Island Conservation
Prevent extinctions by removing invasive species from islands. By rewilding islands, we restore and protect wildlife, communities, and oceans. Restoring islands by removing invasive species has repeatedly proven to be a high impact conservation action.
Island Conservation at a glance
In short: Island Conservation gave $479K across 2 grants in 2024 (avg $240K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $479,091
- -15.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 2
- -33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $239,546
- +26.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $239,546
- Total assets
- $13,192,698
- +43.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Island Conservation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Scripps Institution of Oceanography ($248K). Together the top 2 received $479K.
Grant Size Distribution
13 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 5 grants of 13 (38%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
How Island Conservation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−15%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $170K (2020) to $567K (2021). In 2024 it made 2 grants totaling $479K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Scripps Institution of Oceanography La Jolla, CA | Conservation Operations | $247,501 |
| Wildaid San Francisco, CA | Conservation Operations | $231,590 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $13,192,698 | $13,417,416 | $12,161,756 | $479,091 | 2 | $277,765 |
| 2023 | $9,208,953 | $7,154,356 | $11,214,788 | $566,421 | 3 | $234,256 |
| 2022 | $13,169,559 | $11,919,491 | $8,358,485 | $319,698 | 2 | $-27,987 |
| 2021 | $9,877,224 | $8,035,021 | $8,069,768 | $566,794 | 3 | $-3,484 |
| 2020 | $9,323,153 | $11,970,850 | $7,105,380 | $169,638 | 3 | $-2,602 |
About Island Conservation
Based on IRS filings
Island Conservation is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Santa Cruz, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $13.2M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $479K. Net investment income was $278K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Island Conservation is led by Karen Poiani, CEO - since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 8 of 25 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Karen Poiani
CEO -
CEO → Chief Executive Officer, 2023
Chief Executive Officer → CEO -, 2024
On filings since 2020
32 hrs/week
$242K (2020) → $226K (2024)
Penny Becker
Vice President of Conservation & CEO
Vice President Conservation → Vice President of Conservation, 2023
Vice President of Conservation → Vice President of Conservation & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2021
32 hrs/week
$155K (2021) → $198K (2024)
Lynne Hale
Chair
Board Member → Director, 2021
Director → Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carleigh McDonald
Managing Director Iocc
On filings since 2023
32 hrs/week
$157K (2023) → $166K (2024)
Sandra Sottomano
Director of Human Resources
Director of Hr & Administrator → Director of Human Resources, 2024
On filings since 2021
32 hrs/week
$106K (2021) → $120K (2024)
Sarah Esposito
Director of Communications
On filings since 2023
32 hrs/week
$115K (2023) → $116K (2024)
Delia Kulukundis
Director
Board Member → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Gibbs
Director
Board Member → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katie Dolan
Director
Board Member → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Virginia Carter
Director
Board Member → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Steele
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kate Brown
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Radhika Malpani
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Breton Fischetti
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ronny Jumeau
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Saif Al-Ghais
Director -
Director → Director -, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Torgerson
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judy Stern
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marjorie Kim Bermeo
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chad Hanson
Deputy Vice President Conservation
Head of Operations - Latin America → Deputy Vice President Conservation, 2021
On filings since 2020
32 hrs/week
$135K (2020) → $150K (2024)
Heath Packard
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Major Gifts Officer → Chief Philanthropy Officer, 2021
On filings since 2020
32 hrs/week
$139K (2020) → $177K (2024)
Richard Fehler
Controller
On filings since 2023
32 hrs/week
$117K (2023) → $119K (2024)
Ivan Samuals
Vice Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Doria Gordon
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
F. Gregg Goolsby
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Margie Kim (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Richard Griffiths (2022–2023) — Head of the Pacific
- Former: Jerrod Schreck (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Mark Hauber (2021–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Angus Parker (2020–2021) — Chair
- Former: Chris Carr (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Eleanor Sterling (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Ingrid Parker (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Kerri Folmer (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Rachel Wadsworth (2020–2021) — Chief Philanthropy Officer · Filing note: Until 10/2031
- Former: Daniel Simberloff (2021) — Director
- Former: Douglas Bragdon (2020) — COO
- Former: Gregory Howald (2020) — Director of Global & External Affairs
- Former: Jen Steele (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Karl Campbell (2020) — Latin America Regional Executive 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 $226K, to Karen Poiani (CEO - Until 6/30/24). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Island Conservation
How much does Island Conservation give each year?
Island Conservation gave $479K across 2 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $566K across 3 grants.
How large is Island Conservation?
Island Conservation reported $13.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $13.4M.
What is Island Conservation?
Island Conservation is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Santa Cruz, CA. It holds $13.2M in total assets as of 2024.
Where does Island Conservation operate?
Island Conservation has awarded grants in California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Virginia.
What is Island Conservation's EIN?
Island Conservation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1839907. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 26, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 10, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Island Conservation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Island Conservation down — hundreds of funders to go?