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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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