Lauritzen Foundation
The Lauritzen Foundation is a private foundation based in Omaha, Nebraska. Its 2025 filing reports $7,020,749 in grants to 28 organizations, including Nebraska organizations and recipients in other states.
Lauritzen Foundation at a glance
In short: Lauritzen Foundation gave $7.0M across 28 grants in 2025 (avg $251K), mostly in Nebraska. 11% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $7,020,749
- -8.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 28
- -9.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $250,741
- +1.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $85,578,866
- +0.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (3 of 28, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Nebraska (82% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lauritzen 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 for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1620 Dodge Street Stop 3400, Omaha, NE 68197
Phone: (402) 602-3960
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lauritzen Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lauritzen Gardens ($1.6M). Together the top 10 received $6.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
160 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 90 grants of 160 (56%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in Nebraska and 14% to recipients in New Jersey. The reported shares for Missouri and Minnesota were 1% each; Kansas was listed at 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 28 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Lauritzen Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 28 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $355K; repeat grants $238K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 79% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 23% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 173% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4.5M (2020) to $7.7M (2024). In 2025 it made 28 grants totaling $7.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lauritzen Gardens Omaha, NE | General Exempt Purpose | $1,600,000 |
| Princeton University - BRL Professorship Fund Princeton, NJ | General Exempt Purpose | $1,000,000 |
| Project Health Omaha, NE | General Exempt Purpose | $1,000,000 |
| Ducks Unlimited - Conservation for a Continent Grand Island, NE | General Exempt Purpose | $800,000 |
| Omaha Performing Arts Omaha, NE | General Exempt Purpose | $600,000 |
| Westside Community Schools Impacting Excellence Omaha, NE | General Exempt Purpose | $400,000 |
| Behavioral Health and Wellness Cemter Omaha, NE | General Exempt Purpose | $360,000 |
| Omaha Central Library Omaha, NE | General Exempt Purpose | $333,333 |
| Kiewit Discovery Center Omaha, NE | General Exempt Purpose | $200,000 |
| Trinity Cathedral Omaha, NE | General Exempt Purpose | $146,666 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $85,578,866 | $6,721,628 | $7,668,574 | $7,020,749 | 28 | $7,146,140 | $6,280,198 | $4,125,804 |
| 2024 | $85,285,360 | $6,388,035 | $8,318,052 | $7,662,998 | 31 | $7,779,708 | $5,925,148 | $4,168,908 |
| 2023 | $83,655,896 | $5,589,796 | $7,185,192 | $6,593,500 | 36 | $6,708,704 | $5,165,230 | $3,894,656 |
| 2022 | $79,632,056 | $5,656,315 | $6,407,231 | $5,708,000 | 35 | $5,822,180 | $5,215,456 | $4,114,842 |
| 2021 | $98,048,167 | $9,091,164 | $6,372,615 | $5,776,938 | 30 | $5,776,938 | $8,517,046 | $4,448,731 |
| 2020 | $86,866,137 | $2,393,987 | $4,556,044 | $4,493,000 | 32 | — | $2,314,910 | $3,827,815 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lauritzen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants went to organizations in areas including gardens, health, conservation, performing arts, education, libraries, and community services.
Grantees describe their own missions in varied terms. For example, the Omaha Parks Foundation says it works to improve, promote, preserve, protect, and support Omaha’s parks and recreation system. The Willa Cather Foundation says it advances Willa Cather’s legacy through education, preservation, and the arts. Harvesters describes its work as creating equitable access to nutritious food and addressing hunger’s causes and impacts.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 28 grants totaling $7,020,749. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $1,600,000, with a median of $50,000. The largest awards included $1,600,000 to Lauritzen Gardens, $1,000,000 each to Princeton University’s BRL Professorship Fund and Project Health, $800,000 to Ducks Unlimited’s Conservation for a Continent, and $600,000 to Omaha Performing Arts. Each was listed for “general exempt purpose.”
Other reported 2025 grants included $400,000 to Westside Community Schools Impacting Excellence, $360,000 to Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, $333,333 to Omaha Central Library, and $200,000 to Kiewit Discovery Center. The Alexandria Junior Golf Foundation received $75,000; it describes its mission as providing charitable, educational, and community activities, including golf programs for youth and families.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Clarkson D. Lauritzen as president and treasurer, Margaret L. Dodge as secretary, and Blair L. Gogel as vice president.
Lauritzen Foundation is led by Clarkson D. Lauritzen, President & Treasurer since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Clarkson D. Lauritzen
President & Treasurer
Treasurer → President & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Blair L. Gogel
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Margaret L. Dodge
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Bruce R. Lauritzen (2020–2023) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Lauritzen Foundation
How much does Lauritzen Foundation give each year?
Lauritzen Foundation gave $7.0M across 28 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $7.7M across 31 grants.
What is Lauritzen Foundation's typical grant size?
Lauritzen Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $250,741, across 28 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lauritzen Foundation that year got $355K on average.
Where does Lauritzen Foundation give grants?
Lauritzen Foundation gives mostly in Nebraska: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Jersey (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Omaha, NE (16 grants), Kansas City, MO (4 grants) and Alexandria, MN (2 grants).
Does Lauritzen Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Lauritzen Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (28 of 28) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Lauritzen Foundation's largest grantees?
Lauritzen Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Lauritzen Gardens ($1,600,000), Princeton University - BRL Professorship Fund ($1,000,000) and Project Health ($1,000,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lauritzen Foundation?
Lauritzen Foundation reported $85.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Lauritzen Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants went to organizations in areas including gardens, health, conservation, performing arts, education, libraries, and community services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lauritzen Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 Lauritzen Foundation's EIN?
Lauritzen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7352686. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Lauritzen 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lauritzen Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lauritzen Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lauritzen-foundation-morg_cce964a76174487e9c0267296eb51c18
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237352686_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lauritzen Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lauritzen-foundation-morg_cce964a76174487e9c0267296eb51c18},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Lauritzen 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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