Yes in My Back Yard logo

Yes in My Back Yard

Public charity · Grantmaker San Francisco, CA EIN: 32-0610451 Website

To end the housing shortage and achieve affordable, sustainable, and equitable housing for all.

Yes in My Back Yard at a glance

In short: Yes in My Back Yard gave $1.1M across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $1.1M), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2024)
$1,084,492
+31.5% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
1
+0.0% vs 2023
Average grant
$1,084,492
+31.5% vs 2023
Median grant
$1,084,492
Total assets
$2,137,259
-6.8% 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.

Who Yes in My Back Yard funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top recipient in 2024

Yimby Action: $1.1MYimby Action$1.1M

The largest 2024 recipient was Yimby Action ($1.1M).

Grant Size Distribution

4 grants across all recorded years

<$50K1$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K1$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 1 grant of 4 (25%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.

States

Cities

San Francisco

How Yes in My Back Yard gives

  • Giving grew 1658% 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

$0$500K$1M$1.5M0 grants2020 1 grant2021 1 grant2022 1 grant2023 1 grant2024

From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $62K (2021) to $1.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $1.1M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Yimby Action San Francisco, CAYimby Action Is a Non-Profit Policy Advocate Organization$1,084,492
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Yes in My Back Yard?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2024$2,137,259$2,355,788$2,680,165$1,084,4921$30,764
2023$2,294,418$2,142,646$2,028,767$824,9961$35,217
2022$1,920,165$2,080,931$1,376,460$155,5931$744
2021$1,083,823$1,071,226$947,837$61,6721$781
2020$884,218$1,251,369$390,827——$274

About Yes in My Back Yard

Based on IRS filings

Yes in My Back Yard is a public charity focused on Housing & Shelter, based in San Francisco, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $2.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 1 grant totaling $1.1M. Net investment income was $31K.

Focus Areas

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Yes in My Back Yard is led by Sonja Trauss, President & Executive Di since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 6 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Sonja Trauss

    President & Executive Di

    President → President & Executive Director, 2023

    President & Executive Director → President & Executive Di, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $89K (2022) → $107K (2024)

  • Dan Alban

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Laura Foote

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    10 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ernest Brown

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Vincent Woo

    Treasurer

    Director → Treasurer, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Vikrum Aiyer

    Secretary

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (3)
  • Former: Laura Fingal-Surma (2020–2021) — CFO
  • Former: Steven Buss (2020–2021) — Secretary
  • Former: Laura Foote Clark (2020) — 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

Sonja Trauss — President and Executive Di: $107KSonja TraussPresident and Executive Di$107K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $107K, to Sonja Trauss (President and Executive Di).

Frequently asked questions about Yes in My Back Yard

How much does Yes in My Back Yard give each year?

Yes in My Back Yard gave $1.1M across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $825K across 1 grant.

How large is Yes in My Back Yard?

Yes in My Back Yard reported $2.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.4M.

What is Yes in My Back Yard?

Yes in My Back Yard is a public charity focused on Housing & Shelter, based in San Francisco, CA. It holds $2.1M in total assets as of 2024.

Where does Yes in My Back Yard operate?

Yes in My Back Yard has awarded grants in California.

What is Yes in My Back Yard's EIN?

Yes in My Back Yard's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 32-0610451. 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

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 11, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 5, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 7, 2025)
  5. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Yes in My Back Yard's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in California

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Advocacy

Palo Alto, CA

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Advocacy funds public-policy work, with recent large general operating grants for criminal justice reform and immigration policy, and an annual community program for San Mateo County nonprofits focused on housing, healthcare, education, job skills, and civic engagement. Its two 2024 grants ranged from about $2.9 million to $26.3 million; the San Mateo County program’s typical grant size is not stated. The profile does not say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Public, Societal Benefit

Assets

$32.9M

Grants

2

Total Given

$29.1M

Foundation for Regional Transit DBA Friends of Caltrain

Palo Alto, CA

Provide educational information regarding sustainable transportation

Assets

$189K

Grants

4

Total Given

$29K

Open Philanthropy Action Fund

Palo Alto, CA

Open Philanthropy Action Fund supports research, education, advocacy, and grantmaking to advance public policy and social welfare, with recent grants spanning areas such as criminal justice, technology governance, public health, agriculture, and clean energy. In 2024, grants ranged from $9,338 to $6.4 million, with a median of $106,800; most funding went to organizations in New York, Washington, DC, and California. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Community Improvement & Capacity Building

Assets

$41.2M

Grants

29

Total Given

$16.8M

The Marcus & Millichap Company

Palo Alto, CA

In 2024, The Marcus & Millichap Company gave to preselected charitable organizations, including those working in housing, education, real estate research, and health-related activities; these reflect grantees’ work, not stated foundation priorities. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $125,000, with a median of $5,000, and went mainly to California, as well as Maryland, Connecticut, Texas, and Arizona. It does not accept unsolicited funding requests.

Assets

$2.4M

Grants

33

Total Given

$488K

Grove Action Fund

Los Altos, CA

Grove Action Fund supports civic engagement, reproductive health and justice, immigrant rights, safety-net services, and Black power building, with recent grants concentrated in New Mexico, Washington, DC, Arizona, California, and New York. Its 2025 grants ranged from $10,000 to $525,000, with a median of $100,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy

Assets

$16.7M

Grants

34

Total Given

$4.2M

Northern California Carpenters Regional Council

Oakland, CA

Northern California Carpenters Regional Council funds organizations working on construction-industry issues, labor, community needs, housing, and related areas, with most recent grant dollars going to California recipients. In 2025, grants ranged from $5,500 to $150,000, with a median of $15,000. No application process or policy on unsolicited requests is stated.

Assets

$257.4M

Grants

49

Total Given

$1.2M

More similar funders

More Funders in California

The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Yes in My Back Yard's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

Yes in My Back Yard down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?