Natalie Orfalea Foundation
The Natalie Orfalea Foundation is a private foundation based in Santa Barbara, California, established in 2016. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to serve as a catalyst for spiritual and civil transformation through innovative grantmaking and community partnerships.
Key facts about Natalie Orfalea Foundation
- EIN
- 47-4602133
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,117,419
- Grants made (2024)
- 29
- Average grant
- $38,532
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 52% first-time grantees (14 of 27, 2024)
- Total assets
- $19,151,219
- Primary geography
- California (81% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Natalie Orfalea Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Natalie Orfalea Foundation's 29 itemized 2024 grants were California (81%) and Virginia (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (12 grants), San Francisco, CA (2 grants), Goleta, CA (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants). 76% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Natalie Orfalea Foundation open to new grantees?
52%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 14 of 27 grantees (52%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $55K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $40K repeat.
- 33% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 183% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Natalie Orfalea Foundation
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$19.2M
+6.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
-5.7% YoY
Grant Count
29
-9.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$39K
+4.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Natalie Orfalea Foundation reported a distributable amount of $896K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Vision: To be a catalyst for spiritual and civil transformation for stronger communities and a better world.
Mission: To partner with innovative individuals and organizations doing creative and transformative work through the lens of storytelling, education, and community building.
The foundation focuses grants in four primary areas:
- Community Building — Supporting initiatives that strengthen community bonds and collective action
- Seeking Truth Through Storytelling — Funding narrative-driven work that promotes understanding and awareness
- Honoring the Natural World — Supporting environmental stewardship and conservation efforts
- Health of the Whole Human — Funding holistic health and wellness initiatives
- Education and Transformation — Supporting educational programs that drive personal and systemic change
Grantmaking
The foundation made 14 grants in 2024. Grant types include general operating support, program-specific funding, and donor-advised fund contributions.
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with some activity in the District of Columbia and Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 29 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $19,151,219
- Total Giving: $1,477,285
- Total Revenues: $381,400
- Total Expenses: $1,530,360
- Staff: 1 employee
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $19,151,219 | $17,972,249 | $17,044,134 |
| Revenue | $381,400 | $1,283,236 | $846,621 |
| Expenses | $1,530,360 | $1,952,458 | $1,917,036 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,637,418 | $1,770,369 | $1,166,890 |
| Net Investment Income | $297,107 | $1,204,910 | $764,657 |
| Distributable Amount | $895,624 | $839,989 | $893,198 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
143 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Dignity Moves ($124,798), Santa Barbara Foundation ($120,000), The Nature Conservancy ($111,752).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DIGNITY MOVES San Francisco, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $124,798 |
| SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION Santa Barbara, CA | DONOR ADVISED FUND | $120,000 |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY Arlington, VA | DANGERMOND | $111,752 |
| ISLA VISTA YOUTH PROJECT Goleta, CA | LEAP PROGRAM | $75,000 |
| SANTA BARBARA COUNTY FOOD ACTION NETWORK Santa Barbara, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $66,500 |
| UCSB FOUNDATION Santa Barbara, CA | BREN ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM | $51,775 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD Santa Barbara, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $50,362 |
| CARPINTERIA CHILDRENS PROJECT Carpinteria, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $50,000 |
| FREEDOM 4 YOUTH Santa Barbara, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $50,000 |
| SB EDUCATION FOUNDATION Santa Barbara, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Natalie Orfalea — Co-Founder & Chairperson
Natalie Orfalea has an extensive background in philanthropy and community development. Following a successful career at Xerox Corporation, she established an independent product development firm. She has served on numerous boards including the University of California Santa Barbara Chancellor's Council, Direct Relief International, the Santa Barbara Children's Museum, UCSB Arts & Lectures, and All Kinds of Minds. In 2013, she was named an honorary alumna of UC Santa Barbara in recognition of her altruistic advocacy for education.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natalie Fleet Orfalea | President, Treasurer, Secr | 10 | — |
| Mason J Orfalea | Director | 1 | — |
| Keenan J Orfalea | Director | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in supporting diverse initiatives across its focus areas. Recent grantees include organizations working in food security, youth development programs, and community support services. The foundation's grantmaking reflects its commitment to innovative, transformative work that addresses community needs across multiple sectors.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Natalie Orfalea Foundation fund?
**Vision:** To be a catalyst for spiritual and civil transformation for stronger communities and a better world. **Mission:** To partner with innovative individuals and organizations doing creative and transformative work through the lens of storytelling, education, and community building. The foundation focuses grants in four primary areas: • **Community Building** — Supporting initiatives that strengthen community bonds and collective action • **Seeking Truth Through Storytelling** — Funding …
How do I apply for a grant from Natalie Orfalea Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $300 to $246,477. **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Santa Barbara Foundation (Donor Advised Fund): $120,000 • LEAP LearnEngageAdvocatePartner (Leap Program): $75,000 • Santa Barbara County Food Action Network (General Operations): $66,500 • Denver Film Society and 13 additional grants The foundation made 14 grants in 2024. Grant types include general operating support, program-specific funding, and donor-advised fund contributions.
Where does Natalie Orfalea Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, with some activity in the District of Columbia and Washington.
What size grants does Natalie Orfalea Foundation award?
In 2024, Natalie Orfalea Foundation awarded 29 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $39K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Natalie Orfalea Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Natalie Orfalea Foundation reported a distributable amount of $896K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Natalie Orfalea Foundation's EIN?
Natalie Orfalea Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-4602133. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.