The Auen Foundation
The Auen Foundation is a private foundation based in Palm Desert, California, that supports programs benefiting the aging population. Formed in 1992, it says it focuses on improving the lives of mature adults and their families through programs with lasting impact.
The Auen Foundation at a glance
In short: The Auen Foundation gave $1.1M across 56 grants in 2024 (avg $19K), mostly in California. 24% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,064,000
- +21.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 56
- +19.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $19,000
- +1.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $32,989,820
- -2.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (12 of 50, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (98% 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 The Auen Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and considers grants requested by trustees or staff. Its website describes a letter-of-intent process, with letters reviewed quarterly. The listed review dates are January 10, April 10, August 10, and November 10; letters must arrive before the applicable date. The website says the letter should describe the organization, its programs, the amount requested, and who would benefit. Its FAQ also requests a copy of the organization’s 501(c)(3) certificate, a current board list, and a list of other funders. Formal proposals require approval to proceed and must include all requested information. The website says a site visit and financial records may be required. Grantees must submit a three-month progress report and a six-month final report.
- Review Cycle
- January 10, April 10, August 10, and November 10, for quarterly review; submissions must be received before the applicable date.
- Deadline
- January 10, April 10, August 10, and November 10, for quarterly review; submissions must be received before the…
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 13390, Palm Desert, CA 92255-3390
Phone: (760) 341-5293
Website: https://auenfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Auen Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Alzheimers Coachella Valley ($80K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $440K.
Grant Size Distribution
247 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 225 grants of 247 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it is firmly rooted in the Coachella Valley and particularly values assisting local aging residents and their families. In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 2% to recipients in Idaho.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 56 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Auen Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 50 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $24K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 58% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 27% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $836K (2022) to $1.2M (2020). In 2024 it made 56 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Palm Springs International Film Society Palm Springs, CA | to support Senior Volunteer Programs for the 2025 film festival | $50,000 |
| Alzheimers Coachella Valley Palm Desert, CA | to support services for Alzheimer's clients | $50,000 |
| Barbara Sinatra Children's Center at Eisenhower Rancho Mirage, CA | to help expand the Forensic Medical services | $50,000 |
| Eisenhower Medical Center Rancho Mirage, CA | to support development of Eisenhower Intergenerational Child Care Center | $50,000 |
| Rancho Mirage Writer's Festival Rancho Mirage, CA | to continue videotaping and airing of all Festival sessions for seniors that are not able to attend | $35,000 |
| Alzheimers Coachella Valley Palm Desert, CA | to fund charitable services for those living with cognitive impairment | $30,000 |
| Read With Me Volunteer Programs Rancho Mirage, CA | Intergenerational Reading Mentoring Program | $30,000 |
| Joslyn Senior Center Palm Desert, CA | to support the Aging Mastery Program | $30,000 |
| DAP Health Palm Springs, CA | to help with the dental program | $30,000 |
| The Ranch Recovery Centers Inc Desert Hot Springs, CA | scholarships for seniors | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Auen Foundation?
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 | $32,989,820 | $1,534,236 | $1,590,226 | $1,064,000 | 56 | $1,498,864 | $1,728,967 | $1,579,931 |
| 2023 | $33,730,911 | $837,046 | $1,511,333 | $878,700 | 47 | $1,408,756 | $1,409,407 | $1,526,469 |
| 2022 | $33,717,681 | $842,610 | $1,862,892 | $836,000 | 47 | $1,743,684 | $1,567,661 | $1,530,064 |
| 2021 | $34,883,126 | $2,154,929 | $1,819,126 | $836,500 | 43 | $1,709,758 | $2,056,500 | $1,677,557 |
| 2020 | $34,461,575 | $1,639,786 | $1,719,227 | $1,189,840 | 54 | — | $1,562,395 | $1,653,635 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated focus is enriching quality of life for the aging population. It seeks partnerships and programs in social services, healthy aging, caregiving, end-of-life care, intergenerational activities, and family support. It also describes supporting organizations with strategic planning, marketing, and other resources intended to help them become self-sustaining.
Its 2024 grants included organizations with varied missions. For example, Eisenhower Medical Center describes its mission as providing patient care, education, and research to meet changing healthcare needs. Alzheimer’s Coachella Valley says it develops programs and services in response to families’ needs. Read With Me Volunteer Programs recruits mature volunteers to support children in public schools, while Desert Arc says it creates opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. These are the grantees’ own descriptions, not statements of the foundation’s mission.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 56 grants totaling $1,064,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $50,000, with a median of $20,000. Among the largest grants were $50,000 to the Palm Springs International Film Society for Senior Volunteer Programs for the 2025 film festival; $50,000 to Alzheimer’s Coachella Valley for services for Alzheimer’s clients; $50,000 to the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center at Eisenhower to help expand forensic medical services; and $50,000 to Eisenhower Medical Center to support development of the Eisenhower Intergenerational Child Care Center. The Rancho Mirage Writer’s Festival received $35,000 to continue videotaping and airing festival sessions for seniors unable to attend.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s website identifies Sherrie S. Auen as sole Trustee and Program Director, and Catharine N. Reed as Senior Program Officer.
The Auen Foundation is led by Sherrie Auen, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sherrie Auen
Trustee
On filings since 2020
36 hrs/week
$224K (2020) → $277K (2024)
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 $277K, to Sherrie Auen (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Auen Foundation
How much does The Auen Foundation give each year?
The Auen Foundation gave $1.1M across 56 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $879K across 47 grants.
What is The Auen Foundation's typical grant size?
The Auen Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $19,000, across 56 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Auen Foundation that year got $14K on average.
Where does The Auen Foundation give grants?
The Auen Foundation gives mostly in California: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Palm Desert, CA (20 grants), Palm Springs, CA (10 grants), Rancho Mirage, CA (4 grants) and Riverside, CA (4 grants).
Does The Auen Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of The Auen Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 56) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (3 grants).
Who are The Auen Foundation's largest grantees?
The Auen Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Alzheimers Coachella Valley ($80,000 across 2 grants), The Palm Springs International Film Society ($50,000) and Barbara Sinatra Children's Center at Eisenhower ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Auen Foundation?
The Auen Foundation reported $33.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Auen Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated focus is enriching quality of life for the aging population. It seeks partnerships and programs in social services, healthy aging, caregiving, end-of-life care, intergenerational activities, and family support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Auen Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and considers grants requested by trustees or staff. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The Auen Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Auen Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Auen Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-auen-foundation-morg_6bc754e60d7e4739b591fb01ee8dc658
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_954325051_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Auen Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-auen-foundation-morg_6bc754e60d7e4739b591fb01ee8dc658},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 The Auen 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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