L-a-D Foundation Inc
L-A-D Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in University City, Missouri. Founded in 1962, it focuses on managing Pioneer Forest as a working demonstration of sustainable forestry, preserving natural and cultural areas in Missouri, and supporting conservation projects, particularly in the Missouri Ozarks.
L-a-D Foundation Inc at a glance
- Total assets
- $375,623,312
- +44.6% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $963,994
- +82.7% vs 2024
- Qualifying distributions (2025)
- $2,148,597
- -29.3% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $2,555,360
- +14.5% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to L-a-D Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2023 filing lists a letter of inquiry or proposal and requires 501(c)(3) status, with additional requirements noted on the grant flyer. The website’s stated application status is that proposals are not being accepted.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists May 1. This is a past deadline; no current application cycle is stated.
- Deadline
- The filing lists May 1.
- Contact
Application contact: L-A-D Foundation
Mailing address: 725 Kingsland Ave Suite 100, St Louis, MO 63130
Phone: (314) 621-0230
Website: https://www.ladfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who L-a-D Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 27 grants of 27 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s grant program focuses on conservation of natural and cultural resources in the Missouri Ozarks. Its direct stewardship described in the 2023 filing includes lands in ten Missouri counties.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2021 it made 27 grants totaling $40K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Open Space Council St. Louis, MO | Training Workshop on Root Docking | $5,000 |
| Sierra Club Foundation (Missouri Chapter) St. Louis, MO | 2020 Grants - Missouri Club - Ozark Rivers | $5,000 |
| Ozark Rivers Audubon Chapter Rolla, MO | Oak-Hickory Forest Restoration | $4,400 |
| Americorps St Louis St. Louis, MO | Invasive species removal and native tree health and growth | $3,340 |
| Mo Prairie Foundation Columbia, MO | Free Public Woodland Restoration Training Day | $3,112 |
| Ozarks Resource Center West Plains, MO | Public Forest Management Monitoring Project | $3,000 |
| Greater Ozarks Audubon Society Springfield, MO | Glade Scholarships | $3,000 |
| Ozark Trail Association Potosi, MO | 2020 Grants - OTA 2021 Skills College | $2,500 |
| Ozark Riverways Foundation Eminence, MO | Mt. Zion Church Education and Restoration Project | $2,000 |
| Mo Caves and Karst Conservancy St. Louis, MO | Goodwin Sinkhole Project | $1,750 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $375,623,312 | $963,994 | $2,555,360 | — | — | $2,148,597 | $1,258,577 |
| 2024 | $259,705,710 | $527,580 | $2,231,874 | — | — | $3,040,458 | $611,218 |
| 2023 | $261,391,695 | $1,077,259 | $1,500,141 | — | — | $3,174,602 | $347,912 |
| 2022 | $262,166,343 | $1,053,774 | $1,401,140 | — | — | $1,354,926 | $160,457 |
| 2021 | $262,829,679 | $617,817 | $1,551,008 | $40,412 | 27 | — | $113,029 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated purposes include sustainable forest management and stewardship of natural and cultural areas in Missouri. Its 2023 filing describes direct charitable activities on more than 140,000 acres of Pioneer Forest, as well as management of more than 4,000 acres in ten Missouri counties. The filing also describes grants for education and nonprofit conservation programs focused on the Missouri Ozark region.
The grant program seeks innovative projects supporting conservation of the Missouri Ozarks’ natural and cultural resources. Past project types have included conservation education, grassroots organizing, program start-up costs, capital support, seed funding for cultural-resource development, and workshops. The website says annual or operating support and support for social events or benefits have not been funded. Applicants should have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or collaborate with a qualifying tax-exempt organization.
Among the 2021 grantees, the Ozark Trail Association described its mission as developing, maintaining, promoting, preserving, and protecting the Ozark Trail; the Missouri Parks Association described its mission as educating the public and promoting protection, enhancement, and interpretation of Missouri state parks and historic sites; and the Weingarten Volunteer Fire Department described its mission as saving lives and property from fires and other dangers.
Grantmaking
The foundation’s IRS filing data lists zero grants in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025. The website reports that since 1962 it has awarded more than $678,000 in grants to 66 nonprofit and public-interest organizations. The latest recipient list supplied here is for 2021: the Ozark Trail Association received $2,500, the Missouri Parks Association received $500, and the Weingarten Volunteer Fire Department received $85.
The foundation’s website states that proposals are not being accepted while its grant process is updated. It anticipated the next round in 2023, which is a past cycle.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Edward J Heisel as president; Janet Fraley as treasurer; David Stokely, Nikki Krawitz, Peter Goode, Jody Eberly, Mike Kromrey, and Jim Guldin as directors; Calvin Maginel as an advisory council member; and Susan Flader as past president.
L-a-D Foundation Inc is led by Edward J. Heisel, President since 2025 (on filings since 2023); none of the 21 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Edward J. Heisel
President
Treasurer → President, 2025
On filings since 2023
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Adam Saunders
Director
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Guldin
Director
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rick Thom
Director
On filings since 2021
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Stokely
Director
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nikki Krawitz
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Goode
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jody Eberly
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Kromrey
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Larsen
Advisory Council Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Janet Fraley
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John Karel
Director Emeritus
Director → Director Emeritus, 2022
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jon Smith
Advisory Council Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Josh Reeves
Vice President
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rindy O'Brien
Advisory Council Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roger Hershey
Advisory Council Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Mahfood
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
3.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Flader
Past President
President → Past President, 2025
On filings since 2021
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terry Cunningham
Advisory Council Member
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Greg Iffrig
Advisory Council Member
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Calvin Maginel
Advisory Council Member
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Mike Smith (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Mike Leahy (2022–2024) — Advisory Council Member
- Former: Ted Heisel (2021–2022) — Secretary-Treasurer
- Former: Bill Terry (2021) — Advisory Council Member
- Former: Greg Iffrig - Part Year Staff (2021) — Retired & Joined Advisory Council
- Former: Roger Still - Part Year Director (2021)
- Former: Wayne Goode (2021) — Past Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 L-a-D Foundation Inc
How large is L-a-D Foundation Inc?
L-a-D Foundation Inc reported $375.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $964K.
What does L-a-D Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated purposes include sustainable forest management and stewardship of natural and cultural areas in Missouri. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from L-a-D Foundation Inc?
The foundation’s 2023 filing lists a letter of inquiry or proposal and requires 501(c)(3) status, with additional requirements noted on the grant flyer. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does L-a-D Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation’s grant program focuses on conservation of natural and cultural resources in the Missouri Ozarks. Its direct stewardship described in the 2023 filing includes lands in ten Missouri counties.
What is L-a-D Foundation Inc's EIN?
L-a-D Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-6036974. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS December 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 20, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 18, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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L-a-D Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?