Laurel Foundation
The LaureL Foundation was a private foundation based in South Pasadena, California, that supported nonprofit organizations, primarily in Northern California, working to improve the lives of disadvantaged children. The foundation appears to have wound down: its 2022 filing states that it distributed all its assets for charitable purposes and had no assets remaining at year-end, and its website says the private foundation was dissolved in 2022, with assets distributed to a donor-advised fund of the same name.
Laurel Foundation at a glance
In short: Laurel Foundation gave $3.3M across 23 grants in 2022 (avg $142K), mostly in Missouri. 23% of 2022 grantees were new. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2022)
- $3,264,053
- +163.7% vs 2021
- Grants made (2022)
- 23
- +0.0% vs 2021
- Average grant
- $141,915
- +163.7% vs 2021
- Median grant
- $40,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (5 of 22, 2022; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Missouri (57% of itemized 2022 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2022 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2022; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Laurel Foundation
- 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. Its website lists possible forms of support, including program and expansion support, matching grants, advocacy, capacity building, general operating support, capital improvements, and seed funding for innovative programs. It does not support individuals or lobbying efforts.
- Contact
Mailing address: 625 Fair Oaks Avenue 360, South Pasadena, CA 91030
Phone: (626) 441-5188
Website: HTTPS://WWW.LAUREL-FDN.ORG/
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Laurel Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2022
The largest 2022 recipient was Greater Horizons ($1.9M). Together the top 10 received $2.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
67 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 36 grants of 67 (54%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The website says the foundation’s grantmaking was primarily in Northern California, with a focus that shifted toward the Bay Area and Silicon Valley after founder Laure L. Woods settled near Palo Alto. In 2022, reported grant dollars went to recipients in Missouri (57%), California (35%), and New York (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2022 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Laurel Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2022
In 2022, 5 of 22 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $397K; repeat grants $75K. How we count
Medians: $35K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 77% of 2022 grantees were also funded in 2021. Method
- In 2022 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2022). 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 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2020) to $3.3M (2022). In 2022 it made 23 grants totaling $3.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Horizons Kansas City, MO | General Operating Support | $1,869,053 |
| Lymelight Foundation Burlingame, CA | General Operating Support | $300,000 |
| Mercy Beyond Borders Santa Clara, CA | General Operating Support | $240,000 |
| Human Rights Watch New York, NY | Defending the rights of women and girls in afghanistan under taliban rule | $150,000 |
| Eastside College Preparatory School East Palo Alto, CA | Eastside Scholarship Program | $84,000 |
| Mission Be Miller Place, NY | General Operating Support | $60,000 |
| Pets in Need Palo Alto, CA | Outreach Program Support | $50,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula Menlo Park, CA | Hoover Expanded Learning Program | $50,000 |
| Ignite Oakland, CA | Anne Moses Fellowship | $50,000 |
| Helen Woodward Animal Center Rancho Santa Fe, CA | Animobile and Adoptions | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Laurel Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — | $71,189 | $2,585,743 | $3,264,053 | 23 | $3,298,272 | $171,896 | $27,497 |
| 2021 | $4,197,608 | $305,316 | $1,967,946 | $1,238,000 | 23 | $1,291,860 | $364,804 | $207,916 |
| 2020 | $4,559,232 | $368,650 | $1,216,366 | $1,190,000 | 21 | — | $268,015 | $233,670 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Laurel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $27K for 2022 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission was to improve the lives of disadvantaged children in Northern California. It supported educational and social-services organizations, especially those incorporating the natural world, animals, or the empowerment of girls. Its website also identifies interests in animal welfare, K–12 education, and services for disadvantaged people, and says it looks for organizations with strong integrity and transparency, innovative approaches, and programs spanning more than one interest area.
Grantees’ own descriptions show a range of work among recipients. LymeLight Foundation says it provides treatment and medication grants to eligible children and young adults with Lyme disease and raises awareness. Mercy Beyond Borders describes work to improve the lives, education, health, and self-development of women and girls living in extreme poverty. Human Rights Watch says it investigates abuses and advocates for human rights. Other recipients describe work in animal welfare, girls’ political empowerment, student debate and leadership, and mindfulness-based social-emotional learning for children.
Grantmaking
In 2022, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $3,264,053. Grant amounts ranged from $8,000 to $1,869,053, with a median of $40,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $1,869,053 to Greater Horizons for general operating support; $300,000 to LymeLight Foundation and $240,000 to Mercy Beyond Borders, both for general operating support; and $150,000 to Human Rights Watch to defend the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Other reported grants included $84,000 to Eastside College Preparatory School for its scholarship program, $60,000 to Mission Be for general operating support, and $50,000 each to Pets in Need, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula, Ignite, Helen Woodward Animal Center, and Silicon Valley Urban Debate League for specified program or operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2022 filing lists Laure L. Woods as president/director, Pegine E. Grayson as secretary/executive director, and Virginia L. Sjoberg as CFO/director. The website identifies Woods as founder and lists Jesse Ostroff as philanthropic advisor and Kristina Hernandez as grants manager.
Laurel Foundation is led by Laure L. Woods, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2022 report compensation.
Officers on the 2022 filing
Laure L. Woods
President & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pegine E. Grayson
Secretary & Executive Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Virginia L. Sjoberg
CFO & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2022. "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 Laurel Foundation
How much does Laurel Foundation give each year?
Laurel Foundation gave $3.3M across 23 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2021 it gave $1.2M across 23 grants.
What is Laurel Foundation's typical grant size?
Laurel Foundation's median grant in 2022 was $40,000, and its average grant was $141,915, across 23 grants on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Laurel Foundation that year got $397K on average.
Where does Laurel Foundation give grants?
Laurel Foundation gives mostly in Missouri: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (35%) and New York (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants), Santa Clara, CA (2 grants), Palo Alto, CA (2 grants) and Oakland, CA (2 grants).
Does Laurel Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 43% of Laurel Foundation's 2022 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Laurel Foundation's largest grantees?
Laurel Foundation's largest 2022 grantees include Greater Horizons ($1,869,053), Lymelight Foundation ($300,000) and Mercy Beyond Borders ($265,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2022 grant dollars.
What does Laurel Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission was to improve the lives of disadvantaged children in Northern California. It supported educational and social-services organizations, especially those incorporating the natural world, animals, or the empowerment of girls. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Laurel Foundation?
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 ↑
How much is Laurel Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2022, Laurel Foundation reported a distributable amount of $27K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Laurel Foundation's EIN?
Laurel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4556814. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2022.
Does Laurel 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 2020–2022
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California Community Foundation
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Figures come from Laurel 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.
Laurel Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?