The Sonora Area Foundation strengthens its community through assisting donors, making grants, and providing leadership.
A $1 million grant to Youth Sports Foundation stands out in the Irving J Symons Foundation’s recent giving and helps define the scale of its local grantmaking. The foundation funds a wide mix of community needs in Tuolumne County, including human services, education, arts and culture, health, public benefit, environment and animals, youth programs, scholarships, and career technical education. Its recent grants also show support for community recreation, food security, wildfire protection, historic preservation, and facility upgrades. Several awards point to a strong preference for place-based projects. The foundation gave $100,000 to Friends of Tuolumne County Lodge B for building improvements, $100,000 to Resiliency Village for program support, and $77,500 to Center for a Non Violent Community for remodel and security. Other grants supported Interfaith, Sierra Repertory Theatre, Tuolumne Park and Recreation, and Southside Senior Services. Scholarship programs also sit within the foundation’s mix, including awards for Sonora High School graduates and students preparing for healthcare or music study. Program support appears throughout the recent list, alongside project-specific funding for construction, security, and direct community services.
Human services and basic needs are a clear part of the foundation’s work. It gave $75,000 to Interfaith for program support in 2024 and another $35,000 to the same organization in 2025, indicating continued support for that service provider. Food access also appears in the grant record, including $25,000 to Sierra Bible Church for a community food pantry. Education and workforce preparation are another major thread. The foundation awarded $21,495 to Sonora Union High School for program support, while its active scholarship programs include the Sonora Union High School Class of 1958 Scholarship and the HealthLitNow Healthcare Career Scholarship. Environment and public safety show up in project-based grants as well. Tuolumne Fire Safe Council received $25,000 for wildfire protection, and Groveland Trail Heads received $20,000 for trail construction. Animal welfare also appears through a $20,000 grant to Sonora Cat Rescue for a spay and neuter program.
The foundation’s typical grant size is modest to mid-range: p25 is $10,000, median is $17,500, and p75 is $32,750. Recent awards include both larger project grants and smaller scholarship or emergency grants, which suggests a mixed portfolio rather than a single grant size. The grant list shows repeat recipients across multiple years, including Interfaith, Sierra Repertory Theatre, Symons Family Fund, and Youth Sports Foundation, which points to recurring relationships rather than one-time awards only. The foundation operates competitive and discretionary grants, scholarship programs, and emergency response grants, and several active programs accept unsolicited applications. It also makes no grants to individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$3.2M
$52.4M
$10.4M
$1.4M
Most grants fall between $10K and $33K, with a median of $18K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$18K
75th Percentile
$33K
About 100% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Giving is tightly concentrated in California, with 100% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Most grantees are in Tuolumne County cities and communities such as Sonora, Tuolumne, Groveland, Mi Wuk Village, Soulsbyville, and Columbia. Sonora appears most often in the recent grant list, including awards to organizations working on services, arts, housing, and facility improvements. Outside Sonora, the foundation also funds nearby local communities such as Standard and Turlock.
The foundation funds qualified nonprofit and public agencies, with active programs in discretionary grants and field-of-interest funds. Its listed focus areas include human services, education, arts/culture/humanities, health, public/society benefit, environment/animals, youth programs, scholarships, and career technical education.
Yes. Active scholarship programs include the Sonora Union High School Class of 1958 Scholarship, the HealthLitNow Healthcare Career Scholarship, the Bruce Paxton Memorial Scholarship, and a broader scholarship program with more than 75 scholarships available through a universal application.
Typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $17,500 at the median, and $32,750 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list also includes larger awards such as $1 million and several $100,000 grants.
Its giving is local and fully concentrated in California. The recipient country distribution is 100% U.S., and the recent grant list shows Tuolumne County communities such as Sonora, Tuolumne, Groveland, Mi Wuk Village, Soulsbyville, and Columbia.
Yes for several active programs, including Sonora Area Foundation Competitive Grants, Sonora Area Foundation Discretionary Grants, the Sonora Union High School Class of 1958 Scholarship, the HealthLitNow Healthcare Career Scholarship, the Emergency / Rapid Response Grants, and the Sonora Area Foundation Scholarship Program.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonora Area Foundation | Sonora, CA | $244,775 | 2025 | Program support |
| Resiliency Village | Soulsbyville, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | Program Support |
| Friends of Tuolumne County Lodge B | Sonora, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | Building improvements |
| Symons Family Fund | Sonora, CA | $67,560 | 2025 | program support |
| Sierra Repertory Theatre | Sonora, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| Youth Sports Foundation | Standard, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| Tuolumne Park and Recreation | Tuolumne, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | community recreation improvements |
| Interfaith | Sonora, CA | $35,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| Sierra Foothills Residential Care | Sonora, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | Building improvements |
| MiWuk Sugar Pine Fire Protection | Mi Wuk Village, CA | $25,145 | 2025 | Building improvements |
| Sierra Bible Church | Sonora, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | Community food pantry |
| TuCare | Twain Harte, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | Program support |
| Christian Heights Church | Sonora, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | Free meals to community |
| Sonora Cat Rescue | Sonora, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | Spay and neuter program |
| The Jack and Buena Foundation | Modesto, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Camp Jack Hazard program support |
| Sonora Union High School | Sonora, CA | $7,850 | 2025 | Sober grad and sports program |
| New Life Lighthouse | Sonora, CA | $7,500 | 2025 | Community meals and food pantry |
| Summerville Bears Quarterback Club | Twain Harte, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | sports program |
| Sonora Area Foundation | Sonora, CA | $259,168 | 2024 | Program support |
| Center for a Non Violent Community | Sonora, CA | $77,500 | 2024 | remodel and security |
| Interfaith | Sonora, CA | $75,000 | 2024 | Program support |
| Symons Family Fund | Sonora, CA | $68,152 | 2024 | program support |
| Tuolumne County Sheriffs Posse | Sonora, CA | $35,585 | 2024 | Program support |
| Southside Senior Services | Groveland, CA | $26,000 | 2024 | Program support |
| Habitat for Humanity | Sonora, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | Program support |
| Sierra Repertory Theatre | Sonora, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | Program support |
| Sonora Union High School | Sonora, CA | $21,495 | 2024 | Program support |
| Mother Lode Christian School | Tuolumne, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | Program Support |
| We Care Sober Living Recovery Homes | Sonora, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | Program support |
| New Life Lighthouse | Sonora, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | Program support |
| Nancys Hope | Columbia, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | Program support |
| Twain Harte Chamber of Commerce | Twain Harte, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | Program support military veterans memor |
| The Jack and Buena Foundation | Modesto, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | Camp Jack Hazard program support |
| Old Oak Ranch Recovery | Sonora, CA | $8,750 | 2024 | Program support |
| Athletic Scholarship Foundation | Sonora, CA | $7,500 | 2024 | Program support |
| ROOFBB | Groveland, CA | $7,500 | 2024 | Program support |
| YOUTH SPORTS FOUNDATION | STANDARD, CA | $1,000,000 | 2023 | CHILDREN YOUTH SPORT |
| SONORA AREA FOUNDATION | SONORA, CA | $335,088 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| FAITH HOME TEEN CHALLENGE | TURLOCK, CA | $50,000 | 2023 | DISADVANTAGED |
| SYMONS FAMILY FUND | SONORA, CA | $42,458 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| INTERFAITH | SONORA, CA | $35,000 | 2023 | DISADVANTAGED |
| NANCYS HOPE | COLUMBIA, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | DISADVANTAGED |
| TUOLUMNE FIRE SAFE COUNCIL | TUOLUMNE, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | WILDFIRE PROTECTION |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY | SONORA, CA | $20,000 | 2023 | DISADVANTAGED |
| GROVELAND TRAIL HEADS | GROVELAND, CA | $20,000 | 2023 | TRAIL CONSTRUCTION |
| FRIENDS OF THE ANIMAL COMMUNITY | SONORA, CA | $15,000 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| TUCARE | TWAIN HARTE, CA | $12,000 | 2023 | WILDFIRE PROTECTION |
| CAMP TUOLUMNE TRAILS | GROVELAND, CA | $11,831 | 2023 | DISADVANTAGED |
| WATCH RESOURCES INC | SONORA, CA | $11,224 | 2023 | DISADVANTAGED |
| SONORA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | SONORA, CA | $10,000 | 2023 | TOURISM |
Sonora Area Foundation
$244,775Program support
Resiliency Village
$100,000Program Support
Friends of Tuolumne County Lodge B
$100,000Building improvements
Symons Family Fund
$67,560program support
Sierra Repertory Theatre
$50,000Program support
Youth Sports Foundation
$50,000Program support
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Tuolumne Park and Recreation
community recreation improvements
Interfaith
$35,000Program support
Sierra Foothills Residential Care
$30,000Building improvements
MiWuk Sugar Pine Fire Protection
$25,145Building improvements
Sierra Bible Church
$25,000Community food pantry
TuCare
$20,000Program support
Christian Heights Church
$20,000Free meals to community
Sonora Cat Rescue
$20,000Spay and neuter program
The Jack and Buena Foundation
$10,000Camp Jack Hazard program support
Sonora Union High School
$7,850Sober grad and sports program
New Life Lighthouse
$7,500Community meals and food pantry
Summerville Bears Quarterback Club
$5,000sports program
Sonora Area Foundation
$259,168Program support
Center for a Non Violent Community
$77,500remodel and security
Interfaith
$75,000Program support
Symons Family Fund
$68,152program support
Tuolumne County Sheriffs Posse
$35,585Program support
Southside Senior Services
$26,000Program support
Habitat for Humanity
$25,000Program support
Sierra Repertory Theatre
$25,000Program support
Sonora Union High School
$21,495Program support
Mother Lode Christian School
$20,000Program Support
We Care Sober Living Recovery Homes
$15,000Program support
New Life Lighthouse
$10,000Program support
Nancys Hope
$10,000Program support
Twain Harte Chamber of Commerce
$10,000Program support military veterans memor
The Jack and Buena Foundation
$10,000Camp Jack Hazard program support
Old Oak Ranch Recovery
$8,750Program support
Athletic Scholarship Foundation
$7,500Program support
ROOFBB
$7,500Program support
YOUTH SPORTS FOUNDATION
$1,000,000CHILDREN YOUTH SPORT
SONORA AREA FOUNDATION
$335,088PROGRAM SUPPORT
FAITH HOME TEEN CHALLENGE
$50,000DISADVANTAGED
SYMONS FAMILY FUND
$42,458PROGRAM SUPPORT
INTERFAITH
$35,000DISADVANTAGED
NANCYS HOPE
$25,000DISADVANTAGED
TUOLUMNE FIRE SAFE COUNCIL
$25,000WILDFIRE PROTECTION
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
$20,000DISADVANTAGED
GROVELAND TRAIL HEADS
$20,000TRAIL CONSTRUCTION
FRIENDS OF THE ANIMAL COMMUNITY
$15,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
TUCARE
$12,000WILDFIRE PROTECTION
CAMP TUOLUMNE TRAILS
$11,831DISADVANTAGED
WATCH RESOURCES INC
$11,224DISADVANTAGED
SONORA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
$10,000TOURISM