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GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVANCY

SAN FRANCISCO, CA · EIN 942781708 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE C110 · Environment · Very Large (>$50M) · www.parksconservancy.org
revenue
$56.7M
expenses
$71.4M
net assets
$62.2M
employees
342
volunteers
5,778
program ratio
82%
mission · from form 990

PRESERVE GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS; ENHANCE VISITOR EXPERIENCE; BUILD A DEDICATED COMMUNITY.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is an operational nonprofit that partners with the National Park Service to preserve and enhance the Golden Gate National Parks. It focuses on conservation, park improvements, visitor programs, and community engagement within the San Francisco Bay Area's national park sites, including Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2021

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $12.85M
    PARK INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES:WE CONTINUED TO REBUILD VISITOR PROGRAMS ON ALCATRAZ. AS COVID RESTRICTIONS EASED. THE REMOVAL OF SOCIAL DISTANCING REQUIREMENTS ALLOWED US TO GROW ATTENDANCE BY 50%. WE RESUMED LIMITED EXTENDED HOURS PROGRAMMING ON SEPTEMBER 9, AND WE RESTARTED THE ALCATRAZ BEHIND THE SCENES PROGRAM ON SEPTEMBER 30. STRICT LOCAL COVID SAFETY PROTOCOLS WERE FOLLOWED FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE YEAR IN OUR INTERPRETIVE CENTERS. THE ALCATRAZ MUSEUM STORE OPENED IN MARCH 2021, ALONG WITH THE SMALLER DOCK STORE. THE LANDS END LOOKOUT OPENED FOR DOOR-SERVICE ONLY IN MARCH 2021 AND FULLY RE-OPENED ON APRIL 23, 2021 4 DAYS A WEEK. THE WARMING HUT REOPENED 5 DAYS A WEEK ON APRIL 9, 2021. (CONTINUE ON SCHEDULE O)MUIR WOODS CONTINUED THEIR ROBUST FEE COLLECTION PROGRAM AND DOOR-SERVICE TO THE VISITOR CENTER. BUSINESS OVERALL INCREASED BY ALMOST 10% OVER PRIOR FISCAL YEAR.
  2. #2 $7.14M
    YOUTH, VOLUNTEER, AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS:WE CO-MANAGED THE CANDLESTICK POINT SRA COLLABORATIVE TO PROVIDE A PLANNING AND VISIONING PROCESS FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, FUNDRAISING, AND LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY, AS WELL AS A PILOT SUMMER CAMP. WE LED A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS FOR THE AQUATIC PARK VISION DOCUMENT, HOSTING 5 FOCUS GROUPS, 13 ROVING RANGER VISITS TO GATHER PUBLIC INPUT, AND ONLINE SURVEYS COMPLETED BY 152 PARTICIPANTS. WE CONTINUED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SF PUBLIC LIBRARY, INCLUDING VIRTUAL "NATURE BOOSTS". WE CONTINUED VIRTUAL COMMUNITY PARTNER VISITS INCLUDING THE SF VA MEDICAL CENTER. WE ENGAGED YOUTH THROUGH SCHOOL, AFTERSCHOOL, AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING ONLINE AS WELL AS RESTARTING IN-PERSON LEARNING, PRIMARILY WORKING WITH MIDDLE AND (CONTINUE ON SCHEDULE O) HIGH SCHOOLERS IN PROJECT BASED LEARNING AND BUILDING LEADERSHIP SKILLS FOR POSITIVE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE. PROGRAMS INCLUDE MIGRATORY STORY, URBAN TRAILBLAZERS, NATIVE PLANT NURSERY PROGRAMS, I-YEL, AND LINC.
named programs · 12 · from sources

what they call their work

Alcatraz Island Preservation
Preserves and interprets Alcatraz Island as a national park site, including restoration of historic gardens, protection of nesting seabirds, and educational programming on incarceration, Indigenous resistance, and justice
Black Point Historic Gardens Restoration
Volunteer event focused on restoring the gardens of East Black Point at Fort Mason.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area Trails
Curates and describes trails within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including information on difficulty, length, and points of interest.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area Trails Program
Maintains and improves over 180 miles of trails across the Golden Gate National Parks, providing public access to natural, cultural, and historical resources
Into the Woods 1-Hour Tour
Ranger-led tour in Muir Woods National Monument.
Junior Ranger Day at Muir Woods
Activities for children to earn a Junior Ranger Badge and participate in art and other park activities.
Park Activities
Guides visitors to various activities within the Golden Gate National Parks, including camping, hiking, tours, dog-friendly sites, beaches, and forests.
Presidio Night Walk
Guided night walk in the Presidio to learn about local wildlife.
Protect Alcatraz Toolkit
Provides resources and information to advocate for Alcatraz as a transformative national park site, highlighting its historical, natural, and economic value.
Volunteer Program
Engages volunteers in restoring habitats, supporting visitor programs, and caring for park sites like Alcatraz.
Volunteer Stewardship Program
Engages volunteers in habitat restoration, visitor services, and park maintenance across sites including Alcatraz, Muir Woods, and the Presidio
Youth and Community Engagement
Offers educational programs such as Junior Ranger Day, guided tours, and equity-centered storytelling to connect diverse audiences with national parks
activities · 6 clusters

what they do

  • Guided Environmental Field Trips 3 activities
    • Deliver educational programming at Alcatraz Island
      Offers educational programs on incarceration, Indigenous resistance, and ecological restoration at Alcatraz, including youth programs and public talks, alongside supporting habitat for more than 5,000 nesting seabirds annually.
    • Operate and manage public visitation to Alcatraz Island
      Welcomes over 1.4 million visitors annually to Alcatraz Island, generating at least $200 million in annual economic impact for Bay Area businesses while supporting public engagement with history and nature.
    • Provide ranger-led and guided educational experiences
      Offers ranger-led 1-hour tours in Muir Woods National Monument, hosts guided night walks in the Presidio of San Francisco, and organizes Junior Ranger Day events with badge-earning activities and art programs at Muir Woods.
  • Conservation Advocacy & Land Protection 2 activities
    • Manage and maintain parklands in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area
      Manages and preserves approximately 80,000 to 80,400 acres of parklands spanning 70 miles north and south of the Golden Gate, including trail development, habitat protection, and historic site stewardship.
    • Restore historic landscapes and gardens
      Restores and maintains historic landscapes, including the gardens at East Black Point within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
  • Outdoor Safety Education & Preparedness 1 activity
    • Curate and promote public recreational opportunities
      Provides curated recommendations for hikes, walks, and excursions; supports access to five public campgrounds, dog-friendly trails and beaches, and designated open spaces and beaches across San Francisco and Marin Counties.
  • Public Access and Inclusivity Improvements 1 activity
    • Develop and improve park infrastructure and trails
      Completes signature trail improvement projects such as the Battery East Trail, which includes construction of overlooks and seating areas with scenic views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay.
  • Public Environmental Events & Outreach 1 activity
    • Organize volunteer and community science programs
      Organizes volunteer events during Earth Day and Spring Days of Service, and supports ongoing volunteer activities in habitat restoration, park maintenance, trail stewardship, and community science across park sites.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Engage the public through communications and outreach
      Produces a monthly e-newsletter, Park E-ventures, to share park stories, upcoming programs, events, and volunteer opportunities with the public.
financials · form 990 · fy2021

the money

revenue
Total revenue$56.66M
Contributions & grants$28.67M51%
Program service revenue$19.43M34%
Investment income$-124K-0%
Other revenue$8.69M
expenses
Total expenses$71.42M
Program expenses82%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$23.26M
Grants paid out$32.15M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$77.50M
Cash$40.13M
Investments$16.53M
Liabilities$15.28M
Net assets$62.22M
Liquid reserves9.5 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +80.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 10
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
CHRISTINE LEHNERTZ PRESIDENT & CEO 40 $429K
JEFFERY MARK JENKINS CFO (THROUGH 1/2021) 40 $279K
KATHERINE TOY DEPUTY CEO (THROUGH 12/2021) 40 $261K
SHARON FARRELL EVP, PROJECTS (THROUGH 5/2021) 40 $208K
ANGELA LEUNG V.P., MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS 40 $197K
ROBERT LIEBER V.P., INTERPRETIVE SALES 40 $183K
JOY SHIGAKI VP DEVELOPMENT (THROUGH 11/2021) 40 $178K
NICHOLETTE PHELPS V.P., DEVELOPMENT 40 $165K
FRANK TSAI INTERIM CFO (THROUGH 5/2023) 40 $111K
NICHOLAS T ELSISHANS EVP & COO (THROUGH 1/2021) 40 $70K
board members · 15
  • CHARMAINE CURTIS — TRUSTEE
  • DAN KINGSLEY — TRUSTEE
  • DARREN BECHTEL — TRUSTEE
  • ERIC ALT — TRUSTEE
  • GORDON RITTER — TREASURER
  • GRACE WON — SECRETARY
  • JAKE SCHATZ — TRUSTEE
  • JENNIE LEHUA WATSON — TRUSTEE
  • JENNIFER CABALQUINTO — TRUSTEE
  • JESSE EISENHARDT — TRUSTEE
  • JOHN C ATWATER — TRUSTEE
  • JOHN MURRAY — VICE-CHAIR
  • JULIE FLYNN — TRUSTEE
  • LARRY LOW — TRUSTEE
  • LINDA HOWELL — TRUSTEE
relationships · 7

who they work with

  • Golden Gate Bridge Government — Manages trails with access to and views of the Golden Gate Bridge, a federally managed structure within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
  • Golden Gate National Recreation Area Government — Collaborates on the management and promotion of shared parklands.
  • National Park Service Government — Collaborates with the National Park Service in managing the most visited area of the National Parks System.
  • National Park Service Government — Collaborates with the National Park Service on visitor estimates, economic impact data, and management of Alcatraz as a national park site.
  • National Park Service Partner — Collaborates on park programs and stewardship within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
  • National Park Service Partner — Cooperative partner in the Golden Gate National Parks Volunteer Program.
  • Presidio Trust Partner — Cooperative partner in the Golden Gate National Parks Volunteer Program.