Sonora Area Foundation
Sonora Area Foundation is a community foundation based in Sonora, California, serving Tuolumne County. Founded in 1990, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) public charity with a staff of 3 employees. The foundation functions as a community leader and philanthropic intermediary, facilitating charitable giving while making grants to strengthen local communities.
Key facts about Sonora Area Foundation
- EIN
- 93-1023051
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,513,482
- Grants made (2024)
- 58
- Average grant
- $26,095
- Median grant
- $15,746
- New grantees (estimate)
- 53% first-time grantees (31 of 58, 2024)
- Total assets
- $21,837,865
- Primary geography
- California (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation does not use a standard grant application form. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sonora Area Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Sonora Area Foundation's 58 itemized 2024 grants were California (94%). The most frequent recipient cities were Sonora, CA (30 grants), Soulsbyville, CA (4 grants), Columbia, CA (3 grants) and Tuolumne, CA (3 grants). None of its 52 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (50 grants).
Is Sonora Area Foundation open to new grantees?
53%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 31 of 58 grantees (53%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $37K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $21K repeat.
- 38% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+9%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Sonora Area Foundation
- How to evaluate Sonora Area Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to Sonora Area Foundation with AI
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- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$21.8M
+11.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
+63.3% YoY
Grant Count
58
+41.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
+15.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Sonora Area Foundation strengthens its community through assisting donors, making grants, and providing leadership.
Vision: The Sonora Area Foundation will be the benchmark for exemplary practices in the philanthropic field.
Core Values:
- Be open to learning and listening
- Act with integrity
- Make courageous decisions
- Value our community and responsibility
Primary Focus Areas: Education, human services, recreation, arts, and environment. The foundation also supports initiatives related to philanthropy and voluntarism.
Grantmaking
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Sonora Area Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary focus on Tuolumne County, California. Grant-making also extends to California, New York, and Idaho.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 58 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $21.8 million (most recent data)
Annual Giving: $2.3 million total giving reported; $927,000 in annual grants across approximately 41 grants
Giving Rate: 4.7% of assets
Annual Revenue: $27.3 million
Annual Expenses: $1.9 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $21,837,865 | $19,533,337 | $17,091,050 |
| Revenue | $3,987,911 | $2,655,943 | $3,834,313 |
| Expenses | $2,894,851 | $1,944,547 | $2,063,988 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,114,934 | $287,721 | $525,161 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
219 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Sonora Area Foundation
Community Recovery Fund (COVID-19)
Sonora Area Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Competitive & Foundation-Initiated Grant Programs
Sonora Area Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Elaine Symons Baker Community Impact Award
Sonora Area Foundation
Amount
$10,000 per recipient
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Sierra Bible Church ($103,500), Cornerstone Bible Church ($100,000), Sierra Repertory Theater ($88,250).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sierra Bible Church Sonora, CA | Program Support | $103,500 |
| Cornerstone Bible Church Standard, CA | Program Support | $100,000 |
| Sierra Repertory Theater Sonora, CA | Program Support | $88,250 |
| Interfaith Sonora, CA | Program Support | $85,450 |
| San Joaquin County Office of Educat Stockton, CA | program support | $84,737 |
| Columbia College Foundation Sonora, CA | Program Support | $82,000 |
| Sierra Senior Providers Sonora, CA | Program Support | $73,734 |
| Sonora High School Sonora, CA | Program Support | $69,750 |
| Watch Resources Inc Sonora, CA | Program support | $54,835 |
| Central Sierra Search and Rescue Sonora, CA | program support | $54,771 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darrell Slocum | CEO | 40 | $175,000 |
| Vicki Albrecht | President | 2 | — |
| Dana Mayo | Vice President | 1 | — |
| Mark Kraft | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Derek Maxson | Board Member | 2 | — |
| Clark Segerstrom | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Marianne Wright | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| David Marquez | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Edward Clinite | Board Member | 1 | — |
| Jeff Sargo | Board Member | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Announced a $100,000 matching challenge
Sonora Area Foundation Announces $100,000 Matching Challenge - myMotherLode.comAwarded $138,000 in grants
Sonora Area Foundation announces $138,000 in grants | NewsProvided $59,000 grant for playground surface replacement in Sonora
$59,000 Grant For Playground Surface Replacement In Sonora - myMotherLode.comAwarded $20,000 grant to Columbia College Foundation for the Promise Scholarship
Sonora Area Foundation announces $138,000 in grants | NewsProvided grants to support local football teams
Sonora Area Foundation Gives Grants To Help Football Teams - myMotherLode.comContact Information
Address: 362 South Stewart Street, Sonora, CA 95370
Phone: (209) 533-2596
Fax: (209) 533-2412
Email: darrell@sonora-area.org, rebecca@sonora-area.org, ashlee@sonora-area.org
Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or by appointment
EIN: 93-1023051
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sonora Area Foundation fund?
**Mission:** The Sonora Area Foundation strengthens its community through assisting donors, making grants, and providing leadership. **Vision:** The Sonora Area Foundation will be the benchmark for exemplary practices in the philanthropic field. **Core Values:** • Be open to learning and listening • Act with integrity • Make courageous decisions • Value our community and responsibility **Primary Focus Areas:** Education, human services, recreation, arts, and environment. The foundation also sup…
How do I apply for a grant from Sonora Area Foundation?
The foundation does not use a standard grant application form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Sonora Area Foundation make grants?
Primary focus on Tuolumne County, California. Grant-making also extends to California, New York, and Idaho.
What size grants does Sonora Area Foundation award?
In 2024, Sonora Area Foundation awarded 58 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Sonora Area Foundation's EIN?
Sonora Area Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-1023051. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sonora Area Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.