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Resources Legacy Fund

Annual Giving
$38.2M
Grant Range
$85K - $3.0M

Resources Legacy Fund

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $38,205,349 (2023)
  • Number of Awards: 306 grants (2023)
  • Average Grant Size: ~$124,853
  • Grant Range: $85,000 - $3,000,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily California, with some national and international work
  • Charity Navigator Rating: 4-Star (Score: 96%)

Contact Details

Overview

Founded in 2000 with initial funding from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Resources Legacy Fund (RLF) is a multi-disciplinary 501(c)(3) nonprofit that positions itself as "Architects of Environmental Progress." With 80+ staff across California and nationwide, RLF operates as a strategic intermediary organization, connecting philanthropic funding with organizations advancing conservation goals, climate solutions, and environmental justice and equity. In its 20-year history, RLF has helped conserve over five million acres, advance new environmental approaches and policies, and generate more than $30 billion in new public funding for water, land, and ocean conservation while advancing social equity and climate change resilience. RLF functions both as a direct grantmaker and as a fiscal sponsor, managing large multi-year strategic initiatives and providing administrative, compliance, and programmatic support to high-impact projects.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

RLF manages several strategic funding initiatives focused on conservation, climate solutions, and environmental equity:

California 30x30 Initiative (C3I): Advances a public-private partnership with the California Natural Resources Agency to support implementation of Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-82-20, which commits California to protect 30% of the state's lands and coastal waters by 2030. The program specifically supports California Tribes and organizations from underserved communities to enable their active participation, plus communications and public education activities to build support for achieving 30x30.

California Environmental Equity Initiative (CEEI): Seeks to strengthen California climate and environmental policies and increase public funding to address intersecting environmental, climate, social, and health issues that disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color. The program supports community-driven efforts that increase access to parks, public lands, and safe drinking water and build resilience to climate change in ways that enhance justice, health, and well-being. Focus on building capacity, power, and leadership among younger, more ethnically diverse leaders, organizations, and coalitions.

Wildlands Acquisition Program: Promotes permanent protection of California's wildlands through preservation of desert park and wilderness areas. The program funds inholding acquisitions in priority wilderness areas and national parks and monuments to consolidate public land holdings for natural resource protection in the California desert, Carrizo Plain National Monument, and Eastern Sierra Nevada.

Land-Sea Connection (LSC) Program: Launched in 2017, works to advance the long-term health and resilience of California watersheds by promoting more effective local and state policies and conservation programs.

Ocean Defense Initiative: Works to protect marine and coastal resources.

Grant amounts vary significantly based on project scope, from tens of thousands to millions of dollars.

Priority Areas

  • Land conservation and biodiversity protection
  • Marine and coastal conservation
  • Climate resilience and climate solutions
  • Environmental equity and justice for marginalized communities
  • Water resource protection and safe drinking water access
  • Public lands access for underserved communities
  • Capacity building for community-based organizations and Tribal communities
  • Policy advocacy and public funding campaigns

RLF explicitly prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles by "directing funds to those who have been marginalized" historically.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions not explicitly documented, though RLF's focus is clearly on environmental conservation, climate solutions, and environmental justice in alignment with their mission. Projects outside these areas would likely not be considered.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Barton H. Thompson Jr. (Chair): Natural resources law professor at Stanford Law School and director of the Woods Institute for the Environment
  • Jeanne Sedgwick (Vice Chair): Former director of Conservation and Science at David and Lucile Packard Foundation; oversaw program growth to $100 million annually
  • Steven Gaines: Dean, Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, UC Santa Barbara
  • Chet Hewitt: President/CEO, Sierra Health Foundation
  • Kevin Washburn: Dean, University of Iowa College of Law
  • Martha Kongsgaard: Co-founder, Kongsgaard-Goldman Foundation

Executive Leadership

  • Matt Armsby (Interim President, as of September 2025): Provides legal oversight and sets strategic direction for RLF and affiliated organizations. Previously served as environmental law fellow at Stanford Law School. Will serve until January 2026.
  • Phil Ginsburg (Incoming President, January 2026): Will lead RLF along with its partner groups Fund for a Better Future and the Shared Ascent Fund.
  • Rosina Bugarin (Chief Financial Officer): Oversees accounting, budget, tax reporting, and compliance. Licensed CPA with nonprofit accounting background.
  • Michael Scott (Vice President of Programs): Directs conservation program coordination and research. Former conservation director and executive director at Greater Yellowstone Coalition.
  • Lisbeth Jakobsen (Director of Fiscal Sponsorships): Manages fiscal sponsorship relationships and coordination.

Previous Leadership

  • Avi Garbow (Former President): Previously served as senior counselor to the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency during the Biden Administration and as general counsel of the EPA under President Barack Obama.
  • Michael Mantell (Founding President): Launched RLF in 2000 with Jeanne Sedgwick.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Resources Legacy Fund does not have a traditional open application process. According to their grantmaking page: "As a general rule, RLF reaches out to potential new grantees and partners to help develop and implement program strategies." This means RLF typically initiates contact with potential grantees proactively as part of their strategic program development.

However, RLF also states they "appreciate opportunities to hear new ideas and meet potential partners, even if it's only for future consideration." Organizations interested in future collaboration can reach out through their contact page or by phone at (916) 442-5057.

Applicant Resources Available: For organizations invited to apply or already in partnership with RLF, the organization provides several resources including:

  • Grant Proposal Worksheet
  • Grant Reporting Guidelines
  • Contract Scope of Work Template
  • Form W-9, Form W-8BEN
  • Certificate of Exemption from Worker's Compensation
  • Specialized resources for Sustainable Fisheries Fund (SFF) program applicants

Fiscal Sponsorship Pathway: Organizations not registered as 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entities may partner with RLF through fiscal sponsorship. RLF fiscally sponsors high-impact projects and organizations that align with their mission and values, providing administrative and compliance support, financial management, data systems, human resources, and legal oversight. They can manage projects of nearly any size or discrete components of them. For projects interested in using broader advocacy tools, RLF's affiliated organization Fund for a Better Future provides 501(c)(4) fiscal sponsorship.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly specified, as grants are typically developed through strategic partnerships rather than competitive application cycles.

Success Rates

Not publicly available, as RLF's grantmaking is strategic and invitation-based rather than open competition.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the proactive, strategic nature of RLF's grantmaking approach.

Application Success Factors

Since RLF typically reaches out to potential grantees rather than accepting unsolicited applications, success in partnering with RLF depends on different factors:

Alignment with Strategic Priorities: Organizations working in RLF's core areas—California conservation, environmental equity and justice, climate solutions, and marine protection—are more likely to come onto RLF's radar.

Focus on Marginalized Communities: RLF explicitly prioritizes directing funds to those who have been marginalized historically. Projects led by or serving low-income communities, communities of color, and Tribal communities are central to RLF's mission.

Capacity for Strategic Impact: RLF describes itself as working with partners who can advance bold and impactful solutions. They seek organizations that can contribute to large-scale policy change, public funding campaigns, and systems-level transformation.

Partnership Orientation: Testimonials on RLF's website emphasize that they "think like a funder but act like an implementer." Successful partners appreciate RLF's hands-on, collaborative approach and ability to bridge philanthropic and implementation perspectives.

Policy and Advocacy Expertise: Many of RLF's programs involve coalition-building, policy advocacy, and public funding campaigns. Organizations with strengths in these areas align well with RLF's approach.

California Focus: While RLF fiscally sponsors some projects nationally and internationally, the majority of their direct grantmaking focuses on California conservation and environmental justice issues.

Building Relationships: For organizations seeking to get on RLF's radar, demonstrating expertise in conservation, environmental justice, or climate solutions through publications, coalitions, and visible work in the field increases the likelihood that RLF will reach out when developing relevant program strategies.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Proactive Outreach Model: RLF typically initiates partnerships rather than responding to unsolicited proposals, though they welcome opportunities to hear new ideas for future consideration.
  • Strategic Intermediary Role: RLF functions as both a direct grantmaker and fiscal sponsor, managing large multi-year strategic initiatives with administrative, compliance, and programmatic support.
  • Environmental Justice Priority: RLF explicitly centers equity by directing funds to marginalized communities and building capacity among younger, more ethnically diverse leaders and organizations.
  • California-Focused with Scale: While primarily California-focused, RLF has generated over $30 billion in public funding and conserved over 5 million acres in 20 years, demonstrating significant leverage and impact.
  • Multiple Partnership Pathways: Beyond traditional grants, RLF offers fiscal sponsorship for 501(c)(3) projects through RLF and 501(c)(4) advocacy-focused projects through Fund for a Better Future.
  • High-Capacity Organization: With 80+ staff and expertise in campaign development, policy advocacy, coalition-building, and grant management, RLF seeks partners who can contribute to systems-level change.
  • Substantial Grant Sizes: With 306 grants totaling $38 million annually, RLF makes significant investments averaging ~$125,000, with grants ranging from tens of thousands to millions of dollars depending on project scope.

References

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