Lauritzen Foundation logo

Lauritzen Foundation

OMAHA, NE EIN: 23-7352686 Website

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

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

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

**

Ready to take the next step with Lauritzen Foundation?

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

11states
+3 more states

Cities

AlexandriaBellevueBostonCarlsbadConcordCouncil BluffsElk HornFort CollinsGrand IslandKansas CityKearneyLa VistaLeawoodLincolnMissionMontereyOmahaOverland ParkPapillionPrinceton

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
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$3M$5M$8M$10M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
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

$0$2M$4M$6M$8M32 grants202030 grants202135 grants202236 grants202331 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

LAURITZEN GARDENS$1.6MOMAHA PERFORMING ARTS$1.2MPRINCETON UNIVERSITY - B…$1.0MDUCKS UNLIMITED - CONSER…$800KNATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY$625KWESTSIDE COMMUNITY SCHOO…$400KBEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WE…$360KOMAHA CENTRAL LIBRARY$333KJOSLYN ART MUSEUM - EVOL…$300KBROWNELL TALBOT SCHOOL$200K

Grant Size Distribution

164 grants across all recorded years

98<$50K18$50–100K9$100–250K18$250–500K11$500K–1M10$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

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

NameTitleHoursCompensation
CLARKSON D LAURITZENPRESIDENT
CLARKSON D LAURITZENTREASURER
MARGARET L DODGESECRETARY
BLAIR L GOGELVICE PRESIDENT

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

What could you do with Lauritzen Foundation on Grantable?

  • Assess strategic fit with your organization
  • Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
  • Find open RFPs from this funder
  • Monitor for new funding opportunities