From 2000 through 2015, Orfalea’s philanthropic activities were concentrated through The Orfalea Foundation. While the family supported a wide range of community needs, it focused its resources on Education, Youth Development, Early Childhood Education, School Food Reform, and Community Disaster Preparedness.  

Today, Paul and his wife Jane give via the Audacious Foundation, primarily devoted to organizations near Santa Barbara, California supporting Whole Child Development – recognizing that a child’s academic achievements and future success benefit from environments that promote physical activity, health & nutrition, and financial literacy. For example, research shows that students who ride bikes and swim are better at reading and math, so Paul supports programs that help low-income children learn these skills. He is also concerned about the rampant rise of diabetes in America, particularly among low-income children and children of color. “American kids now have a 1 in 3 chance of contracting diabetes, and for Black and Hispanic kids it’s a fifty percent chance. Doing nothing is NOT an option.”