David & Janis Larson Foundation
The David & Janis Larson Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2013 and granted tax-exempt status in March 2015. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the foundation was created to carry out the philanthropic vision of David M. Larson, a retired Cargill executive vice president and University of Minnesota regent who passed away in 2014 at age 70. The foundation operates with the principle that "if a cause is worth supporting today, it's worth supporting in perpetuity."
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$8.4M
+4.9% YoY
Grant Count
45
+25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$186K
-16.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on:
- Education
- Health and Safety
- Goodwill and Community Development
- Leadership Development
- Athletics
- Historical Preservation
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation operates as a trustee-directed private family foundation without formal grant programs with specified amounts.
Grant Range
$3,500 to $2,200,000
Average Grant
$222,222
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary funding areas include:
- Minnesota (with emphasis on Minneapolis/St. Paul area)
- Kansas (with emphasis on Kansas City)
- Missouri
- Wisconsin
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Most Recent Filing (2023-2024):
- Total Assets: $136,723,733 to $139,838,749
- Total Annual Giving: $8,000,000 to $8,390,000
- Total Revenues (2023): $9,997,119
- Total Expenses (2023): $8,720,976
- Investment Income and Dividends (2023): $3,368,450
- Number of Employees: 1
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
144 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by:
- Janis "Jani" Larson – Widow of David M. Larson; manages the foundation
- D. Lance Larson – Son; serves as trustee
- Reid M. Larson – Son; serves as trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JANIS L LARSON | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| D LANCE LARSON | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| REID M LARSON | TRUSTEE | 20 | — |
| FIRST TRUST CO LLC | TRUSTEE | 10 | $202,473 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made significant commitments to major national and regional organizations:
**Boys & Girls Clubs of America**: $10 million grant for clubs across the country (2022)
Larson Family Foundation Grants $10M for Boys & Girls Clubs Across the Country**Three Major Nonprofits**: $90 million commitment announced
**Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation**: Larson Endowment distributed $615,000 in awards
Community Foundation Awards $615K through Larson Endowment**University of Central Arkansas**: $500,000 Bridges-Larson Foundation grant
UCA News \u2013 UCA AWARDED $500,000 BRIDGES-LARSON FOUNDATION GRANTContact Information
Address: 1055 Wayzata Boulevard East, Wayzata, MN 55391
Phone: (952) 473-3310
Administrative Contact: First Trust Company LLC, 250 Marquette Ave Ste 520, Minneapolis, MN 55401-2165; (651) 330-5910
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
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—
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Clearway Minnesota (sm)
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Assets
—
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Total Given
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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