Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation
The Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation is a private foundation based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 2024, it made grants to charitable organizations in areas including victim services, health, education, climate leadership, and human services; the listed grants were designated for general operating support.
Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation at a glance
In short: Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation gave $350K across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $13K), top state Minnesota. 46% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $350,000
- -6.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- -7.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $13,462
- +0.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $8,500
- Total assets
- $5,659,809
- +5.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 46% first-time grantees (12 of 26, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (21% 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 Josephine Lawrence Hopkins 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 0634, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0634
Phone: (513) 629-8111
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Center for Victims of Torture ($50K). Together the top 10 received $255K.
Grant Size Distribution
140 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 135 grants of 140 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota (21%), Washington (17%), New York (16%), North Carolina (14%), and Massachusetts (13%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation open to new grantees?
46%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 26 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $14K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+6%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $295K (2020) to $406K (2022). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $350K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Center for Victims of Torture St. Paul, MN | General Operating | $50,000 |
| United Way of Rutherford County Spindale, NC | General Operating | $50,000 |
| Deployus Inc Boston, MA | General Operating | $30,000 |
| Children's Cancer & Blood Foundation New York, NY | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Platelet Disorder Support Assn Cleveland, OH | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Give to Research Yelm, WA | General Operating | $25,000 |
| Biobuilder Educational Foundation Newton, MA | General Operating | $15,000 |
| University of Florida Foundation Inc Gainesville, FL | General Operating | $15,000 |
| Cancer Support Team Purchase, NY | General Operating | $10,000 |
| The Schuyler Fdn for Career Bridges Inc Bronxville, NY | General Operating | $10,000 |
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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 | $5,659,809 | $674,308 | $393,450 | $350,000 | 26 | $361,920 | $648,283 | $394,877 |
| 2023 | $5,353,974 | $407,632 | $417,918 | $375,000 | 28 | $391,600 | $384,516 | $336,716 |
| 2022 | $5,364,259 | $405,084 | $453,619 | $406,000 | 34 | $419,990 | $373,077 | $351,988 |
| 2021 | $5,397,792 | $541,513 | $367,203 | $330,000 | 28 | $343,885 | $515,924 | $367,032 |
| 2020 | $5,218,481 | $140,332 | $342,090 | $295,000 | 24 | — | $297,282 | $241,186 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation reported a distributable amount of $395K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees describe work in varied fields. For example, the Center for Victims of Torture provides victim services; the Children’s Cancer & Blood Foundation and Cancer Support Team support people affected by cancer; and BioBuilder Educational Foundation develops science and engineering teaching materials. DeployUS says it works to strengthen organizations advancing conservative climate leadership and bipartisan climate solutions, while Front and Centered describes itself as a community-driven coalition working for environmental justice.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 26 grants totaling $350,000. Grants ranged from $4,000 to $50,000, with a median of $8,500. All 12 largest grants listed in the filing were for general operating support. Recipients included the Center for Victims of Torture and United Way of Rutherford County ($50,000 each); DeployUS ($30,000); and the Children’s Cancer & Blood Foundation, Platelet Disorder Support Association, and Give to Research ($25,000 each). Other 2024 grantees included The Sophia Way ($10,000), Front and Centered ($7,000), and World Savvy ($5,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Alison A F Chase as director/secretary; Lee Harrison Corbin as director/treasurer and assistant secretary; Valerie C Spencer as director/president; Alison M Spencer as director/vice president; and Lawrence Corning, Olaf Corning, and Chris Colage as directors.
Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation is led by Valerie C. Spencer, Director & President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 7 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Valerie C. Spencer
Director & President
Director & Vice President Part Time → Director & President, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Alison A. F. Chase
Director & Secretary
Director, Assistant Secretary & Assistant Treasurer → Director & Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Alison M. Spencer
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Lee Harrison Corbin
Director, Treasurer & Assistant Secretary
Director & Vice President → Director, Treasurer & Assistant Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Chris Colage
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Lawrence Corning
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Olaf Corning
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Ivan Obolensky (2020) — Director & President Part Time
- Former: Thomas C. Mackasek (2020) — Assistant Secretary & Assistant Treasurer Part Time
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.
Frequently asked questions about Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation
How much does Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation give each year?
Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation gave $350K across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $375K across 28 grants.
What is Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation's typical grant size?
Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $8,500, and its average grant was $13,462, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation that year got $13K on average.
Where does Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation give grants?
Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation's top state is Minnesota, with 21% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Washington (17%) and New York (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (3 grants), Seattle, WA (3 grants), St. Paul, MN (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation's largest grantees?
Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Center for Victims of Torture ($50,000), United Way of Rutherford County ($50,000) and Deployus Inc ($30,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation?
Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation reported $5.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $362K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $395K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees describe work in varied fields. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Josephine Lawrence Hopkins 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 Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation's EIN?
Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6277593. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Josephine Lawrence Hopkins 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). Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/josephine-lawrence-hopkins-foundation-morg_82bb7ea32a7b428b98c21cb8d2ef8eb5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136277593_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Josephine Lawrence Hopkins Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/josephine-lawrence-hopkins-foundation-morg_82bb7ea32a7b428b98c21cb8d2ef8eb5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Josephine Lawrence Hopkins 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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