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As members of the community, there’s nothing more exciting than watching Orange County grow for the better. The Build OC Fund is dedicated to supporting the growth and development of Orange County’s nonprofits by funding capital projects.
Build OC Fund grant application on the Samueli Foundation portal opens: Monday, March 2, 2026
Build OC Fund grant application on the Samueli Foundation portal closes: Friday, April 10, 2026 at 5:00pm PDT
Build OC Fund grant awards announcements: By October 2026
Build OC Fund grant payments processed: By December 31, 2026
According to our Orange County Nonprofit Needs Assessment, many Orange County nonprofit organizations are struggling with inadequate or unaffordable physical space. High rental costs, lack of long-term leases, and limited access to funding for facility improvements prevent organizations from expanding services, retaining staff, and providing welcoming, functional environments for their communities. The Build OC Fund will support:
Equipment (i.e., major equipment as part of a larger capital project)
Renovation (i.e., to significantly revamp an existing facility or outdoor space or to maintain or repair existing historic structures)
Repair (i.e., for maintenance or repair of a facility or outdoor space)
Last mile funding for new construction (i.e., less than 10% of total costs remain for a new building or an addition to an existing building)
Organizations may apply for one-time capital grants up to $1,000,000 for projects located in Orange County, California for which they have site control or are in the process of securing site control (e.g., ownership of the property, option to purchase, long-term lease of at least 7 years). The project should be completed or reach a meaningful milestone within one year of receiving funding. Organizations may submit applications for up to one capital project for the Build OC Fund. Grant awards will be made as a single payment before December 31, 2026.
To be considered for the Build OC Fund, your organization:
Must not have been awarded a Build OC Fund grant in 2025
Must be able to receive charitable dollars
Must be based in Orange County, California
Is seeking funding for a capital project that is in line with the Build OC Fund guidelines
Has been in operation for a minimum of 5 years
Must be aligned with the Samueli Foundation's mission and values
The following organizations are not eligible for funding:
We do not provide funding to any organization that discriminates based on race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or veteran status. This also includes organizations that espouse hate and discrimination towards any group
International organizations
Individuals, including those seeking scholarships or fellowship assistance
Political, labor, or fraternal organizations involved in partisan work
The Samueli Foundation will be looking at the following criteria:
Organization: The organization helps to advance well-being and opportunity for all individuals and families living in Orange County
Project: The proposed activities are realistic and feasible and will enable the organization to better deliver its mission
Funding: The request represents the “right resources” for the project (i.e., would allow the organization to cover 100% of the project’s costs)
It is unlikely we will prioritize capital projects that are in early stages of development. We know that most costs for capital projects will exceed our grant awards, so we will prioritize capital projects that are nearing a final phase or need our grant award to complete their projects.
The grant application will open on March 2, 2026. For 2026, you may only submit one application per organization.
The grant application process for the Build OC Fund will include the following steps:
Visit the Samueli Foundation portal using the button below
Create a new user account or use your existing account (for previously registered portal account users)
Start your Build OC Fund application with our eligibility quiz
Complete and submit your Build OC Fund application
All applications must be submitted through the Samueli Foundation portal. Once in the application portal, you will be able to save and return to your application and print your application. We have created a number of resources to help you create your account, familiarize yourself with the application questions, and suggestions on how to get started below. Due to the nature of the capital project requests, we may follow-up with additional questions after your submission.
We tried to anticipate all your questions in the Resources section, including a Frequently Asked Questions and other materials. If you can’t answer your question using these resources, our team is available to help. You can reach them at buildoc@samueli.org.
The Samueli Foundation intends to use AI tools to help us manage the Build OC Fund application process.
