Eric and Sheila Samson Foundation

About Eric and Sheila Samson Foundation

A defining feature of the Eric and Sheila Samson Foundation is its use of large, campaign-style gifts, including a $1 million final pledge to Cleveland Clinic Foundation for the Western Case and a $600,000 fifth pledge to Hoag Hospital Foundation for gastroenterology and cardiology. The foundation’s recent giving combines major healthcare commitments with Jewish and Israel-focused support, creating a pattern of restricted grants tied to named projects rather than broad, open-ended funding. Its portfolio shows sustained backing for hospital capital and specialty clinical work alongside grants to organizations centered on Israel advocacy, Shabbat engagement, and Jewish communal life. Recent gifts also include support for a children’s home, a relief fund, and a leadership award, suggesting a mix of institution-building and community-specific assistance. The presence of multiple pledge installments in the recent grants list points to multi-year commitments rather than one-time awards. Grant sizes are generally high, with several awards in the six-figure range and only a few smaller gifts. That structure fits a funder making targeted investments into a limited set of organizations and projects, often through named initiatives with specific purposes attached.

What Eric and Sheila Samson Foundation Funds

Healthcare is a major theme in the foundation’s giving. In 2024, it gave $1 million to Cleveland Clinic Foundation for the final pledge of the Western Case, and $600,000 to Hoag Hospital Foundation for a fifth pledge supporting gastroenterology and cardiology. Those two grants show a strong emphasis on large medical commitments and specialty care. Jewish and Israel-focused support is another clear thread. The foundation gave $500,000 to Central Fund of Israel for Israel advocacy and $250,000 to Together With Israel for an Israel outreach initiative. It also awarded $350,000 to Friends of Sinai Trust for a Shabbat project, linking its giving to Jewish observance and programming. The recent list also includes targeted community grants: $250,000 to Tikva Corp for Tikva Children's Home, $193,240 to Congregation of Adat Yeshrun for the Adat Yeshrun Relief Fund, and $20,000 to Jewish Community Foundation of Orange County for the Irving "Papa" Gelman Leadership Award.

How Eric and Sheila Samson Foundation Gives