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Nonprofiteer
← BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP.

Totals

Total revenue
$31,042,524
Total expenses
$21,467,912
Contributions and grants received
$22,559,958
Grants paid
$1,200
Program service revenue
$4,811,463
Investment income
$3,170,120
Other revenue
$500,983
Total assets, end of year
$127,123,621
Total liabilities, end of year
$18,538,754
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$108,584,867
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$20,226,757
Management and general expenses
$800,800
Fundraising expenses
$440,355
Program service expenses (Part III)
$20,226,757

Program services were 94.2% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $692,168

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $477,264

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $21,390,526

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $16,237,475

  • 2a · Program service revenue: Maintenance agreement

    total $3,604,476 · related or exempt $3,604,476

  • 2b · Program service revenue: Park permits and fees

    total $646,397 · related or exempt $646,397

  • 2c · Program service revenue: Skimmer boat agreement

    total $434,010 · related or exempt $434,010

  • 2d · Program service revenue: Boat tours

    total $95,056 · related or exempt $95,056

  • 2e · Program service revenue: Port of Houston fees

    total $30,000 · related or exempt $30,000

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $1,524 · related or exempt $1,524

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $3,175,410 · excluded $3,175,410

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $535,058

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $0

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $535,058

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $535,058 · excluded $535,058

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $176,000 · other assets $1,073,737

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $179,727 · other assets $1,075,300

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities -$3,727 · other assets -$1,563

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total -$5,290 · excluded -$5,290

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $89,815

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $692,168

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $227,220

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$137,405 · excluded -$137,405

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $35,750

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $35,750 · related or exempt $35,750

  • 11a · Other revenue: Insurance proceeds

    total $52,086 · excluded $52,086

  • 11b · Other revenue: Lockwood developer fee

    total $15,494 · excluded $15,494

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $67,580

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $1,200 · program services $1,200

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $390,106 · program services $110,097 · management and general $255,543 · fundraising $24,466

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $3,056,263 · program services $2,612,626 · management and general $225,344 · fundraising $218,293

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $116,808 · program services $100,294 · management and general $6,562 · fundraising $9,952

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $385,784 · program services $354,051 · management and general $17,210 · fundraising $14,523

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $255,348 · program services $205,392 · management and general $32,661 · fundraising $17,295

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $33,246 · program services $33,246

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $33,800 · management and general $33,800

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $28,338 · management and general $28,338

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $830,820 · program services $815,814 · management and general $6,134 · fundraising $8,872

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $27,842 · program services $22,406 · management and general $2,718 · fundraising $2,718

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $80,303 · program services $5,238 · management and general $73,015 · fundraising $2,050

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $105,805 · program services $63,625 · management and general $14,272 · fundraising $27,908

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $132,076 · program services $115,198 · management and general $8,439 · fundraising $8,439

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $27,342 · program services $18,257 · management and general $4,279 · fundraising $4,806

  • 20 · Interest

    total $46,612 · program services $23,306 · management and general $11,653 · fundraising $11,653

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $345,828 · program services $235,680 · management and general $55,074 · fundraising $55,074

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $282,316 · program services $254,922 · management and general $13,697 · fundraising $13,697

  • 24a · Other expenses: Construction

    total $7,566,605 · program services $7,566,605

  • 24b · Other expenses: Design and engineering

    total $5,592,210 · program services $5,592,210

  • 24c · Other expenses: Park maintenance

    total $1,277,942 · program services $1,277,942

  • 24d · Other expenses: Park equipment,supplies

    total $348,670 · program services $336,644 · management and general $5,149 · fundraising $6,877

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $502,648 · program services $482,004 · management and general $6,912 · fundraising $13,732

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,876,370 · end of year $956,841

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $53,493,376 · end of year $60,287,471

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $2,506,839 · end of year $4,018,329

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $292,432 · end of year $109,296

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    beginning of year $27,001 · end of year $27,001

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $260,797 · end of year $222,002

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $38,712,427

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $2,604,556

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $32,157,062 · end of year $36,107,871

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $12,573,908 · end of year $15,444,810

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    beginning of year $9,700,000 · end of year $9,950,000

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $879,063 · end of year $4,381,704

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $1,598,846 · end of year $1,902,179

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $2,352,229 · end of year $2,304,871

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $9,700,000 · end of year $9,950,000

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $35,853,765 · end of year $35,445,303

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $62,503,882 · end of year $73,139,564

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

See Schedule OEstablished in 1986, Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) is the non-profit transforming and revitalizing Buffalo Bayou. The organization's geographic focus is the 10-square mile stretch of the bayou that flows from Shepherd Drive, through the heart of downtown into the East End, and on to the Port of Houston Turning Basin. BBP creates and cares for inclusive public spaces such as Buffalo Bayou Park, constructs hike and bike trails, removes trash and debris from the waterway, and promotes the economic and social well-being of surrounding neighborhoods through affordable housing. BBP also activates the bayou with unique programs, public art, volunteer events, and recreational opportunities that enrich Houston's quality of life.

Activities or mission (Part I)

Creating and stewarding parks + trails, connecting Houstonians with Buffalo Bayou.

  • See Schedule OBuffalo Bayou Park - A strong public-private partnership including the Kinder Foundation, Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP), the City of Houston, and Harris County Flood Control District carried out an ambitious $58 million restoration project for the stretch of bayou from Shepherd Drive to Sabine Street. The project involved flood management, eco-restoration, new hike and bike trails, and an array of park amenities. The park improvements were substantially completed in 2015, and BBP transferred ownership to the City. BBP maintains and operates the 160-acre Buffalo Bayou Park with funding from the Downtown Redevelopment Authority TIRZ #3. It is also responsible for maintaining the hike and bike trails and green spaces along the waterway from Sabine to Austin streets with funding from Houston First Corporation and Houston Parks Board. To assist with ongoing maintenance and conservation efforts, BBP relies on thousands of volunteers and community service workers each year who remove weeds and invasive species, plant wildflowers, pick up trash, and remove silt from the trails after heavy rains.

    Expenses $4,214,715 · Grants $1,200 · Revenue $3,844,616

  • Buffalo Bayou East Sector Implementation - Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) is developing green space and trails along the east sector of Buffalo Bayou - the area from approximately U.S. 59 east to the Port of Houston Turning Basin.

    Expenses $14,571,100

  • Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern - BBP restored and repurposed this underground city water reservoir and opened it to the public in 2016. In addition to tours highlighting the history and architecture of this unique industrial site, BBP presents periodic art installations in the space.

    Expenses $484,397 · Revenue $443,265

  • Waterway Maintenance - Removing trash and debris is central to BBP's mission of helping to restore Buffalo Bayou to an ecologically functional system and providing an enhanced amenity for the mental and physical benefit of Houstonians and visitors. The program, partially funded by the Harris County Flood Control District and Port Houston, removes floatables from the water and along the banks of the bayou.

  • Other Programming - BBP offers a wide range of recreational and cultural activities, including: - Buffalo Bayou Partnership Regatta: Annual 15-mile canoe and kayak race on Buffalo Bayou from Voss Road to Allen's Landing in Downtown Houston, held annually in March. - Kids Day: A free event filled with family fun, educational activities, music, food, and park performers, held annually in October. - Pontoon Boat Rides: Offered year-round and include bat tours, history tours, and private charters. - Walking Tours: Offered year-round and include public art tours, wellness walks, and nature tours. - Public Art: Each year, BBP offers an artist residency as well as events like Night Light, a free evening of video art created by local artists and presented along the bayou.

  • Buffalo Bayou East Parks - In 2024, Buffalo Bayou Partnership continued the maintenance of Buffalo Bayou East park projects as its first Buffalo Bayou East 10-Year Plan project neared completion. BBP maintains and operates green space along the approximately 4-mile distance along Buffalo Bayou from U.S. 59/I-69 North to Turkey Bend and extending into the greater East End and Fifth Ward communities. BBP accomplishes this with funding from the Harrisburg Redevelopment Authority (TIRZ #23), the Fifth Ward Redevelopment Authority (TIRZ #18), and distributions from the Buffalo Bayou East Maintenance Endowment.

  • Hike and Bike Trails - A top priority of Buffalo Bayou Partnership is to build a continuous system of trails on the north and south banks of Buffalo Bayou from Shepherd Drive to the Port of Houston Turning Basin. This gives Houstonians and visitors approximately 20 miles of trails to run, walk and bike along the waterway. To accommodate residents and visitors who want to enjoy a walk or jog along the Shepherd Drive to Sabine Street stretch of the bayou, BBP added asphalt footpaths closer to the waterway.

    Expenses $956,545 · Revenue $559,332

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Gaynell Floyd Drexler

    Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • David Ott Jr

    Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Kellie R Jenks

    Treasurer

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Andrew P Ziccardi

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Ralph Abendshein

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Andrea Alexander

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Matthew Assiff

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Veronica Avila

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Chris Bilton

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Chuck Carlberg

    Chair Emeritus

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Brady F Carruth

    Chair Emeritus

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Rev Harvey Clemons Jr

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Shawn W Cloonan

    Chair Emeritus

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Brandon Cofield Sr

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Collin J Cox

    Chair Emeritus

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Jerry Davis

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Richard Dawson

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Olivia Djibo

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Zion Escobar

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Thomas O Fish

    Chair Emeritus

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Bolivar M Fraga

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Mike Garver

    Chair Emeritus

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Louis Girard

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Lisa Helfman

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Sis Johnson

    Chair Emeritus

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Emily Keeton

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Mary Hinojosa Kelly

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Samir Khushalani

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Marie Louise Kinder

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Catherine Adams Matthews

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Alisha N Nathoo

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Judy Nyquist

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Erin Patterson

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Bob Phillips

    Chair Emeritus

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Monica Hoz de Vila Radoff

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Frem Reggie Jr

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Carlos A Ruiz

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Jeff Taylor

    Chair Emeritus

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Anne Whitlock

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Geraldina I Wise

    Director

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2
  • Anne M Olson

    President

    Total calculated
    $253,106
    From this org
    $230,656
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,450
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $230,656
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $13,933
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,517
    Filer's total
    $253,106
  • Michele N Marvin

    VP Finance & Administration

    Total calculated
    $145,165
    From this org
    $128,384
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,781
    Hours/week
    40
  • Ian Rosenberg

    Sr VP Capital Projects, Planning

    Total calculated
    $191,598
    From this org
    $180,753
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $10,845
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $180,753
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $10,845
    Nontaxable benefits
    $0
    Filer's total
    $191,598
  • Karen Farber

    VP External Affairs

    Total calculated
    $163,157
    From this org
    $146,532
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $16,625
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $146,532
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $7,625
    Filer's total
    $163,157
  • Leigh McBurnett

    VP Development

    Total calculated
    $166,196
    From this org
    $148,679
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $17,517
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $148,679
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $9,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $8,517
    Filer's total
    $166,196
  • Jose Rodriguez

    Buffalo Bayou Park Director

    Total calculated
    $136,122
    From this org
    $120,942
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $15,180
    Hours/week
    40
  • Baldemar Gonzalez

    Sr Project Manager

    Total calculated
    $133,536
    From this org
    $125,977
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $7,559
    Hours/week
    40

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Taxable family on this return

Schedule R Parts I, III and IV, as filed. These record ownership and control, not shared board members or money moved.

Disregarded entities

Part I: entities that legally are the filer and file no return of their own.

Related partnerships

Part III: related organizations taxable as a partnership, with the filer's share.

  • Lockwood South GP LLC

    N/A · Real estate · TX · 51% owned · share of income -$89 · share of assets $1,999,962

    Directly controlled by BBP Lockwood Foley Family MP LLC

  • Lockwood South Developer LLC

    Development · Real estate · TX · 51% owned · share of income $15,494

    Directly controlled by BBP Lockwood Foley Family MP LLC

Related corporations and trusts

Part IV: related organizations taxable as a corporation or trust.

  • BBP Lockwood Foley Family MP LLC

    C · Real estate · TX · 100% owned · share of income -$89 · share of assets -$89 · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by BBP Holdco LLC

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
17 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202543219349311234

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