Parks California is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Sacramento, California, serving as California State Parks' official statutory non-profit partner. Founded in 2018, the organization operates as a new model of public, private, and non-profit partnership designed to strengthen California's state park system and inspire all people to experience these extraordinary places.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$23.9M
-21.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.5M
+163.7% YoY
Grant Count
82
+46.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$67K
+80.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To help strengthen parks and inspire all people to experience these extraordinary places, working to make California's state parks and public lands welcoming, inclusive, and climate-resilient spaces.
Core Belief: Everyone deserves access to parks and a connection to nature, as this connection is fundamental to well-being—promoting physical, mental, and emotional health within communities.
Primary Program Areas:
- Access & Belonging: Closing nature-equity gaps by connecting people to nature and communities to parks, identifying and addressing barriers that have kept them from experiencing natural and cultural resources
- Conservation & Climate Resiliency: Landscape stewardship, climate fellowship, and collaborative efforts to tackle conservation and climate challenges
- Community Engagement: School field trips, adventure passes, route to parks grants, and urban park programs
- Career Pathways: Grants programs supporting planning, development, and implementation in park-related careers
Grantmaking
Parks California actively awards grants to community organizations and nonprofits. The organization maintains two active grant programs:
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $6,000 to $300,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Parks California works statewide across California, with particular focus on the state's 280 state parks, which encompass over 340 miles of coastline, 970 miles of lake and river frontage, 5,200 miles of trails, and more than 11,000 known prehistoric and historic archaeological sites.
The organization also funds work in Michigan and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $23,922,687
- Total Revenues: $5,542,606
- Total Expenses: $10,898,303
- Total Giving: $5,517,566
- Staff: 28 employees
Rating: Parks California holds a Four-Star rating with a 100% score, reflecting strong accountability and financial practices.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $23,922,687 | $30,389,243 | $8,233,413 |
| Revenue | $5,542,606 | $26,800,533 | $4,195,374 |
| Expenses | $10,898,303 | $6,767,301 | $4,479,142 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,293,474 | $319,372 | $87,387 |
| 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
183 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Parks California
Adventure Pass Grants Program
PARKS CALIFORNIA
Amount
$11,000 - $33,000 (2023 round)
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Arts in California Parks
PARKS CALIFORNIA
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Natural Resource Stewardship Career Pathways
PARKS CALIFORNIA
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include City of Crescent City ($300,000), Fernandeo Tataviam Band of Mission Indians ($285,192), City of Bakersfield ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CITY OF CRESCENT CITY CRESCENT CITY, CA | 2024 ARTS IN PARKS GRANT | $300,000 |
| FERNANDEO TATAVIAM BAND OF MISSION INDIANS SAN FERNANDO, CA | 2024 ARTS IN PARKS GRANT AND 2024 ROUTE TO PARKS GRANT | $285,192 |
| CITY OF BAKERSFIELD BAKERSFIELD, CA | 2024 ARTS IN PARKS GRANT | $250,000 |
| SAVE THE REDWOODS LEAGUE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | FOREST MGMT STRATEGY GRANT | $190,100 |
| FILAM ARTS (THE ASSOCIATION FOR ADVANCEMENT OF FILIPINO AMERICAN ARTS & CUL LOS ANGELES, CA | 2024 ARTS IN PARKS GRANT | $180,000 |
| COASTAL CORRIDOR ALLIANCE NEWPORT BEACH, CA | 2024 ARTS IN PARKS GRANT | $175,000 |
| AMAH MUTSUN LAND TRUST ALBANY, CA | 2024 CAREER PATHWAYS GRANT | $150,000 |
| SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION STOCKTON, CA | 2024 CAREER PATHWAYS GRANT | $150,000 |
| SEMILLAS SOCIEDAD CIVIL (AIUPNA) LOS ANGELES, CA | 2024 ARTS IN PARKS GRANT | $150,000 |
| APAPA (ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN PUBLIC AFFAIRS) SACRAMENTO, CA | 2024 ARTS IN PARKS GRANT | $150,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Parks California employs 28 staff members as of 2024.
Contact Information:
- Phone: 877-455-9290
- Website: www.parkscalifornia.org
- Address: 901 H St Ste 120, Sacramento, CA 95814-1817
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEANNA MACKEY | BOARD DIRECTOR - CHAIR | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL MANTELL | BOARD DIRECTOR - VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| ROSIE CLAYBURN | BOARD DIRECTOR - SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| JOSE GONZALEZ | BOARD DIRECTOR - TREASURER | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL CAMUNEZ | BOARD DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| AMY DOMINGUEZ-ARMS | BOARD DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| HELEN HERNANDEZ | BOARD DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TONY LILLIOS | BOARD DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| STEPHEN LOCKHART | BOARD DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAWN ORTIZ-LEGG | BOARD DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ADAM VERDIN | BOARD DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KINDLEY WALSH LAWLOR | BOARD DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $256,760 |
| HEANA CHUNG | VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS & FINANCE | 40 | $193,528 |
| GEOFF KISH | VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS | 40 | $174,605 |
| MYRIAN SOLIS CORONEL | DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT | 40 | $146,210 |
| MICHAEL BRIDGES | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, INDIVIDUALS | 40 | $140,516 |
| SCOTT KLEINMAN | DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, CORPORATIONS & FOUNDATION | 40 | $138,439 |
| LAUREN NEVES | SR. MANAGER OF HUMAN RESOURCES | 40 | $115,000 |
| MEREDITH WADE | FINANCE MANAGER | 40 | $111,816 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Parks California has been actively engaged in major initiatives including:
Parks California Awards $1.2 Million to Community Organizations ...Reimagining Big Basin and other landscape stewardship projects
Expanding opportunities for park access in both rural and urban settings
Working to facilitate people-to-park connections that would not have otherwise been possible
Deepening commitment to ensuring access to parks and closing nature-equity gaps
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Parks California fund?
**Mission:** To help strengthen parks and inspire all people to experience these extraordinary places, working to make California's state parks and public lands welcoming, inclusive, and climate-resilient spaces. **Core Belief:** Everyone deserves access to parks and a connection to nature, as this connection is fundamental to well-being—promoting physical, mental, and emotional health within communities. **Primary Program Areas:** • **Access & Belonging:** Closing nature-equity gaps by connect…
How do I apply for a grant from Parks California?
Parks California actively awards grants to community organizations and nonprofits. The organization maintains two active grant programs: • Parks California Career Pathways Grants Program: Planning & Development Grants • Parks California Career Pathways Grants Program: Implementation Grants **Grant Ranges:** Typical awards range from $6,000 to $300,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** Parks California awarded $1.2 million to community organizations in recent grant distributions.
Where does Parks California make grants?
Parks California works statewide across California, with particular focus on the state's 280 state parks, which encompass over 340 miles of coastline, 970 miles of lake and river frontage, 5,200 miles of trails, and more than 11,000 known prehistoric and historic archaeological sites. The organization also funds work in Michigan and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Parks California award?
In 2024, Parks California awarded 82 grants totaling $5.5M — an average of about $67K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Parks California's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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