IRS filing shows Central Park Conservancy executives earned high salaries; CEO paid $933,592 in 2023
Tax-exempt nonprofit that manages the park under contract with the city reported multiple officers earning six-figure compensation in its 2024 IRS filing for 2023
Top executives at the Central Park Conservancy reported large compensation packages in the group’s 2024 IRS filing for the 2023 calendar year, with President and CEO Elizabeth W. Smith earning $933,592, the filing shows.
The tax-exempt nonprofit that manages and maintains Central Park under a contractual agreement with the City of New York disclosed that 12 other officers received at least $300,000 in total compensation in 2023. The conservancy’s chief financial officer, Stephen Spinelli, was paid $654,429, and the chief of park operations, Roger Mosier, received more than $500,000, according to the filing.
The filing shows a shift in compensation levels compared with prior years. Smith’s reported total compensation was $1.178 million in the previous filing covering 2022, and $740,000 in 2021 — up from $605,000 in 2020. The conservancy’s documents also indicate that the count of officers earning at least $300,000 was higher in the earlier report, when 15 officers surpassed that threshold.
The conservancy is a privately funded, tax-exempt organization that carries out maintenance, restoration and programming for the park under an agreement with the city. Its disclosure of executive pay in an IRS filing is required for tax-exempt organizations of its size and structure.
Compensation levels at the conservancy have drawn criticism from some observers. The New York Post quoted critics saying the packages were "outrageous" and included remarks such as "give me a break." Supporters of the conservancy note that the organization oversees a large staff and substantial operations to maintain one of the nation’s most visited urban parks, though the organization’s internal rationale for specific pay levels was not detailed in the filing.
For context, the mayor of New York is paid $258,750, and the U.S. president’s salary is $400,000. The conservancy’s filings do not directly equate nonprofit executive pay with public salaries, but the figures have prompted public attention because the organization performs functions closely tied to city-managed public space.
The 2024 IRS filing provides a snapshot of compensation for the 2023 calendar year and is part of the public record for tax-exempt nonprofits. The filing is likely to be used by journalists, watchdogs and civic stakeholders as they assess governance, fundraising priorities and the organization’s role in managing Central Park.
The conservancy did not provide a statement in the filing explaining the changes in individual compensation levels. The IRS disclosure lists compensation but does not include the full context of contractual terms, bonuses, or performance metrics that may affect total pay packages.
The release of executive compensation details follows continuing public interest in pay practices at large nonprofits that operate or manage services for major public assets. The conservancy’s 2024 filing will remain a point of reference for ongoing coverage and any inquiries by city officials or civic oversight organizations about the management of Central Park.