About Pacific Forest & Watershed Lands Stewardship Council
The foundation concentrates on supporting forest and watershed conservation in the Sierra Nevada foothills and adjacent Northern California counties by funding perpetual conservation easement endowments and local government tax-neutrality arrangements. Its grants flow to regional implementation partners (Sierra Nevada Conservancy, resource conservation districts), private title companies that facilitate easement transactions, and county offices to mitigate fiscal impacts of land protection. The giving emphasizes permanently financing stewardship and ensuring tax/policy mechanisms do not impede land conservation.
Focus Areas
Conservation easement endowments for Sierra Nevada forest and watershed landsFunding title companies to hold/administrate conservation easements (Placer County region)Tax-neutrality and fiscal-impact mitigation for counties affected by land protectionSupport for local Resource Conservation District projects and land enhancements in Northern California
Who They Fund
land grantees (recipients of land grants)landowners and landholding organizationsconservation or stewardship organizations managing land endowments
About Pacific Forest & Watershed Lands Stewardship Council
PACIFIC FOREST & WATERSHED LANDS STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL is based in Orangevale, CA. It reported $14,841,239 in annual grants in its latest 990 year on file, 2024. Its grantmaking is local and concentrated in California, with 98% of grants to recipients in the headquarters state and California also the state where it gives most often. The foundation’s documented giving centers on forest and watershed conservation in the Sierra Nevada foothills and adjacent Northern California counties. Recent grantmaking has included conservation easement endowments, land grants and enhancements, and tax-neutrality support for counties affected by land protection. Named grantees in the recent record include PLACER TITLE COMPANY - ROSEVILLE, which received $3,509,782 in 2024 for CE ENDOWMENT; SIERRA NEVADA CONSERVANCY, which received $1,600,000 in 2024 for LAND GRANTS - ENHANCEMENTS; and SHASTA COUNTY, which received $1,041,429 in 2023 for TAX NEUTRALITY. Other sizable grants went to PLACER TITLE COMPANY - AUBURN, PLACER COUNTY ASSESSOR, and FALL RIVER RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT.
What Pacific Forest & Watershed Lands Stewardship Council Funds
Recent grantmaking spans conservation easement endowments, land grants and enhancements, tax neutrality, and land-grants fees and transactional costs. Notable grants include PLACER TITLE COMPANY - ROSEVILLE at $3,509,782 in 2024 and PLACER TITLE COMPANY - AUBURN at $2,048,899 in 2023 for CE ENDOWMENT. SIERRA NEVADA CONSERVANCY received $1,600,000 in 2024 and $1,448,015 in 2023 for LAND GRANTS - ENHANCEMENTS, while SHASTA COUNTY received $1,041,429 in 2023 for TAX NEUTRALITY. The recent record also shows support for county assessors, resource conservation districts, and land trusts.
How Pacific Forest & Watershed Lands Stewardship Council Gives
The foundation’s typical grant size, based on the provided distribution, is $12,404 at the 25th percentile, $43,910 at the median, and $481,884 at the 75th percentile. It gives through targeted, place-based grants rather than to individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. The recent grants list shows awards made in both 2023 and 2024, with a strong concentration in large, transaction-related grants for conservation easements and related stewardship work.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$7M
Total Assets
$0
Total Revenue
$0
Total Expenses
$1.3M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $12K and $482K, with a median of $44K.
25th Percentile
$12K
Median
$44K
75th Percentile
$482K
Geographic Reach
Local2 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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