Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation
The fairgrounds foundation shall raise funds and conduct public relations activities for capital improvements on behalf of the santa Cruz county fair.
Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation at a glance
In short: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation gave $84K across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $84K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $84,365
- -73.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $84,365
- -73.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $84,365
- Total assets
- $1,257,154
- +9.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Santa Cruz County Fair ($84K).
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 2 grants of 5 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−1%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $84K (2024) to $317K (2023). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $84K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz County Fair Watsonville, CA | Fair Improvements | $84,365 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,257,154 | $648,288 | $463,325 | $84,365 | 1 | $14,593 |
| 2023 | $1,147,380 | $687,347 | $586,296 | $316,758 | 1 | — |
| 2022 | $1,001,418 | $464,310 | $383,640 | $193,199 | 1 | $5,571 |
| 2021 | $882,166 | $612,018 | $325,891 | $85,170 | 1 | $5,282 |
| 2020 | $650,916 | $532,494 | $270,908 | $150,681 | 1 | $466 |
About Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation is a public charity, based in Freedom, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $1.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $84K. Net investment income was $15K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation is led by Sam Cooley, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 11 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sam Cooley
President
Director → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kirk Schmidt
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Navarro
Director
Secretary → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steve Tedesco
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chuck Allen
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Travis
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sue King
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julie Oliver
CFO
CFO → Volunteer Chief Financial Officer, 2023
Volunteer Chief Financial Officer → CFO, 2024
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Larkin
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Bassi
Treasurer
Vice President → President, 2022
President → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ed Banks
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Jeannie Kegebein (2023) — Volunteer Executive Director
- Former: Jody Belgard (2023) — Volunteer
- Former: Leila Salas (2023) — Bookkeeper
- Former: Jeff Nielsen (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Linda Erbe (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Joni White (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Myrna Medina (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Renee Mello (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Ron Haedicke (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Sherri Decamara (2021) — Past President
- Former: Sherri De Camera (2020) — Past President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation
How much does Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation give each year?
Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation gave $84K across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $317K across 1 grant.
How large is Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation?
Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $648K.
Where does Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation operate?
Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation has awarded grants in California.
What is Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation's EIN?
Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0385058. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 18, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation funds
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Figures come from Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Foundation'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.
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