Funding search · EIN 330378778 · Irvine, CA

Orange County Community Foundation

A grantmaking public charity (files IRS Form 990, Schedule I). Charities like this often run real grant programs with application cycles.

3,518
grants reported
$366.8M
total given
2021–2024
filing years
$25,000
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 20212024. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

humanserviceseducationdevelopmentenvironmentcommunityimprovementhealth

Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is builtReport an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

  • Human services nonprofits in Santa Ana, Irvine, Anaheim, Orange
  • Orange County hospital and health systems: Hoag, CHOC, UCI, St Jude
  • Community improvement and civic infrastructure, including City of Anaheim
  • Higher education gifts: Stanford, USC, UC Irvine, Chapman
  • Coastal and ocean environment work, plus national advocacy groups
  • Arts and culture: museums, symphony, surf and maritime heritage

Typical grant

Half of all grants land between $10,568 and $58,000, with a median of $25,000, so the working range for a first check is five figures. The seven and eight figure gifts go to institutions with existing donor relationships: a $11M arts and culture gift to Surfing Heritage, $10.9M to the City of Anaheim, $10.1M to Stanford, $6.1M and $4.7M to hospital foundations. With 3,518 grants to 1,630 recipients over four years, repeat giving is the norm rather than the exception, usually at similar size year over year.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

  • COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
  • HUMAN SERVICES
  • HEALTH AND WELLNESS
  • ARTS AND CULTURE
  • RELIGION AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

Positioning adjacent work

  • Anchor to a named Orange County institution already funded: UC Irvine, Chapman, CHOC, Hoag, Santa Ana College.
  • Ask $25,000 to $60,000 first. Six figures follows a track record, not a cold introduction.
  • Frame ocean, coastal or marine work under ENVIRONMENT; they fund Oceana, Upwell Turtles, EcoCenter, Friends of the Sea Lions.
  • Translate research into direct service or workforce outcomes in Santa Ana and Anaheim, where the human services money sits.

Worth knowing: This is a community foundation, so most of the money moves at the direction of individual fundholders rather than a central strategy, which explains the odd mix of Orange County service agencies, national advocacy groups in DC (137 grants), and one-off out-of-state gifts to Kent State, Mayo Clinic, and an Oregon aquarium. Roughly 71 percent of recipients are California, heavily Orange County, and the practical path in is a relationship with a donor advisor or a local institution that already receives repeat support.

4 grants matching “turf · $73,600

  • $33,600

    Surf and Turf Therapy · San Juan Capistrano, CA · 2024

    Human services

  • $15,000

    Surf and Turf Therapy · San Juan Capistrano, CA · 2023

    Human services

  • $15,000

    Surf and Turf Therapy · San Juan Capistrano, CA · 2022

    Human services

  • $10,000

    Surf and Turf Therapy · San Juan Capistrano, CA · 2021

    Human services

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

  • Pimco Foundation4 grants · $31.6M
  • Walking Softer1 grant · $20.0M
  • Surfing Heritage and Culture Center2 grants · $11.0M
  • City of Anaheim1 grant · $10.9M
  • Hoag Hospital Foundation4 grants · $10.8M
  • Stanford University4 grants · $10.4M
  • Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors2 grants · $9.5M
  • University of California Irvine Foundation4 grants · $9.5M
  • Nature Conservancy4 grants · $8.6M
  • Advocate Charitable Foundation4 grants · $7.8M

Giving over time

$69.7M
2021
$96.4M
2022
$80.3M
2023
$120.4M
2024

Grant history

The 100 largest of 3,518 grants.

  • $20.0M

    Walking Softer · Jackson, WY · 2022

    Environment

  • $11.0M

    Surfing Heritage and Culture Center · San Clemente, CA · 2024

    Arts and culture

  • $10.9M

    City of Anaheim · Anaheim, CA · 2024

    Community improvement and development

  • $10.1M

    Stanford University · Stanford, CA · 2024

    Education

  • $9.2M

    Pimco Foundation · Newport Beach, CA · 2021

    Community improvement & development

  • $9.0M

    Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2022

    Community improvement and development

  • $7.8M

    Pimco Foundation · Newport Beach, CA · 2023

    Community improvement and development

  • $7.5M

    Pimco Foundation · Newport Beach, CA · 2022

    Community improvement and development

  • $7.0M

    Pimco Foundation · Newport Beach, CA · 2024

    Community improvement and development

  • $6.1M

    Advocate Charitable Foundation · Oak Brook, IL · 2024

    Health and wellness

  • $5.2M

    Nature Conservancy · Sacramento, CA · 2023

    Environment

  • $4.7M

    Hoag Hospital Foundation · Newport Beach, CA · 2024

    Health and wellness

  • $4.5M

    Hillsdale College · Hillsdale, MI · 2023

    Education

  • $3.0M

    Arizae Foundation · San Anselmo, CA · 2022

    Community improvement and development

  • $2.8M

    University of California Irvine Foundation · Irvine, CA · 2023

    Health and wellness

  • $2.5M

    University of California Irvine Foundation · Irvine, CA · 2022

    Health and wellness

  • $2.3M

    Hoag Hospital Foundation · Newport Beach, CA · 2023

    Health and wellness

  • $2.3M

    Advance Democracy · Tysons Corner, VA · 2023

    Community improvement and development

  • $2.1M

    University of California Irvine Foundation · Irvine, CA · 2024

    Health and wellness

  • $2.1M

    University of California Irvine Foundation · Irvine, CA · 2021

    Health & wellness

  • $2.0M

    Nature Conservancy · Sacramento, CA · 2022

    Environment

  • $2.0M

    Hoag Hospital Foundation · Newport Beach, CA · 2022

    Health and wellness

  • $1.9M

    Strut Cares · San Clemente, CA · 2024

    Community improvement and development

  • $1.8M

    Hoag Hospital Foundation · Newport Beach, CA · 2021

    Health & wellness

  • $1.8M

    United States Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2021

    Environment & animal welfare

  • $1.7M

    Chabad Jewish Center of Laguna Beach · Laguna Beach, CA · 2023

    Religion and spiritual development

  • $1.6M

    National Down Syndrome Society · Washington, DC · 2024

    Human services

  • $1.3M

    Neighborhood Housing Services of Orange County · Orange, CA · 2024

    Human services

  • $1.3M

    New Venture Fund · Washington, DC · 2021

    Environment & animal welfare

  • $1.3M

    Justfundus · Oakland, CA · 2024

    Community improvement and development

  • $1.2M

    Nature Conservancy · Sacramento, CA · 2021

    Environment & animal welfare

  • $1.1M

    St Margaret of Scotland Episcopal School · San Juan Capistrano, CA · 2024

    Education

  • $1.0M

    Choc Foundation · Orange, CA · 2022

    Health and wellness

  • $1.0M

    Hawaii Community Foundation · Honolulu, HI · 2023

    Community improvement and development

  • $1.0M

    Precious Lamb Preschool · Long Beach, CA · 2024

    Education

  • $1.0M

    Upwell Turtles · Monterey, CA · 2024

    Environment

  • $1.0M

    Center for American Progress · Washington, DC · 2023

    Community improvement and development

  • $1.0M

    Center for American Progress · Washington, DC · 2021

    Community improvement & development

  • $1.0M

    Hawaiian Islands Land Trust · Honolulu, HI · 2021

    Environment & animal welfare

  • $921,000

    Upwell Turtles · Monterey, CA · 2022

    Environment

  • $864,777

    Human Options · Irvine, CA · 2022

    Human services

  • $858,500

    Charitable Ventures of Orange County · Santa Ana, CA · 2021

    Community improvement & development

  • $827,892

    Laguna Art Museum · Laguna Beach, CA · 2022

    Arts and culture

  • $815,000

    Elephant Club · San Clemente, CA · 2021

    Environment & animal welfare

  • $798,903

    Charitable Ventures of Orange County · Santa Ana, CA · 2023

    Community improvement and development

  • $782,500

    Newport Beach Public Library Foundation · Newport Beach, CA · 2022

    Education

  • $755,000

    Tomorrow'S Leadership Collaborative Charter School · Orange, CA · 2021

    Education

  • $750,000

    Occidental College · Los Angeles, CA · 2024

    Education

  • $750,000

    Oregon Coast Aquarium · Newport, OR · 2024

    Animal welfare

  • $750,000

    United States Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    Environment

  • $750,000

    Wildcoast · Del Mar, CA · 2022

    Environment

  • $750,000

    Sail Future · St Petersburg, FL · 2021

    Education

  • $708,000

    Choc Foundation · Orange, CA · 2024

    Health and wellness

  • $700,938

    Guide Dogs for the Blind · San Rafael, CA · 2024

    Human services

  • $700,000

    New Venture Fund · Washington, DC · 2022

    Community improvement and development

  • $691,525

    Guide Dogs for the Blind · San Rafael, CA · 2023

    Human services

  • $672,388

    Guide Dogs for the Blind · San Rafael, CA · 2022

    Human services

  • $672,326

    Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast · Irvine, CA · 2024

    Human services

  • $671,000

    Newport Beach Public Library Foundation · Newport Beach, CA · 2024

    Arts and culture

  • $668,300

    University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA · 2024

    Education

  • $661,800

    Human Options · Irvine, CA · 2023

    Human services

  • $654,932

    Guide Dogs for the Blind · San Rafael, CA · 2021

    Environment & animal welfare

  • $652,000

    Oceana · Washington, DC · 2024

    Environment

  • $615,243

    International Youth Foundation · Cockeysville, MD · 2022

    Education

  • $615,000

    Soka University of America · Aliso Viejo, CA · 2022

    Education

  • $603,000

    Orange County Museum of Art · Costa Mesa, CA · 2023

    Arts and culture

  • $600,000

    Charitable Ventures of Orange County · Santa Ana, CA · 2024

    Community improvement and development

  • $600,000

    Narrow Gate Foundation · Newhall, CA · 2021

    Human services

  • $561,467

    Claremont McKenna College · Claremont, CA · 2023

    Education

  • $550,000

    Advocate Charitable Foundation · Downers Grove, IL · 2023

    Health and wellness

  • $550,000

    Advocate Charitable Foundation · Downers Grove, IL · 2022

    Health and wellness

  • $550,000

    Simon Family Foundation · Newport Beach, CA · 2022

    Education

  • $550,000

    Advocate Charitable Foundation · Downers Grove, IL · 2021

    Health & wellness

  • $550,000

    Oakland Museum of California · Oakland, CA · 2021

    Arts & culture

  • $545,000

    Upwell Turtles · Monterey, CA · 2021

    Environment & animal welfare

  • $534,000

    Cristo Rey Orange County High School · Santa Ana, CA · 2024

    Education

  • $530,000

    Orange County'S United Way · Irvine, CA · 2024

    Community improvement and development

  • $530,000

    Orange Coast College Foundation · Costa Mesa, CA · 2021

    Education

  • $525,000

    American Friends Service Committee · Philadelphia, PA · 2024

    Community improvement and development

  • $525,000

    Hopewell Fund · Washington, DC · 2022

    Community improvement and development

  • $510,998

    Schwab Charitable Fund · Orlando, FL · 2023

    Community improvement and development

  • $506,500

    St Joseph Hospital of Orange · Orange, CA · 2023

    Health and wellness

  • $506,500

    Human Options · Irvine, CA · 2021

    Human services

  • $506,325

    Tara'S Chance · Fullerton, CA · 2024

    Human services

  • $500,000

    Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Warwick, RI · 2023

    Community improvement and development

  • $500,000

    Friends of the Osa · Washington, DC · 2022

    Environment

  • $500,000

    Parks California · Sacramento, CA · 2022

    Environment

  • $500,000

    Hopewell Fund · Washington, DC · 2021

    Community improvement & development

  • $500,000

    Parks California · Sacramento, CA · 2021

    Environment & animal welfare

  • $500,000

    Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · New York, NY · 2021

    Environment & animal welfare

  • $500,000

    University of Montana Foundation · Missoula, MT · 2021

    Education

  • $492,411

    Illumination Foundation · Santa Ana, CA · 2023

    Human services

  • $472,000

    Human Options · Irvine, CA · 2024

    Human services

  • $470,500

    Taller San Jose Hope Builders · Santa Ana, CA · 2021

    Human services

  • $460,000

    Mind Oc · Irvine, CA · 2022

    Health and wellness

  • $459,800

    Orange County'S United Way · Irvine, CA · 2022

    Community improvement and development

  • $455,000

    University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA · 2022

    Education

  • $450,000

    Central Valley House of Prayer · Clovis, CA · 2021

    Religion, spiritual development

  • $430,333

    St Michael'S Abbey Foundation · Silverado, CA · 2021

    Religion, spiritual development

  • $427,000

    Palestine Childrens Relief Fund · Kent, OH · 2021

    Health & wellness

View all 3,518 grants →

Who else funds this kind of work

Same state

Similar purposes

Similar grant size

Grants already paid are the record; PaperOrbit reads your paper and finds the funders whose record matches it — then explains why.

Search funders like this one

Source: IRS Form 990, Schedule I, as filed by this organization. These are grants already paid. Grants paid directly to individuals are reported to the IRS only as totals, so they do not appear as named lines here.