Resources Legacy Fund (RLF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Sacramento, California. Founded in 1998, RLF operates as a full-service conservation and environmental organization that combines grantmaking, fiscal sponsorship, program implementation, and advocacy to advance environmental progress. The organization employs 155 staff members and works across California, Western North America, and beyond.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$151.9M
-13.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$43.9M
+23.0% YoY
Grant Count
325
+16.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$135K
+5.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: RLF partners with philanthropy, advocates, government, academia, and business to catalyze action for conservation, environmental equity and justice, and climate solutions.
Primary Program Areas:
- Conservation: Protecting and restoring ecologically and culturally significant lands and waters
- Community-Based Environmental Change: Supporting community advocates and leaders in efforts to address environmental threats, improve public health, and ensure access to nature
- Climate Change: Creating economic opportunity and healthy communities, promoting nature-based climate solutions, and strengthening community resilience to wildfire, floods, drought, and extreme heat
- Fiscal Sponsorship: Providing administrative services (human resources, legal, financial, technology) to projects focused on environmental causes
RLF's work includes initiatives such as the Open Rivers Fund, which focuses on dam removal and river restoration.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
RLF is rooted in California with initiatives across Western North America and beyond.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total Revenue: $79.6 million
- Total Expenses: $99.5 million
- Total Assets: $152 million
- Total Liabilities: $14.1 million
- Number of Employees: 155
2023 Financial Data:
- Total Revenue: $131.0 million
- Total Expenses: $85.9 million
- Total Assets: $174.7 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $151,915,040 | $174,728,294 | $121,669,997 |
| Revenue | $79,596,936 | $131,040,478 | $88,915,279 |
| Expenses | $99,548,571 | $85,936,667 | $90,017,805 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $10,402,648 | $6,828,952 | $-353,291 |
| 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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Resources Legacy Fund
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Hip Hop Caucus Education Fund ($1,397,152), Environmental Integrity Project ($1,325,000), Center for International Environmental Law Inc ($1,050,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| HIP HOP CAUCUS EDUCATION FUND WASHINGTON, DC | LAND OR MARINE CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND/OR ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY AND JUSTICE | $1,397,152 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY PROJECT WASHINGTON, DC | LAND OR MARINE CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND/OR ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY AND JUSTICE | $1,325,000 |
| CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW INC WASHINGTON, DC | LAND OR MARINE CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND/OR ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY AND JUSTICE | $1,050,000 |
| EARTHWORKS WASHINGTON, DC | LAND OR MARINE CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND/OR ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY AND JUSTICE | $1,000,000 |
| AIR ALLIANCE HOUSTON HOUSTON, TX | LAND OR MARINE CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND/OR ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY AND JUSTICE | $952,800 |
| TROUT UNLIMITED INC ARLINGTON, VA | LAND OR MARINE CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND/OR ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY AND JUSTICE | $759,747 |
| CLEAN AIR COUNCIL PHILADELPHIA, PA | LAND OR MARINE CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND/OR ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY AND JUSTICE | $750,000 |
| TAXPAYERS FOR COMMON SENSE WASHINGTON, DC | LAND OR MARINE CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND/OR ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY AND JUSTICE | $658,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INC NEW YORK, NY | LAND OR MARINE CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND/OR ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY AND JUSTICE | $633,000 |
| EARTHJUSTICE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | LAND OR MARINE CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND/OR ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY AND JUSTICE | $625,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Matt Armsby – Interim President
- Phil Ginsburg – Future President (starting January 2026)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AVI GARBOW SEE SCH O | DIRECTOR AND PRES. (END 10/24) | 36 | $599,806 |
| MATTHEW ARMSBY SEE SCH O | SEC. & VP TO INT. PRES (EFF. 10/24) | 35 | $265,748 |
| BARTON THOMPSON JR | BOARD CHAIR | 1 | — |
| JEANNE SEDGWICK | BOARD VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| LISE AANGEENBRUG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEVE GAINES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CHET P HEWITT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PATSY ISHIYAMA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KATHARINE L JACOBS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRETT JOHNSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CHARLENE KABCENELL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARTHA KONGSGAARD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RANDALL MARTINEZ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KEVIN WASHBURN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LUSENI PIEH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| GINA MCCARTHY | DIRECTOR (END 12/24) | 1 | — |
| ROSINA BUGARIN SEE SCH O | TREASURER & CFO | 32 | $241,340 |
| VERONICA EADY | VP OF EQUITY & JUSTICE (END 12/24) | 40 | $296,683 |
| HELENA CHOI SEE SCH O | VP AND CHIEF OF STAFF | 36 | $272,448 |
| MICHAEL SCOTT | VICE PRESIDENT - PROGRAMS | 39 | $278,442 |
| ALLEN MAY | CHIEF DEV'L OFFICER (END 12/24) | 36 | $205,793 |
| LISBETH JAKOBSEN | DIRECTOR OF FISCAL SPONSORSHIP | 33 | $189,953 |
| JESSICA ANNE MAHER | DIRECTOR, WESTERN ENERGY PROJECT | 40 | $275,109 |
| KAITLIN GAFFNEY | DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION | 40 | $232,384 |
| KATE WRIGHT | DIRECTOR, CLIMATE MAYORS | 40 | $230,300 |
| AMY KENNEY | DIRECTOR, NAT'L OCEAN PROT. COAL. | 40 | $233,258 |
| BRANDI JENKINS | DIRECTOR, BEYOND PETROCHEMICALS | 37 | $236,700 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Resources Legacy Fund fund?
**Mission:** RLF partners with philanthropy, advocates, government, academia, and business to catalyze action for conservation, environmental equity and justice, and climate solutions. **Primary Program Areas:** • **Conservation:** Protecting and restoring ecologically and culturally significant lands and waters • **Community-Based Environmental Change:** Supporting community advocates and leaders in efforts to address environmental threats, improve public health, and ensure access to nature • …
Where does Resources Legacy Fund make grants?
RLF is rooted in California with initiatives across Western North America and beyond.
What size grants does Resources Legacy Fund award?
In 2024, Resources Legacy Fund awarded 325 grants totaling $43.9M — an average of about $135K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Resources Legacy Fund's EIN?
Resources Legacy Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4703838. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Resources Legacy Fund'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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