Janet Q Lawson Foundation
The Janet Q Lawson Foundation is a private foundation based in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2024, it made 54 grants totaling $3,889,500 to charitable organizations, with the largest shares of grant dollars going to recipients in Utah and Indiana.
Janet Q Lawson Foundation at a glance
In short: Janet Q Lawson Foundation gave $3.9M across 54 grants in 2024 (avg $72K), mostly in Utah. 22% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,889,500
- +45.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 54
- -5.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $72,028
- +53.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $58,986,635
- -0.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (12 of 54, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Utah (75% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Janet Q Lawson Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 45385, Salt Lake City, UT 84145-0385
Phone: (801) 532-1500
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Janet Q Lawson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Utah State University ($1.4M). Together the top 10 received $3.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
249 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 214 grants of 249 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 75% of grant dollars went to recipients in Utah and 22% to recipients in Indiana. Massachusetts, Arizona, and Idaho each received 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 54 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Janet Q Lawson Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 54 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $114K; repeat grants $60K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 74% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 30% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 115% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $914K (2020) to $3.9M (2024). In 2024 it made 54 grants totaling $3.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Utah State University Logan, UT | General Financial Support | $1,381,000 |
| Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc Indianapolis, IN | General Financial Support | $840,000 |
| Entrada Cultural Center Torrey, UT | General Financial Support | $280,000 |
| Intermountain Foundation at Primary Children's Hospital Salt Lake City, UT | General Financial Support | $255,000 |
| Ballet West Salt Lake City, UT | General Financial Support | $130,000 |
| YMCA of Northern Utah Salt Lake City, UT | General Financial Support | $110,000 |
| Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake City, UT | General Financial Support | $100,000 |
| Huntsman Mental Health Institute Salt Lake City, UT | General Financial Support | $100,000 |
| Utah Symphony Utah Opera Salt Lake City, UT | General Financial Support | $75,000 |
| University of Utah Salt Lake City, UT | General Financial Support | $62,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $58,986,635 | $5,042,038 | $4,640,664 | $3,889,500 | 54 | $3,914,610 | $4,354,984 | $3,402,434 |
| 2023 | $59,505,637 | $3,519,027 | $3,500,419 | $2,672,800 | 57 | $2,709,650 | $2,756,583 | $3,164,032 |
| 2022 | $56,730,935 | $1,072,699 | $4,167,464 | $3,197,900 | 49 | $3,229,943 | $1,215,610 | $3,179,653 |
| 2021 | $59,145,800 | $4,974,957 | $3,962,786 | $2,987,650 | 46 | $3,027,143 | $4,192,314 | $3,323,154 |
| 2020 | $58,741,867 | $1,287,856 | $1,590,587 | $913,750 | 43 | — | $1,042,148 | $2,981,833 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Janet Q Lawson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes its program as “Prior Period Adjustments and Temporary K-1/Capital Differences.” Its 2024 grants included support for a university, cultural and performing arts organizations, a hospital foundation, a youth organization, a newspaper, and conservation organizations.
Grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Ballet West says it inspires and empowers a broad community through exposure, training, and education in ballet. Friends of Tracy Aviary says its mission includes inspiring action to conserve birds and habitats. The Youth Garden Project describes its work as cultivating healthy children, families, and community through educational programs and connections to food.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 54 grants totaling $3,889,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $1,381,000, with a median of $10,000. Among the largest were Utah State University ($1,381,000), Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc. ($840,000), Entrada Cultural Center ($280,000), and Intermountain Foundation at Primary Children’s Hospital ($255,000). Each was listed for general financial support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Frederick Q Lawson, Peter Q Lawson, Ellen E Rossi, Dr Erik C Erlingsson, Charles H Livsey, and Stewart Q Lawson as trustees/advisors. It lists Tatiana E Lawson, Mathieu C Shrontz, and Jason Tholen as advisors.
Janet Q Lawson Foundation's 2024 filing lists 9 officers; all 9 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Charles H Livsey
Trustee & Advisor
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Ellen E Rossi
Trustee & Advisor
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Erik C Erlingsson
Trustee & Advisor
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Frederick Q Lawson
Trustee & Advisor
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Peter Q Lawson
Trustee & Advisor
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Stewart Q Lawson
Trustee & Advisor
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
$5K (2022) → $5K (2024)
Jason Tholen
Advisor
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
$5K (2023) → $5K (2024)
Mathieu C Shrontz
Advisor
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
$5K (2023) → $5K (2024)
Tatiana E Lawson
Advisor
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
$5K (2023) → $5K (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Clark P Giles (2020–2023) — Trustee & Advisor
- Former: Herbert C Livsey (2020–2023) — Trustee & Advisor
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $5K, to Frederick Q Lawson (Trustee/Advisor). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Janet Q Lawson Foundation
How much does Janet Q Lawson Foundation give each year?
Janet Q Lawson Foundation gave $3.9M across 54 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.7M across 57 grants.
What is Janet Q Lawson Foundation's typical grant size?
Janet Q Lawson Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $72,028, across 54 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Janet Q Lawson Foundation that year got $114K on average.
Where does Janet Q Lawson Foundation give grants?
Janet Q Lawson Foundation gives mostly in Utah: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Indiana (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were Salt Lake City, UT (23 grants), Moab, UT (6 grants), Boston, MA (3 grants) and Logan, UT (2 grants).
Does Janet Q Lawson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Janet Q Lawson Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (54 of 54) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Janet Q Lawson Foundation's largest grantees?
Janet Q Lawson Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Utah State University ($1,381,000), Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc ($840,000) and Entrada Cultural Center ($280,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 64% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Janet Q Lawson Foundation?
Janet Q Lawson Foundation reported $59.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Janet Q Lawson Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its program as “Prior Period Adjustments and Temporary K-1/Capital Differences.” Its 2024 grants included support for a university, cultural and performing arts organizations, a hospital foundation, a youth organization, a newspaper, and conservation organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Janet Q Lawson Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Janet Q Lawson Foundation's EIN?
Janet Q Lawson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-0481508. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Janet Q Lawson Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Janet Q Lawson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/janet-q-lawson-foundation-morg_a4dd341691c24fde947e32e22a2b54b0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_870481508_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Janet Q Lawson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/janet-q-lawson-foundation-morg_a4dd341691c24fde947e32e22a2b54b0},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Janet Q Lawson Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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