The California State Coastal Conservancy approved a $5 million grant for yak tityu tityu yak tiłhini, or ytt, Northern Chumash nonprofit on Sept. 16 to support its acquisition of Alexander Ranch.
The grant will go toward the $18 million purchase price to return roughly 345 acres at Alexander Ranch to tribal ownership. Case and Alex Van Wingerden own the ranch, which is north of Cayucos and includes the yatspansini wa yaktspu conservancy, where ytt Tribe traditionally harvested abalone.
The grant is the first major funding approved for the land’s restoration and would allow the tribe to preserve its wildlife, cultural resources and open space.
The $5 million grant brings the nonprofit’s secured funding to $13.15 million, including $7 million from the California Department of Conservation and $1.15 million from philanthropic and partner support, according to the organization. Another $6 million in grant funding is pending as the organization works to complete the acquisition by the end of 2026.
ytt Northern Chumash nonprofit supports the Tribe through advocacy, fundraising, programs and land stewardship.
Abigail Harrison, ytt nonprofit’s operations manager, said the organization seeks funding from state conservation agencies and Native-led philanthropic partners.
“Submitting a proposal doesn’t guarantee funding,” Harrison said. “Every application goes through a competitive review process, but our success rate with active proposals has been strong.”
Harrison said securing Alexander Ranch is especially important because it could face developmental risks if the acquisition does not close.
“State conservation funding at this scale requires extensive due diligence on both sides — this wasn’t awarded simply because ytt is a tribal nonprofit, but because of decades of documented work in conservation, ocean science and cultural land stewardship,” Harrison said in an email interview.