Non-profit

Natalie Orfalea Foundation (NOF)

Website:

www.natalieorfaleafoundation.org/

Location:

Santa Barbara, CA

Tax ID:

47-4602133

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $977,557
Expenses: $1,411,397
Assets: $18,952,885

Type:

Private Foundation

Formation:

2016

Executive Director:

Marybeth Carty

Budget (2021):

Revenue: $1,886,021
Expenses: $1,650,966
Assets: $21,200,278 18

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Natalie Orfalea Foundation (NOF) is a private foundation and grantmaking organization. 1 NOF supports the critical race theory-influenced concept of “social equity” 2 and its donations have supported left-of-center issue advocacy, restrictions on gun ownership, 3 environmentalism, 4 health issues, and various education-related causes. 5

In 2019, NOF contributed $50,000 to the left-of-center Voter Registration Project 6 and supported the documentary Knock Down the House, which covered the 2018 primary election campaigns of U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO). 3

History and Leadership

Natalie Orfalea Foundation was founded in 2016 7 by Natalie Orfalea, an activist donor whose interests include the critical race theory-influenced concept of “social justice” as well as environmentalism, education, leadership, community health, and documentary films. 8

Marybeth Carty is the executive of NOF. 9 In her role, she has addressed left-wing education and social policy issues by interfacing with hundreds of different nonprofit organizations through her work on various boards. 8

Lou Buglioli co-funds NOF projects and is on the organization’s Education Finance Committee. 10

Activities and Funding

Natalie Orfalea Foundation is a private foundation 1 whose grantmaking priorities include left-of-center issue advocacy, restrictions on gun ownership, 3 environmentalism, 4 health issues, and various education-related causes. 5 NOF pursues the critical race theory-influenced concept of “social equity” 2 and considers its and grants both business and social decisions. 11

NOF and NOF funder Lou Buglioli operate on an invitation-only grantmaking cycle. Organizations may be invited to submit a letter of inquiry prior to submitting a full grant application to the foundation. NOF conducts two major grant cycles each year, one in the spring and one in the fall. 12

NOF’s partners include the Audacious Foundation, James S. Bower Foundation, Santa Barbara Foundation, the Giving Pledge, Chicago Media Project, Impact Partners, Sundance Institute, UCSB Arts & Lectures, Kathleen Loehr of the Aspen Leadership Group, and Leading from Within. 11 NOF has also worked with Doctors Without Borders. 13

In 2021, NOF gave grants of $195,000 to the Santa Barbara Foundation, $83,334 to the Community Environmental Council, $40,000 to Doctors without Walls, $28,942 to the Audacious Foundation, $25,000 to Equal Justice Initiative, $10,000 to the Indian Law Resource Center, and $5,000 to environmentalist law firm Earthjustice (formerly the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund). That same year, NOF approved future grants of $166,666 to Community Environmental Council. 14

In 2020, NOF distributed grants of $10,000 to left-of-center America Votes, $75,000 to the Audacious Foundation, $12,500 to the Community Environmental Council, $40,000 to Doctors Without Walls, $50,000 to the Equal Justice Initiative, $182,875 to the Santa Barbara Foundation, $49,371 to the Tandana Foundation, and $155,000 to United Way. 15

In 2019, NOF contributed $50,000 to the left-of-center Voter Registration Project and $10,000 to Democracy Now. 6 Also in 2019, NOF supported films on gun control and Knock Down the House, a documentary film that covered the 2018 primary election campaigns of U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO). 3

The foundation has also partnered with environmentalist activist Paul Hawken to produce a film on climate change and worked with the Nature Preserve and the left-of-center Community Environmental Council on environmentalist causes. 16

Funding

Natalie Orfalea Foundation receives most of its funding through grants from Louis Buglioli 17 and from investment income. In 2021, NOF reported revenue of $1,886,021 and expenses of $1,650,966. 18

In 2020, Natalie Orfalea Foundation reported revenue of $977,557 and expenses of $1,411,397. 15

References

  1. “Natalie Orfalea Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2021. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/474602133/202213139349101716/full.
  2. “Our Values.” Natalie Orfalea Foundation. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.natalieorfaleafoundation.org/our-vision.
  3. “Storytelling.” Natalie Orfalea Foundation. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.natalieorfaleafoundation.org/storytelling.
  4. “Home.” Natalie Orfalea Foundation. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.natalieorfaleafoundation.org/health.
  5. Education.” Natalie Orfalea Foundation. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.natalieorfaleafoundation.org/education.
  6. “Natalie Orfalea Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2019. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/474602133/202043219349106834/full.
  7. “Our Team.” Natalie Orfalea Foundation. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.natalieorfaleafoundation.org/our-team#:~:text=Keenan%20Orfalea,Foundation%20which%20launched%20in%202016.
  8. “Our Team.” Natalie Orfalea Foundation. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.natalieorfaleafoundation.org/our-team.
  9. “Contact Us.” Natalie Orfalea Foundation. Accessed June 15, 2023. https://www.natalieorfaleafoundation.org/contact-us.
  10. “Our Team.” Natalie Orfalea Foundation. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.natalieorfaleafoundation.org/our-team.
  11. “Partners.” Natalie Orfalea Foundation. Accessed June 15, 2023. https://www.natalieorfaleafoundation.org/new-page.
  12. “Contact Us.” Natalie Orfalea Foundation. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.natalieorfaleafoundation.org/contact-us.
  13. “Health.” Natalie Orfalea Foundation. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.natalieorfaleafoundation.org/health.
  14. “Natalie Orfalea Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2021. Part XIV. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/474602133/202213139349101716/full.
  15. “Natalie Orfalea Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2020. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/474602133/202133199349102848/full.
  16. “Environment.” Natalie Orfalea Foundation. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://www.natalieorfaleafoundation.org/environment.
  17. “Natalie Orfalea Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/474602133/202213139349101716/full.
  18. “Natalie Orfalea Foundation.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2021. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/474602133/202213139349101716/full.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: January 1, 2016

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Dec Form PF $977,557 $1,411,397 $18,952,885 $428,702 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2019 Dec Form PF $781,701 $944,788 $17,233,849 $601,974 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2015 Dec Form PF $11,204,656 $0 $11,189,961 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Natalie Orfalea Foundation (NOF)

    P.O. Box 50736
    Santa Barbara, CA