2024 Annual Report
Protecting the Future
Dear Green Foothills Community,
From the ballot box to policies enacted, we are celebrating another year of protecting local nature and farmland through advocacy, education, and grassroots action. Our endorsement and support of San Benito County’s Measure A and California’s Proposition 4 – “The Climate Bond” – were big ballot box wins for the environment locally and statewide. We also successfully advocated for local policy changes related to groundwater and farmworker housing, and helped defeat policy amendments that would have allowed sprawl and loss of farmland.
We are thrilled to announce that our Lennie Roberts Advocacy Fund reached its $2 million goal in 2024! This is more than a financial milestone; it guarantees a long-term fund to help support our advocacy work for local nature. It’s also a living tribute to Lennie Roberts, who dedicated her life to protecting our natural landscapes for over 50 years. In addition, the launch of our new Coastal Resilience Program this year continues Lennie’s legacy of fearless, community-driven advocacy on the San Mateo County coast and builds on our decades of coastal protection successes.
Our Healing in Nature program is wrapping up after successfully providing restorative nature outings for nearly 200 people this year, including at-risk youth, farmworkers, seniors, veterans, children, and Spanish speakers. Heartfelt thanks to the healers and docents who helped make the experiences so special and to the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority for their generous support as the program’s primary funder.
Thank you to all our amazing donors. Your generosity is the wind beneath our wings. Together, we’re not just preserving land but protecting the future.
PS: Please visit our web page celebrating our 710 wonderful donors from 2024!
greenfoothills.org/OurDonorCommunity
Julie Hutcheson
Executive Director
Our Work in 2024
Our advocates engaged on 18 land use issues in 2024. From the coast to the baylands, from the valley to the hillsides, we gave a voice to the most at-risk habitats. This map describes some of those issues and illustrates the extent of our advocacy efforts.
Zoom in on the map and click on each point to learn more about the individual project.
“These are challenging times for the environment. Green Foothills has a proven track record of overcoming challenges and winning environmental victories. They’re local, vocal, and effective.”
Josh Becker
Green Foothills Donor Since 2010
California Senate District 13
Our Impact in 2024
Advocacy Program
8,183
acres of open space protected or benefited
9
victories
achieved out of 10 concluded land use issues
16 key wildlife and plant species benefited
3 policies or plans adopted by governmental agencies
18
land use issues
in total monitored and advocated
15 were in collaboration with a total of 25 tribes, organizations, and community leaders
16,347 comment letters sent in response to our 6 calls to action with 2 favorable outcomes, and 2 outcomes still pending
“The Green Foothills Leadership Program gives you the tools, knowledge, and confidence to navigate and address an environmental issue you’re passionate about. You’ll connect with amazing people and learn so much from your fellow participants and the facilitators.”
Jennifer Adams
Green Foothills Donor Since 2024
Green Foothills Leadership Program graduate 2024
Environmental Justice Senior Program Manager, Nuestra Casa, East Palo Alto
Our Impact in 2024
Leadership Program
19
local changemakers graduated, including 5 Spanish speakers
for a total of 278 alumni since 2014*
15
alumni in a new leadership role
for a total of 137 since 2014*
11
initiatives won by alumni
for a total of 61 since 2014*
*year the first cohort graduated
The Leadership Program is supported by Green Foothills donors, Applied Materials Foundation Community Fund, the County of Santa Clara, North Santa Clara Resource Conservation District (NSCRCD), Sand Hill Foundation, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and Wildlife Conservation Network’s California Wildlife Program.
“Resources Legacy Fund is proud to support Green Foothills as it engages in public outreach, education, and community engagement to protect wildlife habitat and connectivity within the Juristac Tribal cultural landscape area in southern Santa Clara County and northern San Benito County.”
Peggy McNutt
Senior Program Officer, Resources Legacy Fund
Deepen Your Support
Green Foothills deeply values every individual, agency, and foundation who makes our work possible and we are proud to recognize every contributor in Our Donor Community. Thanks to their generous support, we can champion land use decisions that affirm and support open space, biodiversity, climate resilience, and natural resources in San Mateo, Santa Clara, and San Benito Counties. We ground these efforts in inclusion and prioritize equity-centered, community-building work.
Lennie Roberts Advocacy Fund
Ensure nature always has a champion. The Lennie Roberts Advocacy Fund is named in honor of Lennie Roberts’ 50+ year career as a volunteer advocate with Green Foothills. Lennie has been a tireless champion for the protection of the farmlands, forests, beaches, and scenic beauty of the San Mateo coast, and the public’s access to it. Her efforts have helped ensure that we can enjoy much of the irreplaceable coastside landscape in its natural state. Donations to the Lennie Roberts Advocacy Fund will provide long-term support for the next generation of Green Foothills advocacy. Donations to this fund are restricted to our Advocacy Program. Visit greenfoothills.org/LRAF to donate or make your pledge.
Leave a Legacy
A gift from your estate is the ultimate way to support our mission. Let us know you have included Green Foothills in your estate plans or learn more by visiting greenfoothills.org/legacy.
“I care deeply about sustainable agriculture and more equitable local food systems , which are closely tied to the conservation policies and environmental justice initiatives that Green Foothills supports. That’s why I make time to serve as a Green Foothills board member.”
Fernando Fernandez
Green Foothills Donor Since 2024
Green Foothills Board Member
Policy Director, Veggielution
Financial Health
We are thankful for all who volunteered their time and contributed to Green Foothills in 2024. Our volunteers put in 2,123 hours of their time valued at $81,969. To view a list of our 710 wonderful donors from 2024, please visit our webpage dedicated to celebrating them.
Financials | April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024
Income: $1,926,685
Total revenue grew over the prior fiscal year due to increases in grant funding, individual contributions, and investment income for the year.
Expenses: $1,310,759
Overall expenses increased slightly due to higher employee compensation. Program spending decreased 4.5% due to the elimination of one position and a vacancy in another. A new program position was added in late FY 2024-25 so the program ratio will increase significantly by FY25-26.
Net Assets: $2,365,534
Net Assets grew overall, particularly Unrestricted, Undesignated through individual fundraising and unrestricted grants. Donors continued to give to the Lennie Roberts Advocacy Fund which increased by $229K. The Temporarily Restricted Funds also increased due to newly awarded grant funding that carried over to be spent the following fiscal year.
Unrestricted, Undesignated: $596,582
Lennie Roberts Advocacy Fund: $1,281,448
Temporarily Restricted: $487,504
A copy of our federal tax return for fiscal year 2023-24 will be available in November 2025 at greenfoothills.org/publications.