← Back to US Funders Directory

Croul Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.4M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.3M

Croul Family Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,396,871 (fiscal year 2024)
  • Total Assets: $23,967,769 (fiscal year 2024)
  • Success Rate: Data not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $100 - $250,000 (typical awards)
  • Number of Grants: 77 awards in 2023
  • Geographic Focus: Orange County, California

Contact Details

Address: 18101 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 750, Irvine, CA 92612-0145

Website: https://croulfoundation.org

Email: grants@croulfoundation.org

Phone: (877) 968-6328 (toll-free)

Fax: (949) 833-9584

Overview

The Croul Family Foundation was established in 1997 by Jack Croul, a 99-year-old WWII veteran, decorated Purple Heart recipient, and retired co-chairman of Behr Process Corporation. The foundation is a private independent foundation with assets of nearly $24 million and annual charitable disbursements of approximately $1.4 million. The foundation's mission focuses exclusively on Orange County, California, supporting organizations engaged in improving educational outcomes for kindergarten through twelfth grade students, particularly those who are economically disadvantaged. The foundation also supports organizations that assist the homeless and economically disadvantaged, including food banks and shelters. The foundation has grown to include second and third generations of the Croul family, with Jack's son Spencer, Spencer's wife Susan, and their children Dustin and Natalie, as well as Spencer's brother Brad, all actively involved. In February 2024, the Croul Family Foundation was honored with the Farmers & Merchants Lifetime Achievement Award at the Orange Catholic Foundation's 21st Annual Conference on Business & Ethics, recognizing their commitment to Catholic education and having granted more than $1 million in Catholic school tuition assistance.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Croul Family Foundation operates primarily through internally generated grants, with limited funds available for general unsolicited applications. Typical grant awards range from $100 to $250,000.

Key Focus Area: K-12 Education

  • Educational opportunities for economically disadvantaged students
  • Catholic school tuition assistance
  • Charter schools and educational organizations
  • Organizations improving K-12 educational outcomes

Key Focus Area: Human Services

  • Homeless services and shelters
  • Food banks
  • Services for the economically disadvantaged

Priority Areas

K-12 Education (Primary Focus):

  • Educational programs serving economically disadvantaged students in Orange County
  • Catholic schools in Santa Ana and surrounding areas (St. Anne School, St. Joseph School, St. Barbara School, St. Justin Martyr School in Anaheim, and La Purisima School in Orange)
  • Charter school associations and organizations (e.g., California Charter School Association)
  • Educational outcomes improvement initiatives

Human Services:

  • Organizations addressing homelessness in Orange County
  • Food banks and emergency food services
  • Shelters and transitional housing programs
  • Services for economically disadvantaged individuals and families

Geographic Limitation: All grants are focused exclusively on Orange County, California.

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated in public materials, based on their focused mission, the foundation does not fund:

  • Organizations outside Orange County, California
  • Higher education or post-secondary programs (focus is K-12)
  • Organizations not serving economically disadvantaged populations
  • General operating support for well-established, well-funded organizations
  • For-profit entities

Governance and Leadership

Officers and Directors (all serving without compensation):

  • John V. Croul (Jack Croul) - CEO and Founder: WWII veteran, Purple Heart and Air Medal recipient, first employee and retired co-chairman of Behr Process Corporation. Jack's lifelong motto has been "Just do the right thing and think of other people," which guides the foundation's work.

  • Spencer Behr Croul - President/Secretary: Jack's son, leading the second generation of family involvement. Spencer has stated, "Learning through giving is very rewarding. It's character building."

  • John Bradford Croul (Brad Croul) - CFO: Another family member involved in foundation leadership.

Family Involvement: The foundation exemplifies multi-generational philanthropy, with Jack's wife Kingsley, son Spencer, Spencer's wife Susan, and grandchildren Dustin and Natalie all actively participating in the foundation's charitable work. As Kingsley noted, "Jack's created a great legacy."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Important Note: Most grants are generated internally, and only a very limited portion of funds is available for general unsolicited applications.

Step 1: Review Eligibility

  • Organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
  • Must align with foundation's focus on K-12 education and/or homeless services in Orange County
  • Review Grant Criteria document on the foundation website before applying

Step 2: Submit Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

  • Deadline: September 1 annually
  • Submission through online portal on foundation website
  • Contact grants@croulfoundation.org with questions

Step 3: Invitation for Full Application

  • Selected organizations are invited to submit full grant applications after careful review of LOI
  • Not all LOI submissions will be invited to submit full applications

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publicly disclose specific decision timelines or notification schedules. Given the September 1 LOI deadline and the foundation's review process, applicants should expect several months for the review and decision process.

Success Rates

The foundation made 77 grants in 2023, 103 grants in 2022, and 116 grants in 2021. However, the foundation does not publicly disclose the number of applications received or overall success rates. The statement that "most grants are generated internally and only a very limited portion of the funds is available for such general grants" suggests that unsolicited applications face highly competitive odds.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publicly state a specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. Organizations interested in reapplying should contact the foundation directly at grants@croulfoundation.org to inquire about reapplication guidelines.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited information available about specific application success factors, the following insights are based on the foundation's stated mission and funding patterns:

Strong Alignment with Mission:

  • Organizations serving economically disadvantaged students in K-12 education in Orange County have the strongest alignment
  • Programs demonstrating measurable educational outcomes improvement
  • Services addressing homelessness and food insecurity for vulnerable populations

Geographic Specificity:

  • Must serve Orange County, California exclusively
  • Organizations deeply rooted in Orange County communities
  • Demonstrated understanding of Orange County's specific needs and demographics

Focus on Economic Disadvantage:

  • Clear articulation of how the program serves economically disadvantaged populations
  • Evidence of barriers faced by target population
  • Demonstration of how grant funds will directly benefit those in need

Catholic Education Connection:

  • The foundation has a demonstrated commitment to Catholic education, having granted over $1 million in Catholic school tuition assistance
  • Catholic schools in Santa Ana and surrounding Orange County areas appear to be priority recipients

Charter Schools and Educational Innovation:

  • Support for California Charter School Association suggests interest in innovative K-12 educational models
  • Programs demonstrating educational innovation for underserved students

Multi-Year Relationships:

  • Given that most grants are internally generated, building relationships with the foundation over time may be important
  • Organizations may benefit from smaller initial grants that demonstrate impact before requesting larger support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic Focus is Absolute: Only organizations serving Orange County, California should apply. Do not apply if your primary service area is outside Orange County.

  • Most Grants Are Internal: With most grants generated internally, unsolicited applications face steep competition. Consider this a long-term relationship-building opportunity rather than a one-time grant opportunity.

  • Economic Disadvantage is Central: Clearly demonstrate how your organization serves economically disadvantaged populations, particularly in K-12 education or homeless services.

  • LOI is Critical: Since only selected organizations are invited to submit full applications, the Letter of Inquiry is your primary opportunity to make a compelling case. Ensure it is concise, compelling, and directly aligned with the foundation's stated priorities.

  • Catholic Education Priority: Organizations providing Catholic education to economically disadvantaged students appear to be a significant funding priority, with over $1 million granted for Catholic school tuition assistance.

  • Family Values Guide Funding: The foundation's motto "Just do the right thing and think of other people" reflects a values-based approach to philanthropy focused on helping those who need it most.

  • September 1 Deadline: Mark your calendar for the annual September 1 LOI deadline and plan accordingly to submit a strong Letter of Inquiry well in advance.

References

  1. Croul Family Foundation official website - https://croulfoundation.org and https://croulfoundation.org/grants/ (accessed January 4, 2026)

  2. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Croul Family Foundation (EIN 20-1222760) - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/201222760 - Form 990-PF filings for fiscal years 2022-2024 (accessed January 4, 2026)

  3. Orange Catholic Foundation - "WWII Veteran's Lifelong Motto Fuels Family's Legacy of Generosity" - https://www.orangecatholicfoundation.org/articles/wwii-veterans-lifelong-motto-fuels-familys-legacy-of-generosity (accessed January 4, 2026)

    • Quote from Kingsley Croul: "Jack's created a great legacy."
    • Quote from Spencer Croul: "Learning through giving is very rewarding. It's character building."
    • Information about Farmers & Merchants Lifetime Achievement Award (February 28, 2024)

  4. Candid Foundation Directory - Croul Family Foundation profile - https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=CROU008 (accessed January 4, 2026)

  5. Cause IQ - Croul Family Foundation - https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/croul-family-foundation,201222760/ (accessed January 4, 2026)

  6. Instrumentl 990 Report - Croul Family Foundation - https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/croul-family-foundation (accessed January 4, 2026)

← Back to US Funders Directory