Sonoma County Community Foundation (also known as Community Foundation Sonoma County) is a grantmaking foundation based in Sonoma County, California.

Through its patrons’ contributions, it funds a wide array of community causes, such as the arts and humanitarian initiatives, but it is also a frequent supporter left-of-center environmental and election administration initiatives. For example, the Foundation has given grants to the Tides Center, the Tides Foundation Movement Voter Fund, the Voter Participation Center, and the Voter Registration Project.

Funding

In 2021, Community Foundation Sonoma County had a revenue of $31,190,414, total expenses of $19,492,557, and net assets of $224,607,955. ¹ Its endowment was said to be $103,972,852 at the start of 2021 and $115,227,835 at the end. ²

That year, Sonoma County Community Foundation’s left-of-center political recipients included American Oversight (AO) ($55,000), Greenbelt Alliance ($10,250), Horizons Foundation ($6,250), Inquiring Systems ($58,000), Institute of Ecological Design ($30,000), NPR Foundation ($40,000), PFLAG NAPA co. LGBTQ Connection ($6,000), Planned Parenthood Federation of America ($6,500), the Climate Center ($325,000), and Tides Center ($200,000). ³

In 2020, Sonoma County Community Foundation counted among its left-of-center recipients the Vital Immigrant Defense Advocacy and Service ($460,000), Tides Center ($221,000), Foundation for the Carolinas ($100,000), the Windward Fund ($80,000), Inquiring Systems ($44,500), the Climate Center ($39,000), NPR Foundation ($35,000), Institute of Ecological Design ($30,000), Asia Foundation ($25,000), the Barack Obama Foundation ($25,000), Tides Foundation ($20,000 to support the Movement Voter Fund), Immigration Institute of the Bay Area ($15,000), Black Lives Matter Global Network ($10,000), Equal Justice Initiative ($10,000), Nature Conservancy in California ($10,000), Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio ($10,000), and the Voter Participation Center ($10,000). ⁴

In 2019, it made a $10,000 contribution to the Voter Registration Project. ⁵

Leadership

In 2021, the Foundation’s principal officer was listed as vice chair Richard Davis-Lowell, and it was said to be based in Santa Rosa, California. ⁶ Thelia Wade was listed as the chair, and Elizabeth Brown was listed as the president and CEO. Brown’s compensation was a salary of $262,570, with an additional $25,313 compensation from either the organization or related organizations. ⁷ Vice president of finance and operations Ann Butterfield received a salary of $145,280 (total compensation of $179,780), vice president of philanthropy Kristopher Van Giesen received a salary of $157,363 (total compensation of $174,237), and vice president for community impact Karin Demarest received a salary of $118,589 (total compensation of $157,008). ⁸

1. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sonoma County Community Foundation. 2021. Part I, lines 12, 18, 22.
2. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sonoma County Community Foundation. 2021. Schedule D, Part V.
3. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sonoma County Community Foundation. 2021. Schedule I, Part II – Grants and Other Assistance to Domestic Organizations and Domestic Governments.
4. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sonoma County Community Foundation. 2020. Schedule I, Part II – Grants and Other Assistance to Domestic Organizations and Domestic Governments.
5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sonoma County Community Foundation. 2019. Schedule I, Part II – Grants and Other Assistance to Domestic Organizations and Domestic Governments.
6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sonoma County Community Foundation. 2021. A, C, F.
7. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sonoma County Community Foundation. 2021. Part VII – Compensation of Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, Highest Compensated Employees, and Independent Contractors.
8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Sonoma County Community Foundation. 2021. Schedule J. Part II – Officers, Directors, Trustees, Key Employees, and Highest Compensated Employees.