Patagoniaorg
Patagoniaorg is a private foundation based in Ventura, California. It supports environmental organizations and projects, including work focused on direct action, long-term change, and protecting both the environment and affected communities.
Patagoniaorg at a glance
In short: Patagoniaorg gave $13.2M across 425 grants in 2025 (avg $31K), top state Virginia. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $13,207,055
- +4.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 425
- -7.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $31,075
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (79 of 425, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (41% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Patagoniaorg
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its international grants information for Australia says the FY25 application period is closed and invites organizations interested in FY26 to complete a survey. Organizations deemed eligible through that process receive an invitation to apply.
- Contact
Mailing address: 259 West Santa Clara St, Ventura, CA 93001
Phone: (805) 643-8616
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Patagoniaorg funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Charities Aid Foundation America ($5.2M). Together the top 10 received $6.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,951 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,790 grants of 1,951 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Virginia accounted for 41% of grant dollars, California 12%, Oregon 3%, and Colorado 3%. The filing also lists an additional 5% under an unidentified recipient-state entry.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 425 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Patagoniaorg open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 79 of 425 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $82K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 66% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 144% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5.4M (2022) to $28.6M (2020). In 2025 it made 425 grants totaling $13.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Charities Aid Foundation America Alexandria, VA | To Support Environmental Projects. | $5,174,555 |
| Makeway Foundation | To Support Environmental Projects. | $635,000 |
| The Conservation Alliance Bend, OR | To Support Environmental Projects. | $110,000 |
| Americares Stamford, CT | To Support Environmental Projects. | $100,000 |
| Wisteqn'eemit Lapwai, ID | To Support Environmental Projects. | $100,000 |
| Earth Island Institute San Francisco, CA | To Support Environmental Projects. | $80,000 |
| Resources Legacy Fund Sacramento, CA | To Support Environmental Projects. | $75,000 |
| Colorado Plateau Foundation Flagstaff, AZ | To Support Environmental Projects. | $65,000 |
| Climate Justice Alliance Berkeley, CA | To Support Environmental Projects. | $50,000 |
| Dogwood Alliance Asheville, NC | To Support Environmental Projects. | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | $10,111,462 | $13,566,905 | $13,207,055 | 425 | $13,498,847 | — | $80,693 |
| 2024 | $3,456,679 | $12,801,014 | $13,092,060 | $12,675,500 | 459 | $13,117,226 | — | $223,245 |
| 2023 | $3,694,759 | $12,910,568 | $13,462,137 | $13,227,158 | 471 | $13,482,791 | $4,345 | $284,876 |
| 2022 | $4,269,390 | $5,002,321 | $5,218,924 | $5,403,331 | 151 | $5,602,491 | — | $233,503 |
| 2021 | $4,912,093 | $11,803,571 | $12,009,395 | $12,225,928 | 445 | — | — | $251,156 |
| 2020 | $5,594,067 | $10,516,356 | $29,397,002 | $28,619,329 | 665 | — | $7,975 | $978,996 |
| 2019 | $24,061,297 | $21,658,730 | $11,127,008 | $11,039,277 | 665 | — | $8,524 | $995,430 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Patagoniaorg reported a distributable amount of $81K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s grant program says it supports environmental organizations working to address root causes of the environmental crisis. Its stated interests include campaigns that protect particular places or communities, advance environmental protections, and bring underrepresented communities into the environmental movement.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work. The Conservation Alliance says it funds and advocates for the protection of North America’s wild places. Earth Island Institute describes itself as a hub for grassroots environmental campaigns to conserve, preserve, and restore ecosystems. Vote Solar says it works for a 100% clean energy transition centered on people’s interests, health, and well-being. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 425 grants totaling $13,207,055. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $5,174,555, with a median of $15,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $5,174,555 to Charities Aid Foundation America for environmental projects, $635,000 to Makeway Foundation for environmental projects, and $110,000 to The Conservation Alliance. Other listed recipients included Earth Island Institute ($80,000), Resources Legacy Fund ($75,000), Vote Solar ($50,000), Southern Environmental Law Center ($50,000), Dogwood Alliance ($50,000), and Save Our Wild Salmon ($50,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Hans Cole as president; Hilary Dessouky as vice president, legal/general counsel, and secretary; Yvon Chouinard and Malinda P. Chouinard as directors; and Yvonne Besvold as chief financial officer and treasurer.
Patagoniaorg is led by Hans Cole, President since 2022 (on filings since 2021); none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Hans Cole
President
Director & President → President, 2022
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Malinda P. Chouinard
Director
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yvon Chouinard
Director
Director → Director, CFO & Treasurer, 2021
Director, CFO & Treasurer → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hilary Dessouky
Vice President Legal, General Counsel & Secretary
Secretary → Director, Vice President Legal, General Counsel & Secretary, 2021
Director, Vice President Legal, General Counsel & Secretary → Vice President Legal, General Counsel & Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yvonne Besvold
Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
Treasurer → CFO & Treasurer, 2021
CFO & Treasurer → Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (5)
- Former: Dean Carter (2019–2022) — Vice President of Hr & Shared Services
- Former: Greg Curtis (2021–2022) — Assistant Secretary
- Former: Rose Marcario (2019–2021) — Director & CEO · Filing note: Through 062020
- Former: Doug Freeman (2019–2020) — COO
- Former: Lisa Pike (2019–2020) — Vice President Environmental Activism
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Patagoniaorg
How much does Patagoniaorg give each year?
Patagoniaorg gave $13.2M across 425 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $12.7M across 459 grants.
What is Patagoniaorg's typical grant size?
Patagoniaorg's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $31,075, across 425 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Patagoniaorg that year got $82K on average.
Where does Patagoniaorg give grants?
Patagoniaorg's top state is Virginia, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest state was California (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (13 grants), Oakland, CA (12 grants), Seattle, WA (9 grants) and Portland, OR (8 grants).
Does Patagoniaorg give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 425 grants with a stated purpose on Patagoniaorg's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support Environmental Projects." (425 grants).
Who are Patagoniaorg's largest grantees?
Patagoniaorg's largest 2025 grantees include Charities Aid Foundation America ($5,174,555), Makeway Foundation ($635,000) and The Conservation Alliance ($110,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
What does Patagoniaorg fund?
The foundation’s grant program says it supports environmental organizations working to address root causes of the environmental crisis. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Patagoniaorg?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Patagoniaorg required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Patagoniaorg reported a distributable amount of $81K 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 2019–2025.
Does Patagoniaorg accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 12, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Patagoniaorg funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/patagoniaorg-morg_610d7b27c66f4de29385422994030bb3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_142004175_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Patagoniaorg funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/patagoniaorg-morg_610d7b27c66f4de29385422994030bb3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-09. 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 Patagoniaorg'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.
Patagoniaorg down — hundreds of funders to go?