Railroad Park Foundation

What it reported doing in 2024

Railroad park is a 19-acre green space in the heart of birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city. Situated along 1st avenue south, between 14th and 18th streets, the park is a joint effort between the city of birmingham and the railroad park foundation. Hailed as "birmingham's front lawn," railroad park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting birmingham's downtown area with southside and uab's campus. Railroad park has been the catalyst for tremendous change in the physical landscape of birmingham and in the perception of what birmingham can be. In 2024, railroad park foundation continued to focus on four primary goal areas: economic development, families and community, health and wellness, and fortifying the park and the environment.economic development highlightshere are some of the ways railroad park foundation promoted the continued growth of our city and supported economic development across birmingham in 2024:- promoted local businesses with the following programming: - facilitated magic city pop-up plazas once a month april through september, showcasing more than 50 local merchants and local food vendors. - hosted michael's @ the boxcar, open seasonally (april-october, which provided delicious lunch options at an affordable price. - welcomed nearly 500,000 visitors in 2024. - new construction projects continued, stimulating further investment, development, and economic growth within the city. New business openings include dogtopia- parkside. - ongoing development projects and the continued renovation and development of multi-family and commercial space added to the more than 40 new developments and business openings since 2010. - recognized by USA today 10best as the 7th best city park in the u.s. Families & community highlightsrailroad park foundation provided dynamic, diverse programs to enhance families & community, including the continuation of community partnerships to provide free programming to birmingham residents throughout the year: - more than 140 client events were hosted at railroad park in 2024, which included everything from birthday parties and corporate events to the annual american heart association's heart walk. - celebrated 5th annual protective presents picnic at railroad park: - free event celebrated birmingham's community - programming highlighted our city's abundant talent by spotlighting entertainers, artists, small businesses and food vendors representing many of birmingham's 99 neighborhoods. - featured more than 40 birmingham-based small businesses, generating more than $9,000 in taxable sales for the city of birmingham. - officers from 57 neighborhoods were officially represented on the day of the event, which included a special celebration in honor of our 99 neighborhood associations' officers. - more than 2,000 people attended this free community event.- in partnership with the city, provided 19 acres of greenspace for families and individuals to enjoy quality time together and engage with nature. - hosted hundreds of families for the free 4th of july family festival, which featured live music, food vendors, & children's activities. Health & wellness highlightshere are some of the ways railroad park foundation promoted health & wellness for our entire community in 2024: - get healthy on the railroad sponsored by blue cross and blue shield of Alabama returned for a 14th season, reaching 6,614 participants. Classes included boxing cardio, hip hop cardio, zumba, yoga and line dancing, as well as the addition of two weekly senior fit classes thanks to the support of the jefferson county commission. - hosted the popular get healthy on the railroad cooking class series for a 9th year, providing more than 300 participants free produce and recipe cards to replicate healthy cooking at home. - presented our 5th annual senior fit health fair, which provided more than 100 seniors

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 78.9%; rating input score 79
• Program expense ratio: 81.9%; rating input score 82
• Fundraising efficiency: $16.01 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 52; 52nd percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 7 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 88
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 4.4%; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.03; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 7.9%; rating input score 44; 44th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 3.1% per year; rating input score 100; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 0.4% per year; rating input score 100; 16th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 2.3% per year; rating input score 100; 27th percentile among comparable filings