR, IT Highest compensated employee, 38.00 hrs/week | $145,174 | $0 | $39,751 | $184,925 |
20 people received more than $100,000 in reportable compensation from National Recreation and Park Association (Part VII, line 2). Compensation of current officers, directors and key employees totaled $1.7M (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–1b30 · 29 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 2No
- 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 18No
- Over $10,000 of activity outside the U.S. Part IV 14bNo
- Employees Part I, line 594
- Volunteers Part I, line 61,225
Largest outside contractors
FY2025 · Form 990, Part VII, Section B · businesses only| CCR SOLUTIONS INC Professional fees | $769,014 |
| COMPASS GROUP USA INC Food and beverage and venue rental fees | $559,446 |
| RENAISSANCE DENVER CENTRAL PARK HOTEL Food and beverage and venue rental fees | $357,077 |
| RSM US LLP Accounting services | $306,083 |
| GEORGIA WORLD CONGRESS CENTER Professional fees | $300,884 |
Individuals listed as contractors are left out. 14 contractors were paid more than $100,000 in all.
Private foundation grants it received
5 private foundations reported grants to National Recreation and Park Association totaling $1.4M 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 National Recreation and Park Association's own Form 990. If one doesn't match the filing, that's our error and we'll fix it. If you work for National Recreation and Park Association, you can publish a response that is linked from this page.
Share or embed this breakdown
Of every $100 National Recreation and Park Association spent in FY2025, $84.53 went to programs. The full breakdown, from its IRS Form 990:
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Similar-sized charities in this cause
- Highlander Research & Education CenterNew Market, TN · revenue $24M · programs 88.2% · FY2025
- Coalition for Green CapitalWashington, DC · revenue $24M · programs 93.4% · 2024
- Conservation Law FoundationBoston, MA · revenue $24M · programs 81.8% · FY2025
- The Water Research FoundationDenver, CO · revenue $24M · programs 69.0% · 2025
- Council on the EnvironmentNew York, NY · revenue $24M · programs 74.4% · FY2025
Questions people ask
How much of National Recreation and Park Association's spending goes to programs?
In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, National Recreation and Park Association reported that 84.5% of its $23.1 million in expenses went to program services, 11.0% to management and general and 4.5% to fundraising (Form 990, Part IX).
How much does National Recreation and Park Association pay its top executive?
The largest total compensation National Recreation and Park Association reported for one person in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was $475,568, for the role of PRESIDENT & CEO (Form 990, Part VII, including compensation from related organizations and other compensation).
Where does National Recreation and Park Association get its money?
Of $24.3 million in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 32.9% came from contributions and grants (including 11.4% from government grants) and 47.8% from program service revenue (Form 990, Part VIII).
Is National Recreation and Park Association a registered charity?
The IRS lists EIN 13-5563001 as a 501(c)(3) organization (publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))), 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 202611139349301021 · read the filing · XML
- FY2024: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, object 202531039349300803 · read the filing
- FY2023: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, object 202421369349314872 · read the filing
- FY2022: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, object 202341119349300224 · read the filing
- FY2021: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, object 202201339349304980 · read the filing
- FY2020: Form 990 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, object 202121199349301932 · read the filing
All filings for EIN 13-5563001: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer · IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Figures are as the organization reported them; we have not audited them.