About Parks California
To expand equitable access, belonging and stewardship of California’s state parks through community‑led grants, partnerships, programs and philanthropic investment.
Focus Areas
Access to ParksCommunity EngagementResource StewardshipArts and Culture in ParksCareer Pathways / Workforce DevelopmentUrban ParksVisitor Use Management / Recreation
Who They Fund
California State Parks (agency-level support)park visitors / general public seeking accessyouth and students (Passports, career pathways)local communities (e.g., Big Basin community)park staff and partner organizations (training/capacity building)
About Parks California
Parks California’s recent grantmaking is shaped by a single throughline: expanding equitable access to California’s state parks through community-led programs, arts, workforce pathways, and stewardship projects. The foundation backs both park agencies and community organizations, often funding work that connects people more directly to parks and the experiences around them. In the recent grants list, the largest award goes to the City of Crescent City for a 2024 Arts in Parks grant, a signal that arts programming is part of its approach to park engagement. Another major grant supports the Fernandeo Tataviam Band of Mission Indians through both a 2024 Arts in Parks grant and a 2024 Route to Parks grant, showing how the foundation can combine cultural programming with access-related support for the same recipient. Other grants point to a mix of place-based and system-level work. Parks California has funded forest management strategy work for Santa Cruz redwoods parks, career pathways for conservation and park-related employment, and programs that reach youth, families, and historically underrepresented communities. The pattern is less about general operating support and more about targeted grants tied to specific park outcomes and community priorities.
What Parks California Funds
Arts and culture are a visible part of Parks California’s portfolio. The foundation gave $300,000 to the City of Crescent City for a 2024 Arts in Parks grant, $250,000 to the City of Bakersfield for the same program, and $180,000 to Filam Arts for a 2024 Arts in Parks grant. Access to parks is another recurring theme. TreePeople received $149,604 for a 2024 Route to Parks grant, and San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust received $73,644 for a 2023 Adventure Pass grant. Workforce development appears through career pathway grants. Civicorps received $149,863 for a 2024 Career Pathways grant, while Los Angeles Conservation Corps received $100,000 for the same program. The foundation also supports education-focused work, including $171,000 to Computer Using Educators for Passports 2.0 and $140,000 to Computer Using Educators for the Passports program.
How Parks California Gives
Typical grant sizes cluster in the mid-five-figure range: the 25th percentile is $20,000, the median is $31,510, and the 75th percentile is $49,506. The recent grants list also includes a much larger set of program awards, with several grants above $100,000. The pattern suggests ongoing, program-specific funding rather than one-off general support. Some recipients appear more than once, including Save the Redwoods League, Computer Using Educators, and the Fernandeo Tataviam Band of Mission Indians. Parks California is classified as a mixed community foundation and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$5.2M
Total Assets
$17.9M
Total Revenue
$4.4M
Total Expenses
$10.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $20K and $50K, with a median of $32K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$32K
75th Percentile
$50K
Geographic Reach
Local5 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
KINDLEY WALSH LAWLOR
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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