Lauritzen Foundation
The John and Elizabeth Lauritzen Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1974 and based in Omaha, Nebraska. The foundation operates as a grantmaking organization and does not conduct direct charitable activities. It is closely affiliated with the Lauritzen family, which controls First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO), the largest privately-owned banking company in the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$85.3M
+1.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.7M
+16.2% YoY
Grant Count
31
-13.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$247K
+35.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lauritzen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
According to its Articles of Incorporation, the foundation's purpose is to "carry out charitable, educational and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, making distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code."
Primary funding areas include:
- Education and educational institutions
- Philanthropy and voluntarism (grantmaking foundations)
- Human services and social service organizations
- Protestant churches and religious agencies
- Arts and cultural organizations
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Grant Range
$3,000 to $2,055,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Nebraska, with secondary focus on Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, California, Massachusetts, and other states.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- Total assets: $85.3 million (2024)
- Total assets: $83.7 million (2023)
Annual Activity:
- Total revenues: $6.4 million (2024)
- Total expenses: $8.3 million (2024)
- Giving rate: 7.9% of assets
Tax Status:
- 501(c)(3) private foundation
- Tax-exempt since February 1974
- EIN: 23-7352686
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $85,285,360 | $83,655,896 | $79,632,056 |
| Revenue | $6,388,035 | $5,589,796 | $5,656,315 |
| Expenses | $8,318,052 | $7,185,192 | $6,407,231 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,779,708 | $6,708,704 | $5,822,180 |
| Net Investment Income | $5,925,148 | $5,165,230 | $5,215,456 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,168,908 | $3,894,656 | $4,114,842 |
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
164 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Lauritzen Gardens ($1,600,000), Omaha Performing Arts ($1,200,000), Princeton University - Brl Professorship Fund ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LAURITZEN GARDENS OMAHA, NE | GENERAL EXEMPT PURPOSE | $1,600,000 |
| ST ANDREWS EPISCOPAL CHURCH - KANSAS CITY Kansas City, MO | GENERAL EXEMPT PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| LEGACY OF THE LAKES MUSEUM ALEXANDRIA, MN | GENERAL EXEMPT PURPOSE | $15,000 |
| UNITED WAY OF THE MIDLANDS OMAHA, NE | GENERAL EXEMPT PURPOSE | $35,000 |
| SEAL Family Foundaton Carlsbad, CA | GENERAL EXEMPT PURPOSE | $5,000 |
| BROWNELL TALBOT SCHOOL OMAHA, NE | GENERAL EXEMPT PURPOSE | $200,000 |
| JOSLYN ART MUSEUM - EVOLVE PROJECT OMAHA, NE | GENERAL EXEMPT PURPOSE | $300,000 |
| OMAHA PERFORMING ARTS OMAHA, NE | GENERAL EXEMPT PURPOSE | $1,200,000 |
| Aksarben Foundation OMAHA, NE | GENERAL EXEMPT PURPOSE | $33,250 |
| KANSAS SCHOOL OF CLASSICAL BALLET OVERLAND PARK, KS | GENERAL EXEMPT PURPOSE | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Clark Lauritzen: President
- Clarkson D. Lauritzen: President/Treasurer
- Margaret L. Dodge: Secretary
- Blair L. Gogel: Vice President
- Christina Kahler: Managing Director, Marketing & Philanthropy (based at First National Bank of Omaha)
Contact Address: 1620 Dodge St Stop 3400, Omaha, NE 68197
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLARKSON D LAURITZEN | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| CLARKSON D LAURITZEN | TREASURER | — | — |
| MARGARET L DODGE | SECRETARY | — | — |
| BLAIR L GOGEL | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lauritzen Foundation fund?
According to its Articles of Incorporation, the foundation's purpose is to "carry out charitable, educational and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, making distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code." Primary funding areas include: • Education and educational institutions • Philanthropy and voluntarism (grantmaking foundations) • Human services and social service organizations • Protestant churches and…
How do I apply for a grant from Lauritzen Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $6.6 million (2023) • Total giving: $7.66 million (2024) • Number of grants: 36 organizations (2023) • Grant range: $3,000 to $2,055,000 • Median grant: $25,000 **Recent Major Grants (2024):** • Lauritzen Gardens: $1,600,000 • Omaha Performing Arts (OPAS): $1,200,000 • Brownell-Talbot School: $200,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Where does Lauritzen Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Nebraska, with secondary focus on Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, California, Massachusetts, and other states.
What size grants does Lauritzen Foundation award?
In 2024, Lauritzen Foundation awarded 31 grants totaling $7.7M — an average of about $247K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lauritzen Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lauritzen Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lauritzen 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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