What fcpf does

Fairfax County Park Foundation (FCPF) is a Virginia-incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation established in December 2000 that operates as the dedicated private fundraising arm of the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA). The foundation raises donations, obtains grants, and forms partnerships to supplement tax dollars for park land, facilities, and services that FCPA cannot fund through fees, with FCPA receiving less than 1% of Fairfax County's General Fund budget and fees covering approximately 60% of operating expenses. Its programs span need-based scholarships for camps and classes, adapted recreation for people with disabilities, environmental education (Wonder Wagon Mobile Nature Center), free community events (Summer Entertainment Series, Earth Day Fairfax, Fairfax County Carnival and Fair, Dog Daze), trail construction and maintenance, and capital projects such as inclusive playground renovations and the Frying Pan carousel replacement.

The foundation supports a network of 422 parks spanning 23,800 acres that serves more than 16 million visitors annually. Its portfolio of giving vehicles includes online donations, planned and estate giving (Legacy Circle), IRA distributions, appreciated stock and bond gifts, donor-advised funds, vehicle donations, employer matching gifts, payroll deduction, memorial and tribute gifts, and bench/tree sponsorships, supplemented by corporate sponsorships and grants from foundations and government programs. Distribution is embedded in FCPA's Parktakes registration and reservation system, and the foundation participates in Combined Federal Campaign (#38066) and United Way National Capital Area (#9400) workplace giving.

FCPF operates with a lean staff of 1-10 employees from its headquarters at 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 404, Fairfax, Virginia. Under Director of Development Margaret Thaxton's 12+ year tenure, annual revenue grew from $607,699 in FY 2012 to a record $5+ million in FY 2025, with the foundation marking its 25th anniversary in 2025. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, has no parent company, and shows no external equity ownership; its geographic scope is restricted to Fairfax County, Virginia, with no global expansion signaled.

Name

fcpf

Legal name

Fairfax County Park Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://fairfaxparkfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fairfax County Park Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fundraising arm of the Fairfax County Park Authority, raising private donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships to support 422 parks, scholarships, and community programs serving 16+ million annual visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfax

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Private Donations: Individual donors contribute through online donations, IRA distributions, planned and estate giving, vehicle donations, and monthly payroll deductions. Revenue has grown from $607,699 in FY 2012 to over $5 million in Fiscal Year 2025.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporations and organizations sponsor events, projects, and facilities including the Summer Entertainment Series, Wonder Wagon, and Fairfax County Carnival and Fair.
3. Grants: FCPF obtains grants from foundations and government programs to supplement tax dollars for park improvements and programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Fairfax County Park Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that raises private funds, obtains grants, and creates partnerships to supplement tax dollars for the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA). The foundation specifically supports areas where FCPA cannot charge fees, funding essential park operations, scholarships for camps and classes, adapted recreation programs for people with disabilities, environmental education (Wonder Wagon), trail construction and maintenance, and free community events.

Product overview

FCPF operates as a nonprofit foundation with a portfolio of fundraising programs and initiatives that support the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA). Rather than a unified software product, FCPF offers a collection of giving programs (Legacy Circle planned giving, Donor-Advised Fund Giving), community events (Summer Entertainment Series, Fairfax County Carnival and Fair, Earth Day Fairfax, Dog Daze canine swims), and capital projects (Wonder Wagon Mobile Nature Center, Trail Building and Care, Playground Renovations, Frying Pan Farm Park Carousel). These programs work together to supplement FCPA's tax-dollar funding by raising private donations and grants to maintain and improve 422 parks serving 16 million annual visitors across 23,800 acres.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wonder Wagon Mobile Nature Center A mobile nature center that brings environmental education programs to community events, festivals, and underserved populations including Title 1 school programs across Fairfax County. FCPF funded the first vehicle and is raising funds for a second vehicle to expand reach.
• Summer Entertainment Series Free outdoor concerts and Starlight Cinema outdoor movies hosted at parks throughout Fairfax County, providing community entertainment accessible to all residents and sponsored by partners such as Pohanka Automotive and the Scott A. & Phyllis P. Crabtree Family Foundation.
• Fairfax County Carnival and Fair Annual four-day family event held at Frying Pan Farm Park featuring carnival rides, animal demonstrations, farm competitions, baked goods contests, and pie eating contests. Attracts more than 27,000 visitors.
• Trail Building and Care Program Supports construction and maintenance of park trails and bridges, land acquisition for trail connections, trail map printing, and interpretive signs across more than 900 miles of Fairfax County trails, including the 40-mile Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail (GCCCT).
• Camps, Classes, Adapted and Equity Outreach Programs Provides scholarships and program support for FCPA camps, classes, and adapted recreation programs serving people with disabilities, low-income families, and underrepresented populations, ensuring equitable access to park activities.
• Dog Parks and Programs Supports FCPA dog parks and the annual Dog Daze canine-only swim event for dogs and their owners in Fairfax County.
• McLean Central Park Playground Renovation Community capital campaign for inclusive playground renovations including combined totlot and school-age play areas, fenced-in spaces, sensory equipment, universal adaptive swings, and rubberized surfacing. Grassroots team MCPT raised $430,000 with major support from MARS, McLean Community Center, Hilton Corporation, and Chain Bridge Bank.
• Legacy Circle Planned Giving Program Planned giving and estate planning program allowing donors to support Fairfax County parks through their Will and gift planning, ensuring future generations benefit from parks. Includes recognition as a Legacy Circle member.
• Donor-Advised Fund Giving Program Program allowing donors to contribute through donor-advised funds for maximum tax benefits and flexibility in supporting Fairfax County park programs and facilities.
• Frying Pan Farm Park Carousel Restoration Fundraising campaign to replace the beloved carousel at Frying Pan Farm Park, which became non-operational following harsh winter weather.
• Earth Day Fairfax Annual Earth Day celebration event supported by the Foundation, bringing environmental awareness and activities to the Fairfax County community.

Quantifiable outcome

• 67,258 Fairfax County residents live in poverty with 18,923 being children who benefit from scholarship programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFCPF is the dedicated fundraising arm for FCPA, raising private funds, obtaining grants, and creating partnerships to supplement tax dollars for park land, facilities, and services. FCPA receives less than 1% of Fairfax County's General Fund budget.
• National Capital Gift Planning CouncilminorOthersProfessional affiliation for gift planning professionals
• Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)minorOthersProfessional membership organization for fundraising professionals
• International City/County Management Association (ICMA)minorOthersProfessional affiliation for local government managers
• National Association of Park Foundations (NAPF)minorOthersProfessional network for park foundations
• National Association of Charitable Gift PlannersminorOthersProfessional association for charitable gift planners
• National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)minorOthersProfessional association for park and recreation professionals
• United Way National Capital AreaminorOthersProud partner; United Way #9400 for workplace giving
• Pohanka Automotive & Scott A. & Phyllis P. Crabtree Family FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsors for Summer Entertainment Series and first Wonder Wagon Mobile Nature Center vehicle donation to expand environmental education and community access to nature. Recognized as 2025 Eakin Philanthropy Honorees.
• Wonder Wagon Mobile Nature CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMobile nature center bringing environmental education to community events and underserved populations including Title 1 school programs. Second vehicle being funded through FCPF donations.
• Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFederal employee giving program; CFC #38066 for workplace donations
• Renewal by AndersenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Fairfax County Carnival and Fair
• Peak Custom RemodelingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Fairfax County Carnival and Fair
• Sunbelt RentalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Fairfax County Carnival and Fair
• Friends of Frying Pan Farm ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization supporting Frying Pan Farm Park and annual Carnival and Fair
• Fairfax County's One FairfaxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRacial and social equity policy adopted by FCPA and FCPF that commits to considering equity when making policies, planning, and delivering programs and services

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• National Park Foundation: The official nonprofit fundraising partner of the National Park Service. Operates the same model — raising private funds, grants, and corporate sponsorships to supplement public park funding — but at the federal/national scale, making it the most direct structural analogue to FCPF.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on creating parks and protecting land for public use, with significant park-foundation-style fundraising and grantmaking programs. Highly comparable mission and funding mechanisms to FCPF.
• City Parks Foundation: New York City-based nonprofit that raises private funds to support NYC parks through programs, events, and capital projects — structurally identical to FCPF's relationship with FCPA, just at a different municipal scale.
• Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy: Independent nonprofit that funds and partners with the City of Pittsburgh on park improvements, programming, and volunteer stewardship. Closely mirrors FCPF's model of supplementing a municipal park authority with private philanthropy.
• Chicago Parks Foundation: Independent 501(c)(3) supporting the Chicago Park District through private fundraising, grants, and partnerships. Operates the same city-park-focused nonprofit foundation model as FCPF.
• Fairmount Park Conservancy: Philadelphia-based nonprofit that raises private funds and partners with the city on park improvements, programming, and capital projects across the Fairmount Park system. Highly analogous structure and mission to FCPF.

Broad incumbents

• Greater Washington Community Foundation: Regional community foundation serving the greater DC area including Northern Virginia. Operates as a broader grantmaking platform with donor-advised funds and field-of-interest funds, making it a larger incumbent in FCPF's same geography and donor pool.

Regional players

• Northern Virginia Conservation Trust: Regional land trust operating in the same Northern Virginia geography as FCPF, focused on land conservation adjacent to and supporting the regional parks ecosystem. Comparable donor base and regional scope.

Others

• National Recreation and Park Association: National professional association for park and recreation professionals. FCPF is a listed member; provides industry advocacy, standards, and professional development relevant to FCPF's operational context.
• Association of Fundraising Professionals: Professional membership organization for fundraising professionals. FCPF maintains an affiliation, providing peer benchmarking, ethics standards, and professional development for its development staff.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FairfaxCountyParkFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fairfax-county-park-foundation-inc-the
• Instagraminstagram.com/fairfaxcountyparkfoundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 fcpf