The Auen Foundation
The Auen Foundation is a private foundation established in 1992 and based in Palm Desert, California. It operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting charitable and educational programs and services. The foundation has awarded more than 1,000 grants to organizations primarily serving the Coachella Valley region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$33.0M
-2.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.1M
+21.1% YoY
Grant Count
56
+19.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
+1.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Auen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on improving the quality of life for elderly and aging populations. In 1995, the foundation redefined its mission to concentrate specifically on the aging population and its emerging needs, operating from the belief that mature citizens are an important component of a vibrant community.
Primary funding interests include:
- Innovative programs benefiting the social welfare of mature adults
- Intergenerational involvement and family programs
- Healthy aging initiatives
- Quality end-of-life care
- Caregiving issues
- Community health and wellness programs
The foundation actively seeks to support programs that were not previously available and works to transform innovations into reality. Board members and program officers proactively reach out to nonprofit organizations with research and information about new and dynamic programs and services.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests but will consider letters of intent. The foundation typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals.
Grant Range
$15,000
Average Grant
amount: $20,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in the Coachella Valley area of California. According to available records, grantmaking reaches organizations across multiple states, with California being the primary focus region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total Assets: $33.7 million
- Total Revenue: $837,046
- Total Expenses: $1.51 million
- Total Liabilities: $734,000
Annual Giving Trends:
- 2023: $879,000
- 2020: $1.2 million
- Annual giving has shown a general declining trend from 2020 to 2023
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since June 1991 (EIN: 95-4325051). Donations to the foundation are tax-deductible.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $32,989,820 | $33,730,911 | $33,717,681 |
| Revenue | $1,534,236 | $837,046 | $842,610 |
| Expenses | $1,590,226 | $1,511,333 | $1,862,892 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,498,864 | $1,408,756 | $1,743,684 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,728,967 | $1,409,407 | $1,567,661 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,579,931 | $1,526,469 | $1,530,064 |
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
237 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Palm Springs International Film Society ($50,000), Alzheimers Coachella Valley ($50,000), Barbara Sinatra Children's Center at Eisenhower ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimers Coachella Valley Palm Desert, CA | to fund charitable services for those living with cognitive impairment | $30,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Coachella Valley Palm Desert, CA | to honor Judy Vassler | $5,000 |
| Coronado Promenade Concerts Coronado, CA | providing music programs for all ages in the community | $8,000 |
| Living Desert Reserve Palm Desert, CA | to support Senior Volunteer Programs | $25,000 |
| Old Town Artisan Studios La Quinta, CA | to support senior programs | $25,000 |
| Parkinson's Resource Organization Palm Desert, CA | caregivers support | $5,000 |
| Read With Me Volunteer Programs Rancho Mirage, CA | Intergenerational Reading Mentoring Program | $30,000 |
| Tools For Tomorrow Palm Desert, CA | Intergenerational Children's Art Programs | $15,000 |
| ACT for Multiple Sclerosis Palm Desert, CA | for strength training and circulation therapies | $5,000 |
| Angel View Inc Cathedral City, CA | program support | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founder & Former Leader: Ronald Auen co-founded The Auen Foundation with his wife Sherrie Auen in 1991. Ronald Auen passed away in November 2019 at age 87 after a long battle with mesothelioma. He was recognized as a significant philanthropist and community leader in the Coachella Valley.
Current Leadership: Sherrie Auen serves as successor per trust agreement. Joseph K Glassett is listed as principal officer.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2025, the Auen Foundation awarded a $250,000 grant to the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation to support the historic Plaza Theatre's restoration efforts. This significant contribution demonstrates the foundation's continued commitment to supporting cultural and community institutions in the Coachella Valley region.
Auen Foundations awards $250K grant to the historic Plaza ... - KESQFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Auen Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on improving the quality of life for elderly and aging populations. In 1995, the foundation redefined its mission to concentrate specifically on the aging population and its emerging needs, operating from the belief that mature citizens are an important component of a vibrant community. Primary funding interests include: • Innovative programs benefiting the social welfare of mature adults • Intergenerational involvement and family programs • Healthy aging initia…
How do I apply for a grant from The Auen Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $1,000 to $125,000 • Median grant size: $15,000 • Average grant amount: $20,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests but will consider letters of intent. The foundation typically selects grantees rather than accepting unsolicited proposals. **Recent Grants (2023):** • Coronado Hospital Foundation: $50,000 (Phase II Campaign for Emergency and Intensive Care) • Palm Springs International Fil…
Where does The Auen Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in the Coachella Valley area of California. According to available records, grantmaking reaches organizations across multiple states, with California being the primary focus region.
What size grants does The Auen Foundation award?
In 2024, The Auen Foundation awarded 56 grants totaling $1.1M — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Auen Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Auen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Auen Foundation's EIN?
The Auen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4325051. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Auen 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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