Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation
The Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Irvine, California. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including arts and music organizations, community groups, educational institutions, and organizations supporting public services.
Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation gave $275K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), mostly in California. 60% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $275,005
- -7.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +66.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $18,334
- -44.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $853,345
- +7.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 60% first-time grantees (9 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (57% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. It lists no specific application format and says a written statement describing the need and purpose of a request is accepted. The filing names Eugene Choi as the person to contact and reports no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None; the filing says applications are accepted throughout the year.
- Deadline
- None; the filing says applications are accepted throughout the year.
- Contact
Application contact: Eugene Choi
Mailing address: 17211 Valley View Avenue, Cerritos, CA 90703
Phone: (562) 977-4500
Email: eugene@ueccorp.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Armonia Music Group ($96K). Together the top 10 received $265K.
Grant Size Distribution
45 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 32 grants of 45 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest reported shares of grant dollars went to recipients in California (57%), New York (20%), and Washington, DC (18%). The filing also reports 2% for Colorado and 4% for recipients with an unspecified state.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation open to new grantees?
60%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 15 grantees (60%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $33K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 40% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 26% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 723% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $163K (2020) to $370K (2022). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $275K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Armonia Music Group Cypress, CA | Support the mission of the organization - to ensure a fair and transparent compensation for authors in the online music industry through extensive music licensing expertise and innovative technology. | $96,100 |
| Council of Korean American Washington, DC | Support the mission of the organization - to advance the national voice and influence of the korean American community through collaboration and leadership development. | $50,000 |
| Ellis Island Honors Society Franklin Square, NY | Support the mission of the organizayion - to celebrate the contributions immigrants and their descendants have made to America, support educational opportunities for students with immigrant heritage, and aid in the preservation of the ellis island national monument. | $25,000 |
| Irvine Barclay Theater Irvine, CA | Support the mission of the organization - to broaden the scope, availability and appreciation of the arts in Orange county by being a leading cultural presenter of diverse and exceptional artists, and by providing a state-of-the-art venue for community cultural organizations and university programs. | $20,000 |
| UCI Foundation Irvine, CA | Support the mission of the organization - to raise and manage private funds to support uci's broader mission of excellence in teaching, research and public service. | $19,950 |
| Sejong Soloists New York, NY | Support the mission of the organization - enriching lives through high-level music performance and outreach. Fostering and educating the next generation of musical talent, with alumni in major roles at top orchestras like the New York philharmonic. | $18,700 |
| Asian Pacific Community Fund Los Angeles, CA | Support the mission of the organization - to transforms lives and meets the diverse needs of asian and pacific islanders (APIS) throughout los Angeles county and beyond. | $10,000 |
| Korean American Community Foundation New York, NY | Support the mission of the organization - drives social change by funding community-based nonprofits, fostering a culture of giving, and fostering philanthropy within the korean American community. Funding provided to initiatives related to education, workforce development, youth, mental health, and affordable housing. | $10,000 |
| National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement | Support the mission of the organization - fund locally driven public welfare, poverty alleviation, and community-centered humanitarian relief within china. Direct funding to upgrade church-run nursing homes, geriatric centers and low-income families devastated by severe medical debts and long-term health crises. | $10,000 |
| Newport Beach Public Library Newport Beach, CA | Support the mission of the organization - serves as the cultural, educational, and informational heart of the community, providing free access to materials, technology, and programs that foster lifelong learning. | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $853,345 | $336,962 | $280,576 | $275,005 | 15 | $276,755 | $135,212 | $38,283 |
| 2024 | $794,609 | $103,808 | $302,308 | $296,891 | 9 | $298,816 | $100,416 | $49,207 |
| 2023 | $998,109 | $360,360 | $312,226 | $304,200 | 6 | $307,650 | $56,351 | $44,053 |
| 2022 | $944,975 | $74,299 | $372,526 | $369,878 | 9 | $370,228 | $73,874 | $55,047 |
| 2021 | $1,286,448 | $107,304 | $174,662 | $169,608 | 6 | $170,908 | $105,978 | $68,907 |
| 2020 | $1,291,102 | $87,306 | $172,398 | $162,600 | 7 | — | $83,427 | $65,518 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $38K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its listed 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Second Harvest Food Bank says its mission is to end hunger and malnutrition by educating and involving the community; Korea Christian Gospel Mission says it spreads the gospel and cares for people in distress, among other activities. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $275,005 through 15 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $349 to $96,100, with a median of $10,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $96,100 to Armonia Music Group, $50,000 to the Council of Korean American, $25,000 to Ellis Island Honors Society, $20,000 to Irvine Barclay Theater, and $19,950 to UCI Foundation. Other reported grants included $18,700 to Sejong Soloists and $10,000 each to Asian Pacific Community Fund, Korean American Community Foundation, and the National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement. The foundation also gave $1,406 to Second Harvest Food Bank and $1,000 to Korea Christian Gospel Mission.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Eugene Choi as president and Carol Choi as secretary.
Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation is led by Eugene Choi, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Eugene Choi
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carol Choi
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation
How much does Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation give each year?
Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation gave $275K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $297K across 9 grants.
What is Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $18,334, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation give grants?
Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (20%) and District of Columbia (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Irvine, CA (3 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (2 grants).
Does Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Armonia Music Group ($96,100), Council of Korean American ($50,000) and Ellis Island Honors Society ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation?
Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation reported $853K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $277K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $38K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its listed 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation?
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation's EIN?
Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3833324. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 18, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation
Mission Viejo, CA
The Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation supports preselected charitable organizations, including education, arts, and other charitable work, with most of its giving in California. In 2024, it made 17 grants ranging from $250 to $55,000, with a median grant of $10,000. It does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$8.5M
Grants
17
Total Given
$279K
The Paul & Elisabeth Merage
Newport Beach, CA
Assets
$40.8M
Grants
5
Total Given
$1.9M
The Madison Foundation for Families Inc
Newport Beach, CA
The Madison Foundation for Families supports a range of charitable organizations, including those focused on health, animal rescue, arts, affordable housing, and disability services. Its 2025 grants ranged from $2,000 to $150,000, with a median of $6,000, and went primarily to organizations in California. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.5M
Grants
11
Total Given
$393K
The Gerrit and Amy Cole Foundation
Newport Beach, CA
The foundation supports children’s health and basic needs, education, arts and culture, hunger relief, fire safety, and ALS research and support, with most 2025 grant dollars going to California, followed by New York and Florida. Its 2025 grants ranged from $3,000 to $30,000, with a median of $10,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$3.0M
Grants
14
Total Given
$188K
UHL & KK Foundation
Costa Mesa, CA
The UHL & KK Foundation funds education and scholarships, along with charitable programs serving children, women, and disadvantaged youth and organizations focused on social justice or racial inequality. In 2024, grants ranged from $100 to $25,000, with a median of $2,000; most funding went to California, with some support in Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., and New York. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.0M
Grants
27
Total Given
$122K
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 26, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/eugene-and-carol-choi-family-foundation-morg_620f843c110543cb9f186b9dab1f1ac0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_263833324_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/eugene-and-carol-choi-family-foundation-morg_620f843c110543cb9f186b9dab1f1ac0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-26. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Eugene and Carol Choi Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?