Orangewood Foundation is a Santa Ana nonprofit. It works with young people in Orange County who are leaving foster care, living without stable housing, or recovering from human trafficking. It also helps those living without stable housing. It assists individuals recovering from human trafficking. These efforts focus on improving safety and stability.
It has been doing this work since 1981. Over decades, the organization has guided many youths toward stability. The approach centers on safety, housing support, and access to services. It remains a trusted community partner for families and volunteers alike.
Orangewood Foundation is not a small organization. Its 2024-2025 annual report lists 1,858 young people served. It shows total revenue of about $24.5 million.
But most of its programs come down to the basics: a hot meal, a bed, a scholarship, someone to help with a job application.
Where and who
Orangewood serves Orange County. Its main campus is at 1901 N. Fairview St. in Santa Ana, which it shares with Samueli Academy, a public charter high school it helped start.
Orangewood Foundation’s About page explains that programs reach youth from middle school through age 24. They describe the age range to include late adolescence and early adulthood. The page highlights intended outcomes across education, safety, and the transition to independence. This framing guides how services are delivered and who is invited to participate.
The core groups are current and former foster youth, youth experiencing homelessness, and survivors. It also notes people at risk of trafficking as part of the supported cohort. Each group benefits from tailored programs and sustained mentoring to improve stability. Overall, the approach centers on empowering vulnerable youth through focused, compassionate assistance.
Background
The organization began as Orangewood Children’s Home.
It was a shelter for abused and neglected children envisioned by developer William Lyon and Bill Steiner.
Orangewood describes it as the county’s first public-private partnership.
In 1985 the shelter was deeded to Orange County.
The foundation reorganized to focus on youth aging out of the system.
Its current mission is to strive for equity for young people.
It values and supports the life they envision.
Programs
According to its official programs page, Orangewood groups its work into five areas:
- Basic needs: the Orangewood Resource Center (meals, showers, laundry, computer access, counseling) and Project C.H.O.I.C.E., which supports trafficking survivors.
- Transitional housing: Rising Tide, the Lighthouse, Casa de Rosemary and the Youth Connected Program.
- Housing support: housing assistance and an independent living program for youth in foster care.
- Education: scholarships, an Advanced Studies Fund for graduate and trade programs, and Samueli Academy, which opened in 2013 for grades 7 through 12 and includes on-campus dorms for foster youth.
- Life skills and employment: the Independent Living Program, the Lyon Workforce Academy and a Young Adult Court program.
What the numbers show
The 2024-2025 report, posted on Orangewood Foundation’s site in October 2025, reports 12,777 hot meals served to 1,044 young people. It also notes 9,053 visits to the Resource Center.
Additionally, 11,335 bags of groceries were distributed during the year as part of the foundation’s support for families.
Additionally, the report shows 4,043 hygiene kits distributed. It also shows $711,011 in scholarships awarded to 253 undergraduates and 20 graduate students. Moreover, these figures reflect the Orangewood Foundation’s commitment to supporting students and community well-being throughout the year. Across all programs, outcomes indicate steady help for scholars and families.
Orangewood Foundation reports 154 young people placed in emergency housing. This marks a 57 percent increase over the prior year. It also notes 294 young people served through its trafficking programs, up 17 percent.
Housing is where the organization says it wants to grow. In a December 2025 Orange County Business Journal story, Orangewood said it had 72 beds. It aims to reach 250 by 2030.
Chief development officer Sam Bobila told the Journal that for young adults, “all roads lead to housing.”
September 10, 2026, the foundation held a launch party for Madrinas y Padrinos, a new mentorship auxiliary group. This event was listed on its official events calendar.
Ways to support
Orangewood’s volunteer page lists several roles. These include hosting a life skills workshop on topics like tax filing or interview prep. Other roles cover kitchen shifts preparing meals for youth ages 18 to 25, plus reception and administrative help.
There are also group or corporate volunteer days. Sign-ups run through a Rosterfy portal linked from that page.
Donations can be made at orangewoodfoundation.org/donate.
The events calendar also lists free workshops for former foster youth, including a virtual and in-person preventive dental care session on September 24, 2026.
Official site: https://orangewoodfoundation.org
Verified 501(c)(3): Orangewood Foundation, EIN 95-3616628, ruling year 1981. This information comes from IRS data on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer as of September 2026.
Sources
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Orangewood Foundation (EIN 95-3616628)
- Orangewood Foundation: About Us
- Orangewood Foundation: 2024-2025 Annual Report (PDF)
- Orangewood Foundation: Programs
- Orangewood Foundation: Home
- Orangewood Foundation: Volunteer
- Orangewood Foundation: Events
- Samueli Academy: About
- Orange County Business Journal: “Orangewood Aims to Triple Beds for Homeless Kids” (Kim Stemper, Dec. 1, 2025)
