Laughing Gull Foundation
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.
Key facts about Laughing Gull Foundation
In short: Laughing Gull Foundation gave $6.2M across 127 grants in 2024 (avg $49K), top state North Carolina. 41% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- EIN
- 36-4749289
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,231,370
- Grants made (2024)
- 127
- Average grant
- $49,066
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 41% first-time grantees (42 of 103, 2024)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (31% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Quick answers about Laughing Gull Foundation
How much does Laughing Gull Foundation give each year?
Laughing Gull Foundation gave $6.2M across 127 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $6.0M across 123 grants.
What is Laughing Gull Foundation's typical grant size?
Laughing Gull Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $49,066, across 127 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Organizations receiving their first grant from Laughing Gull Foundation that year got $46K on average.
Where does Laughing Gull Foundation give grants?
Laughing Gull Foundation's top state is North Carolina, with 31% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. The next largest states were Georgia (12%) and Virginia (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Asheville, NC (12 grants), Durham, NC (11 grants), Richmond, VA (10 grants) and Raleigh, NC (9 grants).
Does Laughing Gull Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 44% of Laughing Gull Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (56 of 127) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Recurring purposes include "Capacity Building" (4 grants) and "Rapid Response Funds" (3 grants).
Who are Laughing Gull Foundation's largest grantees?
Laughing Gull Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Partnership for Southern Equity ($250,000 across 2 grants), Campaign for Southern Equality ($218,925 across 5 grants) and Tennessee Higher Education ($160,000 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 10% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Is Laughing Gull Foundation open to new grantees?
41%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 42 of 103 grantees (41%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $46K; repeat grants $71K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $60K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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.
Next steps with Laughing Gull Foundation
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · 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
Share of all 127 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
562 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CAMPAIGN FOR SOUTHERN EQUALITY Asheville, NC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $160,000 |
| NEIGHBORHOOD FUNDERS GROUP San Francisco, CA | AMPLIFY FUND | $150,000 |
| PARTNERSHIP FOR SOUTHERN EQUITY Atlanta, GA | PROJECT SUPP JUSTICE40 ACCELERATOR | $150,000 |
| EQUALITY NC FOUNDATION Raleigh, NC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| EQUALITY VIRGINIA Richmond, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA Orlando, FL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $105,000 |
| APPALACHIAN VOICES Boone, NC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| CENTER FOR HEIRS' PROP PRESERVATIO North Carolina, SC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| FREEDOM CENTER FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE Charlotte, NC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| OPERATION RESTORATION New Orleans, LA | OPERATION RESTORATION | $100,000 |
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
Laughing Gull Foundation is led by Marjorie Owen Baesmith, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Marjorie Owen Baesmith
President
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marjorie Williams Coward
Chair
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily Coward
Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Schwartz Baesmith
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
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…
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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.