National Recreation and Park Association

What it reported doing in 2024

Certification and accreditation - nrpa has over 25,000 certified individuals in the areas of aquatic facilities, playground safety, general parks and recreation, and executive parks and recreation. The nrpa board of directors established the national certification board to administer the nrpa professional and occupational certification programs in accordance with the goals and values of the association. Each program reviews best practices through a job analysis approximately every 5 years and examinations are updated accordingly. Nrpa also has 222 accredited park and recreation agencies (including municipal through state and military). The nrpa board of directors established the commission for accreditation of park and recreation agencies (capra) to administer the accreditation program in accordance with the goals and values of the association. The capra accreditation standards are reviewed approximately every 5 years, and the accreditation program is updated accordingly. Accreditation standards include focus areas such as agency mission and purpose, community and park planning, human resources, financial management, risk management and more.publications and advertising - nrpa reaches its members through a variety of publications, including its award-winning magazine, parks & recreation, which is read by approximately 207,000 people annually. Nrpa also works with advertisers to promote their products to members via tools such as print ads in nrpa's magazine, digital ads on the website, and digital ads included in email marketing content. Additional publications include; comprehensive toolkits, an annual report, research and evaluation reports, email marketing communications, a dedicated blog, nrpa podcast, and a social media presence.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 87.9%; rating input score 88
• Program expense ratio: 84.5%; rating input score 85
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.7 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 87.5%; rating input score 88; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Pass
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 90%; rating input score 90; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: No; rating input score 0

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 96.7%; rating input score 97; 30th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 4.7%; rating input score 53; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.2; rating input score 43; 43rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.31; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 10.7%; rating input score 17; 17th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 4.4% per year; rating input score 100; 37th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 4.2% per year; rating input score 100; 36th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6.9% per year; rating input score 100; 48th percentile among comparable filings