Henry L Guenther Foundation
The Henry L. Guenther Foundation is a private foundation based in Seal Beach, California. It makes grants to charitable organizations, primarily to benefit California residents and especially those in Southern California, supporting work to improve social conditions, promote human welfare, and alleviate pain and suffering.
Henry L Guenther Foundation at a glance
In short: Henry L Guenther Foundation gave $4.2M across 58 grants in 2024 (avg $72K), mostly in California. 72% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,199,500
- +21.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 58
- +26.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $72,405
- -3.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $115,925,175
- +6.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 72% first-time grantees (42 of 58, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Henry L Guenther Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts applications through its online application portal.
- Review Cycle
- May 31 and October 31. May applications are reviewed at the end of July, with decisions communicated by the end of August; October applications are reviewed at the end of January, with decisions communicated by the end of February.
- Deadline
- May 31 and October 31.
- Contact
Application contact: Henry L Guenther Foundation
Mailing address: 3020 Old Ranch Parkway Ste 300, Seal Beach, CA 90740
Phone: (562) 799-5544
Website: https://guentherfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Henry L Guenther Foundation
Who Henry L Guenther Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Rady Children's Hospital- San Diego ($500K). Together the top 10 received $2.9M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($25,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
272 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 176 grants of 272 (65%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily applies its resources to benefit California residents, particularly those in Southern California. Its 2024 grants were reported as going entirely to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 58 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Henry L Guenther Foundation open to new grantees?
72%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 42 of 58 grantees (72%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $80K; repeat grants $53K. How we count
Medians: $28K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 0% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.2M (2020) to $4.4M (2021). In 2024 it made 58 grants totaling $4.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rady Children's Hospital- San Diego San Diego, CA | support the Little Heroes League Care Coordination Program. | $500,000 |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles, CA | support Thermo Fisher Bigfoot Spectral Flow Cytometer and Cell Sorter which represents the greatest innovation in the field of research and provides exponential levels of resolution to identify rare single cells contributing to diseases. | $450,000 |
| Providence Little Company of Mary Foundation Torrance, CA | support equipment and technology upgrades for the Del Vicario Cardiovascular Center of Excellence to improve the way in which we diagnose and treat cardiovascular care in community. | $450,000 |
| Glendale Adventist Medical Center Foundation Glendale, CA | renovate four catheterization labs. | $300,000 |
| Salk Institute for Biological Studies La Jolla, CA | purchase an Axioscan 7 system. | $288,000 |
| Long Beach Medical Center Long Beach, CA | purchase a new laser system necessary for minimally invasive cardiovascular procedures including coronary and peripheral atherectomies, thoracic aortic aneurysm repair, endovascular abdominal aortic repair, and more. | $250,000 |
| Braille Institute of America Inc Los Angeles, CA | support library services. | $200,000 |
| Saint John's Health Center Foundation Santa Monica, CA | purchase the next-generation sequencer NextSeq2000. | $200,000 |
| Jenesse Center Inc Los Angeles, CA | renovate a recently purchased facility in an unserved/underserved section of South Los Angeles to provide comprehensive services to transition violence victims from crisis to stability and on to self-sufficiency. | $150,000 |
| Mater Dei High School Santa Ana, CA | support construction of a performing arts center to support the Mater Dei community as well as the broader Santa Ana and Orange County communities. | $100,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $115,925,175 | $7,474,003 | $6,491,693 | $4,199,500 | 58 | $5,605,099 | $6,678,993 | $5,497,581 |
| 2023 | $109,294,511 | $22,167,889 | $5,373,597 | $3,462,000 | 46 | $4,697,939 | $21,543,599 | $4,948,971 |
| 2022 | $97,251,214 | $3,965,896 | $5,644,540 | $3,753,300 | 51 | $4,914,521 | $3,280,671 | $4,974,287 |
| 2021 | $120,612,118 | $12,847,913 | $6,231,487 | $4,354,500 | 75 | $5,421,038 | $12,169,697 | $5,280,900 |
| 2020 | $105,534,603 | $6,766,957 | $5,012,275 | $3,217,045 | 42 | — | $6,071,682 | $4,427,677 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Henry L Guenther Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to promote charitable endeavors that improve social conditions, promote human welfare, or alleviate pain and suffering. Its funding has included education, individual and family services, homeless and veteran services, food distribution, emergency services, housing opportunities, community programs, capital campaigns, and medical equipment and technology.
Its 2024 grantees illustrate the range of supported work. Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego received a grant for a care coordination program; the hospital describes its mission as enhancing children’s health and developmental potential through care, education, research, and advocacy. Braille Institute of America, which received support for library services, describes its mission as positively transforming the lives of people with vision loss. Jenesse Center, which received funding to renovate a facility for services to people affected by violence, describes its mission as restoring families impacted by domestic and sexual violence through holistic services and prevention initiatives.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation awarded 58 grants totaling $4,199,500. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $500,000, with a median grant of $25,000.
Among the largest 2024 awards were $500,000 to Rady Children’s Hospital–San Diego for its Little Heroes League Care Coordination Program; $450,000 to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for a flow cytometer and cell sorter; and $450,000 to Providence Little Company of Mary Foundation for equipment and technology upgrades at its Del Vicario Cardiovascular Center of Excellence. Other awards included $300,000 to Glendale Adventist Medical Center Foundation to renovate four catheterization labs and $288,000 to Salk Institute for Biological Studies to purchase an Axioscan 7 system.
The foundation accepts applications from qualified charitable organizations; applications are not accepted from individuals. Applicants must provide direct services to California residents. The application is submitted online, and a letter of intent is not required. The application requires, among other materials, proof of federal tax-exempt status and California tax-exempt status. Applicants must include a program budget showing how requested funds will be spent and a timeline for implementation. Projects must be completed within 12 months; unspent funds must be returned, and changes to the approved scope require returning the grant and reapplying. Previously funded organizations must wait at least three years from receipt of grant funds before submitting a new application. The foundation does not fund government agencies, loans, political campaigns, endowments, or legislative lobbying efforts, and prefers not to make multiyear grants. Funded organizations must submit six- and 12-month reports.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Susanne Sundberg as chairman of the board; Ann Leatherbury as vice president/secretary; Charles Leatherbury as treasurer; and Richard Battaglia, Phillip Battaglia, and Eric Mooberry as directors. Sarah C. Milliken is listed as a former director/officer.
Henry L Guenther Foundation is led by Susanne Sundberg, Chairman of the Board since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 6 of 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Susanne Sundberg
Chairman of the Board
Director & Chairman of the Board → Chairman of the Board, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$240K (2020) → $333K (2024)
Eric Mooberry
Director
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$73K (2020) → $111K (2024)
Phillip Battaglia
Director
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$73K (2020) → $111K (2024)
Richard Battaglia
Director
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$73K (2020) → $111K (2024)
Ann Leatherbury
Vice President & Secretary
Director, Vice President & Secrty → Vice President & Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$223K (2020) → $310K (2024)
Charles Leatherbury
Treasurer
Director & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$146K (2020) → $290K (2024)
Sarah C. Milliken
Former Director & Officer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: W. D. Milliken (2020) — Former Director & Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $333K, to Susanne Sundberg (Chairman of the Board). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Henry L Guenther Foundation
How much does Henry L Guenther Foundation give each year?
Henry L Guenther Foundation gave $4.2M across 58 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.5M across 46 grants.
What is Henry L Guenther Foundation's typical grant size?
Henry L Guenther Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $72,405, across 58 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Henry L Guenther Foundation that year got $80K on average.
Where does Henry L Guenther Foundation give grants?
Henry L Guenther Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (11 grants), San Diego, CA (5 grants), Torrance, CA (3 grants) and Long Beach, CA (3 grants).
Does Henry L Guenther Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 58 grants with a stated purpose on Henry L Guenther Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Henry L Guenther Foundation's largest grantees?
Henry L Guenther Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Rady Children's Hospital- San Diego ($500,000), Cedars-Sinai Medical Center ($450,000) and Providence Little Company of Mary Foundation ($450,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($25,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Henry L Guenther Foundation?
Henry L Guenther Foundation reported $115.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Henry L Guenther Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to promote charitable endeavors that improve social conditions, promote human welfare, or alleviate pain and suffering. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Henry L Guenther Foundation?
The foundation accepts applications through its online application portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Henry L Guenther Foundation's EIN?
Henry L Guenther Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-6026937. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Henry L Guenther Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/henry-l-guenther-foundation-morg_00ab9b59f3b94a7185dad85db4418d90
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_956026937_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Henry L Guenther Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/henry-l-guenther-foundation-morg_00ab9b59f3b94a7185dad85db4418d90},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Henry L Guenther 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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