Forever Balboa Park

What Forever Balboa Park does

Forever Balboa Park is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservancy headquartered in the House of Hospitality in Balboa Park, San Diego, California, formed in 2021 through the merger of Friends of Balboa Park and the Balboa Park Conservancy. The organization operates under a formal partnership with the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department as the designated nonprofit steward of the 1,200-acre park, which has been a National Historic Landmark since 1977 and hosts 29 major cultural institutions. The organization is led by President and CEO Dr. Elizabeth C. Babcock (appointed April 2022), supported by a team of 33 staff and a volunteer corps exceeding 450 individuals across specialized programs including Garden Stewards, Rose Garden Corps, Tree Stewards, Park Ambassadors, Visitor Center volunteers, and the Trees for Health program. The park serves more than 4 million visitors annually.

The organization's core service portfolio is organized around four functions: (1) visitor-facing operations, including the Balboa Park Visitors Center and Gift Shop and the historic Dorothea Laub Balboa Park Carousel featuring 52 animal rides; (2) volunteer-led park stewardship across 20 gardens, 440+ tree species, and 60+ miles of trails; (3) capital improvement and historic preservation projects, with the $10M+ Botanical Building and Central Gardens restoration as the signature initiative; and (4) urban forestry, anchored by the recurring Plant It Forward campaign that has planted over 600 trees. Recent delivery milestones include the Alcazar Garden restoration (2020), Casa del Prado revitalization (2021), Moreton Bay Fig viewing platform (2021), Kate O. Sessions Cactus Garden renovation (2022), and the $380,000 26th Street Trail Restoration (January 2023), with the Rose Garden Pergola Restoration and Central Gardens opening scheduled for 2026.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit funding mix with no proprietary technology platform. Streams include individual donations via the Conservator's Circle major donor program and Love Balboa Park membership tiers (Champion, Advocate); earned revenue from Carousel rides and Visitors Center gift shop merchandise; foundation and government grants from San Diego Foundation, SDG&E Environmental Champions, County of San Diego, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and others; corporate partnerships including Pure Project's 1% for the Planet contribution; and dedicated endowment funds such as the Lilyan B. Frank Memorial Rose Garden Endowment ($300K+ since 2018). Operational technology is limited to standard nonprofit SaaS: Volgistics (volunteer management), Bloomerang (donor CRM), Blackbaud (donation processing), and LiveChat (website support). Detailed financials are not publicly disclosed and are only available through IRS Form 990 filings.

Name

Forever Balboa Park

Legal name

Forever Balboa Park

Website

https://foreverbalboapark.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Forever Balboa Park is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit conservancy serving as the designated partner with the City of San Diego for stewardship of the 1,200-acre Balboa Park National Historic Landmark. It operates visitor services, the historic Carousel, 450+ volunteer programs, and capital restoration projects funded by donations, grants, and earned revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Park Conservancy Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Historical Sites (712120)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA)

Keywords

• Park conservancy services
• Volunteer stewardship programs
• Historic preservation services
• Urban forestry programs
• Park visitor services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting park improvements, volunteer programs, and urban forestry initiatives. The Conservator's Circle represents the major donor program.
2. Membership Programs: Love Balboa Park membership program with Champion and Advocate tiers offering different engagement levels.
3. Earned Revenue - Visitors Center & Gift Shop: Retail sales at the Visitors Center gift shop offering unique local products, books, apparel, and nature-themed merchandise. Also sells attraction tickets.
4. Balboa Park Carousel Operations: Revenue from carousel rides operated by Forever Balboa Park, generating critical earned revenue for the organization from weekend and holiday operations.
5. Foundation & Government Grants: Grant funding from organizations such as San Diego Foundation, SDG&E Environmental Champions, County of San Diego, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and various garden clubs for specific projects.
6. Corporate Partnerships: Partnership agreements with companies such as Pure Project brewery (1% for the Planet member), providing corporate giving and sponsorship revenue.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Forever Balboa Park operates the Balboa Park Visitors Center and Gift Shop, runs the historic Dorothea Laub Balboa Park Carousel, and coordinates 450+ volunteers across specialized stewardship programs including Garden Stewards, Rose Garden Corps, Tree Stewards, Park Ambassadors, and Trees for Health. The conservancy executes park improvement and historic restoration projects (Botanical Building and Central Gardens, Casa del Prado, Alcazar Garden, 26th Street Trail), urban reforestation through Plant It Forward, and parkwide signage and wayfinding, while raising funds from individual donors, the Conservator's Circle, foundations, government grants, and corporate partners.

Product overview

Forever Balboa Park is a nonprofit conservancy (501(c)(3)) dedicated to sustaining, envisioning, and enhancing Balboa Park in partnership with the City of San Diego. The organization operates visitor-facing services including the Visitors Center and Gift Shop, and the historic Dorothea Laub Balboa Park Carousel (restored to 1910 design). Its volunteer programs include Garden Stewards, Rose Garden Corps (tending 1,700+ roses), Tree Stewards (managing 440+ tree species), and Park Ambassadors. Core projects encompass the Botanical Building and Gardens restoration, urban forestry with Plant It Forward initiatives, signage and wayfinding improvements, and interactive digital garden maps. Major projects include the ongoing Rose Garden Pergola Restoration (2026) and Central Gardens development. The organization maintains 18+ park gardens and supports parkwide facilities including the House of Hospitality and Casa del Prado.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Balboa Park Visitors Center and Gift Shop Physical storefront in Balboa Park operating seven days a week, providing visitor information, attraction tickets, and retail merchandise including local products, books, apparel, and nature-themed gifts. Serves the 4 million+ annual park visitors and tourists seeking wayfinding and souvenirs.
• Dorothea Laub Balboa Park Carousel Historic carousel restored to its original 1910 design with 52 unique animal rides, operating weekends and holidays during the school year and daily during summer. Generates earned revenue and provides family-friendly entertainment for park visitors.
• Balboa Park Tours Guided and self-guided tour experiences helping visitors explore Balboa Park's attractions, gardens, and cultural institutions, including tree-planting education, garden workshops, and youth programs.
• Botanical Building and Central Gardens Signature historic restoration project featuring nine unique gardens and a reconstructed historic pergola surrounding the Botanical Building, blending history, beauty, and accessibility in the heart of Balboa Park. Scheduled new opening June 2026.
• Urban Forestry Program (Plant It Forward) Program maintaining Balboa Park's urban forest of 440+ tree species and planting new trees through the Plant It Forward initiative; includes palm weevil mitigation, tree stewardship, and community tree-planting events.
• Conservator's Circle Premier major-donor membership program providing essential financial support for park improvements, volunteer programs, and urban forest growth, with recognition and engagement opportunities for major donors.
• Love Balboa Park Membership Membership program with Champion and Advocate tiers offering different engagement levels for supporters of Forever Balboa Park.
• Interactive Garden Maps Online interactive maps for various Balboa Park gardens including the Botanical Building Interior, Botanical Building Exterior Central Gardens, Rose Garden, Cactus Garden, and Trees for Health Garden, providing digital visitor wayfinding.
• Parkwide Signage and Wayfinding Parkwide map and signage program covering all 1,200 acres of Balboa Park to make the park more accessible and welcoming for visitors.
• Trees for Health Program Health-focused therapeutic garden program in Balboa Park with dedicated volunteers maintaining therapeutic green spaces designed to support community well-being.

Quantifiable outcome

• Planted over 600 trees in Balboa Park through Plant It Forward reforestation initiative
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership with the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department. Forever Balboa Park collaborates with the city to ensure sustainability and accessibility of Balboa Park through fundraising, facilities improvements, visitor center operations, volunteer programs, and public engagement initiatives. Organization holds right of entry agreements with the city for park projects.
• California Conservation CorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partnership for trail restoration and environmental projects. Executed $380,000 26th Street Trail Restoration project. Young adults from CCC perform hands-on conservation work on park improvements.
• WRT Landscape ArchitectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvided design development support for the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden with greater accessibility and expanded space for planting vision.
• Wimmer Yamada & CaugheyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLandscape architecture firm led by Pat Caughey that conducted due diligence and design for the Moreton Bay Fig Tree viewing platform project, using ground radar to ensure root structure protection.
• Pure ProjectminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSan Diego brewery located at Balboa Park edge, member of 1% for the Planet initiative donating 1% of sales to Forever Balboa Park. Created beer-to-place pairing program linking brewery products to park locations.
• Aaron Price Fellows ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh school internship program welcoming six interns annually to provide youth perspective to the organization through marketing communications and focus group facilitation projects.
• San Diego Floral AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on Adopt a Plot program for Casa del Prado garden beds, providing geraniums as nod to historical plantings.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Central Park Conservancy: Nonprofit conservancy that manages and funds improvements for Central Park in partnership with NYC Parks. Highly comparable as a designated park conservancy running volunteer programs, capital restorations, and visitor services for an iconic urban park.
• Friends of the High Line: Nonprofit conservancy that funds maintenance, operations, and programming for the High Line public park in NYC. Comparable as a small-staff nonprofit leveraging volunteers and donor funding to sustain a major public park asset.
• Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy: Nonprofit that supports the Golden Gate National Parks with volunteer programs, capital projects, and visitor services. Comparable in mission, partnership model with government, and volunteer-driven park stewardship.
• Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy: Nonprofit conservancy for Pittsburgh's Frick Park and citywide park system, executing capital restorations, volunteer stewardship, and fundraising. Highly comparable operational model to Forever Balboa Park.
• Chicago Parks Foundation: Nonprofit supporting Chicago's public parks through volunteer engagement, capital improvements, and programming. Comparable urban-park conservancy model relying on corporate and individual donors.

Broad incumbents

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit working to conserve land for public use, including urban parks and gardens. Comparable in park creation/preservation advocacy and corporate partnership models, though focused on land acquisition rather than ongoing park operations.
• National Park Foundation: Official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, funding projects across all 400+ national parks. Comparable as a park-focused nonprofit raising donations and grants, but operating at national scale rather than a single park.
• Audubon Society: National conservation nonprofit operating nature centers and sanctuaries with volunteer programs and member-supported gardens. Comparable volunteer-stewardship model, though focused on bird/wildlife conservation rather than urban park operations.

Others

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: National nonprofit that preserves historic structures and provides grants (including the Favrot Fund that funded Forever Balboa Park's Alcazar Garden restoration). Comparable as a historic preservation funder and advocacy partner.

Regional players

• San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance: Major San Diego conservation nonprofit operating the world-famous San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. Comparable as a regionally based 501(c)(3) with conservation mission, large visitor base, donor programs, and educational programming in the same San Diego market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCDZlMvNxC195iKL5RO8Hygg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ForeverBalboaPark
• Instagraminstagram.com/foreverbalboapark
• Xx.com/4BalboaPark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foreverbalboapark

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forever Balboa Park