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2008 annual report[1]

Letter from the Executive DirectorIn 2008, Greenbelt Alliance protected natural areas around the Bay, from watersheds to productive farms to wetlands.This past year, myfirst as ExecutiveDirector, GreenbeltAlliance celebrated our50th anniversary andtook time to reflect.We like what we see.The Bay Area is a thriving,diverse metropolissurrounded by oak-studded hills, redwoodforests, and productive farms. GreenbeltAlliance’s tireless advocacy for open spaces andgreat neighborhoods has been a leading forcein making our region the envy of the nation.Reflection was only part of 2008; our talentedstaff and volunteers, led by our Board of Directors,achieved major victories, as you’ll see.A new era also began, one that calls for change.The housing crisis and fluctuating gas priceshave proven that sprawl development is trulyunsustainable. State leaders, working to reducegreenhouse gas pollution, now recognize thatwhere homes are built profoundly impactsglobal warming. In the Bay Area, leaders areworking together to support new patterns ofgrowth that are both environmentally sustainableand socially just.Greenbelt Alliance is ready to lead the way.For 50 years Greenbelt Alliance has been thevoice for creating vibrant, planet- and peoplefriendlycommunities. Now, as the solutionswe have long promoted become increasinglypopular, we will use our solid research, grassrootsactivism, and policy expertise to bringchange to the Bay Area.I am proud to be Greenbelt Alliance’sExecutive Director as we enter this new era.Thank you for your support in 2008. Yourcontinued support, in 2009 and beyond, willhelp Greenbelt Alliance make the Bay Area amodel for the nation and an even better placeto live.Sincerely,Jeremy Madsen[2]

2008 by the NumbersMembers and friends hiked through the mist at Castle Rock on one of the more than 60 Greenbelt Outings in 2008.1Mega-mall stopped on Santa ClaraCounty farmland; developers considered avacant building within Gilroy instead.7Improved policies in the Sonoma CountyGeneral Plan, following our advocacy.Urban growth boundaries in the BayArea, with the newest unanimously28adopted by the Vacaville City Council.Percent of Californians voted62.5 for Proposition 99, which fixedeminent domain without dismantling environmentalsafeguards.Miles of a new train line and a parallel70 bike and pedestrian pathway fromCloverdale to Larkspur; Greenbelt Alliancecampaigned hard for the SMART train.Elected officials and civic leaders200 attended Greenbelt Alliance UrbanOutings to envision better neighborhoods.Million in funding for new$225 parks and trails in the East Bay,following the passage of Measure WW.Supporters rallied by Greenbelt290 Alliance to advocate for a greendirection for the future use of the ConcordNaval Weapons Station.Copies of Smart Infill, GreenbeltAlliance’s new practical1,300guide to revitalizing communities, in thehands of local officials and leaders region-wide.Future homes endorsed by5,600 Greenbelt Alliance in citiesfrom San Rafael to San Jose to Hercules.More each year for$400,000 affordable homes inMarin, after county supervisors adopted a feeon new oversized homes.Acres in Solano980,000 and Napa countiespreserved by the passage of Measures T and P,both Greenbelt Alliance-supported initiatives.metric tons of5,000,000 greenhouse gasesto be reduced through better land use, a policyadopted by the Air Resources Board.[3]

AchievementsGreenbelt Alliance organized a tour of North San Jose to encourage plans to make the neighborhood more walkable.Nina Robinson, www. ninarobinsonphotography.comCLIMATE POLICY IMPROVEDThe Global Warming Solutions Act willinclude improved land use:“I think people are sick of traffic, and theydo care about the issue of global warming,and they do want to spend more timewith their families and spend less timein their cars.” —Amanda Brown-Stevens,Director of Programs“Creeping sprawl overtakes refugees from cities,”San Francisco Chronicle, April 18, 2008PROPOSITION DEFEATEDProposition 98 was a threat that failed, thanksto advocacy by Greenbelt Alliance and allies:“If this measure were to pass, it would... invalidate planning, zoning and otherregulations that are put in place by localgovernments to enhance the quality oflife.” —Jeremy Madsen, Executive Director“‘Private use’ clause splits law’s allies, foes,”San Francisco Chronicle, May 7, 2008LINE DRAWNThe Vacaville City Council adopted a 20-yearurban growth boundary:“This is a great day for Vacaville. Thiswill preserve the city’s quality of life byprotecting the natural areas and workingfarms around it.” — Amanda Brown-Stevens, Director of Programs“Signers like growth zone,” The VacavilleReporter, Feb. 12, 2008FARMLAND PROTECTEDThe passage of Measure P and Measure T wasa victory for Napa and Solano counties:“Together, these initiatives can protectalmost a million acres of the Bay Area’smost scenic and productive landscapes,including the Napa Valley.” — ElizabethStampe, Communications Director“Bay Area Environment on the NovemberBallot,” Bay Nature Magazine, October–December 2008[4]

BETTER CITIES ENVISIONEDGreenbelt Alliance and its allies organizedseveral successful Urban Outings:“We really see in the development ofthe First Street corridor how othercities around the region could do infilldevelopment.” — Michele Beasley, SeniorField Representative“San Jose leaders try to reverse urban sprawl,”San Francisco Chronicle, Aug. 17, 2008DEVELOPERS STOPPEDA letter-writing campaign helped to haltCoyote Valley development plans:“One of the biggest blows to the proposalcame last year, when the city decided thatparts of an environmental impact reportneeded to be redone—largely because ofmore than 1,000 letters of opposition.”“Developers drop plan for San Jose’s CoyoteValley,” San Jose Mercury News, March 19,2008GREEN TRAIN APPROVEDGreenbelt Alliance played a critical role in thepassage of Measure Q, the SMART train:“Here in the North Bay, our tailpipeshave an outsized impact on the climate.That’s because today, we have few or noalternatives to driving. With Measure Q,we can change that.” — Daisy Pistey-Lyhne, Senior Field Representative“SMART: A green, effective solution,”Marin Independent Journal, Oct. 21, 2008GRASSROOTS INFLUENCEA strong coalition improved plans for theConcord Naval Weapons Station:“We want more assurances open spacestays open permanently and that theentire development, whatever it is, issupported by public transportation.”— Christina Wong, Field Representative“Environmental groups react to Naval WeaponsStation proposals,” Contra Costa Times,Oct. 4, 2008Around the regionGreenbelt Alliance influenced the City of Concord to preservemuch of the former Concord Naval Weapons Station.AFFORDABLE HOMESGreenbelt Alliance opened a field office inMarin and backed a fee on oversized homes:“The fee is justified because commercialbuildings already pay a fee to promoteaffordable housing. This is closing aloophole, not a radical departure.”— Nathan Johnson, Field Representative“County doubles housing fee for builders,”Marin Independent Journal, Sept. 16, 2008NEW GUIDEBOOK RELEASEDGreenbelt Alliance published a revised andupdated Smart Infill full of practical advice:“Climate change is the latest reason forcities to embrace this kind of planning.New state legislation now encourages it.Smart Infill makes both the reasons andthe strategies clear.”Editorial, San Jose Mercury News,Oct. 13, 2008[5]

Thank youHot Buttered Rum played at Bluegrass for the Greenbelt.Many thanks to everyone who supportedGreenbelt Alliance this year. Annual gifts of$500 or more are recognized in this report.Major GiftsDOROTHY ERSKINEASSOCIATES$100,000 & UPFlora L. Thornton/Flora L. ThorntonFoundation$50,000 & UPAnonymous$25,000 & UPAnonymousFred EychanerMortimer & Francoise FleishhackerMargaret SpauldingLaney & Pasha Thornton$10,000 & UPElliot B. & Pascale EversWilliam D. & Melinda EversMr. & Mrs. Berkeley JohnsonJon Kannegaard & Patricia SandovalEdie and Bob KirkwoodGeorge A. Miller & Janet McKinleyMrs. Mary E. MitsuiPratap & Chitra PalThomas & JaMel PerkinsMr. Stephen M. SilbersteinJack Weeden & David DaviesWells Whitney & Anne W. HalstedFOUNDER’S CIRCLE$5,000 & UPAnonymousDr. Nancy Adler & Arnold MilsteinW. Anderson & Sara BarnesFrances BowesWilliam EastmanJohn & Carol FieldGuy Haskin & Lia FernaldRobert E. JohnsonThe Annual Major Gifts list includes gifts made in fiscal year 2008(10/1/07 to 9/30/08) and new donors who joined us between10/1/08 and 1/15/09. Please contact Development Director ErnieNotar at (415) 543-6771 x305 or enotar@greenbelt.org regardingany omissions or errors or if you’d like information about plannedgiving opportunities or making an endowment gift.* indicates Greenbelt Guardian monthly donors[6]Derry & Charlene KabcenellKingsley Family FoundationRobert P. & Genevieve LawrenceJay & Carolyn PaxtonToby & Sally RosenblattRobert Stephens & Julia PackardTom Steyer & Kat TaylorVivian Fei Tsen & Wayne LewWarren L. & Janis Watkins$2,500 & UPAnonymousDavid & Janet AzevedoLynne Deegan-McGrawDana & Bob EmeryMr. & Mrs. Robert J. & ElizabethS. FisherMs. Linda Jo FitzMichael FitzhughRoy and D’Aun GobleDouglas & Kaatri GriggDeepak KamlaniDuane Kromm & Marilyn Farley*Jan O’Brien & Craig HartmanGene & Abby SchnairDr. Jonathan & Pam ShieldsMichele D. & Richard J. StrattonPorter E. & Helenmae ThompsonFoundationMichelle Yesney & Richard Gertman$1,000 & UPAnonymousWinifred and Harry B. AllenFoundationTeresa & Ralph BastianJack & Leslie BatsonAlvin H. Baum Jr.Courtney Benoist & Jason FishDavid & Anne BernsteinL & L Borok FoundationShelagh & Bob BrodersenAllan F. & Marilyn S. BrownDeborah Brown & Michael StevensRichard & Brenda BuckerfieldOwen Byrd & Audry GarfieldLaurie Reid CaseyLouise Harvey ClarkJoan & Clarence ColemanDelphine & Allen DamonMs. Patricia Swig DinnerJean & James E. DouglasJennifer Sellon DyerDelia EhrlichLisa Erdberg & Dennis GibbonsTimothy Ferris & CarolynZecca FerrisJohn FiorettaLeslie Fleishhacker-Gaylord &Frederick GaylordRobert Flint Jr.David Fowler & Kathleen A. DemetriMichael F. & Diana FredrichTom Gamble/Gamble FoundationKate Godfrey & Robert ColleyMimi & Peter Haas FundDonna & James HalowJon & Connie HartungUrs HoelzleMichael & Linda B. HoweBud & Fran JohnsCarolyn Johnson & Rick TheisMichael KossmanLarry LangdonLawrence & Lori LapidesSue & Peter LaTourretteJohn & Sandra LelandHollis LenderkingDoug Lipton & Cindy E. DanielMr. Park L. LoughlinJake & Barbara MackenzieJohn Mackie & Kate EckerJeremy Madsen & Sarah GilmanMichael & Alexandra MarstonMr. Allan V. & Eleanor F. MartiniR. Stephen & Alison MattoonLawrence MaxwellMs. Jean McCownJohn A. & Leslie McQuownSandra Monteko-Sherman & JoeShermanPatrick & Gail MurphyErnie Notar & Winkie Campbell-Notar*Roger Odenberg & Cathleen McCaffertyJohn S. OsterweisDiane ParishMichele PerraultMary PrchalLaurel Prevetti & Bob HawnPugash Family FundMrs. Virginia RawsonCurtis R. Riffle & Karen ScusselJim Rosenau & Dianne StocklerThe Schmitz-Fromherz Family FundMr. & Mrs. Albert R. & Joel WellsSchreckJean F. SchulzMr. Andrew M. SesslerJ. Gary and OJ ShansbyAnne ShelleySusan SpencerTracy StampfliMr. & Mrs. John H. SutterAnne P. TellerGeorge D. Tuttle & Ben CushmanDiane B. WilseyJohn & Mona WilsonMr. Paul Vincent WisemanKay & Frank WoodsFrank & Anna YangBetsy York & Demetrhea TerrienBENEFACTORS$500 & UPAnonymous (2) • Wanda Alexander• Dan and Lynne Alper • BarbaraBaksa & Andrew Spafford • Lalit Balchandani• Robert R. Baltzer • KathyBaylor • Ms. Cassandra Benjamin• Mr. Bob & Carol Berman* • Mrs.De Witt K. Burnham • Mr. ThomasCarlino • Mr. A. Richard Carter • ErikCassel • John & Nancy Cassidy •

to our supportersKristen Clements • Stuart Cohen •Huguette Combs • Philip & ElayneDauber • Electra & George dePeyster • Volker & Liesel Eisele• Fred & Jocelyn Euphrat • TonyFields & Emily Ozer • Bonnie Fisher& Boris Dramov • Nina Friend &Francis Schumacher • William Haas• Maud Hallin • Maggie Hand &John Hartog • Julie & Kurt Hauser• Heller Manus Architects • TheHonorable James C. Hormel • LouisI. Jaffe & Kitty Whitman • Mrs.Katharine H. Johnson • Sidney Kass& Susie Langdon Kass • Matt Kerns• Frederic Knapp • Tim Kochis •Maryon Davies Lewis • Kathleen& Dennis Linsley • John & SarahLowry • Carol & Craig Lundin •Lynn MacDonald • AlexanderMagee • Robert & Pamela Mang •Charles McGlashan • Julie Miller •Vicki Moore & Scott Chan • Mark& Elinor Mumm • Karen Offereins• Jerrold F. Petruzzelli • Jody Z.& John N. Roberts • Barr & JuneRosenberg • Marde Gardner Ross• Peter M. Sager • Mr. John M.Sanger • Danny Scher • GregSchick • Susan Schwartz & RobertZucker • Harvey & Deborah Shein• Mr. and Mrs. Gary R. Smith •Ms. Genny Smith • Dee and PeterSwanhuyser • J. Gregory Swendsen• Cart P. Thacher • Paige and TedThomas • F. Jerry Tone & MarthaWyckoff • Bob Van Breda • SteveVan Landingham & Matt O’Grady*• Kathy H. Weinberger • DockWilliams • Gary G. Williams &Maryann Noble • Mark G. Wolfe •Mary YatesFOUNDATIONSAnonymousArntz Family FoundationThe Clarence E. Heller FoundationThe Compton FoundationCounty of Marin CommunityServices ProgramThe David L. Klein Jr. FoundationThe David and Lucile PackardFoundationEast Bay Community FoundationThe Giant Steps FoundationThe Gordon and Betty MooreFoundationThe JEC FoundationThe Lisa and David Goldman FundMarin Community FoundationResources Legacy Fund FoundationThe Richard & Rhoda Goldman FundThe San Francisco FoundationSEED Fund of the Studio for UrbanProjectsThe Sierra Club FoundationThe Strong Foundation forEnvironmental ValuesThe Wallace Alexander GerbodeFoundationThe William and Flora HewlettFoundationBusinessPartners(including in-kind gifts)ASPIRIANTBenziger Family WineryBoulevardCakebread CellarsCharles Creek VineyardsDe Loach VineyardsDyer VineyardEdmunds St. John WinesForest CityFranciscanFrog Hollow FarmFrog’s Leap VineyardGenentechGive Something BackGrizzly Peak CyclistsKatherine Kennedy WineryLaurel Glen VineyardPan Pacific Plastics Manufacturing Co.Friends of all ages enjoyedGreenbelt Alliance’s 50th anniversary party atHerbst International Exhibit Hall in San Francisco.PatagoniaRavenswood WineryREIROMA Design GroupSchramsberg VineyardsShute, Mihaly and Weinberger, LLPSilver Oak CellarsSkidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLPSKS InvestmentsSteelhead WinesTriad CommunitiesVolker Eisele Family EstateSTATEMENT OF ACTIVITIESSupport and RevenueMembership .............................$238,828Member Appeals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12,356Workplace Giving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $21,914Major Donors ............................$446,258Business Contributions . .......................$4,535Foundation Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,114,526Endowment Donations . ......................... $50Dedicated Donations ........................$12,954Educational Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $297,777Contracts & Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 288,107Interest Income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $63,568Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $16,924Net Gain on Endowment Investment . . . . . . . . . . .–$281,959Total Support and Revenue .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,235,838ExpensesPolicy & Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $821,830Communications & Education .................$210,292Membership .............................$351,038Research and Education .....................$203,717Greenbelt Alliance Initiative Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $32,000Open Space Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $478,347SF Housing Action Coalition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $131,532Administration/Management & General . . . . . . . . . . . $71,216Fundraising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $152,723Total Expenses .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,452,695STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITIONAssetsCurrent Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,180,815Endowment .......................... $1,131,557Other Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $16,048Total Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,328,420Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $125,167Net Assets ........................... $2,203,253Total Liabilities and Net Assets.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2,328,420[7]

“Greenbelt Alliance is one of the things thatmakes the San Francisco Bay Area special—its clear vision has empowered generations ofcivic leaders and grassroots activists alike.”—Carl Pope, Sierra ClubThe Bay Area’s advocate for open spaces and vibrant places since 1958“Greenbelt Alliance is right on track to helppreserve the Bay Area we all know and love.Fostering smart growth in our cities and towns iscritical to reducing sprawl and greenhouse gasemissions and protecting our preciousopen spaces, farms, and valleys.”—State Senator Mark LenoCentral Office631 Howard Street, Suite 510San Francisco, CA 94105(415) 543-6771info@greenbelt.orgwww.greenbelt.org[8]