Sonoma Land Trust
Sonoma Land Trust, founded in 1976, partners with local communities to protect the open, natural, and working lands and waters of Sonoma County. The organization has protected more than 63,000 acres of natural, agricultural, and open land through partnerships with landowners, public agencies, and residents. Working across one of the world's five Mediterranean-type climate regions and a global biodiversity hotspot, Sonoma Land Trust conserves and stewards tens of thousands of acres, partners with communities to expand access to nature, and prioritizes flora and fauna to keep natural systems healthy and resilient for a changing climate. The organization is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, offering bilingual programs and working to ensure equitable access to nature for all community members.
Sonoma Land Trust at a glance
In short: Sonoma Land Trust gave $5.7M across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $570K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,699,838
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- Average grant
- $569,984
- Median grant
- $225,000
- Total assets
- $70,294,382
- +13.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. Covers 15 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Who Sonoma Land Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Save the Redwoods League ($2.0M). Together the top 9 received $5.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 40 (45%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $75K (2019) to $5.7M (2025, 15 months). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $5.7M.
*2025: Covers 15 months (fiscal year-end changed).
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
*2025: Covers 15 months (fiscal year-end changed).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Save the Redwoods League San Francisco, CA | Property Acquisition | $2,000,000 |
| Mark West Area Community Fund Santa Rosa, CA | Land Transfer | $1,800,000 |
| City of Santa Rosa Santa Rosa, CA | Property Acquisition | $831,357 |
| Audubon Canyon Ranch Stinson Beach, CA | Fuel Reduction Projects | $269,440 |
| Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation Santa Rosa, CA | Property Acquisition | $250,000 |
| California Council of Land Trusts Action Fund Sacramento, CA | Support Prop 4 Initiative | $200,000 |
| California State Parks Petaluma, CA | Fuel Reduction Projects | $170,400 |
| Sonoma County Regional Parks Santa Rosa, CA | Fuel Reduction Projects | $138,641 |
| Graton Community Services District Sebastopol, CA | Property Acquisition | $25,000 |
| City of Santa Rosa Santa Rosa, CA | Property Maintenance | $15,000 |
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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* | $70,294,382 | $28,672,072 | $18,572,627 | $5,699,838 | 10 | $1,427,147 |
| 2024 | $61,843,094 | $25,805,431 | $20,832,898 | $144,902 | 2 | $1,220,286 |
| 2023 | $55,799,856 | $16,453,814 | $7,396,432 | $387,894 | 6 | $469,901 |
| 2022 | $48,073,426 | $13,750,403 | $11,544,715 | $1,493,758 | 11 | $436,308 |
| 2021 | $45,650,127 | $10,770,900 | $7,978,988 | $2,340,266 | 11 | $537,650 |
| 2020 | $40,789,121 | $7,657,724 | $7,252,003 | $99,848 | 4 | $371,808 |
| 2019 | $39,137,373 | $5,523,202 | $6,970,072 | $74,950 | 4 | $374,898 |
*2025: Covers 15 months (fiscal year-end changed).
About Sonoma Land Trust
Based on IRS filings
Sonoma Land Trust is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Santa Rosa, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $70.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 10 grants totaling $5.7M. Net investment income was $1.4M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sonoma Land Trust is led by Eamon O'Byrne, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 20 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Eamon O'Byrne
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$93K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Scott Hafner
Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2022
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael J. Rizzo
CFO
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$152K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Allison Sanford
Board Member
President → Board Member, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Clay Clement
Board Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ellie Rilla
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judy Scotchmoor
Board Member
Board Member → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lewis Warren
Board Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marie Andel
Board Member
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2023
Immediate Past Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phil Jensen
1st Vice Chair
Board Member → 1st Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Brent
Board Member
Vice Chair → Board Member, 2020
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Simon Blattner
Board Member
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tim Portwood
Board Member
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2020
Vice Chair → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Duncan Higgons
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gregory Appling
2nd Vice Chair
Board Member → 2nd Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Otto
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frank Dean
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Liz Fisher
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anita Das
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Quincey Tompkins Imhoff
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (25)
- Former: Jennifer Bice (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: John McCaull (2019–2024) — Land Acquisition Director
- Former: Shannon Nichols (2019–2024) — Director of Philanthropy
- Former: Steven Hightower (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Wendy Smit (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Dianne Brinson (2021–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Quincey Imhoff Tompkins (2022–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Neal Ramus (2023–2024) — Director of Community Enga
- Former: Gina Fabiano (2024) — Director of Communications
- Former: Gymmel Trembly (2024) — Board Member
- Former: Julian Meisler (2024) — Associate Director of Stewardship
- Former: Deidre Holbrook (2019–2023) — Donor Engagement Officer
- Former: Robert Neale III (2019–2023) — Stewardship Director
- Former: Peter Vanalyea (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Michael Valdovinos (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Sheri Cardo (2022) — Director of Communications
- Former: Denny Vanness (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Wendy Eliot (2019–2021) — Conservation Director
- Former: David Koehler (2019–2020) — Executive Director
- Former: Perry Karsen (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Hal Hinkle (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Ken Freeman (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Neal Fishman (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Paul Demarco (2019) — CFO
- Former: Peter Mattson (2019) — Board Member
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $252K, to Eamon O'Byrne (Executive Director). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Sonoma Land Trust
How much does Sonoma Land Trust give each year?
Sonoma Land Trust gave $5.7M across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. The 2025 filing year covers 15 months because its fiscal year-end changed. In 2024 it gave $145K across 2 grants.
What is Sonoma Land Trust's typical grant size?
Sonoma Land Trust's median grant in 2025 was $225,000, and its average grant was $569,984, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Sonoma Land Trust give grants?
Sonoma Land Trust gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Rosa, CA (5 grants).
Does Sonoma Land Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Sonoma Land Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Property Acquisition" (4 grants) and "Fuel Reduction Projects" (3 grants).
Who are Sonoma Land Trust's largest grantees?
Sonoma Land Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Save the Redwoods League ($2,000,000), Mark West Area Community Fund ($1,800,000) and City of Santa Rosa ($846,357 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 82% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sonoma Land Trust?
Sonoma Land Trust reported $70.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $28.7M.
What is Sonoma Land Trust?
Sonoma Land Trust is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Santa Rosa, CA. It holds $70.3M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Sonoma Land Trust's EIN?
Sonoma Land Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0197006. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Sonoma Land Trust funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sonoma Land Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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