Irving J Symons Foundation
The Irving J Symons Foundation is a public charity based in Sonora, California. Its stated purpose is to support charitable and educational activities benefiting Tuolumne County and its residents, with particular concern for the county’s youth.
Key facts about Irving J Symons Foundation
In short: Irving J Symons Foundation gave $868K across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $48K), mostly in California. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 91-2140485
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $867,830
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- Average grant
- $48,213
- Median grant
- $27,573
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (9 of 18, 2024)
- Total assets
- $52,409,877
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$52.4M
+24.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$868K
+21.9% YoY
Grant Count
18
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$48K
+21.9% YoY
Is Irving J Symons Foundation open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 18 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $42K; repeat grants $55K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $35K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that its mission is to carry out charitable and educational activities and support the purposes of the Sonora Area Foundation, whose charitable activities benefit Tuolumne County and its citizens, with particular concern for local youth. Its filing describes grantmaking in education, children’s activities, support for the elderly, the arts, and care of disadvantaged people.
Grantees’ own mission descriptions show the range of organizations supported. Resiliency Village says it works to improve quality of life for unsheltered and otherwise traumatized people through on-site services, activities, skill-building, and support toward housing and self-sufficiency. The Jack and Buena Foundation says its Camp Jack Hazard provides youth with summer camp, wilderness adventure, education, and opportunities to develop self-reliance.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 18 grants totaling $867,830. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $244,775, with a median of $27,572. Among the largest awards were $244,775 to Sonora Area Foundation for program support; $100,000 to Resiliency Village for program support; $100,000 to Friends of Tuolumne County Lodge B for building improvements; and $50,000 each to Sierra Repertory Theatre for program support, Youth Sports Foundation for program support, and Tuolumne Park and Recreation for community recreation improvements.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated mission concerns Tuolumne County and its residents. Its 2024 grant dollars went entirely to recipients in California; the listed grantees include organizations in Sonora, Soulsbyville, Standard, Tuolumne, and Mi Wuk Village.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $607K (2020) to $1.7M (2022). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $868K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Sonora Area Foundation ($245K). Together the top 10 received $752K.
Grant Size Distribution
89 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 69 grants of 89 (78%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sonora Area Foundation Sonora, CA | Program support | $244,775 |
| Resiliency Village Soulsbyville, CA | Program Support | $100,000 |
| Friends of Tuolumne County Lodge B Sonora, CA | Building improvements | $100,000 |
| Symons Family Fund Sonora, CA | program support | $67,560 |
| Sierra Repertory Theatre Sonora, CA | Program support | $50,000 |
| Youth Sports Foundation Standard, CA | Program support | $50,000 |
| Tuolumne Park and Recreation Tuolumne, CA | community recreation improvements | $50,000 |
| Interfaith Sonora, CA | Program support | $35,000 |
| Sierra Foothills Residential Care Sonora, CA | Building improvements | $30,000 |
| MiWuk Sugar Pine Fire Protection Mi Wuk Village, CA | Building improvements | $25,145 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $52,409,877 | $10,392,649 | $1,364,534 | $867,830 |
| 2023 | $42,073,709 | $1,018,001 | $1,320,008 | $711,650 |
| 2022 | $39,116,386 | $665,158 | $2,144,780 | $1,670,080 |
The filing identifies the organization as a public charity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $52,409,877 | $42,073,709 | $39,116,386 |
| Revenue | $10,392,649 | $1,018,001 | $665,158 |
| Expenses | $1,364,534 | $1,320,008 | $2,144,780 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,828,831 | $427,640 | $217,895 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 31, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists Le Ann Steelman as Executive Director; Clark Segerstrom as President; David Marquez as Vice President; Marianne Wright as Treasurer; and Vicki Albrecht as Secretary. Directors listed were Dana Mayo, Mark Kraft (Director outgoing), Derek Maxson, and Edward Clinite.
Irving J Symons Foundation is led by Le Ann Steelman, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 10 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Le Ann Steelman
Executive Director
Executive Di → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$99K (2021) → $125K (2024)
Clark Segerstrom
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dana Mayo
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Derek Maxson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Kraft
Director Outgoing
Director → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → Director Outgoing, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward Clinite
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Sargo
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marianne Wright
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vicki Albrecht
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Marquez
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Carey Haughy (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Gary Dambacher (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Pete Kerns (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Robert Ozbirn (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Tracy Russell (2020) — Director
- Former: William Polley (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $125K, to Le Ann Steelman (Executive Director).
Contact
Mailing address: 644 S Washington St, Sonora, CA 95370
Phone: (209) 532-1218
Website: https://sonora-area.org
Frequently asked questions about Irving J Symons Foundation
How much does Irving J Symons Foundation give each year?
Irving J Symons Foundation gave $868K across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $712K across 18 grants.
What is Irving J Symons Foundation's typical grant size?
Irving J Symons Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $27,573, and its average grant was $48,213, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Irving J Symons Foundation that year got $42K on average.
Where does Irving J Symons Foundation give grants?
Irving J Symons Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Sonora, CA (11 grants) and Twain Harte, CA (2 grants).
Does Irving J Symons Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Irving J Symons Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program support" (7 grants) and "Building improvements" (3 grants).
Who are Irving J Symons Foundation's largest grantees?
Irving J Symons Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Sonora Area Foundation ($244,775), Resiliency Village ($100,000) and Friends of Tuolumne County Lodge B ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Irving J Symons Foundation?
Irving J Symons Foundation reported $52.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $10.4M.
What does Irving J Symons Foundation fund?
The foundation states that its mission is to carry out charitable and educational activities and support the purposes of the Sonora Area Foundation, whose charitable activities benefit Tuolumne County and its citizens, with particular concern for local youth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Irving J Symons Foundation?
Irving J Symons Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check sonora-area.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Irving J Symons Foundation's EIN?
Irving J Symons Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-2140485. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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