Parks California
Parks California is a public charity based in Sacramento, California, and the statutory nonprofit partner of California State Parks. It supports efforts to strengthen parks and help people experience California’s public lands, including grant programs for park access, arts, and natural-resource career pathways.
Parks California at a glance
In short: Parks California gave $5.2M across 85 grants in 2025 (avg $61K), mostly in California. 52% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,182,388
- -5.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 85
- +2.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $60,969
- -7.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $42,148
- Total assets
- $17,887,859
- -25.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 52% first-time grantees (44 of 85, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (99% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Parks California
- Contact
Mailing address: 901 H Street Ste 120 294, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (877) 455-9290
Website: https://parkscalifornia.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Parks California
Adventure Pass Grants Program
Parks California
Amount
$11,000 - $33,000 (2023 round)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Arts in California Parks
Parks California
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Natural Resource Stewardship Career Pathways
Parks California
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Parks California funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Save the Redwoods League ($192K). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
285 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 204 grants of 285 (72%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Parks California describes its work as statewide. Its 2025 grant dollars went primarily to California recipients, with 99% in California and 1% in Michigan. The Route to Parks program is intended to support access to California State Parks and, in some cases, related partner-operated properties and programs.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 85 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Parks California open to new grantees?
52%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 44 of 85 grantees (52%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $50K; repeat grants $72K. How we count
Medians: $38K first-time, $50K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $474K (2020) to $5.5M (2024). In 2025 it made 85 grants totaling $5.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Save the Redwoods League San Francisco, CA | Forest Mgmt Strategy Grant | $191,600 |
| Yurok Tribe Klamath, CA | 2025 career pathways grant & 2026 route to parks grant | $180,000 |
| San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust Fresno, CA | 2025 career pathways grant & 2026 route to parks grant | $176,897 |
| Trybe Inc Oakland, CA | 2025 Arts in California Parks Grant | $163,599 |
| Jamul Indian Village of California Jamul, CA | 2025 route to parks grant & 2026 route to parks grant | $160,000 |
| Audubon Canyon Ranch Stinson Beach, CA | 2025 Career Pathways Grant | $150,000 |
| Feather River Land Trust Quincy, CA | 2025 Arts in California Parks Grant | $150,000 |
| Middletown Art Center (Ecoarts of Lake County) Middletown, CA | 2025 Arts in California Parks Grant | $150,000 |
| Playhouse Arts Arcata, CA | 2025 Arts in California Parks Grant | $135,677 |
| Women in Dialogue Los Angeles, CA | 2025 Arts in California Parks Grant | $133,741 |
Ready to take the next step with Parks California?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 filing reports 85 grants; the 2024 and 2023 filings report 83 and 56 grants, respectively.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $17,887,859 | $4,359,807 | $10,651,125 | $5,182,388 | 85 | $827,538 |
| 2024 | $23,922,687 | $5,542,606 | $10,898,303 | $5,492,653 | 83 | $1,293,474 |
| 2023 | $30,389,243 | $26,800,533 | $6,767,301 | $2,091,002 | 56 | $319,372 |
| 2022 | $8,233,413 | $4,195,374 | $4,479,142 | $941,326 | 31 | $87,387 |
| 2021 | $7,283,148 | $1,499,602 | $3,214,743 | $973,771 | 30 | $2,292 |
| 2020 | $6,935,555 | $8,974,058 | $2,149,575 | $474,147 | 22 | $5,120 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Parks California’s stated mission is to help strengthen parks and inspire all people to experience these extraordinary places. Its 2025 filing describes work in access and belonging, climate and stewardship, and “Parks for the Future.” The organization says it works with partners to address physical, cultural, and financial barriers; invest in climate resilience and ecosystem stewardship; support Tribal partnerships and Indigenous knowledge; and help prepare public lands for challenges including wildfire recovery and workforce development.
Its grant programs include Route to Parks, which supports local organizations addressing transportation and other barriers to park access for historically marginalized communities. Arts in California Parks supports place-based art experiences in parks. Natural Resource Stewardship Career Pathways supports organizations providing practical training, mentorship, and career exposure in the natural-resource field to communities underrepresented in that work.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Save the Redwoods League says it protects and restores redwood forests and connects people with them. San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation describes work to preserve and restore river lands and promote education, recreation, and compatible uses. Trybe Inc. describes itself as an East Oakland community-based nonprofit focused on supporting youth and families. Other 2025 recipients include Audubon Canyon Ranch, which describes its mission as connecting nature, people, and science; Feather River Land Trust, which says it conserves lands and waters in the Feather River region; and arts organizations including Middletown Art Center and Playhouse Arts.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Parks California reported 85 grants totaling $5,182,388. Individual awards ranged from $5,908 to $191,600, with a median of $42,148. Its largest reported grants included $191,600 to Save the Redwoods League for a forest management strategy grant; $180,000 to the Yurok Tribe for Career Pathways and Route to Parks grants; and $176,897 to San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust for Career Pathways and Route to Parks grants.
Other notable 2025 awards included $163,599 to TRYBE Inc. for Arts in California Parks; $160,000 to Jamul Indian Village of California for Route to Parks; and $150,000 each to Audubon Canyon Ranch for Career Pathways, Feather River Land Trust and Middletown Art Center for Arts in California Parks. Playhouse Arts received $135,677 for Arts in California Parks, Women in Dialogue received $133,741 for that program, and Green Cities Fund received $130,000 for Arts in California Parks and Route to Parks.
A filing narrative says interested entities submit a grant application consistent with the grant solicitation. Selected applicants sign a contract setting out terms and conditions; Parks California uses regular reporting, check-in calls, or site visits to monitor use of grant funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Deanna Mackey as board chair; Michael Mantell as vice chair; Rosie Clayburn as secretary; and Jose Gonzalez as treasurer. Other listed directors are Michael Camunez, Amy Dominguez-Arms, Helen Hernandez, Stephen Lockhart, Rick Keating, and Adam Verdin.
Parks California is led by Kindley Walsh Lawlor, Board Director, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 8 of 19 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Kindley Walsh Lawlor
Board Director, President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$210K (2020) → $262K (2025)
Deanna Mackey
Board Director - Chair
Board Director → Board Director - Vice Chair, 2022
Board Director - Vice Chair → Board Director - Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristi Bieber
Senior Director of Development
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$119K (2025)
Michelle Williams
Senior Director of Communications
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$148K (2025)
Jose Gonzalez
Board Director - Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Lockhart
Board Director
Board Director - Chair → Board Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rosie Clayburn
Board Director - Secretary
Board Director → Board Director - Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Camunez
Board Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adam Verdin
Board Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amy Dominguez-Arms
Board Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Helen Hernandez
Board Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Woo
Board Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rick Keating
Board Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Heana Chung
Vice President of Operations & Finance
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$163K (2020) → $200K (2025)
Geoff Kish
Vice President of Programs
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$162K (2021) → $182K (2025)
Meredith Wade
Finance Manager
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$103K (2021) → $116K (2025)
Lauren Neves
Senior Manager of Human Resources
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$115K (2024) → $119K (2025)
Durresha Davis
Grants & Contracts Manager
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$114K (2025)
Michael Mantell
Board Director - Vice Chair
Board Director → Board Director - Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Myrian Solis Coronel (2020–2024) — Director of Community Engagement
- Former: Tony Lillios (2020–2024) — Board Director
- Former: Michael Bridges (2021–2024) — Director of Development & Individuals
- Former: Dawn Ortiz-Legg (2022–2024) — Board Director
- Former: Scott Kleinman (2024) — Director of Development, Corporations & Foundation
- Former: Scott Klein (2022–2023) — Director of Development, Corporations & Foundation
- Former: Will Fourt (2022–2023) — Big Basin Senior Project Manager
- Former: Sharon Farrell (2020–2021) — Board Director - Co-Chair
- Former: Teresa Alvarado (2020–2021) — Board Director - Secretary
- Former: Belinda Faustino (2020) — Board Director - Treasurer · Filing note: Thru 9420
- Former: Natalie Schaefer (2020) — Vice President of Partnerships & Resources
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $262K, to Kindley Walsh Lawlor (Board Director, President & CEO). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Parks California
How much does Parks California give each year?
Parks California gave $5.2M across 85 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $5.5M across 83 grants.
What is Parks California's typical grant size?
Parks California's median grant in 2025 was $42,148, and its average grant was $60,969, across 85 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Parks California that year got $50K on average.
Where does Parks California give grants?
Parks California gives mostly in California: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Fresno, CA (6 grants), San Diego, CA (5 grants), San Francisco, CA (5 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (4 grants).
Does Parks California give general operating support?
Occasionally: 1% of Parks California's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 85) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "2025 Arts in California Parks Grant" (30 grants), "2026 Route to Parks Grant" (25 grants) and "2025 Santa Cruz Community Grant" (9 grants).
Who are Parks California's largest grantees?
Parks California's largest 2025 grantees include Save the Redwoods League ($191,600), Yurok Tribe ($180,000) and San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust ($176,897), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Parks California?
Parks California reported $17.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.4M.
What does Parks California fund?
Parks California’s stated mission is to help strengthen parks and inspire all people to experience these extraordinary places. Its 2025 filing describes work in access and belonging, climate and stewardship, and “Parks for the Future.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Parks California?
Parks California has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check parkscalifornia.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Parks California's EIN?
Parks California's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-1523594. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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 May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 21, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 1, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 30, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Parks California's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Parks California funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/parks-california-morg_67a70c8f94b04961ba10dd6fb2ba63aa
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_831523594_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Parks California funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/parks-california-morg_67a70c8f94b04961ba10dd6fb2ba63aa},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Parks California'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.
Parks California down — hundreds of funders to go?