The Crean Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,176,940 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (preselected organizations)
• Grant Range: Varies widely (average approximately $28,000 per grant)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily California, with some grants to organizations in Washington D.C., Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Virginia
• Total Assets: $63.5 million (2024)

Contact Details

The Crean Foundation Laguna Hills, CA EIN: 95-3676334

Note: The foundation does not have publicly available contact information as they do not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Crean Foundation was established in 1981 by John C. Crean, founder of Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc., and his wife Donna Crean. The foundation continues the couple's extraordinary philanthropic legacy, which during their lifetimes saw them donate up to 50% of their annual income to charitable causes. With total assets of $63.5 million and annual giving exceeding $3 million, the foundation supports education, health, children's services, and social welfare programs. The foundation made 109 grants in 2024, averaging approximately $29,000 per award, though grant sizes vary significantly based on the project and organization. The foundation is now managed by John and Donna's daughters, Emily Crean Vogler (President) and Susan E. Thomas (Vice President), along with Secretary Connie Colwell and CFO Marc S. Goldin.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Crean Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with fixed application cycles. All grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's trustees to preselected charitable organizations.

Priority Areas

Based on the foundation's history and known giving patterns:

• Lutheran Education: Major supporter of Lutheran educational institutions, including the $10 million founding gift to Crean Lutheran High School in Irvine, CA
• Children's Services: Strong focus on abused and neglected children, including the $5 million commitment for The Donna & John Crean Child Care Center at Hoag Hospital Newport Beach
• Health and Medical Care: Support for children's hospitals, Alzheimer's groups, and healthcare facilities
• Alcoholism Education: Distribution of educational materials about alcoholism (11,284 books distributed in 2023)
• Higher Education: Major gifts to universities, including $10 million to Chapman University
• Social Services: Homeless shelters and other social welfare organizations
• Arts and Culture: Support for institutions like the Orange County Discovery Science Center

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications from organizations with which they do not already have a relationship.

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership:

• Emily Crean Vogler, President (daughter of John and Donna Crean)
• Susan E. Thomas, Vice President (daughter of John and Donna Crean)
• Connie Colwell, Secretary
• Marc S. Goldin, Chief Financial Officer (family attorney, compensation $458,704)

Founding Vision:

The foundation continues the philanthropic philosophy of John and Donna Crean, who believed in being "blessed to be a blessing." John Crean passed away in 2007 at age 81, and Donna Crean passed away in 2012 at age 82. According to published accounts, "Donna Crean was the driving force behind the couple's philanthropy; children's charities, the arts and education were her passion." The couple's giving eventually reached 50% of their annual income, much of it given anonymously, benefiting more than 300 organizations including churches, hospitals, shelters, and scholarship programs.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Crean Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation's official policy states: "The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's trustees, typically to organizations with which the family has an existing relationship or personal connection.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept applications.

Success Rates

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

While the Crean Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, understanding their funding patterns reveals clear priorities:

Historical Giving Patterns:

• Major institutional support: The foundation has made transformational gifts ranging from $5 million to $10 million to institutions aligned with family values, particularly Lutheran education and children's healthcare
• Long-term relationships: Grants appear to go to organizations where family members have personal connections or sustained involvement
• Faith-based alignment: Strong preference for Lutheran institutions and Christian organizations
• Children-focused: Donna Crean's passion for abused and neglected children continues to influence foundation priorities
• Education emphasis: Both K-12 and higher education institutions receive significant support
• Health and wellness: Particular interest in children's hospitals, Alzheimer's research and support, and substance abuse education

Geographic Focus:

Historically centered in Orange County, California, where the Crean family built their business and philanthropic legacy, though the foundation also supports organizations in other states.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This foundation operates exclusively through trustee discretion and preselected organizations; do not submit unsolicited proposals
• Relationship-driven: Grants go to organizations with existing connections to the Crean family or trustees
• Substantial giving capacity: With $63.5 million in assets and $3+ million in annual giving, the foundation can make significant multi-year commitments
• Values alignment critical: Lutheran/Christian faith, children's welfare, and education are core to the foundation's identity
• Family legacy continues: Now in its second generation of leadership, the foundation maintains the founders' commitment to being "blessed to be a blessing"
• Major gifts possible: Historical gifts of $5-10 million demonstrate capacity for transformational support to aligned institutions
• Broad sector support: While major gifts focus on education and children's services, the foundation historically supported 300+ organizations across health, social services, arts, and more

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, The Crean Foundation (EIN 95-3676334), Form 990-PF filings 2020-2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/953676334 (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Instrumentl, The Crean Foundation 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/the-crean-foundation (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Grantmakers.io, The Crean Foundation Profile. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/953676334-the-crean-foundation/ (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Orange County Register, "Blessed to be a blessing" (June 6, 2007). https://www.ocregister.com/2007/06/06/blessed-to-be-a-blessing/ (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Orange County Register, "O.C. philanthropist Donna Crean dies at 82" (July 20, 2012). https://www.ocregister.com/2012/07/20/oc-philanthropist-donna-crean-dies-at-82/ (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• MHInsider, "MHInsider Legacy Award Winner John Crean." https://mhinsider.com/mhinsider-legacy-award-winner-john-crean/ (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Crean Lutheran High School, "HIS-story." https://www.creanlutheran.org/about/his-story (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Hoag Hospital Foundation, "History." https://www.hoaghospitalfoundation.org/history.html (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Women in Construction (WIC), Biography of Donna Crean. http://www.wic.org/bio/dcrean.htm (Accessed January 16, 2026)