Sonoma Plein Air Foundation
Promotion of arts education
Sonoma Plein Air Foundation at a glance
In short: Sonoma Plein Air Foundation gave $288K across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $32K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $287,912
- +36.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- -18.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $31,990
- +67.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $27,000
- Total assets
- $114,093
- -54.2% 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.
How to apply to Sonoma Plein Air Foundation
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Sonoma Plein Air Foundation
Who Sonoma Plein Air Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Kenwood Education Foundation ($49K). Together the top 8 received $197K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($90,828), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
35 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 35 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Sonoma Plein Air Foundation gives
- Giving grew 171% from 2021 to 2024. 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 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $106K (2021) to $288K (2024). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $288K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $90,828 |
| Kenwood Education Foundation Kenwood, CA | Arts Education | $48,500 |
| ARTescape Sonoma, CA | Arts Education | $40,444 |
| Sonoma Comm Center Sonoma, CA | Arts Education | $31,840 |
| Son Val Museum of Art Sonoma, CA | Arts Education | $27,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Son Vall Sonoma, CA | Summer Arts/Art Therapy Programs | $15,000 |
| Woodland Star Ch Sch Glen Ellen, CA | Arts Education | $15,000 |
| La Luz Center Sonoma, CA | Arts Education | $13,300 |
| Sonoma Valley High Sch Sonoma, CA | Video Arts | $6,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $114,093 | $396,939 | $532,255 | $287,912 | 9 | $2,233 |
| 2023 | $249,359 | $513,873 | $504,578 | $210,319 | 11 | $514 |
| 2022 | $240,064 | $474,771 | $426,198 | $166,656 | 8 | $76 |
| 2021 | $191,716 | $288,756 | $287,774 | $106,229 | 7 | $390 |
| 2020 | $190,609 | $45,905 | $48,415 | — | — | — |
About Sonoma Plein Air Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Sonoma Plein Air Foundation is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Sonoma, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $114K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $288K. Net investment income was $2K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Sonoma Plein Air Foundation is led by Cheryl Shimek, President & Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Cheryl Shimek
President & Director
Director → Co-Pres. & Director, 2021
Co-Pres. & Director → President & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Wells
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
$7K (2022) → $7K (2024)
Lori Winter
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$8K (2022) → $9K (2024)
Cathy Good
Director
Co-Pres. & Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Irene Cook
Director
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Keith Wicks
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Evers Kirwan
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pat Meier-Johnson
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cheryl Coldiron
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Clark Janis
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judith Alex
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Linda Rosso (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Nancy Pollock (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Dana Simpson-Stokes (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Judy Hallden (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Gerry Brinton (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Nikki Parr (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Ellen Hoover (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Gretchen Gardner (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Geraldine Brinton (2020) — Treasurer & Director
- Former: Jennifer Parr (2020) — Co-Pres. & Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $9K, to Lori Winter (Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Sonoma Plein Air Foundation
How much does Sonoma Plein Air Foundation give each year?
Sonoma Plein Air Foundation gave $288K across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $210K across 11 grants.
What is Sonoma Plein Air Foundation's typical grant size?
Sonoma Plein Air Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $27,000, and its average grant was $31,990, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Sonoma Plein Air Foundation give grants?
Sonoma Plein Air Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Sonoma, CA (6 grants).
Does Sonoma Plein Air Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Sonoma Plein Air Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Arts Education" (6 grants).
Who are Sonoma Plein Air Foundation's largest grantees?
Sonoma Plein Air Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Kenwood Education Foundation ($48,500), ARTescape ($40,444) and Sonoma Comm Center ($31,840), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($90,828), which are not listed by name. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sonoma Plein Air Foundation?
Sonoma Plein Air Foundation reported $114K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $397K.
What is Sonoma Plein Air Foundation?
Sonoma Plein Air Foundation is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Sonoma, CA. It holds $114K in total assets as of 2024.
What is Sonoma Plein Air Foundation's EIN?
Sonoma Plein Air Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1640462. 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
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Sonoma Plein Air Foundation funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in Sonoma Plein Air Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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