Giving back through life-changing experiences.
The Peter W. Doerken Foundation supports 501(c)(3) organizations that align with our mission and have passionate leaders, are community based and offer potential for systemic, sustained change, including the possibility of replication.
Most of our grant applicants are by invitation only. However, if you feel your organization shares our mission you may submit a brief letter of inquiry by email.
The Peter W. Doerken Foundation is a private charitable foundation dedicated to supporting organizations with an entrepreneurial spirit and focused on sustainable, community-based solutions that promote the health, well-being, and prosperity of women, youth, and their local environment.
The Peter W. Doerken Foundation supports change through policy and advocacy. The Foundation stays abreast on the issues that affect the communities we serve.
We work collectively with policymakers, community leaders and other grantmakers, among others, to engage and partner together for greater impact.
Our vision is to be a resource for organizations that empower and improve the lives of women and youth to help them achieve long-term, positive change, both for themselves and others.
We believe that through thoughtful, strategic support we can make a difference in the lives of women and youth by investing in innovative, replicable projects that target a critical unmet need of disadvantaged and disenfranchised individuals.
The Akshaya Patra Foundation Food Recovery Program has been a passion project for Peter Doerken for over 20 years.
Akshaya Patra (Aak-sh-ayah pa-tra) is the world’s largest NGO school meal program, providing hot, nutritious lunches to over 2 million children in 22,000 schools across India every day.
Peter Doerken and Jeannette Harris with Navin Goel, CEO and Geeta Rai of the Akshaya Patra USA Foundation.
Read more about Peter Doerken's longtime involvement with the Akshaya Patra Foundation beginning in Inda many years ago on the About Us page.
Longtime friend and consultant for the foundation, Doug Freeman, CEO of OC Music and Dance in Irvine, CA.
OC Music & Dance believes that everyone should have access to the performing arts and offers an extensive range of after-school performing arts classes that cater to all ages and levels.
Peter Doerken with Andrea Marchetti, Executive Director and Eric Hubbard of Jovenes at the College Housing unit in partnership with Cerritos College.
Learn more about the College Success Initiative which Peter Doerken has supported for several years.
The Peter W. Doerken Foundation values the many organizations including the Conrad Hilton Foundation and is proud to support.
On behalf of the foundation, Jeannette Harris recently attended the Hilton Humanitarian Symposium and Prize Ceremony at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
The foundation is proud to support Next Generation Scholars in Northern California. This organization empowers first generation, under-resourced Marin County middle and high school students to succeed in college and beyond.
In May 2023, Peter Doerken attended the Read & Reveal event which was heart-warming and inspiring.
Copyright © 2023 The Peter W. Doerken Foundation - All Rights Reserved.