2020 Annual Report
Maintaining hope against all odds has always been central to our work as has the strength we draw from your support. That is why we did not stop championing the land, waters, plants, and wildlife in our community despite the unusual hurdles that 2020 brought.
Hope can be found everywhere, in the mighty and the small. The Bay checkerspot butterfly featured at the top of this page is symbolic of this hope. A threatened species found only in our region, this butterfly survives today because of thoughtful stewardship and advocacy including a number of campaigns led by the Green Foothills community over the decades.
What we accomplished together in 2020 as well as the inspirational words shared by members of your Green Foothills community in this Annual Report carry that sense of hope.
We are seeing great things on the horizon for our local environment in 2021, the 59th year of Green Foothills championing nature in our region. We’re excited thinking of what we will achieve together.
Our Work in 2020
We advocated on 32 issues in 2020. From small parks to proposed projects that would impact our entire region, we gave a voice to the most at-risk habitats. This map illustrates the range of our work.
Zoom in on the map and click on each point to learn more about the individual project.
Donor Spotlight
“I’ve been fighting for climate and environmental justice since I was 15, co-organizing the first major youth-led climate strike in our area. Sunrise Silicon Valley represents hundreds of young people who care about local climate action, uniting to protect people and the planet. In addition to advocating for national policy, we engage locally. Green Foothills has been a key partner in helping us advocate on local land use and conservation issues. They enabled our knowledgeable support for open space funding, protecting Coyote Valley, and the reuse of an airport that has been a health and safety hazard to East San Jose families. Working together, I am filled with hope as we continue allying to fight the climate crisis, to protect our earth, and to protect generations ahead.”
“When the residents of Saratoga were fighting to protect the hillsides from a proposed 300-room hotel in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, Green Foothills worked with the community to defeat the annexation request. We knew that a zoning change with proposed extensive commercial development in this location would not only create unacceptable risks for the entire community in the event of a wildfire, but that it could harm the local wildlife and oak woodland habitat. The team at Green Foothills offered us support and expertise and helped educate decision makers. Together we protected our hillsides for future generations.
“After graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies, I served the Samoan government as the first resident climate change officer developing programs to address the country’s vulnerabilities to climate change and meet its obligations to the United Nations. When my family and I moved to Sunnyvale in 2005, I looked for like-minded environmentalists and found my community in Green Foothills’ Community Advocates Leadership Academy (CALA). With this training program and alumni network, I learned how to navigate the local political system effectively and build collaboration and networks with tools and support from the CALA community. As a result, last September I founded Climate Resilient Communities to cultivate environmental awareness and build stronger alliances and capacity in frontline communities like East Palo Alto, Belle Haven and North Fair Oaks to strengthen resilience against climate change and sea-level rise.
New! Visit our dedicated webpage celebrating our 1,020 wonderful donors from 2020.
Our Impact
2020 By the Numbers
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2,953 acres positively impacted or saved
from inappropriate development
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2 ballot measures won
resulting in long-term funding for the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, and defeat of a sprawl proposal in San Benito County
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32 land use issues
monitored, commented, and advocated on:
• 4 were in collaboration with a total of 105 partners including tribes, organizations, and community leaders
• 6 were concluded and all resulted in victories for our position -
4,071 comment letters sent
in response to our 11 calls to action with 7 outcomes in our favor and 4 pending
• 624 additional letters were in response to our call to thank legislators for their votes
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19 local changemakers
graduated from our Community Advocates Leadership Academy
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2,135 people attended
our virtual events, speaking engagements, and event tablings that engaged them in our mission and programs
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1,752 volunteer hours
valued at $55,206
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1,020 donors
including 46 Mary Davey Legacy Society members and 189 Stegner Giving Circle donors.
Income and Expenses
April 1, 2019 to March 30, 2020
Income: $1,042,854 Excluding a large one-time bequest received last fiscal year, our income was up 33% with a healthy increase in grants. Individual giving grew 26%.
Expenses: $1,063,459 Higher fundraising costs were mostly in support of Natures Inspiration, which delivered 22.5% more than 2019. Administrative costs increased due to investments in our accounting system supporting grant activity and audit-readiness) and in technology (better efficiency, allowing to focus more staff time on programmatic accomplishments and impact.
Net Assets: $985,248 $704,093 - Unrestricted/Undesignated $239,998 - Unrestricted, Board Designated $41,157 - Temporarily Restricted
Get Involved
Leave a Legacy
A generous gift from your estate is the ultimate way you can support our mission. Our trained staff is ready to help you through the process. To learn more, visit greenfoothills.org/legacy.
Support our Advocacy Fund
The Lennie Roberts Advocacy Fund was launched in honor of Lennie’s 50+ year legacy of local open space preservation as a Green Foothills’ Legislative Advocate. Ensure nature always has a champion with a one-time gift, a multi-year pledge, a stock gift, or a restricted bequest. To learn more, visit greenfoothills.org/LRAF.
Become a Sustaining Donor
Monthly giving is an easy way to make a difference every day, providing a dependable source of revenue to sustain our programs. To learn more, visit greenfoothills.org/monthly.
“Green Foothills has lived up to their name. All of our lives are better for their work. It’s critical that strong advocacy in our region continues. That’s why we support the Lennie Roberts Advocacy Fund. Please join us.”
Steve Blank and Alison Elliott Donors since 2000 and Lennie Roberts Advocacy Fund founding members
About
Who We Are
We envision a resilient region where wildlife thrives, everyone has natural beauty to enjoy, and communities live in balance with nature. Our mission is to protect the open spaces, farmlands, and natural resources of San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties for the benefit of all through advocacy, education, and grassroots action. How we work is just as important as what we are working toward. Our values are expertise, persistence, integrity, and camaraderie.
What We Do
Green Foothills champions nature and wildlife in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties through our Advocacy Program and Leadership Academy. With the support of our community, we:
Engage in local land use issues | 
Hold decision makers accountable | 
Empower community members |
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Joan Sherlock, President Jeff Segal, Vice President Bryan Beck, Secretary Lisa Munro, Treasurer
Larry Ames Matthew Burrows Martha (Tate) Cohn Craige Edgerton Sarvenaz (Nazy) Fahimi Jennifer Chang Hetterly Ed Larenas Hyma Menath Ricardo Samaniego
