Chino Cienega Foundation
The Chino Cienega Foundation is a private foundation based in Palm Springs, California. Founded in 2003, it operates without paid staff and supports educational and charitable activities related to cross-cultural and international understanding, local communities, and sustainable natural ecosystems.
Chino Cienega Foundation at a glance
In short: Chino Cienega Foundation gave $575K across 24 grants in 2025 (avg $24K), top state District of Columbia. 35% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $575,008
- +15.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 24
- +14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $23,959
- +1.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $10,731,425
- +8.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (8 of 23, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (30% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Chino Cienega Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 901 N Palm Canyon Drive 200, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Phone: (760) 323-2222
Website: https://chinofound.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Chino Cienega Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Henry L Stimson Center ($100K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $425K.
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 76 grants of 96 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says its international grants have been geographically concentrated in Southeast Asia. Its 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple U.S. states and Washington, DC; the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were DC (30%), Virginia (14%), Pennsylvania (12%), California (11%), and Vermont (9%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Chino Cienega Foundation open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 23 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $30K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 61% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 27% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 112% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $271K (2021) to $575K (2025). In 2025 it made 24 grants totaling $575K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Henry L Stimson Center Washington, DC | Mekong River Prog & War Legacies | $50,000 |
| American Friends Service Committee Philadelphia, PA | Myanmar Grant | $50,000 |
| War Legacies Project Chester, VT | General Support Grant | $50,000 |
| Henry L Stimson Center Washington, DC | Mekong River Prog & War Legacies | $50,000 |
| Friends of Project Renew McLean, VA | General Support Grant | $50,000 |
| University of Colorado Foundation Denver, CO | General Support Grant | $50,000 |
| Ashoka Arlington, VA | Grant: Juliana Uribe, Fellow | $30,008 |
| A Rocha USA Wheaton, IL | A Rochas Lebanon Work Grant | $25,000 |
| Environmental Protection Network Washington DC, DC | General Support Grant | $25,000 |
| Laudato Si' Movement Washington, DC | General Support Grant | $25,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $10,731,425 | $1,504,485 | $697,191 | $575,008 | 24 | $575,008 | $964,285 | $515,036 |
| 2024 | $9,924,125 | $713,004 | $576,568 | $496,508 | 21 | $496,508 | $649,644 | $478,726 |
| 2023 | $9,820,672 | $282,012 | $498,227 | $378,935 | 18 | $378,935 | $266,287 | $452,570 |
| 2022 | $9,946,779 | $3,709,462 | $508,475 | $451,700 | 21 | $451,700 | $3,052,944 | $334,134 |
| 2021 | $6,745,954 | $805,249 | $331,248 | $271,000 | 12 | $271,000 | $768,303 | $337,153 |
| 2020 | $6,273,889 | $46,158 | $381,223 | $318,600 | 15 | — | $12,785 | $329,119 |
| 2019 | $6,609,368 | $-40,890 | $370,921 | $303,140 | 16 | — | — | $309,002 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Chino Cienega Foundation reported a distributable amount of $515K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated purpose is to support educational and charitable activities that foster cross-cultural and international understanding and cooperation, encourage the viability of local communities, and promote sustainable natural ecosystems.
Its website describes international grants concentrated in Southeast Asia, including work on fragile library texts, the social and environmental effects of past armed conflicts, climate change planning, and the effects of upstream dams. The foundation also reports supporting youth empowerment programs and conservation land acquisition.
In 2025, the foundation supported organizations with varied missions. War Legacies Project says it provides assistance to families affected by the long-term consequences of war in Southeast Asia and educates the public about those impacts. A Rocha USA describes itself as a Christian community that cares for creation through community-based projects, education, and research. Ashoka says it fosters a global culture of social entrepreneurship and changemaking. These are the organizations’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
The foundation awarded 24 grants totaling $575,008 in 2025. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $50,000, with a median of $20,000. Its grant totals were $496,508 across 21 grants in 2024 and $378,935 across 18 grants in 2023.
Among its 2025 awards, the Henry L. Stimson Center received $50,000 for the Mekong River Program and war legacies; American Friends Service Committee received $50,000 for a Myanmar grant; War Legacies Project received $50,000 for general support; Friends of Project Renew received $50,000 for general support; and the University of Colorado Foundation received $50,000 for general support. Other awards included $30,008 to Ashoka for a fellow, $25,000 to A Rocha USA for its Lebanon work, and $25,000 each to Environmental Protection Network and Laudato Si’ Movement for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Stephen C. Nichols as president, Sarah J. Benson as secretary and treasurer, Robert M. Wolcott as vice president, and Chet Tchozewski, June Taylor, and Lauren Nichols as directors. The foundation’s website identifies Stephen C. Nichols as founder and describes the directors’ professional backgrounds in areas including education, environmental work, economics, law, and nonprofit leadership.
Chino Cienega Foundation is led by Stephen C. Nichols, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Stephen C. Nichols
President
On filings since 2019
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chet Tchozewski
Director
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
June Taylor
Director
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Nichols
Director
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert M. Wolcott
Vice President
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah J. Benson
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Chino Cienega Foundation
How much does Chino Cienega Foundation give each year?
Chino Cienega Foundation gave $575K across 24 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $497K across 21 grants.
What is Chino Cienega Foundation's typical grant size?
Chino Cienega Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $23,959, across 24 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Chino Cienega Foundation that year got $16K on average.
Where does Chino Cienega Foundation give grants?
Chino Cienega Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 30% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (14%) and Pennsylvania (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (5 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Pasadena, CA (2 grants) and Palm Springs, CA (2 grants).
Does Chino Cienega Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 58% of Chino Cienega Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 24) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Chino Cienega Foundation's largest grantees?
Chino Cienega Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Henry L Stimson Center ($100,000 across 2 grants), American Friends Service Committee ($50,000) and War Legacies Project ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Chino Cienega Foundation?
Chino Cienega Foundation reported $10.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $575K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $515K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Chino Cienega Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose is to support educational and charitable activities that foster cross-cultural and international understanding and cooperation, encourage the viability of local communities, and promote sustainable natural ecosystems. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Chino Cienega Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Chino Cienega Foundation's EIN?
Chino Cienega Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-2075864. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Chino Cienega Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 30, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 23, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Chino Cienega Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/chino-cienega-foundation-morg_3b11be3d7bd84803af2be7794ea5707a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_412075864_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Chino Cienega Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/chino-cienega-foundation-morg_3b11be3d7bd84803af2be7794ea5707a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Chino Cienega Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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