Globetrotter Foundation

The Globetrotter Foundation is a private foundation whose stated mission is "to increase the resilience of mankind in the face of accelerating change." Headquartered at the Paicines Ranch in Paicines, California (an hour south of San Jose), it operates as the philanthropic arm of the #NoRegrets Initiative, convened by landowner-philanthropist Sallie Calhoun. The foundation's strategic lens is regenerative agriculture, soil health, and the stewardship of farmland, ranchland and wild lands. It operates as a convener-funder hybrid — running signature programs (Lead with Land, Learning Journey, Women in Ranching) that bring together high-net-worth land-owning peers to share practices, case studies, and strategy for regenerative land management, rather than relying on an open grants competition.

With ~$21.3M in assets, typical annual distributions should run $850K-$1.1M. The foundation channels resources through its #NoRegrets Initiative portfolio (noregretsinitiative.com) and three flagship programs: Lead with Land (convening peer landowners), Learning Journey, and Women in Ranching. Grants flow to organizations advancing regenerative agriculture, soil health, local food systems, farmland/ranchland stewardship, and women in ranching — with preference for practical demonstration, convening, and movement-building work. Geographic focus leans toward California and the western U.S. (anchored at Paicines Ranch), though the broader regenerative network extends nationally. Grant sizes likely range $10K-$100K+ given asset base, with larger awards possible for flagship portfolio partners.

Among soil-health/regenerative-ag philanthropies, Globetrotter is distinctive for combining grantmaking with a convening model that activates OTHER wealthy landowners. It operates at small-mid scale but punches above its weight through the #NoRegrets network and Sallie Calhoun's personal reputation.

Active programs as of 2026 include Lead with Land, Learning Journey, and Women in Ranching, all hosted at the Paicines Ranch. The Foundation maintains an active grantee portfolio via the #NoRegrets Initiative. Primary contact is Avery Anderson Sponholtz (avery@globetrotterfoundation.org). Programs use a pilot-gathering model with repeat cohorts of landowners. Recent 990-PF filings (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, EIN 454901050) would show specific grantees. No open application has been located — the funding model runs through curated network engagement at Paicines Ranch events rather than an unsolicited proposal pipeline.

1) Alignment with regenerative agriculture, soil health, local food systems, farmland/ranchland stewardship, or women in ranching is essential — other causes will not fit. 2) No open grant application process exists. Funding appears to follow relationships built through the #NoRegrets Initiative and Paicines Ranch convenings. 3) Email Avery Anderson Sponholtz (avery@globetrotterfoundation.org) with a concise mission-alignment statement; ask whether your work fits the current portfolio before sending a full proposal. 4) Review the #NoRegrets Initiative portfolio at noregretsinitiative.com/portfolio/ to see current grantees — overlapping work is a strong signal of fit. 5) Consider applying to Lead with Land (landowners) or Women in Ranching (ranching women) if personally eligible — participation is the relationship-building path. 6) Sallie Calhoun's personal philanthropic network is the decision-making center; network introductions through regenerative-ag thought leaders (Kiss the Ground, Savory Institute, Quivira Coalition, Rodale) carry significant weight. 7) California-based regenerative ag orgs have the strongest geographic match.