Friends of Balboa Park

“Board of trustees immediate past chair, connie matsui, has a family relationship with highly compensated employee, sarah beckman.”

“The form 990 is first presented to the audit committee. The audit committee presents the form 990 to the full board of trustees. In each case the committee/board receives the form 990 in advance of the meeting.”

“An annual Conflict of Interest Policy and Disclosure Form is required to be reviewed and signed by all Board Members.”

“The CEO's performance is reviewed annually by the Executive Committee, with input from the entire Board of Trustees.”

“All governing documents, financial statements, and other public documents are available for inspection at the organization's office upon request.”

“OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: Parkwide VolunteersThe Organization recruits, trains, and retains volunteers to support an array of Park needs, from horticulture to visitor experience. Growing to more than 300 volunteers strong, current programs include: Park Ambassadors, Tree Stewards, Tree Maintenance Volunteers, Garden Stewards, Rose Garden Corps, Tour Guides, 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. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 5: Park ActivationThe Organization supports the Citys Parks and Recreation Department in placemaking and Park activation endeavors, including parkwide 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 each year, 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. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 6: Park Improvement:The Organizations process for selecting Park Improvement programs and capital improvement projects includes regular collaboration with, and ongoing input from, Park stakeholders and the City. The Organizations 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 more about caring for the Parks 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, and distributing a comprehensive Park map, and designing and installing wayfinding, Park identification, and pedestrian 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 Garen including irrigation planning, species mapping, and interpretive QR codes, elevating the stature of this neglected garden, (b) implemented pest control procedures for the Rose Garden and led the Rose Garden pergola redesign, (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, 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. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 7: Botanical Building and GardensThe Botanical Building and Gardens is an architectural and horticultural treasure, introducing visitors from around the world to the plethora of plants that flouri”