Nonprofit Organizations in California

The Samueli Foundation’s Build OC Fund is a targeted initiative designed to support the capital development needs of nonprofit organizations operating in Orange County, California. Rooted in findings from the Orange County Nonprofit Needs Assessment, the Fund responds to the widespread challenges faced by nonprofits in the region, including high real estate costs, lack of affordable and long-term space, and limited funding access for facility improvements. The Fund offers financial support for nonprofits seeking to acquire, improve, or construct physical infrastructure necessary for effective service delivery. The Fund prioritizes capital projects that directly address these spatial and infrastructural challenges. Eligible uses of the grant include the acquisition of facilities or land, new construction, renovation, repair, preservation of historic structures, and the purchase of major equipment when it is part of a broader capital project. Projects must be located within Orange County, California and must demonstrate site control or active efforts to secure it. Organizations must also show that their proposed projects are realistically scoped to be completed or reach a meaningful milestone within one year of receiving funding. Applicants may request a one-time grant of up to $1,000,000. Each organization is permitted to apply for one capital project. The grant is issued as a single payment and is expected to be disbursed by December 31, 2025. Projects in the final stages of development or close to completion will be prioritized, as the Foundation intends its funding to catalyze project completion rather than initiate early-stage efforts. To qualify for funding, an organization must be based in Orange County, have a minimum of five years of operational history, be eligible to receive charitable donations, and align with the mission and values of the Samueli Foundation. Organizations that espouse discriminatory practices or are international, individual, or political in nature are excluded from eligibility. The selection process evaluates applicants based on organizational mission, project feasibility, and whether the funding request represents sufficient and appropriate resources for the project. The application process is entirely managed through the Samueli Foundation portal. Applicants must create or access an existing account, complete an eligibility quiz, and submit their application through the platform. Resources available to assist with the application process include FAQs, step-by-step guides, and copies of the application questions. The Foundation may follow up with applicants for additional information due to the complexity of capital project requests. The application window opens on May 1, 2025, and closes on June 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM PT. Grant awards will be announced by October 2025, and all grant payments will be issued by the end of December 2025. For inquiries, applicants are encouraged to contact the Foundation team at buildoc@samueli.org or call 949-760-4400.