Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
“Preserve the Golden Gate National Parks, enhance the visitor experience, and build a community dedicated to conservation.”
The origin
How they started
The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is the official nonprofit partner of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, founded in San Francisco in 1981 as the Golden Gate National Parks Association and renamed in 2003. It raises money and runs stewardship for the parklands around the bay, delivering more than $685 million in support since its start. It led the $34 million transformation of Crissy Field from military airfield to shoreline park and built the 14-acre Presidio Tunnel Tops.
Every year they sign one sentence and file it with the federal government: “TO PRESERVE THE GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS, ENHANCE THE PARK VISITOR EXPERIENCE, AND BUILD A COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO CONSERVING THE PARKS FOR THE FUTURE.”
Where the money went, FY2025
The work, and what it cost
Saving land outright
$17.5MTHE PARKS CONSERVANCY OPERATES THE ALCATRAZ CELLHOUSE TOUR, WHICH INCLUDES THE AWARD-WINNING ALCATRAZ AUDIO TOURS, AS WELL AS ALCATRAZ NIGHT TOURS AND BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS.
Read it as they filed it
PARK INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES:THE PARKS CONSERVANCY OPERATES THE ALCATRAZ CELLHOUSE TOUR, WHICH INCLUDES THE AWARD-WINNING ALCATRAZ AUDIO TOURS, AS WELL AS ALCATRAZ NIGHT TOURS AND BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS. WE HOST OVER 1.4 MILLION VISITORS ANNUALLY ON ALCATRAZ ISLAND. WE ALSO OPERATE INTERPRETIVE RETAIL AND VISITOR CENTERS OPEN YEAR-ROUND SERVING MILLIONS OF LOCAL AND OUT-OF-TOWN VISITORS ANNUALLY AT SEVEN LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE PARKS: ALCATRAZ ISLAND, MUIR WOODS, FORT POINT, PRESIDIO, CRISSY FIELD WARMING HUT, LANDS END, AND GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE. PURCHASES AT OUR VISITOR CENTERS HELP SUPPORT OUR PROGRAMS THAT SUSTAIN OUR PARKS.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2025, signed under penalty of perjury.
Keeping the wild alive
$12.4MSUPPORTS STEWARDSHIP OF THE RICH NATURAL, HISTORIC AND RECREATION RESOURCES OF PARKLANDS.
Including $904,655 granted onward.
Read it as they filed it
PARK PROJECTS AND CONSERVATION:SUPPORTS STEWARDSHIP OF THE RICH NATURAL, HISTORIC AND RECREATION RESOURCES OF PARKLANDS. ENCOMPASSES BUILDING AND MAINTAINING MULTI-USE SPACES, RESTORING SENSITIVE ECOSYSTEMS, PROTECTING ENDANGERED SPECIES, GROWING NATIVE PLANTS, REHABILITATING HISTORIC STRUCTURES, CONSTRUCTING OVERLOOKS, INSTALLING VISITOR AMENITIES, AND CREATING NEW PARK EXPERIENCES FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY. COMMUNITY SCIENCE AND NURSERY PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO ENGAGE STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN HABITAT CONSERVATION, SCIENTIFIC MONITORING AND CLIMATE IMPACTS TO THE PARKLANDS.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2025, signed under penalty of perjury.
Boots on the ground
$6.1MCONNECTS PEOPLE TO PARKS THROUGH YOUTH PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES ACROSS THREE FOCUS AREAS: (I) YOUTH PROGRAMS; (II) COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP & ENGAGEMENT; AND (III) VOLUNTEERS & INTERNSHIPS....
Read it as they filed it
YOUTH, VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS:CONNECTS PEOPLE TO PARKS THROUGH YOUTH PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES ACROSS THREE FOCUS AREAS: (I) YOUTH PROGRAMS; (II) COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP & ENGAGEMENT; AND (III) VOLUNTEERS & INTERNSHIPS. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, WE STRENGTHEN CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND PARKS, FOSTERING STEWARDSHIP AND LIFELONG APPRECIATION FOR PUBLIC LANDS.
IRS Form 990 Part III, fiscal year 2025, signed under penalty of perjury.
Follow the dollar
72 cents of every dollar goes to the work
Read it as a snapshot, not a scorecard. Splits move year to year with grants and campaigns, and healthy shops live all across this range.
Backed on the record by Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, latest filing FY24.
$35,997,027 programs, $10,350,888 management, $3,620,035 fundraising. Form 990, FY2025.
The people
Who does the work
Honesty note: leadership comes from each year’s federal filing, so it can run a year behind. Orgs that claim their page can update it same-day. Work at Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy? Claim this page.
Those 8,394 volunteers are people who decided this ground was theirs to defend. If Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is fighting for your place too, the matchmaker will find your way in.
Make it 8,395The filings
15 years of filings
15 years of filings
Total revenue by fiscal year, as filed. Point at the line for any year.
| Year | Revenue |
|---|---|
| 2010 | $43,284,753 |
| 2011 | $34,711,578 |
| 2012 | $45,739,431 |
| 2013 | $39,807,390 |
| 2014 | $68,523,288 |
| 2015 | $47,164,083 |
| 2016 | $49,075,155 |
| 2017 | $61,502,528 |
| 2018 | $72,959,901 |
| 2019 | $67,544,820 |
| 2020 | $60,862,358 |
| 2021 | $31,469,988 |
| 2022 | $56,658,618 |
| 2023 | $52,899,906 |
| 2025 | $54,673,377 |
From $43.3M in 2010 to $54.7M in FY25, across 15 public filings.
The California congressional delegation averages 81 of 100 on public lands. See the full scorecard
Ways in
How to help
72 cents of your dollar goes straight to the work above.
Give on their site ↗Show upVolunteer with themFind their volunteer door on their own site.
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45 years on the ground, 8,394 volunteers, 72 cents of every dollar on the line. That is who is holding it. There is room for one more.