The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis

What The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis does

The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1991 that supports, funds, and advocates for transformative parks, trails, greenways, and urban public space projects in Indianapolis. In 2025, the organization transitioned from an independent supporting organization to a special-interest fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), gaining institutional fiscal sponsorship and philanthropic infrastructure while maintaining its independent identity. Its portfolio encompasses signature fundraising events (Indy's Lunch for Parks presented by AES Indiana, Pints for Parks, For the Love of Parks, Park5K Cozy Run), transformative capital projects (Riverside Regional Park, Tarkington Park, Reverend Mozel Sanders Park), and ongoing programs such as Indy Urban Acres (60,000+ pounds of produce donated annually from four urban farm sites) and the Greater Indy Trailways Stewardship Fund. The organization operates with a lean three-person staff and has helped secure major capital commitments including $10M from the Bezos Earth Fund (2026), $9.2M from Lilly Endowment (2018), and participation in an $80M Lilly Endowment grant to Indy Parks.

The Alliance's business model is diversified across four revenue streams: individual donations, corporate sponsorships (AES Indiana, KSM, Kroger, KeyBank, OneAmerica, Citizens Energy Group, Guggman Haus, Sun King Brewing, and others), foundation grants (Lilly Endowment, Bezos Earth Fund, Pacers Foundation, Holliday Park Foundation), and government partnership funding (City of Indianapolis, Indy Parks, ARPA). Its go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, mobilizing individual donors, corporate sponsors, and neighborhood associations through signature events, volunteer programs, and park improvement initiatives. Pricing is not applicable in the traditional sense — the organization accepts donations and sponsorships rather than selling products, with nominal fees only for ancillary programmatic offerings such as the $14 Ice Rink at Holliday Park admission and Park5K registration. The primary customer segments are individual community members, corporate partners and sponsors, community groups and neighborhood associations, and City of Indianapolis/Indy Parks government entities.

Name

The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis

Legal name

The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis

Website

https://parks-alliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis is a 501(c)3 nonprofit (founded 1991, now a CICF special-interest fund) that fundraises for and advocates on behalf of Indianapolis's 200+ parks, trails, greenways, and urban public spaces through signature events, capital projects, and programs like Indy Urban Acres.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Parks Advocacy and Public Space Philanthropy

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Public Art, Arts Councils & Grantmaking Programs (BPAGAHAH)

Keywords

• Parks advocacy
• Urban public spaces
• Community fundraising
• Urban farming program
• Trail stewardship

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Individual Contributions: Individual donors contribute to support parks and public spaces through the organization's website donation portal. Donations are used to fund park improvements, trail expansions, and community programs.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Annual sponsorship opportunities for businesses to support signature events and park projects. Includes event sponsorships (Indy Lunch for Parks, Pints for Parks), project sponsorships, and general operating support at various tier levels.
3. Foundation Grants: Major grants from foundations including Bezos Earth Fund ($10 million for Reverend Mozel Sanders Park), Lilly Endowment ($80 million for Indy Parks improvements), and others administered through Central Indiana Community Foundation.
4. Government Partnership Funding: Funding through partnership with City of Indianapolis and Indy Parks, including capital budget allocations and ARPA funding for park improvements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that supports and funds transformational parks, trails, greenways, and urban public space projects across Indianapolis's 219-park system. It mobilizes private philanthropy, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and government funding to underwrite capital improvements, signature fundraising events, and community programs such as Indy Urban Acres urban farming. Operating as a special-interest fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation since 2025, it serves as the philanthropic intermediary between community needs and park resources.

Product overview

The Parks Alliance is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation that supports Indy Parks through fundraising events, transformative park projects, and community programs. The portfolio consists of signature fundraising events (Indy's Lunch for Parks, For the Love of Parks, Pints for Parks, Park5K Cozy Run), transformative park development projects (Riverside Regional Park, Tarkington Park, Reverend Mozel Sanders Park), the Indy Urban Acres urban farming program, the Greater Indy Trailways Stewardship Fund grant program, corporate sponsorship opportunities, and The Greener Society individual membership program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Indy's Lunch for Parks presented by AES Indiana

Quantifiable outcome

• 60,000+ pounds of produce donated annually from 4 urban farm sites, addressing food insecurity
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.

• Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Strategic partnership since 1991. In 2025, The Parks Alliance transitioned to become a fund of CICF to increase philanthropic reach, operational capacity, and long-term sustainability while maintaining independent identity. CICF serves as fiscal sponsor for grants.
• City of Indianapolis / Indy ParksflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner since 1991 for development and maintenance of Indy's parks, trails, greenways, and public spaces. Indy Parks leads project execution while Parks Alliance provides fundraising and advocacy support.
• AES IndianacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Indy Lunch for Parks annual event. Major corporate partner supporting parks programming and community events.
• Friends of Belmont BeachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in Haughville Riverfront Vision Plan and Reverend Mozel Sanders Park transformation. Led community-driven vision planning process through interviews and collaborative activities in 2023.
• Indiana LandmarkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Thomas Taggart Memorial Restoration project, contributing expertise on historic preservation for the 1931 monument being converted to amphitheatre.
• Indianapolis Shakespeare Company (Indy Shakes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Taggart Memorial Amphitheatre project, bringing outdoor performances and cultural programming to Riverside Park.
• Forty5 PresentscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Pints for Parks monthly brewery series, providing live music at events and ticket giveaway opportunities to support parks.
• Midstates RecreationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for For the Love of Parks month-long campaign in July, partnering with local businesses for fundraising.
• Citizens Energy GroupsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting parks initiatives and community programs.
• Katz, Sapper & Miller (KSM)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner and board member organization. Hosted Family Night on Ice at Holliday Park Ice Rink, demonstrating commitment to community connections and public spaces.
• Tinker CoffeesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner venue for For the Love of Parks campaign - customers can round up for parks during July.
• Guggman Haus Brewing Co.coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner venue for Pints for Parks events and For the Love of Parks campaign. Hosts Park5K finish line celebration. $1 from each pint supports parks.
• Indy Urban Acres Farm PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partners receiving donated produce from four urban farm sites (60,000+ lbs annually) to serve households experiencing food insecurity.
• Visit IndysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Haughville Riverfront Vision Plan, contributing to tourism and visitor engagement planning for parks.
• Indianapolis ColtssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner supporting parks initiatives and visibility campaigns.
• Indianapolis IndianssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMinor league baseball team partner for community engagement and parks support.
• Sun King BrewingsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerBrewery partner for Pints for Parks events, donating $1 per pint to support parks.
• V3 CompaniessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Park5K Cozy Run event.
• Capital Improvement BoardsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner supporting parks and public space investments in Indianapolis.
• KrogersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting community programs and food access initiatives.
• OneAmericasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting parks initiatives.
• 8th Day DistillerysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal distillery partner for For the Love of Parks campaign events.
• ClusterTrucksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFood delivery partner for ParksFunLunch campaign - code LOVEPARKS-26 provides donations to parks with orders.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that creates parks and protects land for people, with active urban park and greenway initiatives. Operates a similar model of leveraging philanthropy and public partnerships to expand and improve park systems across multiple U.S. cities.
• City Parks Alliance: National nonprofit advocating for urban parks and green infrastructure. Comparable as a parks-focused intermediary organization that connects funders, government, and communities to advance urban park investment — closely aligned mission and constituency.
• Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy: Nonprofit that partners with the City of Pittsburgh to restore and improve city parks through fundraising and project management. Directly comparable to The Parks Alliance in scale, city-partnership model, and focus on transformational park projects.
• Cincinnati Parks Foundation: Nonprofit foundation supporting Cincinnati Parks through private fundraising, advocacy, and volunteer engagement. Closely comparable as a city-focused parks philanthropy intermediary with similar event-based fundraising programs.

Broad incumbents

• Central Park Conservancy: The flagship nonprofit steward of New York's Central Park, raising private funds and managing capital improvements in partnership with the city. Closely comparable operating model of supplementing public park operations with private philanthropy for transformational projects.
• The Conservation Fund: National nonprofit that works at the intersection of conservation and economic development, including urban green-space projects. Broader peer with overlap on environmental restoration and green infrastructure funding.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National community development financial institution that funds parks, housing, and community development in underserved areas. Adjacent peer with overlap on community-focused capital deployment and city partnerships.

Regional players

• Greening of Detroit: Detroit-based nonprofit focused on urban forestry, greenways, and community gardens. Comparable in its emphasis on urban greening, environmental restoration, and food access programs in a Midwest industrial city.
• Indianapolis Cultural Trail: Indianapolis-based nonprofit developing and stewarding an urban cultural and greenway trail. Locally comparable as a public-space-focused Indianapolis nonprofit with mixed government/philanthropy funding.
• Keep Indianapolis Beautiful: Indianapolis-based environmental nonprofit focused on beautification, tree planting, and community green-space engagement. Comparable as a local parks/environment nonprofit with similar volunteer-driven and corporate-partnership model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ParksAllianceIN
• Facebookfacebook.com/ParksAllianceIN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/parksalliancein
• Instagraminstagram.com/parksalliancein

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis