Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun
The Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun is a private foundation based in Draper, Utah. It supports charitable efforts in education, innovation, health care, and community, with its own website describing a focus on Utah.
Key facts about Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun
In short: Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun gave $3.7M across 63 grants in 2024 (avg $59K), mostly in Utah. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 83-2297329
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,736,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 63
- Average grant
- $59,302
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (16 of 63, 2024)
- Total assets
- $101,248,017
- Primary geography
- Utah (90% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- Applications are reviewed quarterly.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$101.2M
+6.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.7M
+20.2% YoY
Grant Count
63
+18.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$59K
+1.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun reported a distributable amount of $4.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 16 of 63 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $38K; repeat grants $66K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−15%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 152% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website says it was established to implement the charitable interests of the James LeVoy Sorenson family. It identifies education, innovation, health care, and community as its broad areas of interest. Examples include arts education and job training; science, technology, and environmental initiatives; medical research and technologies; and efforts related to families, children, housing, and community development. The website says education support includes work to develop elementary arts studies and improve students’ arts education and experiences.
The foundation’s eligibility guidance names IRS-approved 501(c)(3) organizations, municipalities, and public schools as eligible organization types, and states a preference for organizations whose efforts are in Utah.
Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. For example, World Wide Addiction Recovery says it strengthens connections between parents and children through experiential camp programs. The National Ability Center says it empowers people with disabilities through sport, recreation, and educational programs. Ballet West says it inspires and empowers a broad community through ballet exposure, training, and education. The Hole in the Rock Foundation says it works to preserve and promote the historical legacy of the Hole-in-the-Rock/San Juan Mission pioneers.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 63 grants totaling $3,736,000. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $500,000, with a median of $20,000.
Review Cycle
Applications are reviewed quarterly. Deadlines are December 1 for the first-quarter review, March 1 for the second, June 1 for the third, and September 1 for the fourth.
How to Apply
through an online portal, advises first-time applicants to inquire before applying, and says applications are reviewed by the board. A complete application and additional documentation are required. Award recipients sign an agreement to use and report on grant funds within a year; reporting should describe how funds were used, alignment with the application, and the grant’s impact.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says it focuses efforts in Utah and gives preference to organizations whose efforts are in the state. In 2024, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in Utah, 9% to Massachusetts, and 1% to Washington, D.C.; the reported shares for Virginia and Idaho were each 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 63 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.5M (2022) to $4.4M (2021). In 2024 it made 63 grants totaling $3.7M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Neuroworx ($500K). Together the top 10 received $2.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
281 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 198 grants of 281 (70%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Neuroworx Sandy, UT | General Support | $500,000 |
| Intermountain Healthcare Foundation Salt Lake City, UT | General Support | $500,000 |
| The Zahra Charity Inc Salt Lake City, UT | General Support | $385,000 |
| Thrive Gulu Inc Marlborough, MA | General Support | $350,000 |
| World Wide Addiction Recovery Salt Lake City, UT | General Support | $175,000 |
| Mentors International Kaysville, UT | General Support | $150,000 |
| Rise and Rebuild Foundation Sandy, UT | General Support | $140,000 |
| National Ability Center Park City, UT | General Support | $140,000 |
| Tennis for Life St George, UT | General Support | $100,000 |
| Kostopulos Dream Foundation Salt Lake City, UT | General Support | $100,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant total | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $101,248,017 | $5,461,459 | $4,998,749 | $3,736,000 | 63 |
| 2023 | $95,501,176 | $1,537,469 | $4,346,459 | $3,108,000 | 53 |
| 2022 | $89,692,011 | $2,897,433 | $3,598,125 | $2,497,421 | 50 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $101,248,017 | $95,501,176 | $89,692,011 |
| Revenue | $5,461,459 | $1,537,469 | $2,897,433 |
| Expenses | $4,998,749 | $4,346,459 | $3,598,125 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,572,981 | $4,505,588 | $3,048,884 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,441,929 | $1,519,918 | $2,591,051 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,312,617 | $4,052,080 | $3,843,003 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Joseph Sorenson as president and director, Kathleen Sorenson as vice president and director, and Alan Robinson as treasurer.
Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun is led by Joseph Sorenson, President & Director on every filing since 2020; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joseph Sorenson
President & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $28K (2024)
Kathleen Sorenson
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$8K (2020) → $28K (2024)
Alan Robinson
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$94K (2022) → $0 (2024)
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 $28K, to Joseph Sorenson (President/Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 14658 Bangerter Parkway 420, Draper, UT 84020
Phone: (801) 268-4331
Website: https://sorensonlegacyfoundation.org
Frequently asked questions about Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun
How much does Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun give each year?
Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun gave $3.7M across 63 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.1M across 53 grants.
What is Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun's typical grant size?
Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $59,302, across 63 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun that year got $38K on average.
Where does Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun give grants?
Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun gives mostly in Utah: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Salt Lake City, UT (24 grants), Sandy, UT (7 grants), Park City, UT (4 grants) and Draper, UT (4 grants).
Does Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun give general operating support?
Yes: 98% of Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (62 of 63) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun's largest grantees?
Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun's largest 2024 grantees include Neuroworx ($500,000), Intermountain Healthcare Foundation ($500,000) and The Zahra Charity Inc ($385,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun?
Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun reported $101.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun fund?
The foundation’s website says it was established to implement the charitable interests of the James LeVoy Sorenson family. It identifies education, innovation, health care, and community as its broad areas of interest. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun's EIN?
Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2297329. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Joseph and Kathleen Sorenson Legacy Foun accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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