The Mono Lake Foundation
The Mono Lake Foundation (known as the mono lake committee) is a non-profit citizen's group dedicated to protecting and restoring mono lake, its tributary streams, and surrounding lands, educating the public about mono lake and the impacts on the environment of excessive water use, and promoting cooperative solutions that protect mono lake and meet real water needs without transferring environmental problems to other areas.
The Mono Lake Foundation at a glance
In short: The Mono Lake Foundation gave $26K across 2 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $26,000
- -26.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 2
- -33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $13,000
- +9.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $13,000
- Total assets
- $17,747,859
- +16.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (62% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who The Mono Lake Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Point Blue Conservation Science ($16K). Together the top 2 received $26K.
Grant Size Distribution
12 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 11 grants of 12 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Mono Lake Foundation gives
- Giving fell 68% 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $22K (2022) to $81K (2021). In 2024 it made 2 grants totaling $26K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Point Blue Conservation Science Petaluma, CA | California Gull Research | $16,000 |
| Oikonos Kailua, HI | Phalarope Research | $10,000 |
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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 | $17,747,859 | $5,226,688 | $4,113,833 | $26,000 | 2 | $350,324 |
| 2023 | $15,293,399 | $3,695,725 | $3,695,027 | $35,500 | 3 | $388,898 |
| 2022 | $14,233,787 | $3,794,468 | $3,290,303 | $22,000 | 2 | $332,932 |
| 2021 | $16,255,498 | $4,631,166 | $2,802,081 | $80,718 | 2 | $972,988 |
| 2020 | $14,020,783 | $3,828,615 | $2,506,479 | $46,410 | 3 | $332,208 |
About The Mono Lake Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Mono Lake Foundation is a public charity, based in Lee Vining, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $17.7M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $26K. Net investment income was $350K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Mono Lake Foundation is led by Sally Gaines, Chairperson on every filing since 2020; 1 of 10 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sally Gaines
Chairperson
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Geoffrey McQuilkin
Excutive Director
Executive Director → Excutive Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$97K (2020) → $150K (2024)
Doug Virtue
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gina Radieve
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristine Zeigler
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Martha Davis
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sherryl Taylor
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vireo Gaines
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Kanner
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Soto
Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 $150K, to Geoffrey McQuilkin (Excutive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Mono Lake Foundation
How much does The Mono Lake Foundation give each year?
The Mono Lake Foundation gave $26K across 2 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $36K across 3 grants.
How large is The Mono Lake Foundation?
The Mono Lake Foundation reported $17.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.2M.
Where does The Mono Lake Foundation operate?
The Mono Lake Foundation has awarded grants in California, Hawaii, Montana.
What is The Mono Lake Foundation's EIN?
The Mono Lake Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0051124. 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 November 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 24, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Mono Lake Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Mono Lake Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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