City Parks Foundation Inc logo

City Parks Foundation Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker New York, NY EIN: 13-3561657 Website

City Parks Foundation Inc is a public charity based in New York, NY. Founded in 1989, it supports parks and open spaces through sports, arts, community-building, and education programs, as well as grantmaking for organizations that care for New York City’s parks and open spaces.

City Parks Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: City Parks Foundation Inc gave $1.9M across 81 grants in 2024 (avg $24K), mostly in New York. 32% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2024)
$1,938,893
+9.2% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
81
+30.6% vs 2023
Average grant
$23,937
-16.4% vs 2023
Median grant
$20,000
Total assets
$46,857,143
+14.3% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
32% first-time grantees (26 of 81, 2024)
Primary geography
New York (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to City Parks Foundation Inc

Review Cycle
The next Grassroots and Treetops calls are expected in January 2027 and summer 2027, respectively. No next Pathways deadline is specified.
Deadline
The next Grassroots and Treetops calls are expected in January 2027 and summer 2027, respectively.
Contact

Mailing address: 830 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10065
Phone: (212) 360-1399
Website: https://cityparksfoundation.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who City Parks Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Gowanus Canal Conservancy: $77KGowanus Canal Conservancy$77KNew Yorkers for Parks: $75KNew Yorkers for Parks$75KRiverside Park Conservancy Inc: $60KRiverside Park Conservancy Inc$60KUrban Design Forum: $60KUrban Design Forum$60KMott Haven - Port Morris Community Land Stewards: $60KMott Haven - Port MorrisCommunity Land Stewards$60KDesign Trust for Public Space: $60KDesign Trust for Public Space$60KCenter for an Urban Future: $50KCenter for an Urban Future$50KOpen Space Alliance for North Brooklyn Inc: $45KOpen Space Alliance for NorthBrooklyn Inc$45KBrooklyn Greenway Initiative: $40KBrooklyn Greenway Initiative$40KConcrete Safaris Inc: $40KConcrete Safaris Inc$40K

The largest 2024 recipient was Gowanus Canal Conservancy ($77K). Together the top 10 received $567K.

Grant Size Distribution

339 grants across all recorded years

270<$50K58$50–100K9$100–250K1$250–500K1$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 270 grants of 339 (80%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation’s programs and NYC Green Fund grant programs focus on New York City, including all five boroughs. In filing year 2024, 99% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in New York State, 1% to Vermont, and less than 1% to New Mexico.

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 81 itemized grants.

Cities

New YorkBrooklynBronxStaten IslandFlushingLong Island CityFar RockawayWoodhavenJackson HeightsSunnysideKEW GardensWoodsideFloral ParkJamaicaSilver CityBellows FallsBrooklyn NYEast New YorkbrooklynJackosn HeightsJamaica NY

Is City Parks Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

32%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 26 of 81 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $27K. How we count

Medians: $13K first-time, $25K repeat.

  • 52% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving fell 29% from 2021 to 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M$4M62 grants2020 65 grants2021 69 grants2022 62 grants2023 81 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.8M (2023) to $3.7M (2020). In 2024 it made 81 grants totaling $1.9M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Gowanus Canal Conservancy Brooklyn, NYMaintain, Program and Activate NYC Open Spaces$77,000
New Yorkers for Parks New York, NYMaintain, Program and Activate NYC Open Spaces$75,000
Riverside Park Conservancy Inc New York, NYMaintain, Program and Activate NYC Open Spaces$60,000
Urban Design Forum New York, NYMaintain, Program and Activate NYC Open Spaces$60,000
Mott Haven - Port Morris Community Land Stewards Bronx, NYMaintain, Program and Activate NYC Open Spaces$60,000
Design Trust for Public Space New York, NYMaintain, Program and Activate NYC Open Spaces$60,000
Center for an Urban Future New York, NYMaintain, Program and Activate NYC Open Spaces$50,000
Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn Inc Brooklyn, NYMaintain, Program and Activate NYC Open Spaces$45,000
Brooklyn Greenway Initiative Brooklyn, NYMaintain, Program and Activate NYC Open Spaces$40,000
Concrete Safaris Inc New York, NYMaintain, Program and Activate NYC Open Spaces$40,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

The foundation’s 2024 filing says its board designated a portion of unrestricted net assets as an endowment fund intended to support long-term stability. It also reports $90,400 in permanently restricted net assets for the perpetual care of two monuments.

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2024$46,857,143$27,240,156$23,745,284$1,938,89381$1,928,632
2023$40,999,442$23,379,401$22,683,563$1,775,62062$1,571,665
2022$38,165,759$23,557,745$23,530,346$2,152,96569$207,159
2021$46,351,327$21,146,324$17,777,998$2,733,00065$1,423,684
2020$41,025,082$12,847,845$14,476,962$3,710,00162$1,385,047

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s stated mission is to invigorate and transform parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through sports, arts, community building, and education programs for all New Yorkers. Its direct programs include free sports instruction, live performances and arts programming, environmental education, and support for community involvement in parks.

Its grantmaking includes the NYC Green Fund, which supports grassroots and nonprofit stewardship organizations that maintain, program, and activate New York City open spaces. The fund’s programs cover open-space stewardship, environmental action, organizational development, health and wellness, youth engagement, arts and culture, and urban tree care and planting. The foundation also administers environmental benefit projects related to green infrastructure, open space, and waterfront access.

Grantees listed in the 2024 filing include organizations with a range of park-related missions. Gowanus Canal Conservancy says it advocates for and cares for ecologically sustainable parks and public spaces in the Gowanus lowlands while empowering community stewards. New Yorkers for Parks describes itself as a citywide organization championing quality parks and open spaces through research, advocacy, and partnerships. The Design Trust for Public Space says its projects bring together city agencies, community groups, and private-sector experts to improve public space through design.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 81 grants totaling $1,938,893. Grants ranged from $5,500 to $77,000, with a median of $20,000. The largest awards included $77,000 to Gowanus Canal Conservancy; $75,000 to New Yorkers for Parks; $60,000 each to Riverside Park Conservancy, Urban Design Forum, Mott Haven–Port Morris Community Land Stewards, and Design Trust for Public Space; and $50,000 to Center for an Urban Future. The grants were reported for maintaining, programming, and activating New York City open spaces.

The NYC Green Fund has Grassroots and Treetops programs for community groups and organizations working in the city’s parks and open spaces. The Grassroots program is for organizations with annual operating budgets under $175,000; the Treetops program is for organizations with budgets from $175,000 to $2.5 million. The foundation’s website says the 2026 Grassroots and Treetops open calls are closed, with the next Grassroots call expected in January 2027 and the next Treetops call expected in summer 2027. The Pathways program supports efforts to build a more equitable and vibrant park and open-space system; the website announces 2025 grantees and does not specify a next application date. The wildfire rapid-response grants were for organizations affected by fall 2024 fires, and the listed 2024 awards have been made.

The filing describes a grant team and award selection committee that work with grantees to monitor grant use. It says grantees submit applications and progress reports documenting work accomplished with the funding.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Heather Lubov as executive director; David Barse, David Moore, Jean Troubh, and John Troubh as executive chairs; Roland S Merchant Jr as chair; Susan K Freedman and Robert Savitt as vice chairs; Lee Schalop as treasurer; and Lary Wolf as secretary.

City Parks Foundation Inc is led by Heather Lubov, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 8 of 51 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Heather Lubov

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $243K (2020) → $290K (2024)

  • David Barse

    Executive Chair

    Chair → Executive Chair, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • David Moore

    Executive Chair

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jean Troubh

    Executive Chair

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Troubh

    Executive Chair

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Roland S. Merchant Jr.

    Chair

    Vice Chair → Director, 2022

    Director → Chair, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Erika Elliott

    Executive Artistic Director

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $127K (2020) → $152K (2024)

  • Michael Silverman

    Director of Sports

    Director & Sports → Director of Sports, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $159K (2020) → $181K (2024)

  • Bryant Bradshaw

    Director of Development

    Director of Development → Director of Giving & Special Events, 2023

    Director of Giving & Special Events → Director of Development, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $137K (2021) → $152K (2024)

  • Chrissy Word

    Director of Education

    New on the 2024 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $136K (2024)

  • Avery Corman

    Director

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Billie Jean King

    Director

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Brendan O'Rourke

    Director

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Claire G. Pellegrini Cloud

    Director

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • David B. Pinter

    Director

    Vice Chair → Director, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Debra Fife

    Director

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Elaine Clark

    Director

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Elizabeth Sarnoff

    Director

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Eric Planey

    Director

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gail Gordon

    Director

    Treasurer → Director, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gary R. Boigon

    Director

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Harold P. Weinberger

    Director

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jason C. Ward

    Director

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jeffrey Wilks

    Director

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ola Hixon

    Director

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Peter Shapiro

    Director

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Samantha Sichel

    Director

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Steven Beer

    Director

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alexander Sloane

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dereck Skeete

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jean-Yves Fillion

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mia Campbell

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Pamela West

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Andy Ramamoorthy

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Greg Williamson

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joe Killian

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Suzanne Brume

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Elaine Ziemba

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer Frommer

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Melissa Kanter

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sam Biederman

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Katie Swegle Meyerer

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lindsay Shanahan

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rohit Chopra

    Director

    New on the 2024 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rosemary Raposo Jorda

    Chief Marketing & Development Officer

    Senior Director, Marketing & Development → Chief Marketing & Development Officer, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $155K (2020) → $202K (2024)

  • Simon Chu

    Chief Financial Officer

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $159K (2020) → $179K (2024)

  • Erica Newman

    Chief Operating Officer

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $189K (2022) → $201K (2024)

  • Lary S. Wolf

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Robert Savitt

    Vice Chair

    Board Member → Director, 2021

    Director → Vice Chair, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Susan K. Freedman

    Vice Chair

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lee Schalop

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2022

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (14)
  • Former: Gerald Walker (2020–2023) — Director
  • Former: Josy Dussek (2020–2023) — Director of Arts Operations
  • Former: Demetrius A. Warrick (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Natalie Gomez-Velez (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Polly N. Klane (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Wilfredo Rosado (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Christine Word (2021–2022) — Director of Education
  • Former: Alexander D. Durst (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Julio Peterson (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Mitchell Silver (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Gabrielle Fialkoff (2021) — Director
  • Former: Brett Yormark (2020) — Board Member
  • Former: Bryant Bradshaw Director (2020) — Individual Giving & Special Events
  • Former: Virginia Wade (2020) — Board Member

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Heather Lubov — Executive Director: $290KHeather LubovExecutive Director$290KRosemary Raposo Jorda — Chief Marketing & Dev. Officer: $202KRosemary Raposo JordaChief Marketing & Dev. Officer$202KErica Newman — Chief Operating Officer: $201KErica NewmanChief Operating Officer$201KMichael Silverman — Director of Sports: $181KMichael SilvermanDirector of Sports$181KSimon Chu — Chief Financial Officer: $179KSimon ChuChief Financial Officer$179KBryant Bradshaw — Director of Development: $152KBryant BradshawDirector of Development$152KErika Elliott — Executive Artistic Director: $152KErika ElliottExecutive Artistic Director$152KChrissy Word — Director of Education: $136KChrissy WordDirector of Education$136K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $290K, to Heather Lubov (Executive Director). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about City Parks Foundation Inc

How much does City Parks Foundation Inc give each year?

City Parks Foundation Inc gave $1.9M across 81 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.8M across 62 grants.

What is City Parks Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

City Parks Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $23,937, across 81 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from City Parks Foundation Inc that year got $18K on average.

Where does City Parks Foundation Inc give grants?

City Parks Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (32 grants), Brooklyn, NY (22 grants), Bronx, NY (9 grants) and Staten Island, NY (4 grants).

Does City Parks Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 81 grants with a stated purpose on City Parks Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Maintain, Program and Activate NYC Open Spaces" (81 grants).

Who are City Parks Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

City Parks Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Gowanus Canal Conservancy ($77,000), New Yorkers for Parks ($75,000) and Riverside Park Conservancy Inc ($60,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is City Parks Foundation Inc?

City Parks Foundation Inc reported $46.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $27.2M.

What does City Parks Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation’s stated mission is to invigorate and transform parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through sports, arts, community building, and education programs for all New Yorkers. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from City Parks Foundation Inc?

City Parks Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check cityparksfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is City Parks Foundation Inc's EIN?

City Parks Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3561657. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 19, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 14, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 4, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). City Parks Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/city-parks-foundation-inc-morg_666c4a910a5e4245a22bb197d70cd262

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133561657_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{City Parks Foundation Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/city-parks-foundation-inc-morg_666c4a910a5e4245a22bb197d70cd262},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from City Parks Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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