Patagonia Org is the philanthropic arm of Patagonia, an outdoor clothing and gear company. Established in 2007, it operates as a private non-operating foundation based in Ventura, California. The organization functions as a 501(c)(3) charitable entity dedicated to environmental philanthropy and grassroots activism.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.5M
-6.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$12.7M
-4.2% YoY
Grant Count
459
-2.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$28K
-1.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Patagoniaorg reported a distributable amount of $223K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Patagonia Org supports programs designed to address areas of land, water, climate, communities, and biodiversity. The foundation funds only environmental work, with a particular focus on organizations that identify and work on the root causes of environmental problems and approach issues with a commitment to long-term change.
The foundation prioritizes support for small, grassroots, activist organizations with provocative direct-action agendas working on multi-pronged campaigns to preserve and protect the environment. It believes that the most direct path to real change is through building grassroots momentum and supporting organizations that create a strong base of citizen support.
Grantmaking
Notable recent grants include $656,000 to Makeway Foundation for environmental projects, $100,000 to Environment America Research and Policy Center, and $75,000 to Resources Legacy Fund.
Grant Range
$15,000
Average Grant
$34,000
Review Cycle
and application information can be found at https://www.patagonia.com/how-we-fund/. Inquiries can be directed to grants@patagonia.com.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grantmaking is concentrated in California, with significant activity in the District of Columbia and Virginia. The foundation's grants reach organizations across 49 states, with the primary focus areas (California, District of Columbia, and Virginia) accounting for 27% of all grants.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,456,679
- Total Revenue: $12,801,014
- Total Expenses: $13,092,060
- Net Income: -$291,046
- Total Liabilities: $1,240
Historical Context: Total assets have decreased from $6 million in 2011 to $3.7 million in 2022. Annual giving decreased from $28.6 million in 2020 to $13.2 million in 2023.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,456,679 | $3,694,759 | $4,269,390 |
| Revenue | $12,801,014 | $12,910,568 | $5,002,321 |
| Expenses | $13,092,060 | $13,462,137 | $5,218,924 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $13,117,226 | $13,482,791 | $5,602,491 |
| Net Investment Income | — | $4,345 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $223,245 | $284,876 | $233,503 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Patagoniaorg
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Americares ($100,000), Alaska Wilderness League ($50,000), Black Farmer Fund Inc ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 FOR THE PLANET BURLINGTON, VT | TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS. | $30,000 |
| 350 COLORADO BOULDER, CO | TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS. | $15,000 |
| 350 WISCONSIN INC MADISON, WI | TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS. | $15,000 |
| 4 WALLS INTERNATIONAL NATIONAL CITY, CA | TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS. | $10,000 |
| 4DASOIL PHILADELPHIA, PA | TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS. | $15,000 |
| 808 CLEANUPS HONOLULU, HI | TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS. | $10,000 |
| ABUNDANT GRACE COASTSIDE WORKER HALF MOON BAY, CA | TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS. | $15,000 |
| ACCERLERATE CHANGE INC BOSTON, MA | TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS. | $35,000 |
| ADDISON COUNTY RELOCALIZATION NETWORK BRISTOL, VT | TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS. | $25,000 |
| ADELANTE MUJERES FOREST GROVE, OR | TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS. | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key personnel listed on tax filings include:
- Hans Cole, President
- Hilary Dessouky, VP Legal/General Counsel/Secretary
- Yvon Chouinard, Director
- Malinda P Chouinard, Director
- Yvonne Besvold, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HANS COLE | PRESIDENT | 0.1 | — |
| HILARY DESSOUKY | VP LEGAL/ GENERAL COUNSEL/SEC | 0.1 | — |
| YVON CHOUINARD | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
| MALINDA P CHOUINARD | DIRECTOR | 0.1 | — |
| YVONNE BESVOLD | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, TREASURER | 0.1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grant announcements include:
Patagonia's Holdfast Collective awarded $1 million for California Trout dam removal efforts
Patagonia\u2019s Holdfast Collective Awards $1 Million for CalTrout Dam\Twelve local organizations received $900,000 in grants for environmental stewardship and climate resilience projects
12 Local Organizations to Receive $900,000 in Grants for Environmental StewardshipIntroduction of the Home Planet Fund, described as a radically different approach to the climate crisis
Introducing Home Planet Fund: A radically different approach to the climate\Multiple grants to local organizations for environmental stewardship initiatives across various regions
12 Local Organizations to Receive $900,000 in Grants for Environmental StewardshipSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Patagoniaorg fund?
Patagonia Org supports programs designed to address areas of land, water, climate, communities, and biodiversity. The foundation funds only environmental work, with a particular focus on organizations that identify and work on the root causes of environmental problems and approach issues with a commitment to long-term change. The foundation prioritizes support for small, grassroots, activist organizations with provocative direct-action agendas working on multi-pronged campaigns to preserve and …
How do I apply for a grant from Patagoniaorg?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in fiscal year 2024: $12,675,500 • Historical grantmaking: 1,883 grants totaling $64.9 million • Median grant size: $15,000 • Average grant size: $34,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $10.1 million **Recent Grants:** Notable recent grants include $656,000 to Makeway Foundation for environmental projects, $100,000 to Environment America Research and Policy Center, and $75,000 to Resources Legacy Fund. **Application Process:** Submission deadlines and application inf…
Where does Patagoniaorg make grants?
Grantmaking is concentrated in California, with significant activity in the District of Columbia and Virginia. The foundation's grants reach organizations across 49 states, with the primary focus areas (California, District of Columbia, and Virginia) accounting for 27% of all grants.
What size grants does Patagoniaorg award?
In 2024, Patagoniaorg awarded 459 grants totaling $12.7M — an average of about $28K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Patagoniaorg required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Patagoniaorg reported a distributable amount of $223K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Patagoniaorg's EIN?
Patagoniaorg's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 14-2004175. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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