Chino Cienega Foundation
The Chino Cienega Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Palm Springs, California. Established in 1985 and funded in 2003, the foundation was created as a legacy of the Stevens and Nichols families, who shared a commitment to education, the arts, and global environmental stewardship.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$497K
+31.0% YoY
Grant Count
21
+16.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
+12.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's purpose is to engage in and support educational and charitable activities that:
- Foster cross-cultural and international understanding and cooperation
- Encourage the viability of local communities
- Promote sustainable natural ecosystems
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy, voluntarism, grantmaking, and human services. It supports environmentalist activism and advocacy, with particular interest in issues related to international development and conservation.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts new applicants and has demonstrated recent grant activity.
Grant Range
$20,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports various cities and states across the United States, including:
- California
- Colorado
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
Major metropolitan areas supported include Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $9.8–$9.9 million
- Total revenues: $282,012–$713,004
- Total expenses: $498,227–$576,568
- Investment income and dividends: $656,226
Financial Trends:
- Investment income increased 130.1% from 2023 to 2024
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
87 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American Friends Service Committee ($50,000), War Legacies Project ($50,000), Friends of Project Renew ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GROUND GAME FUND MANCHACA, TX | FOCUS FOR DEMOCRACY C3 GRANT | $20,000 |
| WORKING AMERICA WASHINGTON, DC | VOTER EDUCATION GRANT | $20,000 |
| NEW PA PROJECT WEST CHESTER, PA | VOTER EDUCATION GRANT | $20,000 |
| NEO PHILANTHROPY CO LEGACIES OF WAR NEW YORK, NY | LEGACIES OF WAR GRANT | $5,000 |
| WAGING PEACE IN VIETNAM EDUCATION F TAKOMA PARK, MD | EDUCATION GRANT | $10,000 |
| ASPEN INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | EDUCATION GRANT | $1,500 |
| HENRY L STIMSON CENTER WASHINGTON, DC | MEKONG RIVER PROG & WAR LEGACIES | $30,000 |
| ACCELERATE CHANGE INC BOSTON, MA | FOCUS FOR DEMOCRACY C3 GRANT | $40,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE PHILADELPHIA, PA | MYANMAR GRANT | $50,000 |
| WAR LEGACIES PROJECT CHESTER, VT | GENERAL SUPPORT GRANT | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by an all-volunteer board of directors with no paid staff:
Stephen C. Nichols – President & Founder. A former volunteer teacher in Vietnam (1967-1968), he has experience in law practice focusing on energy issues and non-profit representation, and works on property development and conservation matters in California.
Robert M. Wolcott – Vice President. An environmental economist with experience at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation, and the World Resources Institute. Holds a PhD (ABD) in Economics.
Sarah J. Benson – Secretary & Treasurer. An educator and justice and peace activist with non-profit management experience and extensive international background. Holds master's degrees in Education and Theological Studies.
Lauren A.B. Nichols – Director. Technical Manager for the American Carbon Registry (Winrock International). Holds a master's degree in Environmental Management and Economics from Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment and a degree in biology from Bates College.
June Taylor – Director. Environment and communications consultant with experience at the World Bank and U.S. EPA. Former Communications Director for the Center for Climate Strategies.
Chet Tchozewski – Director. Serial social entrepreneur and founder of the Global Greengrants Fund and the RTC Impact Fund. Former regional director of Greenpeace in San Francisco.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEPHEN C NICHOLS | President | 7 | — |
| SARAH J BENSON | SECT&TREAS | 8 | — |
| ROBERT M WOLCOTT | Vice President | 4 | — |
| CHET TCHOZEWSKI | Director | 4 | — |
| JUNE TAYLOR | Director | 4 | — |
| LAUREN NICHOLS | Director | 4 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in conservation and community development initiatives, including making Program-Related Investments (PRIs) to conserve land. The foundation's work aligns with broader initiatives supporting sustainable development and environmental conservation in the United States and internationally.
Chino Cienega Foundation Makes PRI to Conserve LandSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Chino Cienega Foundation fund?
The foundation's purpose is to engage in and support educational and charitable activities that: • Foster cross-cultural and international understanding and cooperation • Encourage the viability of local communities • Promote sustainable natural ecosystems The foundation's grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy, voluntarism, grantmaking, and human services. It supports environmentalist activism and advocacy, with particular interest in issues related to international development and con…
How do I apply for a grant from Chino Cienega Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 21 grants in the most recent fiscal year • Median grant size: $20,000 • Grant range: $1,500–$50,000 • Total giving in 2024: approximately $496,508–$579,000 **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Friends of Project Renew ($50,000) • American Friends Service Committee ($50,000) • University of Colorado Foundation ($50,000) • Henry L Stimson Center The foundation accepts new applicants and has demonstrated recent grant activity.
Where does Chino Cienega Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports various cities and states across the United States, including: • California • Colorado • District of Columbia • Maryland • New York • Pennsylvania • Texas • Vermont • Virginia Major metropolitan areas supported include Los Angeles, New York, and Philadelphia.
What size grants does Chino Cienega Foundation award?
In 2024, Chino Cienega Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $497K — an average of about $24K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 2019–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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