Laughing Gull Foundation is a progressive family foundation headquartered in Durham, North Carolina. Founded in 2012, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation committed to justice rooted in the South. The organization redistributes resources to repair, rehumanize, and transform relationships, institutions, and systems, with a particular focus on supporting grassroots organizations led by and accountable to BIPOC communities and others marginalized by unjust systems.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$6.2M
+4.2% YoY
Grant Count
127
+3.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$49K
+0.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To redistribute resources to repair, rehumanize, and transform relationships, institutions, and systems.
Vision: A world of sustainable communities liberated from the intergenerational harm of structural racism and economic inequality, living in balance with the earth, where everyone—especially those pushed to the margins—is included equally and fully as part of the human family.
The foundation focuses on three primary funding areas:
- LGBTQ+ Equality
- Higher Education in Prison
- Climate & Environment
Grantmaking
The foundation typically funds grassroots organizations engaged in direct service, organizing, advocacy, and culture change work.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation prioritizes organizations rooted in the South and Southeast, sometimes funding national organizations that provide support to the U.S. Southeast region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total Assets: $59.2 million
- Revenue: $3.13 million
- Expenses: $7.5 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
Organization Size:
- 6 employees
- Annual revenue range: $5.0 million–$25.0 million
Spend-Down Commitment:
In 2016, the foundation established a twenty-year timeline to spend down all assets by 2036. This decision reflects the founders' belief that moving assets out of the family and into the community is a moral imperative, acknowledging the unjust economic system and racist history that made wealth accumulation possible. Board Chair Midge Coward has stated her intention to witness the completion of this spend-down.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
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| 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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Campaign for Southern Equality ($160,000), Equality Nc Foundation ($125,000), Equality Virginia ($125,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A-B TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUND ASHEVILLE, NC | SUPPORT PRISON EDUCATION PROGRAM | $60,000 |
| ABFE RAPID RESPONSE NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT RE INITIATIVES | $40,000 |
| ACLU FOUNDATION OF NC RALEIGH, NC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $60,000 |
| ADVOCATES FOR TRANS EQUALITY NEW YORK, NY | TRAVEL/HONORARIUM GIF CONF PRESENTAT | $3,800 |
| ADVOCATES FOR TRANS EQUALITY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $60,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR FULL ACCEPTANCE NORTH CHARLESTON, SC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $45,000 |
| ALLIANCE FOR HIGHER ED IN PRISON DENVER, CO | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $90,000 |
| ALLIED MEDIA PROJECT DETROIT, MI | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $35,000 |
| APPALACHIAN VOICES BOONE, NC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| AUBURN UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION AUBURN, AL | AL PRISON ARTS & EDUCATION PROJECT | $80,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Midge Coward – Board Chair and matriarch (age 77)
- Meg Coward – Board member (age 51)
- Emily Coward – Board member (age 47)
- Sarah Coward – Board member
- LaTonya Penny – Chief Executive Officer
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARJORIE OWEN BAESMITH | PRESIDENT | 15 | — |
| EMILY COWARD | SECRETARY | 5 | — |
| MARJORIE WILLIAMS COWARD | CHAIR | 5 | — |
| SARAH SCHWARTZ BAESMITH | TREASURER | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**2025:** Announced Higher Education in Prison grant awards; welcomed Ebony West as Grants and Programs Manager
New grant from the Laughing Gull Foundation enables Resilience Education**2024:** Announced Higher Education in Prison grant awards
New grant from the Laughing Gull Foundation enables Resilience Education**2023:** Announced LGBTQ+ equality grant awards
The foundation regularly engages in funder organizing and collaborates with other funders and movement leaders to advance change collectively
Maintains an Investment Policy to align portfolio investments with organizational values and mission
Contact Information
- Address: 505 S Duke St Ste 301, Durham, NC 27701-3259
- Phone: 919-688-7302
- Email: info@laughinggull.org
- Website: laughinggull.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Laughing Gull Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To redistribute resources to repair, rehumanize, and transform relationships, institutions, and systems. **Vision:** A world of sustainable communities liberated from the intergenerational harm of structural racism and economic inequality, living in balance with the earth, where everyone—especially those pushed to the margins—is included equally and fully as part of the human family. The foundation focuses on three primary funding areas: • **LGBTQ+ Equality** • **Higher Education i…
How do I apply for a grant from Laughing Gull Foundation?
The foundation typically funds grassroots organizations engaged in direct service, organizing, advocacy, and culture change work. **Recent Grant Activity:** • Announced $2 million in grants to organizations advancing higher education in prisons programs • Announced $2.1 million in funding for prison-related initiatives **Grantmaking Approach:** The foundation's approach emphasizes: • **Multiple, inclusive strategies** supporting direct service, policy advocacy, community organizing, and culture…
Where does Laughing Gull Foundation make grants?
The foundation prioritizes organizations rooted in the South and Southeast, sometimes funding national organizations that provide support to the U.S. Southeast region.
What size grants does Laughing Gull Foundation award?
In 2024, Laughing Gull Foundation awarded 127 grants totaling $6.2M — an average of about $49K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Laughing Gull Foundation's EIN?
Laughing Gull Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4749289. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Laughing Gull Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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