FOREVER BALBOA PARK

Financials

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)

1549 EL PRADO STE 1, SAN DIEGO, CA 92101-1699

In care of

% BALBOA PARK ADMINISTRATION BLDG

Principal officer (990 for 2024)

Katherine McDonald

Signed the 990

Katherine McDonald, President & CEO

Phone

(619) 232-2282

Return prepared by

Leaf & Cole LLP

Mission

To sustain, envision, and enhance Balboa Park for all in partnership with the City of San Diego and in collaboration with other organizations in the Park and the community. Our vision for the Park is to maintain and enhance its stature as a sustainable, world-class destination where all visitors are inspired, engaged, and enriched.

Program accomplishments

• Park Improvement Projects and Programs:Parkwide Volunteers:The Organization recruits, trains, and retains volunteers to support an array of Park needs, from garden and tree maintenance to visitor experience services. Growing to more than 450 volunteers strong, current programs include: Park Ambassadors, Tree Stewards, Tree Maintenance Volunteers, Garden Stewards, Rose Garden Corps, Tour Guides, Botanical Building Volunteers and Information Desk Volunteers. Volunteers perform vital functions within the Park, and the program is certified by the Points of Light Foundation as an official Service Enterprise organization, one of only 11% nonprofits nationwide.Park Activation:The Organization supports the City's Parks and Recreation Department in placemaking and Park activation endeavors, including parkwide tours, Botanical Building tours, clean-ups, community tree plantings, and provisioning of volunteers for visitor services for December Nights. In addition to events, the Organization works with other Park stakeholders to provide important infrastructure and programming that supports community connection in public spaces. The Organization hosts high school and college level interns, engaging them in workforce training on landscape architecture, GIS and mapping, marketing and communications, and leadership development skills. The Organization also partners with other Park organizations to support field trip programs and summer camp programs with tours and training orientations.Park Improvement:The Organization's process for selecting Park Improvement programs and capital improvement projects includes regular collaboration with, and ongoing input from, Park stakeholders and the City.The Organization's lead programs and projects that sustain and enhance the Park include the following initiatives:Urban Forest Initiative - a comprehensive tree inventory, site-specific tree plantings, sapling distribution programs, and a grant-funded initiative to plant hundreds of trees in the Park, while engaging youth and community members in learning about the climate and ecosystem benefits of caring for the Park's urban forest.Wayfinding and Signage - implementation of recommendations for a comprehensive wayfinding strategy to improve the visitor experience and to enhance access, circulation, and orientation. This strategy encompasses redesigning, updating, distributing, and installing a comprehensive Park map, and designing and installing wayfinding, Park identification, and pedestrian orientation signs in several key locations within the Park.Convenings and Awards - collaborative planning, design, and outreach, including a series of park-wide stakeholder meetings and support for programs focused specifically on horticulture and Park improvement projects. The newest project, the annual sPARK Awards, celebrates creative collaboration in the Park by honoring other inspirational organizations and individuals.Gardens Enhancement (a) upgraded gardens throughout the Park, with significant improvements to the Cactus Garden including irrigation planning, species identification mapping, and interpretive QR codes, elevating the stature of this neglected garden, (b) provided removal, redesign, and implementation of the Rose Garden pergola project, (c) recruited and trained dozens of new Garden Stewards, and (d) managed an Adopt-a-Plot program, guiding plot adopters in creating and maintaining their designated plots.Trail Restoration - restoration of degraded trails in the Park, including the 26th Street trail in the Golden Hill neighborhood of the Park; enhancements to the Kate O. Session Cactus Garden trail and a trail in the Trees for Health medicinal garden, opening up these areas of the Park for park-goers of all physical abilities; collaboration with the Park Ranger team to identify future trail restoration projects to protect biodiversity and enhance outdoor learning and recreation.Botanical Building and Gardens:The Botanical Building and Gardens is an architectural and horticultural treasure where Park visitors are introduced to the plethora of plants that flourish in the mild Southern California climate as well as to species from around the world. Constructed for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, the iconic building remains one of the largest wood lath structures in the world. The shared vision for the Botanical Building and Gardens future is to create a botanical experience that inspires people to connect to nature. The facility and surrounding gardens have long been in need of revitalization, which will be accomplished through restoration of the original 1915 structure and creation of a meaningful botanical experience for the 21st century. Using federal, state, local, and private funding raised through the Organization's multi-year capital campaign, the building and gardens are being restored to their former glory, with the Organization serving as the City's private partner.The City-led Phase 1 of the project, which was completed in December of 2024 and included the full restoration of the building to its original 1915 design, recreates the series of arched openings with Palladian-style windows and large doors, and opens up the inside space to the surrounding gardens as intended. Updated planting designs and accessible walkways present visitors with the wonders of biodiversity, while ensuring all visitors can enjoy the experience. State-of-the-art lighting and new irrigation systems were added. Two new additions to the building's north faade provide additional workspace and multipurpose rooms for educational and public programming.The Organization is leading Phase 2 of the restoration and revitalization of the landmark building and gardens by reconstructing the historic pergola, revitalizing the surrounding gardens, and repairing fountains and pathways. Accomplishment of this phase will provide for improved botanical collection management, an enhanced visitor experience, and expanded educational and programming use.An important element of the Organization's Phase 2 capital campaign is to raise several years of funding for trained Garden Stewards volunteers to help maintain the landscapes. The Organization's corps of over 450 engaged volunteers provides daily care for the Park's 20+ gardens and 16,000 trees, as well as educating visitors about the gardens and landscapes. The new Botanical Building landscapes will be one of the sites cared for by these dedicated and expertly trained volunteers.The Organization's Phase 2 capital campaign also includes startup funding for public programming to engage and educate visitors of all ages, using the Botanical Building and Gardens as the learning setting. An overarching goal of this programming will be to integrate the arts, science, technology, and environmental learning using the botanical collection. K-12 field trips and support for teachers will advance science and environmental learning goals appropriate for a wide range of curricula and will be linked to state learning standards. Family-focused and arts-infused public programs will enchant visitors from across our diverse region and beyond. Youth internships will provide an introduction to careers in landscape design, horticulture, environmental conservation, and green jobs. Volunteer-led tours of the restored gardens will provide an insider glimpse into the ways in which innovative and water-smart design choices benefit this landmark public space. The revitalization and activation of this public space in the heart of San Diego will make it a valued resource and exceptional visitor experience for the Park's millions of annual visitors.
  Expenses $1,411,066
• House of Hospitality: Historic Facilities, GardensThe Organization maintains and preserves the House of Hospitality, a National Historic Landmark building, providing clean public restrooms, ongoing facility care, and security for tenants and visitors. The Visitors Center is housed in the House of Hospitality, along with the Organizations offices, The Prado Restaurant, a ballroom, meeting rooms, and offices for nonprofit cultural and educational organizations operating within the Park. The House of Hospitality serves visitors numbering over 1,000,000 each year.
  Expenses $825,817
• Balboa Park Visitors Center: Retail Operations and Guest ServicesThe Balboa Park Visitors Center informs, educates, and serves over 600,000 visitors annually. The largest visitor center in the region, the Parks Visitors Center is supported by multilingual staff and volunteers with diverse backgrounds, who are trained to promote parkwide institutions and activities and to provide free and custom tours, maps, and information. The Visitors Center operates a gift store to offset the cost of visitor services and sells essential visitor amenities along with Park multi-museum passes, and zoo tickets.
  Expenses $754,609 · revenue $751,275
• Dorothea Laub Balboa Park CarouselThe Balboa Park Carousel (the Carousel) was constructed in 1910 during the golden age of carousels (c.1880-1920) by the Herschell-Spillman Company of North Tonawanda, New York, and was permanently moved to the Park in 1922. Designated as a Historical Resource, the Carousel is a classic wood carousel of the menagerie type, featuring original hand-painted figures. After acquiring the Carousel in 2017, the Organization has made significant structural and historic restorations of the Carousel itself, and of the historic building in which it is housed. These restorations all adhere to rigorous historic restoration standards and include two new roofs, roof beam structural repairs, repairs to the clerestory windows and frames, and repainting. Additionally, a modern fire suppression system has been incorporated to protect the structure. The Carousel provides more than 100,000 rides annually to visitors of all ages.
  Expenses $265,315

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

IRS record

EIN

33-0849518

Tax-exempt status

501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization

Foundation status

Publicly supported organization (170(b)(1)(A)(vi))

Donations deductible (Pub 78)

Public charity, 50% deduction limit

Exempt since

1999

Accounting year ends

June

Files

Form 990 or 990-EZ

Category (NTEE)

Religion-related (X99)

Assets (IRS master file)

$14,415,037

Income (IRS master file)

$7,153,343

Filing history

990-N: the IRS publishes only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years appear here as 990.tax collects the monthly files. 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS.

Questions about FOREVER BALBOA PARK

What is the EIN of FOREVER BALBOA PARK?

The employer identification number (EIN) of FOREVER BALBOA PARK is 33-0849518.

Is FOREVER BALBOA PARK tax-exempt?

Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1999.

Are donations to FOREVER BALBOA PARK tax-deductible?

Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).

Which annual return does FOREVER BALBOA PARK file?

Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.

When is the next return of FOREVER BALBOA PARK due?

The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.

When did FOREVER BALBOA PARK last file with the IRS?

The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.

Who is the principal officer of FOREVER BALBOA PARK?

The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names Katherine McDonald.

Who are the officers and directors of FOREVER BALBOA PARK?

The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 41 people; 6 received compensation from the organization, the highest $152,457 (JACQUELINE HIGGINS, VP PLANNING).

How much revenue does FOREVER BALBOA PARK have?

On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $6,815,887, expenses of $4,493,305 and total assets of $14,415,037 at year end.

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