Point Reyes Bird Observatory
Point Reyes Bird Observatory, now known as Point Blue Conservation Science, is a public charity based in Petaluma, California. Founded in 1965, it works to conserve birds, other wildlife, and ecosystems through science, restoration, outreach, and partnerships.
Point Reyes Bird Observatory at a glance
In short: Point Reyes Bird Observatory gave $674K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $67K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $674,062
- +3270.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +900.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $67,406
- +237.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $31,602
- Total assets
- $26,418,840
- +30.7% vs 2024
- 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.
How to apply to Point Reyes Bird Observatory
- Contact
Mailing address: 3820 Cypress Drive 11, Petaluma, CA 94954
Phone: (707) 781-2555
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Point Reyes Bird Observatory
Who Point Reyes Bird Observatory funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sierra Foothil Conservancy ($196K). Together the top 10 received $674K.
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 15 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Roots Program serves working landscapes across California, and the Sierra Meadows Restoration Program operates in the Sierra Nevada region of California. In 2025, 99% of reported grant dollars went to recipients in California and 1% to recipients in Arizona.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $20K (2024) to $674K (2025). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $674K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sierra Foothil Conservancy Mariposa, CA | Wildlife Habitat Restoration | $196,149 |
| Yurok Tribe Klamath, CA | Achieving food sovereignty and restoration of traditional food systems | $125,000 |
| Sacramento Valley Conservation Sacramento, CA | Wildlife Habitat Restoration | $123,042 |
| Chico State Enterprises Chico, CA | Wildlife Habitat Restoration | $118,876 |
| City of San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA | Wildlife Habitat Restoration | $33,470 |
| White Buffalo Land Trust Santa Barbara, CA | Wildlife Habitat Restoration | $29,733 |
| Siskiyou Land Trust Mount Shasta, CA | Wildlife Habitat Restoration | $17,718 |
| Uc Merced Merced, CA | Wildlife Habitat Restoration | $12,546 |
| Prescott College Inc Prescott, AZ | Protect Migratory Shorebird Habitat | $10,000 |
| New Village Oakland (The New Village) Oakland, CA | Wildlife Habitat Restoration | $7,528 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $26,418,840 | $31,721,037 | $28,629,916 | $674,062 | 10 | $295,001 |
| 2024 | $20,220,534 | $20,739,997 | $22,164,862 | $20,000 | 1 | $206,301 |
| 2023 | $16,314,082 | $17,327,394 | $17,099,527 | $54,590 | 2 | $26,206 |
| 2022 | $15,844,372 | $15,542,320 | $15,560,461 | $21,950 | Total only | $5,555 |
| 2021 | $17,452,185 | $14,889,659 | $14,049,237 | $93,046 | 2 | $7,473 |
| 2020 | $14,750,486 | $13,281,517 | $13,902,238 | $255,674 | 3 | $3,959 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to conserve birds, other wildlife, and ecosystems through science, restoration, outreach, and partnerships. Its programs include avian monitoring and forest-management research in the Sierra Nevada; work with farmers, ranchers, and other partners to support wildlife and people on agricultural landscapes; education and outreach; conservation science and training; research on the California Current and ocean food webs; and data tools and analysis supporting conservation decisions.
Its Roots Program funds community-centered restoration practices on California working lands to benefit wildlife, fish, and pollinators. Eligible practices include habitat and riparian restoration, wildlife structures, in-stream and water-management measures, and wildlife-friendly fencing. Its Sierra Meadows Restoration Program funds and implements projects to restore meadow processes and habitat, including implementation, planning, and technical assistance.
Among its 2025 grantees, Sierra Foothill Conservancy describes its mission as protecting and preserving lands and wildlife with distinctive natural and cultural qualities near the Sierra Nevada foothills. Sacramento Valley Conservancy says its purpose is protecting, acquiring, or enhancing land in natural, scenic, historical, agricultural, forested, and open-space condition in the greater Sacramento Valley. White Buffalo Land Trust describes its work as promoting regenerative agriculture and evolving land stewardship and food systems. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not Point Blue’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the organization reported 10 grants totaling $674,062. Grant amounts ranged from $7,528 to $196,149, with a median of $31,602.
Its largest reported grants included $196,149 to Sierra Foothill Conservancy for wildlife habitat restoration; $125,000 to Yurok Tribe for food sovereignty and restoration of traditional food systems; $123,042 to Sacramento Valley Conservation for wildlife habitat restoration; and $118,876 to Chico State Enterprises for wildlife habitat restoration. Other grants included $33,470 to the City of San Luis Obispo and $29,733 to White Buffalo Land Trust, both for wildlife habitat restoration.
The Roots Program is described as currently open and supports implementation of eligible restoration practices on California working lands through a community-centered model. Point Blue says it supports applicants in developing projects. The Sierra Meadows Restoration Program is also described as currently open and funds implementation, planning, and technical assistance for meadow restoration.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Anne Chadwick as board chair, Geoffrey Gordon-Creed as immediate past board chair, Sheldon Gen PhD as vice board chair, and Nick Tipton as secretary and co-chair. Listed directors include David Ackerly PhD, Ian Altman, Anne Baxter, Arden Bucklin-Sporer, Julie Chase Baldocchi, and Susan Cohen.
Point Reyes Bird Observatory is led by Manuel Oliva, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; 9 of 31 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Manuel Oliva
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$182K (2020) → $227K (2025)
Melissa Pitkin
Interim CEO
Chief of Staff → Interim CEO, 2025
On filings since 2024
45 hrs/week
$144K (2024) → $172K (2025)
Anne Chadwick
Board Chair
Vice Chair → Board Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne Smith
Director of Individual Philant
Director of Individual Philant → Director of Individual Philanthropy, 2024
Director of Individual Philanthropy → Director of Individual Philant, 2025
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$133K (2020) → $159K (2025)
Nancy Gamble
Director of Individual Philant
Director of Individual Philant → Director of Individual Philanthropy, 2024
Director of Individual Philanthropy → Director of Individual Philant, 2025
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$124K (2020) → $157K (2025)
Elizabeth Chamberlin
Director of Innovation
Strategic Innovation Director → Director of Innovation, 2024
On filings since 2023
45 hrs/week
$128K (2023) → $161K (2025)
Samuel Veloz
Group Director Ecoinformatics
Group Director Climate Adapt → Group Director Ecoinformatics, 2025
On filings since 2024
45 hrs/week
$141K (2024) → $155K (2025)
Clinton Moloney
Board of Director
Chair & Strategic Planning → Chair: Strategic Planning Committee, 2023
Chair: Strategic Planning Committee → Board of Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Ackerly PhD
Board of Director
Board of Directors → Board of Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Myles PhD
Board of Director
Chair & Finance Committee → Chair: Finance Committee, 2023
Chair: Finance Committee → Board of Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Hines PhD
Board of Director
Chair & Science Advisory Co → Chair: Science Advisory Committee, 2023
Chair: Science Advisory Committee → Board of Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ian Altman
Board of Director
Chair & Sub-Committe → Chair: Sub-Committee, 2023
Chair: Sub-Committee → Board of Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie Chase Baldocchi
Board of Director
Chair & Development Committee → Chair: Development Committee, 2023
Chair: Development Committee → Board of Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nadine Peterson
Board of Director
Chair & Policy Committee → Chair: Human Resources Committee, 2023
Chair: Human Resources Committee → Board of Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Norvig PhD
Board of Director
Board of Directors → Board of Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susie Hagemeister
Board of Director
Board of Directors → Board of Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne Baxter
Board of Director
Board of Directors → Board of Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Arden Bucklin-Sporer
Board of Director
Board of Directors → Board of Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily Ford
Board of Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Percy Stubbs
Board of Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tacy Hahn
Board of Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenn Fox
Board of Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lelia Monroe
Board of Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Cohen
Board of Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tricia Kemp
Board of Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Grant Ballard
Chief Science Officer
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$155K (2020) → $192K (2025)
Padmini Srinivasan
Chief Financial Officer
CFO → Chief Financial Officer, 2021
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$153K (2020) → $187K (2025)
Martin Magana
Informatics Engineer Manager
Informatics Engineering Manager → Informatics Engineer Manager, 2025
On filings since 2023
45 hrs/week
$125K (2023) → $145K (2025)
Geoffrey Gordon-Creed
Immediate Past Board Chair
Board Chair → Immediate Past Board Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nick Tipton
Secretary & Co-Chair
Board of Directors → Board of Director, 2023
Board of Director → Secretary & Co-Chair, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sheldon Gen PhD
Vice Board Chair
Chair & Policy Committee → Vice Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (19)
- Former: Ivan Samuels (2020–2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: Anki Gelb (2021–2024) — Board of Director
- Former: Ana Alvarez (2022–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Patrick Gonzalez (2023–2024) — Board of Director
- Former: Avery Hellman (2020–2023) — Chair & Dei Committee
- Former: Joshua Dieterich (2021–2023) — Chief Development Officer
- Former: Kate Bettinger (2020–2022) — Board of Directors
- Former: Michael Fitzgibbon (2020–2022) — Informatics Strategist
- Former: Ryan Burnett (2022) — Sierra Nevada Group Director
- Former: Sandra Scoggin (2022) — San Francisco Bay Joint Venture Director
- Former: Ana Galutera (2020–2021) — Board of Directors
- Former: Jeffrey Kimball (2020–2021) — Board of Directors
- Former: Megan Colwell (2020–2021) — Immediate Past Board Chair
- Former: Robert S. Shwarts (2020–2021) — Chair & Human Resource Committee
- Former: Wendell Gilgert (2020–2021) — Stewardship Ecologist
- Former: Zachary Warnow (2020–2021) — Director of Communications
- Former: Jennifer Koliba (2021) — Controller
- Former: Beverly Cherner (2020) — Director Institutional Giving
- Former: Ellen Cohen (2020) — President & CEO
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 $227K, to Manuel Oliva (President and CEO (Thru 11/24)). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Point Reyes Bird Observatory
How much does Point Reyes Bird Observatory give each year?
Point Reyes Bird Observatory gave $674K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $20K across 1 grant.
What is Point Reyes Bird Observatory's typical grant size?
Point Reyes Bird Observatory's median grant in 2025 was $31,602, and its average grant was $67,406, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Point Reyes Bird Observatory give grants?
Point Reyes Bird Observatory gives mostly in California: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Point Reyes Bird Observatory give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Point Reyes Bird Observatory's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Wildlife Habitat Restoration" (8 grants).
Who are Point Reyes Bird Observatory's largest grantees?
Point Reyes Bird Observatory's largest 2025 grantees include Sierra Foothil Conservancy ($196,149), Yurok Tribe ($125,000) and Sacramento Valley Conservation ($123,042), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Point Reyes Bird Observatory?
Point Reyes Bird Observatory reported $26.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $31.7M.
What does Point Reyes Bird Observatory fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to conserve birds, other wildlife, and ecosystems through science, restoration, outreach, and partnerships. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Point Reyes Bird Observatory?
Point Reyes Bird Observatory has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Point Reyes Bird Observatory's EIN?
Point Reyes Bird Observatory's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-1594250. 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 8, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS October 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Live grants for the work Point Reyes Bird Observatory funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Point Reyes Bird Observatory's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Point Reyes Bird Observatory funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/point-reyes-bird-observatory-morg_125e1eee991a47a7803dcac1e92b4fd8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_941594250_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Point Reyes Bird Observatory funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/point-reyes-bird-observatory-morg_125e1eee991a47a7803dcac1e92b4fd8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Point Reyes Bird Observatory'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.
Point Reyes Bird Observatory down — hundreds of funders to go?