Gochnauer Family Foundation
The Gochnauer Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Corona del Mar, California. Established in December 1998, it supports organizations and programs that promote spiritual, medical, cultural, and educational growth or provide essential services to families and children in need.
Gochnauer Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Gochnauer Family Foundation gave $828K across 55 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in California. 44% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $827,744
- +164.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 55
- +41.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,050
- +87.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,004
- Total assets
- $16,138,623
- +6.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 44% first-time grantees (24 of 55, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (51% 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 Gochnauer Family Foundation
- Contact
Application contact: Meg Appelgate
Mailing address: 31911 Via Granada, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Phone: (949) 752-2190
Email: meg@gochnauer.org
Website: https://gochnauer.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gochnauer Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Orange Way United Way ($153K). Together the top 10 received $580K.
Grant Size Distribution
210 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 205 grants of 210 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The website’s criteria say the foundation does not accept applications serving communities outside Southern California, Illinois, Wisconsin, or developing countries. In 2025, 51% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 39% to recipients in Illinois; the remainder went to recipients in New York (4%), Wisconsin (4%), and Massachusetts (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 55 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Gochnauer Family Foundation open to new grantees?
44%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 24 of 55 grantees (44%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $24K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 162% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 104% 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 $198K (2023) to $828K (2025). In 2025 it made 55 grants totaling $828K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Orange Way United Way Irvine, CA | General | $153,175 |
| Unsilenced Project Inc Rancho Mission Viejo, CA | General | $100,000 |
| Opportunity International Carol Stream, IL | General | $95,000 |
| Francis Parker School Chicago, IL | General | $61,200 |
| CEO Leadership Alliance Orange Coun Laguna Beach, CA | General | $35,000 |
| University of Wisconsin Green Bay' Green Bay, WI | General | $30,000 |
| Vocel Chicago, IL | General | $30,000 |
| Chicago House Chicago, IL | General | $25,741 |
| The Shea Center San Juan Capistrano, CA | General | $25,000 |
| Equalities Illinois Education Chicago, IL | General | $24,500 |
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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 | $16,138,623 | $2,925,602 | $1,092,815 | $827,744 | 55 | $827,744 | $1,862,883 | $793,483 |
| 2024 | $15,188,088 | $360,080 | $477,507 | $312,728 | 39 | $312,728 | $296,701 | $289,550 |
| 2023 | $4,136,819 | $384,004 | $349,557 | $198,030 | 38 | $198,030 | $333,877 | $236,961 |
| 2022 | $4,100,282 | $480,527 | $481,507 | $315,510 | 39 | $315,510 | $421,793 | $251,071 |
| 2021 | $4,101,081 | $404,327 | $515,526 | $318,019 | 39 | $318,019 | $250,895 | $301,290 |
| 2020 | $4,202,500 | $230,121 | $424,451 | $276,223 | 27 | — | $176,071 | $243,045 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gochnauer Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $793K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated purpose is to provide financial help for families and children in need by supporting organizations and programs that promote spiritual, medical, cultural, and educational growth or provide essential services.
Its 2025 grants included organizations with a range of missions. For example, Unsilenced Project says it works to stop institutional child abuse by empowering self-advocates; High Jump describes a tuition-free enrichment program for middle-school students with limited family income; and City of Hope says its mission is to support people touched by cancer and diabetes. These are the grantees’ own descriptions, not the foundation’s stated mission.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 55 grants totaling $827,744. Grants ranged from $103 to $153,175, with a median grant of $5,004. The website says grants typically range from $1,000 to $25,000 and may support operating or capital needs.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $153,175 to Orange Way United Way, $100,000 to Unsilenced Project, $95,000 to Opportunity International, $61,200 to Francis Parker School, and $35,000 to CEO Leadership Alliance Orange County.
The website says proposals are accepted only from 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organizations and require a personal relationship with a board member; for new organizations, that includes a board member site visit. It also says requests must be submitted in writing and electronically, with no requests taken by phone. Requests are to include confirmation of 501(c)(3) status, an organizational description, the request’s purpose and amount, and a designated contact. Requests of $5,000 or more require additional materials, including board and financial information, funding sources, details on use of funds and people served, and information relevant to the selection criteria.
The website states that the foundation had completed its giving for 2021 and was no longer reviewing applications, and that it was not accepting new applications through the website. The 2025 filing directs applicants to the website’s applying page and names Meg Appelgate as the contact for application inquiries; it lists no deadline.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Richard W. Gochnauer as president, Beth A. Gochnauer as chair/secretary, and Grant D. Gochnauer and Mary E. Appelgate as vice presidents. The foundation’s website also lists Beth Gochnauer as chairperson and secretary; Dick Gochnauer as president and treasurer; Grant Gochnauer as vice president and trustee; Meg (Gochnauer) Appelgate as vice president, trustee, and managing director; Benjamin Appelgate as secretary; Gabriel Fontes as a board member; and Spencer Appelgate as a junior board member.
Gochnauer Family Foundation is led by Richard W. Gochnauer, President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Richard W. Gochnauer
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Beth A. Gochnauer
Chair & Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Grant D. Gochnauer
Vice President
On filings since 2020
$100K (2025)
Mary E. Appelgate
Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
$100K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Meg Appelgate (2022–2024) — Vice President
- Former: Meg Lehman (2020–2021) — Vice President
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $100K, to Grant D Gochnauer (Vice Preside). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Gochnauer Family Foundation
How much does Gochnauer Family Foundation give each year?
Gochnauer Family Foundation gave $828K across 55 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $313K across 39 grants.
What is Gochnauer Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Gochnauer Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,004, and its average grant was $15,050, across 55 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gochnauer Family Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does Gochnauer Family Foundation give grants?
Gochnauer Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 51% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Illinois (39%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (22 grants), Irvine, CA (7 grants), Santa Ana, CA (5 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants).
Does Gochnauer Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Gochnauer Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (55 of 55) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Gochnauer Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Gochnauer Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Orange Way United Way ($153,175), Unsilenced Project Inc ($100,000) and Opportunity International ($95,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Gochnauer Family Foundation?
Gochnauer Family Foundation reported $16.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $828K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $793K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Gochnauer Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose is to provide financial help for families and children in need by supporting organizations and programs that promote spiritual, medical, cultural, and educational growth or provide essential services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gochnauer Family Foundation?
Gochnauer Family Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check gochnauer.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Gochnauer Family Foundation's EIN?
Gochnauer Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0833479. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 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 July 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Gochnauer Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gochnauer Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Gochnauer Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gochnauer-family-foundation-morg_3ac83385c2d14b64b4e1b5189f568c64
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_330833479_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Gochnauer Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gochnauer-family-foundation-morg_3ac83385c2d14b64b4e1b5189f568c64},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 Gochnauer 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.
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