Samueli Foundation
The Samueli Foundation is a private family foundation based in Corona del Mar, California, established in 1998. Founded by Henry and Susan Samueli, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a focus on community development and philanthropic initiatives. The foundation employs 13 staff members and maintains an active grantmaking program supporting nonprofits across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$62.2M
+36.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$80.6M
+133.3% YoY
Grant Count
366
+80.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$220K
+29.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Samueli Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Samueli Foundation's mission is to "make Orange County, California a thriving mosaic of community well-being by supporting and uniting catalytic forces whose innovations yield a higher quality of life for everyone." The foundation's vision is "well-being for all."
The foundation funds across multiple focus areas including:
- Community development
- Education
- Health
- Human services
- Environmental causes
- LGBTQ initiatives
- Jewish culture and causes
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with significant annual giving capacity. Recent grantmaking data shows:
Grant Range
**: $39,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Samueli Foundation has a strong geographic emphasis on Orange County, California, with particular commitment to supporting local organizations and communities within the region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $62.2 million
- Total Revenues: $104.3 million
- Total Expenses: $89.2 million
- Annual Revenue (operational): $18.4 million
Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $45.5 million
- Total Revenues: $54 million
- Total Expenses: $38.1 million
- Total Liabilities: $545
The foundation ranks in the top 10% of foundations by asset size nationally.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $62,247,674 | $45,536,119 | $29,675,140 |
| Revenue | $104,281,760 | $53,953,464 | $53,122,892 |
| Expenses | $89,164,156 | $38,090,975 | $25,679,096 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $85,860,872 | $37,304,144 | $23,926,703 |
| Net Investment Income | $103,332,782 | $53,236,569 | $52,142,989 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,419,931 | $136,894 | $130,947 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Samueli Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Abound Food Care ($1,550,000), Board of Jewish Education Inc ($1,000,000), Brandeis University ($547,319).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 CLUB INC BEVERLY HILLS, CA | GOLD PAGE IN ANNUAL YEARBOOK | $650 |
| ABOUND FOOD CARE SANTA ANA, CA | PROGRAM SUPPORT TO STRENGTHEN OCHAS WORK AFFORDABLE FOOD ACCESS FOR ALL | $1,550,000 |
| ACADEMY YOUTH SERVICE ORGANIZATION HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA | UNRESTRICTED SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ACCESS REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE OAKLAND, CA | EXPANDING ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE SERVICES | $500,000 |
| ACJACHEMEN TONGVA LAND CONSERVANCY IRVINE, CA | BOLSA CHICA MESA COASTAL LAND REMATRIATION | $100,000 |
| ADAMAH INC REISTERSTOWN, MD | EXPANSION OF THE CAMPUS NETWORK TO CALIFORNIA | $250,000 |
| AFSNC INC NEW YORK, NY | GATEWAY TO HEALTH TECH PROGRAM IN ISRAEL | $100,000 |
| ALIANZA TRANSLATINX SANTA ANA, CA | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $100,000 |
| ALZHEIMERS DISEASE AND RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $5,000 |
| AMALGAMATED CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key leadership includes:
- Susan Samueli – President
- Henry Samueli – Vice President (Cofounder of Broadcom Corporation and owner of the Anaheim Ducks NHL team)
- Michael Schulman – Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
- Lindsey Spindle – Director
- Shauntina Sorrells – Chief Program Officer
- Michelle Freeman – Chief of Staff
- Michelle Edwards – Director of Grants Management
- Wendy Arciero – Executive Director
- Erin Samueli – Director
- Gordon Greenberg – Director
- Shaista Malik – Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSAN SAMUELI | PRESIDENT | 10 | — |
| HENRY SAMUELI | VICE PRESIDENT | 10 | — |
| MICHAEL SCHULMAN | CFO & SECRETARY | 10 | — |
| LINDSEY SPINDLE | DIRECTOR | 65 | $1,130,049 |
| ERIN SAMUELI | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| GORDON GREENBERG | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| SHAISTA MALIK | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Samueli Foundation announced the inaugural Breakaway Fund, which distributed $11 million in grants to 138 Orange County-serving nonprofits. This fund provides no-strings-attached grants for organizational development and capital projects.
Samueli Foundation Announces $11 Million in Grants from its ...The foundation received recognition for a $5 million grant to the Foundation for Jewish Camp, supporting Jewish cultural and educational initiatives.
Samueli Foundation Announces $11 Million in Grants from its ...The foundation has announced new grantmaking programs for 2026-2027 designed to strengthen Orange County's social sector, with applications accepted in 2025.
2026\u20132027 Samueli Foundation Programs to Strengthen Orange ...Henry and Susan Samueli have signed the Giving Pledge, committing to give the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Samueli Foundation fund?
The Samueli Foundation's mission is to "make Orange County, California a thriving mosaic of community well-being by supporting and uniting catalytic forces whose innovations yield a higher quality of life for everyone." The foundation's vision is "well-being for all." The foundation funds across multiple focus areas including: • Community development • Education • Health • Human services • Environmental causes • LGBTQ initiatives • Jewish culture and causes
How do I apply for a grant from Samueli Foundation?
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with significant annual giving capacity. Recent grantmaking data shows: • **Grant Volume**: 366 grants awarded in the most recent fiscal year • **Median Grant Size**: $39,000 • **Grant Range**: $500 to $9.7 million • **Recent Major Grants**: • $9.7 million to University of California Irvine Foundation for UCI Samueli School of Engineering • $4.8 million to Global Impact for Healing Works Foundation Program & Operations • $2.5 million to Ora…
Where does Samueli Foundation make grants?
The Samueli Foundation has a strong geographic emphasis on Orange County, California, with particular commitment to supporting local organizations and communities within the region.
What size grants does Samueli Foundation award?
In 2024, Samueli Foundation awarded 366 grants totaling $80.6M — an average of about $220K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Samueli Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Samueli Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Samueli Foundation's EIN?
Samueli Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-0758237. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Samueli Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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