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Harriet H. Samuelsson Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly specified
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed (partial project funding)
  • Geographic Focus: Ventura County, California (youth programs) and cancer research (broader)

Contact Details

Website: https://samuelssonfoundation.org

Email: [email protected]

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

Fax: (949) 833-9584

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5244, Oxnard, CA 93031

Overview

The Harriet H. Samuelsson Foundation was established in 2005 as an independent private foundation in California. Named after Harriet H. Samuelsson, a longtime Oxnard resident and passionate advocate for children's causes, the foundation honors her legacy of supporting youth-serving organizations, particularly the Boys & Girls Clubs of Ventura County. The foundation focuses on three primary areas: supporting organizations that serve youth (ages 0-17) in Ventura County in the areas of health, education, guidance, and welfare; funding cancer research organizations; and supporting St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard with fetal monitoring equipment. The foundation emphasizes partial project funding for limited timeframes rather than full organizational support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates with a letter of inquiry system followed by a full application process for eligible organizations. Most grants provide partial funding for specific projects rather than general operating support or full project costs.

Youth Services Program

  • Focus: Organizations serving children and adolescents (ages 0-17) in Ventura County
  • Geographic restriction: Ventura County, California only
  • Areas supported: Health, education, guidance, and welfare programs

Cancer Research Program

  • Focus: Organizations and institutions conducting cancer research
  • Geographic scope: No geographic restrictions specified

Medical Equipment Support

  • Focus: St. John's Regional Medical Center, Oxnard, CA
  • Specific purpose: Purchase, maintenance, and support of fetal monitors

Priority Areas

The foundation prioritizes:

  • Health programs for youth in Ventura County
  • Educational programs for children and adolescents
  • Guidance and mentoring services for young people
  • Welfare programs benefiting youth populations
  • Cancer research initiatives
  • Maternal and neonatal health equipment (fetal monitors)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated on their website, the foundation's focus areas suggest they do not fund:

  • Organizations serving youth outside Ventura County (except for cancer research)
  • Programs serving adults (except cancer research)
  • General operating expenses or full project funding
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) status

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a board of trustees who manage the foundation's assets and make grant decisions. Specific trustee names and biographies are not publicly listed on the foundation's website or in readily accessible databases.

Foundation Namesake: Harriet H. Samuelsson (August 9, 1908 - date not specified) was a Pratt Institute School of Design graduate (1929) who lived in Oxnard, California for more than 50 years. She served on the founding board of the Boys Club of Oxnard in 1954 and was a longtime board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Oxnard, receiving numerous accolades for her local and national participation. She supported numerous charitable organizations including the American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, City of Hope, and March of Dimes, but is remembered most for her passionate support of organizations benefiting children, especially the Boys & Girls Clubs of Ventura County. The Harriet H. Samuelsson Teen Center in downtown Oxnard is named in her honor.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts unsolicited applications through a structured process:

  1. Eligibility Quiz: Visit the foundation's website at samuelssonfoundation.org and complete the online eligibility quiz
  2. Letter of Inquiry: If eligible, submit a letter of inquiry for the next grant cycle through the website
  3. Full Application: Follow the application guidelines detailed in the foundation's Grant Criteria document

Requirements:

  • Applicant must be a 501(c)(3) organization
  • Must align with one of the foundation's three funding areas
  • Youth-serving organizations must serve residents of Ventura County

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. The foundation operates on a grant cycle basis with letters of inquiry accepted for upcoming cycles.

Success Rates

Success rates and application volume statistics are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation's reapplication policy is not specified in publicly available materials.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation does not publish detailed guidance on what makes applications successful, the following factors can be inferred from their mission and focus areas:

Alignment with Harriet Samuelsson's Legacy

  • Organizations with established track records serving youth in Ventura County, particularly those focused on the Boys & Girls Clubs model or similar youth development approaches
  • Programs demonstrating impact on health, education, guidance, or welfare of children and adolescents

Project-Based Funding Approach

  • The foundation explicitly states that "most grants are for partial funding of specific projects for a limited time"
  • Applications should focus on specific, time-limited projects rather than general operating support
  • Applicants should be prepared to secure additional funding sources to complete projects

Geographic Focus

  • For youth programs, strict adherence to serving Ventura County residents is required
  • Cancer research organizations appear to have broader geographic flexibility

Connection to Community Priorities

  • The foundation's support of St. John's Regional Medical Center (Oxnard's primary hospital) and the Boys & Girls Clubs suggests alignment with major community institutions may be valued

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Apply only if you meet strict eligibility criteria: Must be a 501(c)(3) serving youth in Ventura County or conducting cancer research
  • Focus on specific projects, not operating support: The foundation explicitly funds partial project costs for limited timeframes
  • Complete the eligibility quiz first: This is the required first step and helps ensure you meet basic criteria before investing time in a full proposal
  • Plan for partial funding: Expect to secure other funding sources, as the foundation provides partial rather than full project support
  • Emphasize youth impact for local grants: For Ventura County programs, clearly demonstrate how the project will benefit children and adolescents ages 0-17
  • Honor the founder's legacy: Understanding Harriet Samuelsson's commitment to youth development, particularly through organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs, may provide insight into the foundation's values
  • Follow the process carefully: Use the online system for the eligibility quiz and letter of inquiry as directed on the website

References

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