The Sonoran Institute Inc
The Sonoran Institute's mission is to connect people and communities with the natural resources that nourish and sustain them. We work at the nexus of commerce, community, and conservation to help people in the North American west build the communities they want to live in while preserving the values which brought them here. We envision a west where civil dialogue and collaboration are hallmarks of decision making, where people and wildlife live in harmony, and where clean water, air, and energy are assured.
The Sonoran Institute Inc at a glance
In short: The Sonoran Institute Inc gave $117K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $20K), mostly in Arizona. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $117,203
- +73.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,534
- +73.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $4,430,981
- -8.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Arizona (60% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Sonoran Institute Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Tucson Bird Alliance ($70K). Together the top 6 received $117K.
Grant Size Distribution
20 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 19 grants of 20 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Sonoran Institute Inc gives
- Giving grew 291% from 2022 to 2025. 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2021) to $117K (2025). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $117K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tucson Bird Alliance Tucson, AZ | — | $69,775 |
| City of Rialto Rialto, CA | — | $10,000 |
| Indio Water Authority Indio, CA | — | $10,000 |
| Town of Ridgway Ridgway, CO | — | $10,000 |
| Town of Superior Superior, CO | — | $9,290 |
| Town of Frederick Frederick, CO | — | $8,138 |
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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 | $4,430,981 | $4,699,716 | $4,977,483 | $117,203 | 6 | $162,994 |
| 2024 | $4,849,731 | $3,986,346 | $4,335,766 | $67,500 | 6 | $88,119 |
| 2023 | $5,311,182 | $4,076,822 | $2,800,903 | $37,056 | 4 | $145,541 |
| 2022 | $4,032,418 | $2,966,869 | $2,689,470 | $30,000 | 3 | $154,488 |
| 2021 | $4,156,503 | $2,802,180 | $2,630,704 | $10,000 | 1 | $31,500 |
| 2020 | $3,846,644 | $3,557,494 | $3,425,612 | $40,960 | Total only | $72,704 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About The Sonoran Institute Inc
Based on IRS filings
The Sonoran Institute Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Tucson, AZ. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $4.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $117K. Net investment income was $163K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Sonoran Institute Inc is led by Michael Zellner, CEO on every filing since 2021; 2 of 25 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael Zellner
CEO
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$32K (2021) → $163K (2025)
Dan Kimball
Chair
Chair → Director, 2021
Director → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Allison Green
Director
On filings since 2020
1.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anna Hill Price
Director
On filings since 2020
1.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Green
Director
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Baumgarten
Director
On filings since 2020
1.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Wegner
Director
On filings since 2020
1.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lee Leachman
Director
On filings since 2020
1.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Schaefer
Director
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alan Dennis
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Roberto Salmon
Director
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anna Murveit
Director
On filings since 2023
1.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Loretta Pineda
Director
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tim Quinn
Director
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cesar Ponce Gamez
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gabriela Luken Marce
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ken Abrahams
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristine Zeigler
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Linda Friar
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shaina Shay
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Skylar Begay
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Egita
Cfao
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$52K (2020) → $132K (2025)
Laurinda Oswald
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matt Teeters
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Kalt
Vice Chair
On filings since 2024
1.8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Joseph Kalt (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Mary Alexander (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Rowene Aguirre-Medina (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Ann Hunter Welborn (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Barton Buzz Thompson (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Chris Perez (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Lollie Plank (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Louise Glasser (2020–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Nyda Jones Church (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Tom Grogan (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Tara Kane Prendergast (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Kara Teising (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Stephanie Sklar (2020–2021) — Past CEO
- Former: Gabriel Lopez (2020) — Director
- Former: Henri Bisson (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $163K, to Michael Zellner (CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Sonoran Institute Inc
How much does The Sonoran Institute Inc give each year?
The Sonoran Institute Inc gave $117K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $68K across 6 grants.
What is The Sonoran Institute Inc's typical grant size?
The Sonoran Institute Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $19,534, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does The Sonoran Institute Inc give grants?
The Sonoran Institute Inc gives mostly in Arizona: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Colorado (23%) and California (17%).
Who are The Sonoran Institute Inc's largest grantees?
The Sonoran Institute Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Tucson Bird Alliance ($69,775), City of Rialto ($10,000) and Indio Water Authority ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Sonoran Institute Inc?
The Sonoran Institute Inc reported $4.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.7M.
What is The Sonoran Institute Inc?
The Sonoran Institute Inc is a public charity focused on Education, based in Tucson, AZ. It holds $4.4M in total assets as of 2025.
What is The Sonoran Institute Inc's EIN?
The Sonoran Institute Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0684610. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 12, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sonoran Institute Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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