Samueli Foundation Breakaway Fund

The Breakaway Fund is a private philanthropic initiative administered by the Samueli Foundation, a California-based foundation focused on improving the well-being and quality of life for communities, particularly in Orange County. The fund is designed to address a specific and persistent challenge identified through the foundation’s Orange County Nonprofit Needs Assessment: the lack of accessible, unrestricted funding that nonprofits can use to strengthen internal capacity. By offering flexible, one-time grants, the Breakaway Fund aims to remove common administrative and financial barriers that often limit nonprofit effectiveness and growth. The primary purpose of the Breakaway Fund is to provide unrestricted, easy-to-access capital that allows nonprofit organizations to invest in their internal infrastructure and organizational health. The fund emphasizes capacity-building activities rather than direct program delivery, focusing on strengthening the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of organizations. Grants support projects that improve talent development, operational systems, and access to specialized expertise. The overarching objective is to enable organizations to operate more efficiently, retain talent, and deliver higher-quality services to the Orange County community. Funding is available in the range of 50000 to 100000 dollars for a one-year project period. Eligible uses of funds include investments in leadership development, employee engagement initiatives, technology upgrades, facility improvements, and contracted professional services such as legal, financial, or strategic consulting. However, the fund explicitly prohibits the use of grant funds for ongoing salaries or permanent staffing positions. All funded activities must be time-limited and tied to a defined project that enhances organizational capacity rather than covering recurring operational expenses. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations that serve communities within Orange County, California, and are able to receive charitable funds. Organizations must align with the Samueli Foundation’s mission and values and must not have received a Breakaway Fund grant in the prior year. Certain entities are excluded, including individuals, international organizations, and political or partisan groups. Additionally, organizations that engage in discriminatory practices are ineligible. The fund is designed to be inclusive of nonprofits across sectors, provided they demonstrate a commitment to advancing well-being and opportunity in the region. The application process is intentionally streamlined to reduce administrative burden. Applicants are required to submit their proposals through the Samueli Foundation’s online portal. The process includes creating or accessing an account, completing an eligibility quiz, and submitting a single application per organization. The application is designed to take approximately 20 minutes to complete, reflecting the fund’s emphasis on accessibility and minimal barriers to entry. Supporting resources, including FAQs and application guides, are provided to assist applicants. For the 2026 cycle, the application period opened on March 2, 2026, and closed on April 10, 2026. Grant award announcements were scheduled for July 9, 2026, with payments processed by December 31, 2026. The fund operates on a recurring basis, with future cycles anticipated annually, though specific details for the next round are to be announced. Applicants are encouraged to monitor the foundation’s website for updates regarding the 2027 cycle. Applications are evaluated based on organizational alignment with community well-being goals, the feasibility and impact of the proposed project, and whether the requested funding appropriately covers the full cost of the project. Due to the competitive nature of the fund and the high volume of applications, not all qualified proposals receive funding. For inquiries, applicants may contact the foundation via email at breakaway@samueli.org, though individualized guidance on proposals is not provided to ensure fairness in the review process.

Ensure project is feasible aligned with mission and fully budgeted as fund prioritizes complete coverage of proposed expenses