Samueli Foundation Distributes $15 Million in Grants to 89 NGOs in Orange County

The Samueli Foundation announced that it will provide a total of $15 million in grants to 89 non-profit organizations operating in California's Orange County. This large-scale financial support marks the second year of the foundation's Breakaway and Build OC Funds. These funds are a direct result of a pioneering needs assessment report commissioned last spring to identify the gaps and needs in the local civil society sector. Thanks to these newly distributed funds, the two initiatives have delivered a total of $32 million to 235 different organizations in less than a year. The foundation's core grant distribution surpassed $130 million in 2025 and is on track to reach a target of $180 million in 2026.

The Breakaway Fund was designed to provide civil society organizations with highly accessible, unrestricted funds without any specific purpose limitations. On the other hand, the Build OC Fund offers support to organizations for physical infrastructure projects and capital needs. This dual structure enables local nonprofit organizations to finance not only their daily operational needs but also their long-term infrastructural development. The primary motivation behind the creation of both funds was to scientifically identify the bottlenecks in the region's civil society efforts. Thus, the aim is to ensure that financial support is accurately channeled to the most critically needed areas.

In addition to the distribution of grants, the Samueli Foundation launched a pilot program for a new artificial intelligence-supported platform that allows donors to easily browse and search through unfunded project proposals. This innovative step by the foundation reflects its vision of increasing efficiency in the philanthropic world and preventing unnecessary waste of effort among organizations. Lindsey Spindle, President of Samueli Family Philanthropy, emphasized the importance of sharing information to encourage greater generosity, rather than operating with a monopolistic mindset. Thanks to the new AI platform, donors will be able to transparently see the support needed by different organizations. This system paves the way for philanthropists to find the right projects and utilize their funds more effectively and strategically.

One of the finest examples of the fruits of this collaborative culture was the step taken by the Irvine-based Sun Family Foundation. Using the new platform offered by the Samueli Foundation, the said foundation made an additional $1.5 million investment this year in organizations applying under the Breakaway and Build OC Funds. Joanna Kong, Executive Director of the Sun Family Foundation, stated that this collaboration has deepened the work in the Anaheim, Santa Ana, Garden Grove, and Westminster areas. Kong also noted that this partnership enables them to connect directly with community organizations that are already making a difference in their neighborhoods. Unlike traditional donation methods, the use of such technological platforms allows local-scale civil society organizations to gain greater visibility.

All these developments demonstrate that modern philanthropy is not merely about distributing cash, but also involves strategic collaborations and technology. The Samueli Foundation's $15 million new grant serves as a critical lifeline for the continuation of local development and social services in Orange County. Reaching 235 organizations in less than a year stands as proof of how quickly and effectively the funds are utilized in the field. The foundation's massive $180 million grant target for the next year indicates how solid the commitment to regional development is. With other foundations also joining these AI-supported platforms, the philanthropy ecosystem is expected to become much more integrated and transparent in the future.