I’d like to thank you for your interest in the Sonora Area Foundation. Our desire is to benefit great local causes in Tuolumne County and to assist donors in giving to local and global causes that can make our community and the world a better place.
The Sonora Area Foundation was founded on the vision as well as the initial contribution of Irving Symons, a local businessperson who was generous toward our community throughout his life and by virtue of the contribution of much of his estate to the Sonora Area Foundation established a legacy that is “For good. For ever.”
I have found this to be true from the time I was first introduced to the Foundation about 20 years ago. My wife and I wanted to learn about how SAF could help us contribute to organizations and causes that we believe in and we learned that the Foundation is ready and willing to help people to do just that. We have had a donor-advised fund since that time and have used that fund to support local organizations such as Habitat For Humanity, Spiritual Roads, Sierra Bible Church and Sierra Waldorf School as well as globally-focused organizations such as Russian Orphan Rescue and Hope of The Nations. The Foundation has been a great help to us in our desire to be effective in our generosity.
The Foundation has a generous grant-making program that benefits Tuolumne County non-profit organizations. During my time on the board, I have been exposed to so many great organizations that do good in our community. We invite the leaders of our local non-profits to get acquainted with our grant-making program and consider applying for a grant. The board awards hundreds of thousands of dollars in local grants each year and our staff surely enjoys assisting applicants as they seek support for great work in our town.
Derek Maxson
Board President
Sonora Area Foundation