The Crean Foundation concentrates its giving on large, local investments in social services for vulnerable populations in Orange County, CA. Recent grants show a strong emphasis on substance-use recovery for women and education programs for at-risk youth tied to foster-care transitions. The foundation prefers substantial, single-purpose awards to established local nonprofits rather than many small gifts.
The Crean Foundation’s largest recent award was $1,000,000 to Women’s Step House of Orange County for assistance for alcoholic women, which captures a core pattern in its giving: substantial local support for social services tied to recovery, youth, and family stability. The foundation consistently funds Orange County organizations rather than spreading grants broadly, and its recent record shows repeated multi-year support for the same recipients. Alongside recovery services, it has backed education programs for foster and at-risk youth through Orangewood Foundation - Samueli Aca in Santa Ana, and it has made major operating and program grants to children’s, hospital, museum, and senior-serving organizations across the county. The Crean Foundation also funds tuition assistance, pediatric care, and community-based services, with awards often structured as sizable one-purpose grants rather than small, exploratory gifts. Its grantmaking is closely tied to local nonprofits that serve vulnerable populations, including children, foster youth, people in recovery, families facing health challenges, and seniors living with Alzheimer’s disease.
In youth and education work, the foundation gave $500,000 to Orangewood Foundation - Samueli Aca for education programs, and it also awarded $250,000 to Army and Navy Academy for tuition assistance for low income students. For child welfare, it supported Children's Bureau with grants of $250,000 in Los Angeles and $245,000 in Anaheim for programs for disadvantaged children. Healthcare-related giving includes $200,000 to Hoag Hospital Foundation for a Functional Medicine Program and $117,500 to Children's Hospital of OC Foundation for pediatric medical care. The foundation also backed community institutions through $205,000 to Pretend City the Children's Museum for museum operating expenses and $110,000 to Friends of Santa Ana Zoo for maintenance of animal exhibits.
The Crean Foundation’s recent awards cluster around a median grant size of $10,000, with a p25 of $5,000 and a p75 of $20,000, even though its top gifts are much larger. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including organizations supported in 2023, 2024, and 2025, which points to recurring relationships rather than one-time grants only. The foundation is a private foundation and also funds individuals. Its recent grants are generally direct awards to operating, program, tuition, or capital purposes, and the 990 data provided does not indicate an unsolicited application process.
$3.2M
$63.5M
$6.2M
$4M
Most grants fall between $5K and $20K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$20K
About 94% of grants go to recipients in CA.
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Highly concentrated: very few, large grants directed to local nonprofits; repeat or multi-year relationships are likely given grant size and focus on specific programs rather than broad philanthropy.
Notable grantees: Women's Step House of Orange County, Orangewood Foundation (Samueli Academy)
Giving is highly concentrated in California: 94% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state, and the top giving state is also CA. Orange County cities appear frequently, including Santa Ana, Irvine, Anaheim, Orange, Laguna Hills, and Newport Beach. Outside Orange County, recent grantees also include Los Angeles and Carlsbad, but the overall pattern remains local and California-based. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 322 grants in the United States.
Its recent grants center on local social services and community institutions in Orange County, with recurring support for substance-use recovery, foster and at-risk youth, tuition assistance, pediatric care, museums, and services for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease. The foundation also backs family support and housing-stability work through specific local nonprofits.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution shows a p25 of $5,000, a median of $10,000, and a p75 of $20,000. Recent awards also include much larger strategic grants, such as $500,000 for education programs and $1,000,000 for assistance for alcoholic women.
Yes. Several grantees appear across multiple years, including Orangewood Foundation - Samueli Aca, Children's Bureau, Anaheim Family YMCA, Pretend City the Children's Museum, Olive Crest, Concordia University Foundation, Hoag Hospital Foundation, Children's Hospital of OC Foundation, Friends of Santa Ana Zoo, Alzheimer's Orange County, and Uci Mind.
Its giving is overwhelmingly local and concentrated in California, with 94% of grants to recipients in CA. Orange County cities show up repeatedly, especially Santa Ana, Irvine, Anaheim, Orange, Laguna Hills, and Newport Beach.
It funds individuals as well as organizations. The profile data explicitly indicates that the foundation funds individuals, alongside its direct support for nonprofits and institutions.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orangewood Foundation - Samueli Aca | Santa Ana, CA | $500,000 | 2025 | Education Programs. |
| ARMY AND NAVY ACADEMY | CARLSBAD, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW INCOME STUDENTS. |
| Children's Bureau | Los Angeles, CA | $250,000 | 2025 | Programs for disadvantaged children. |
| Anaheim Family YMCA | Anaheim, CA | $215,000 | 2025 | Programs for youth and development of new athletic facilities. |
| Olive Crest | Santa Ana, CA | $205,000 | 2025 | Support for foster youth. |
| HOAG HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | NEWPORT BEACH, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | Functional Medicine Program. |
| Concordia University Foundation | Irvine, CA | $200,000 | 2025 | Construction of new music, worship and theology building. |
| Children's Hospital of OC Foundatio | Orange, CA | $117,500 | 2025 | Pediatric Medical Care. |
| Friends of Santa Ana Zoo | Santa Ana, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | Maintenance of animal exhibits. |
| UCI MIND | IRVINE, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | MEDICAL RESEARCH. |
| ALZHEIMER'S ORANGE COUNTY | Irvine, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. |
| Crean Lutheran High School | Irvine, CA | $65,000 | 2025 | Education. |
| The Priority Center | Santa Ana, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Assistance for at risk families to prevent child abuse. |
| NEW VISTA SCHOOL FOUNDATION | Laguna Hills, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW INCOME STUDENTS. |
| Big BrothersBig Sisters | Santa Ana, CA | $35,000 | 2025 | Programs for children. |
| YMCA of Orange County | Tustin, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | Recreation programs for the needy. |
| PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF OC | IRVINE, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | MUSIC PROGRAMS. |
| Childhelp | Newport Beach, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | Treatment and Prevention of Child Abuse. |
| LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE MASTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $20,800 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS. |
| The Midnight Mission | Los Angeles, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | Shelter for alcoholics. |
| WORLD FIT FOUNDATION INC | Encinitas, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | FITNESS PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN. |
| ANGEL FACES | ENCINITAS, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | Seminars to build self-esteeem for burn victims. |
| THE SHEA CENTER FOR THERAPEUTIC RID | SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | PROGRAMS FOR DISABLED CHILDREN. |
| FIRST STEP HOUSE OF ORANGE COUNTY | COSTA MESA, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | PROGRAMS FOR ALCOHOLIC REHABILITATION. |
| Pacifica Christian High School | Newport Beach, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | Student scholarships. |
| LAGUNA BEACH SENIORS INC | LAGUNA BEACH, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | INCREASE OUTREACH TO SENIORS. |
| THE PRENTICE SCHOOL | Santa Ana, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION PROGRAMS. |
| Illumination Foundation | Orange, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | Assistance for homeless families. |
| DISCOVERY CUBE ORANGE COUNTY | SANTA ANA, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | STEM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT THE SCIENCE CENTER. |
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | Education. |
| CALIFORNIA YOUTH SERVICES | LAGUNA HILLS, CA | $12,500 | 2025 | SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING FOR YOUTH. |
| GLORIA DEI LUTHERAN CHURCH | DANA POINT, CA | $11,440 | 2025 | RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS. |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF OC | Irvine, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | FOOD FOR THE POOR AND HOMELESS. |
| American Heart Association | Irvine, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Medical Research. |
| Thomas House Family Shelter | Garden Grove, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | SERVICES FOR HOMELESS AND AT-RISK FAMILIES. |
| SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS | COSTA MESA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | MUSIC PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN. |
| MEALS ON WHEELS ORANGE COUNTY | Anaheim, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Programs for seniors. |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities | Los Angeles, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Camp program for children with cancer. |
| Laura's House | Ladera Ranch, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Shelter for abused women and children. |
| Acacia Adult Day Services | Garden Grove, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Programs for seniors. |
| WORKING WARDROBES FOR A NEW START | Santa Ana, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME CHALLENGES TO ACHIEVE EMPLOYMENT. |
| CASA DE AMMA | SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | ASSISTANCE OF ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. |
| The Villa Center Inc | Santa Ana, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Treatment for substance abuse. |
| SUPPORT THE ENLISTED PROJECT INC | SAN DIEGO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Assistance for military veterans. |
| Vanguard University | Costa Mesa, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Education of college students. |
| PACIFIC SYMPHONY | Irvine, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | MUSIC PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN. |
| BEYOND BLINDNESS | SANTA ANA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | PROGRAMS FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILDREN. |
| HD-CARE | Irvine, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Research regarding Huntington's Disease. |
| VCC THE GARY CENTER | Vista, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | JOB TRAINING FOR AT-RISK YOUTH. |
| KIDWORKS | SANTA ANA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN. |
Orangewood Foundation - Samueli Aca
$500,000Education Programs.
ARMY AND NAVY ACADEMY
$250,000TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW INCOME STUDENTS.
Children's Bureau
$250,000Programs for disadvantaged children.
Anaheim Family YMCA
$215,000Programs for youth and development of new athletic facilities.
Olive Crest
$205,000Support for foster youth.
HOAG HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$200,000Functional Medicine Program.
Concordia University Foundation
$200,000Construction of new music, worship and theology building.
Children's Hospital of OC Foundatio
$117,500Pediatric Medical Care.
Friends of Santa Ana Zoo
$100,000Maintenance of animal exhibits.
UCI MIND
$100,000MEDICAL RESEARCH.
ALZHEIMER'S ORANGE COUNTY
$100,000PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.
Crean Lutheran High School
$65,000Education.
The Priority Center
$50,000Assistance for at risk families to prevent child abuse.
NEW VISTA SCHOOL FOUNDATION
$40,000TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW INCOME STUDENTS.
Big BrothersBig Sisters
$35,000Programs for children.
YMCA of Orange County
$25,000Recreation programs for the needy.
PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF OC
$25,000MUSIC PROGRAMS.
Childhelp
$25,000Treatment and Prevention of Child Abuse.
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE MASTER
$20,800RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS.
The Midnight Mission
$20,000Shelter for alcoholics.
WORLD FIT FOUNDATION INC
$20,000FITNESS PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN.
ANGEL FACES
$20,000Seminars to build self-esteeem for burn victims.
THE SHEA CENTER FOR THERAPEUTIC RID
$20,000PROGRAMS FOR DISABLED CHILDREN.
FIRST STEP HOUSE OF ORANGE COUNTY
$20,000PROGRAMS FOR ALCOHOLIC REHABILITATION.
Pacifica Christian High School
$20,000Student scholarships.
LAGUNA BEACH SENIORS INC
$20,000INCREASE OUTREACH TO SENIORS.
THE PRENTICE SCHOOL
$15,000EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
Illumination Foundation
$15,000Assistance for homeless families.
DISCOVERY CUBE ORANGE COUNTY
$15,000STEM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT THE SCIENCE CENTER.
Chapman University
$15,000Education.
CALIFORNIA YOUTH SERVICES
$12,500SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING FOR YOUTH.
GLORIA DEI LUTHERAN CHURCH
$11,440RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS.
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF OC
$10,000FOOD FOR THE POOR AND HOMELESS.
American Heart Association
$10,000Medical Research.
Thomas House Family Shelter
$10,000SERVICES FOR HOMELESS AND AT-RISK FAMILIES.
SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$10,000MUSIC PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN.
MEALS ON WHEELS ORANGE COUNTY
$10,000Programs for seniors.
Ronald McDonald House Charities
$10,000Camp program for children with cancer.
Laura's House
$10,000Shelter for abused women and children.
Acacia Adult Day Services
$10,000Programs for seniors.
WORKING WARDROBES FOR A NEW START
$10,000HELP PEOPLE OVERCOME CHALLENGES TO ACHIEVE EMPLOYMENT.
CASA DE AMMA
$10,000ASSISTANCE OF ADULTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
The Villa Center Inc
$10,000Treatment for substance abuse.
SUPPORT THE ENLISTED PROJECT INC
$10,000Assistance for military veterans.
Vanguard University
$10,000Education of college students.
PACIFIC SYMPHONY
$10,000MUSIC PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN.
BEYOND BLINDNESS
$10,000PROGRAMS FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILDREN.
HD-CARE
$10,000Research regarding Huntington's Disease.
VCC THE GARY CENTER
$10,000JOB TRAINING FOR AT-RISK YOUTH.
KIDWORKS
$10,000PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN.