The Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation I
The Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation I is a corporate foundation established in 2009 and located in Irvine, California. As a company-sponsored foundation, it channels philanthropic resources toward vulnerable and underserved populations, with particular emphasis on direct assistance and community support services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.7M
+7.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$545K
+44.4% YoY
Grant Count
27
+17.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$20K
+23.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation I reported a distributable amount of $164K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports programs designed to assist poor, needy, and vulnerable populations, and children. Special emphasis is directed toward programs that provide:
- Food
- Shelter
- Housing
- Healthcare
- Other primary needs
The foundation also funds community services, educational programs, and youth assistance in shelters and transitional programs.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts applications and is open to new proposals.
Grant Range
$10,000-$11,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, Florida, and Arizona, with particular activity in Orange County, California.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,698,595
- Total Revenues: $752,814
- Total Expenses: $780,928
- Number of Employees: 0
Historical Comparison (2023):
- Total Assets: $3.4 million
- Total Giving: $376,000
- Number of Grants: 20
Funding Sources: The foundation's charitable donations are generated through:
- Interest received on accounts
- Dividends received on securities
- Recognized gains on securities sold
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,698,595 | $3,443,836 | $3,358,984 |
| Revenue | $752,814 | $593,602 | $674,199 |
| Expenses | $780,928 | $490,023 | $361,648 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $591,283 | $424,993 | $309,563 |
| Net Investment Income | $197,324 | $46,572 | $140,114 |
| Distributable Amount | $163,570 | $157,263 | $147,563 |
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
117 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation I
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Challenging Heights ($100,000), Legado De Esperanza Foundation (legacy of Hope) ($86,505), Nuevo Amanecer Juntos (new Dawn Together Assoc) ($60,757).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACCESS CALIFORNIA SERVICES ANAHEIM, CA | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $2,200 |
| ARIZONA FRIENDS OF FOSTER CHILDREN FOUNDATION PHOENIX, AZ | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $5,000 |
| BEYOND BLINDNESS SANTA ANA, CA | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $2,100 |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CENTRAL FL COUNCIL APOPKA, FL | COMMUNITY SERVICES-YOUTH SERVICES | $1,350 |
| BRIDGE21 PARK CITY LLC PARK CITY, UT | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $2,200 |
| CHALLENGING HEIGHTS | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $100,000 |
| COLLETTE'S CHILDREN'S HOME HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA | COMMUNITY SERVICES-HOMELESS SHELTER | $25,000 |
| ESCUELA DE LA CALLE | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $25,000 |
| FAMILIES FORWARD IRVINE, CA | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $250 |
| FRIENDLY CENTER INC ORANGE, CA | COMMUNITY SERVICES | $12,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Eric Hovde - Chairman
- Nicole Bice - Executive Director
- Carson Lappetito - Trustee
- Kent Smith - Trustee
- Kara Trebs - Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERIC HOVDE | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| CARSON LAPPETITO | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| NICOLE BICE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 1 | $18,000 |
| KENT SMITH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KARA TREBS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Website: www.sunwestbank.com/about/foundation
- Address: 2050 Main St Ste 300, Irvine, CA 92614-8279
- Phone: 714-730-4444
- EIN: 27-1607730
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation I fund?
The foundation supports programs designed to assist poor, needy, and vulnerable populations, and children. Special emphasis is directed toward programs that provide: • Food • Shelter • Housing • Healthcare • Other primary needs The foundation also funds community services, educational programs, and youth assistance in shelters and transitional programs.
How do I apply for a grant from The Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation I?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 27-28 grants in recent years (2024 data shows 28 grants) • Median grant size: $10,000-$11,000 • Grant range: $233-$100,000 • Total giving (2024): $545,345-$752,814 • Giving rate: Approximately 10.9% of assets **Application Status:** The foundation accepts applications and is open to new proposals. **Recent Grants (2024):** • Friends of Challenging Heights: $100,000 (Community Services) • Thorn: $50,000 (Technology to fight child sexual abuse) • Orange County Rescue Mi…
Where does The Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation I make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, Florida, and Arizona, with particular activity in Orange County, California.
What size grants does The Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation I award?
In 2024, The Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation I awarded 27 grants totaling $545K — an average of about $20K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation I required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation I reported a distributable amount of $164K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation I's EIN?
The Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation I's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1607730. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Sunwest Bank Charitable Foundation I'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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