San Diego River Park Foundation
San Diego River Park Foundation consistently grows assets and reports zero officer compensation, demonstrating strong financial health.
EIN: 10565671 · San Diego, CA · NTEE: N32 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is San Diego River Park Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
San Diego River Park Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About San Diego River Park Foundation
San Diego River Park Foundation (EIN: 10565671) is a nonprofit organization based in San Diego, CA, classified under NTEE code N32. The organization reported total revenue of $4.1M and total assets of $32.0M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of San Diego River Park Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates San Diego River Park Foundation with a Mission Score of 95 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 5%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 5%
According to IRS 990 filings, San Diego River Park Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 5%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 5%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The organization consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that no salaries are paid to officers, which is highly unusual and suggests a strong volunteer leadership model or that compensation is categorized differently, warranting further investigation for full transparency.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of San Diego River Park Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Unusually low expense-to-revenue ratio, potentially indicating significant cash reserves or restricted funds not fully utilized for programs annually.
- Consistent 0% officer compensation, while positive for efficiency, could also indicate a lack of transparency if executive duties are compensated through other means not clearly disclosed as 'officer compensation'.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for San Diego River Park Foundation:
- Strong financial health with consistent asset growth from $20,725,356 in 2019 to $27,779,231 in 2023.
- Excellent spending efficiency, with expenses consistently well below revenue, allowing for significant reinvestment.
- High transparency regarding executive compensation, reporting 0% officer compensation across all filings.
- Healthy financial reserves, with assets significantly exceeding liabilities (e.g., $27,779,231 assets vs. $1,538,600 liabilities in 2023).
Frequently Asked Questions about San Diego River Park Foundation
Is San Diego River Park Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, San Diego River Park Foundation (EIN: 10565671) some concerns. Mission Score: 95/100. 2 red flags identified, 4 strengths noted.
How does San Diego River Park Foundation spend its money?
San Diego River Park Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to San Diego River Park Foundation tax-deductible?
San Diego River Park Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 10565671). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does the San Diego River Park Foundation manage to report 0% officer compensation?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all 14 filings suggests either a fully volunteer-led executive team, or that executive compensation is categorized under other expense lines, which would require deeper scrutiny of the full 990 forms to understand.
What is the primary reason for the significant asset growth from $5,995,403 in 2014 to $32,020,724 currently?
The substantial asset growth is primarily driven by consistent revenue exceeding expenses, as seen in periods like 2023 (Revenue $3,004,781 vs. Expenses $1,359,965) and 2022 (Revenue $2,885,881 vs. Expenses $1,258,761), allowing for significant reinvestment and accumulation of resources.
Is the large revenue spike in 2015 ($12,524,222) an anomaly or part of a trend?
The $12,524,222 revenue in 2015 appears to be an anomaly, as subsequent years' revenues have been consistently in the $1.1M-$3M range, suggesting a one-time large grant or donation during that period.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for San Diego River Park Foundation showing financial trends over 14 years of public records:
Over 14 years of IRS 990 filings (2010–2023), San Diego River Park Foundation's revenue has grown by 407.3%, moving from $592K to $3.0M. Total assets increased by 1124% over the same period, from $2.3M to $27.8M. Total functional expenses rose by 181.8%, from $483K to $1.4M. In its most recent filing year (2023), San Diego River Park Foundation reported a surplus of $1.6M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1.5M in liabilities against $27.8M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 5.5%), resulting in net assets of $26.2M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $3.0M | $1.4M | $27.8M | $1.5M | — | — |
| 2022 | $2.9M | $1.3M | $25.7M | $1.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $2.8M | $891K | $23.6M | $611K | — | — |
| 2020 | $1.1M | $899K | $20.7M | $618K | — | — |
| 2019 | $2.6M | $2.4M | $20.7M | $929K | — | View 990 |
| 2018 | $2.5M | $1.2M | $20.7M | $1.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2017 | $1.3M | $1.0M | $19.5M | $1.2M | — | View 990 |
| 2016 | $1.6M | $939K | $19.5M | $1.5M | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $12.5M | $901K | $17.7M | $305K | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $2.1M | $970K | $6.0M | $198K | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $1.8M | $810K | $5.5M | $865K | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $1.0M | $579K | $3.9M | $135K | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $1.5M | $524K | $4.0M | $718K | — | View 990 |
| 2010 | $592K | $483K | $2.3M | $8 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $3.0M, expenses of $1.4M, and assets of $27.8M (revenue +4.1% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $2.9M, expenses of $1.3M, and assets of $25.7M (revenue +2.1% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $2.8M, expenses of $891K, and assets of $23.6M (revenue +147.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $1.1M, expenses of $899K, and assets of $20.7M (revenue -56.8% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $2.6M, expenses of $2.4M, and assets of $20.7M (revenue +6.9% year-over-year).
- 2018: Revenue of $2.5M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $20.7M (revenue +96.1% year-over-year).
- 2017: Revenue of $1.3M, expenses of $1.0M, and assets of $19.5M (revenue -19.6% year-over-year).
- 2016: Revenue of $1.6M, expenses of $939K, and assets of $19.5M (revenue -87.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $12.5M, expenses of $901K, and assets of $17.7M (revenue +501.5% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $2.1M, expenses of $970K, and assets of $6.0M (revenue +18.5% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $1.8M, expenses of $810K, and assets of $5.5M (revenue +69.2% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $1.0M, expenses of $579K, and assets of $3.9M (revenue -32.3% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $1.5M, expenses of $524K, and assets of $4.0M (revenue +158.9% year-over-year).
- 2010: Revenue of $592K, expenses of $483K, and assets of $2.3M.
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for San Diego River Park Foundation is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.