Samueli Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Samueli Foundation funds work that advances well-being and opportunity in Orange County, California, with a stated priority for Israel, so check that your work sits within this geographic focus before applying.
- Most grants are modest: about 8 in 10 of its 774 grants fall between $3,500 and $450,000, and half were $25,000 or less, so pitching a first request around this level is realistic, though the Breakaway Fund supports $50,000–$100,000, the OC+ Fund up to $500,000, and the Build OC Fund up to $1,000,000 for capital projects nearing completion.
- Applications for these three funds are made on a rolling basis through the Samueli Foundation Grantee Portal, so there is no fixed deadline to plan around.
- A substantial 67% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had already funded in the previous two filings, suggesting it leans towards deepening existing relationships, so a new applicant should present a clear, feasible case for how funding will cover full project costs.
- Organisations that discriminate on the grounds listed, international organisations, individuals seeking scholarships or fellowships, and political, labor or fraternal organisations involved in partisan work should not apply; Build OC is closed to organisations that have not been operating for 5 years, and Breakaway funding may not be used for personnel salaries.
Overview
Samueli Foundation is a US private foundation based in Corona Del Mar, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation’s primary focus is Orange County, California, where it seeks well-being and opportunity for all; a substantial portion of its work supports safe and thriving Jewish life in Orange County and Israel. It strengthens Orange County nonprofits with unrestricted support for essential operations, people, expertise and core infrastructure; it also funds capital projects for nonprofit facilities and equipment, and implementation-ready collaborations that improve services, efficiency and community impact. Its approach is to invest in catalytic community forces, cultivate multisector cooperation and model approaches other communities can adapt.
Themes
- Jewish life
- Nonprofit infrastructure
- Capital projects
- Nonprofit collaboration
Geographic Focus
Orange County, California. Priority: Israel.
What They Don't Fund
- Any organization that discriminates based on race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or veteran status. This also includes organizations that espouse hate and discrimination towards any group
- International organizations
- Individuals, including those seeking scholarships or fellowship assistance
- Political, labor, or fraternal organizations involved in partisan work
- Breakaway Fund only: personnel salaries
- Build OC Fund only: organizations that have not been operating for 5 years
How to apply
Applicants submit applications for the Breakaway, Build OC and OC+ Funds through the Samueli Foundation Grantee Portal.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 67% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 774 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The organisation should advance well-being and opportunity for individuals and families living in Orange County.
- Proposed activities should be realistic and feasible and help the organisation deliver its mission.
- The requested funding should allow the organisation to cover the full project costs.
- Build OC prioritises capital projects nearing a final phase or needing the award to complete them.
- OC+ applicants should clearly outline partner roles, responsibilities and decision-making structures.
- Grantees are asked for a short reflection on lessons learned and impact, and may be invited to brief learning conversations.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 4%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 10% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 67% of grant dollars went to organisations Samueli Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 25% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 366 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $39,470 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- University of California Irvine Foundation · Uci samueli school of engineering$9,698,8742024 tax year
- Global Impact · Healing works foundation-program & operations$4,800,0002024 tax year
- Orange County United Way · United ways united to end homelessness initiative$2,500,0002024 tax year
- Dream Machine Innovation · Exodus initiative$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Abound Food Care · Program support to strengthen ochas work affordable food access for all$1,550,0002024 tax year
- American Committee for the Tel Aviv Foundation · Development & naming of tel aviv museum of math$1,500,0002024 tax year
- The Rinks Foundation · General operations$1,500,0002024 tax year
- Friends of Ir David · Cornerstone excavation project at city of david in israel$1,500,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Shaista Malik — Director
- Gordon Greenberg — Director
- Erin Samueli — Director
- Lindsey Spindle — Director
- Michael Schulman — CFO & Secretary
- Henry Samueli — Vice President
- Susan Samueli — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $25,679,096 | $18,888,994 | $29,675,140 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $38,090,975 | $34,546,542 | $45,536,119 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $89,164,156 | $80,597,050 | $62,247,674 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
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Applying to Samueli Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required