About Erin Samueli

Founder and President, The Humboldt Foundation

Erin Samueli is an activist, organizer, and philanthropist grounded in the principles of social justice and earth-centric values.

With a multidisciplinary background spanning education as a middle school science teacher, philanthropic leadership as a program director and board member, laboratory science as a biochemist, and creative expression through music as frontwoman of the rock band 37 Houses, Erin holds a dynamic worldview that empowers and amplifies every space she engages in. 

As Founder and President of The Humboldt Foundation, Erin is committed to fulfilling the mission of Sovereignty Diffusion, leading with an ecosystemic vision inspired by the interconnectedness of living systems, and grounded in the belief that meaningful change emerges not only through financial capital but through relationships, trust, lived experience, and shared wisdom. Erin’s life work is to cultivate regenerative networks of resource exchange across sectors, communities, nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic partners.

Across all her personal and professional endeavors, Erin embodies and advances the values of solidarity, ecosystem-mindedness, authenticity, equity, compassion, and optimism. Her work centers the amplification of agency, the nurturing of interconnected systems, and the co-creation of conditions where sovereignty, possibility, and collective thriving can take root.

Philanthropic advising services for The Humboldt Foundation are powered by the Orange County Community Foundation, Center for Engaged Philanthropy. This strategic partnership supports the Humboldt Foundation’s mission by providing operational infrastructure, funding strategy, relationship development, and effective grantmaking aligned with The Humboldt Foundation’s core values, focus areas, and ecosystemic vision for impact.