Lawson Valentine Foundation
The Lawson Valentine Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1989 in Connecticut. Based in Princeton, New Jersey, the foundation was created through the generosity of Alice Doyle, who inherited eleven paintings by renowned 19th-century artist Winslow Homer. The foundation's grantmaking strategy focuses on providing long-term support to grassroots community-based organizers and advocates, low-wage workers, and other change agents working among people of color, low-income youth, immigrants, refugees, and other underserved populations.
Key facts about Lawson Valentine Foundation
- EIN
- 13-6920044
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $328,200
- Grants made (2024)
- 63
- Average grant
- $5,210
- Median grant
- $4,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (18 of 63, 2024)
- Total assets
- $15,148,739
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (21% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Proposals by invitation only. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lawson Valentine Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Lawson Valentine Foundation's 63 itemized 2024 grants were Massachusetts (21%), New York (19%) and California (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (8 grants), Princeton, NJ (5 grants), New York, NY (4 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (4 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is Lawson Valentine Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 18 of 63 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 56% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 42% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 74% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (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 Lawson Valentine Foundation
- How to evaluate Lawson Valentine Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.1M
+3.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$328K
-35.2% YoY
Grant Count
63
-1.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-34.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lawson Valentine Foundation reported a distributable amount of $678K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports organizing, policy, and leadership development in food systems, food sovereignty, and workers' rights. Funding is also focused on climate and environmental justice in disempowered communities.
Primary areas of interest include:
- Food Systems – Supporting sustainable agriculture, food sovereignty, and policy development
- Environmental Justice – Focusing on justice in disempowered communities
- Workers' Rights – Empowering workers through rights advocacy and advocacy for low-wage workers
- Human Rights – Broader human rights initiatives
- Economic Justice – Supporting economic equity and sustainability
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000, with typical awards between $500 and $70,000. Recent grant activity shows:
Grant Range
** $4,000
Average Grant
** $9,300
Invitation Only
** Proposals by invitation only.
Ready to take the next step with Lawson Valentine Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds primarily in the Northeast, with grants also made in New York, Georgia, and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 63 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets (2023): $14,648,162
- Total Assets (2024): $15,148,739
- Total Revenues (2023): $562,112
- Total Expenses (2023): $832,586
- Total Giving (2024): $328,200
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,148,739 | $14,648,162 | $13,909,723 |
| Revenue | $3,269,615 | $562,112 | $949,125 |
| Expenses | $654,228 | $832,586 | $880,216 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $500,418 | $720,759 | $768,459 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,091,385 | $448,865 | $830,637 |
| Distributable Amount | $678,226 | $691,246 | $713,032 |
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
310 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Alternatives for Community & Environment ($20,000), Conservation Law Foundation ($20,000), Grassroots International ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALTERNATIVES FOR COMMUNITY & ENVIRONMENT Roxbury, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION Boston, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| GRASSROOTS INTERNATIONAL Boston, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| NEW ENGLAND GRASSROOTS ENVIRONMENTAL FUND Newmarket, NH | GENERAL PURPOSE | $20,000 |
| EASTERN WOODLAND LACROSSE Haw River, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| SEVENTH GEN FUND FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE Eureka, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| THE DESCENDANTS PROJECT Vacherie, LA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| THOUSAND CURRENTS San Francisco, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| EVERYDAY DEMOCRACY Hartford, CT | GENERAL PURPOSE | $8,500 |
| HARTBEAT ENSEMBLE Hartford, CT | GENERAL PURPOSE | $7,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Elizabeth Corsa – Executive Director and Treasurer
- Paul E Vawter – Trustee
- Valentine Doyle – Trustee
- Lucy Miller – Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucy Miller | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Paul E Vawter Jr | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Valentine Doyle | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Allen Doyle | Trustee/Chair | 1 | — |
| Mark Lindeman | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Kolu Zigbi | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Elizabeth Corsa | Exec Director/Treasurer | 40 | $85,000 |
| Margaret Lindeman | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Melanie Renee Allen | Trustee | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Website: www.lawsonvalentine.org
- Phone: 860-570-0728
- Email: info@lawsonvalentine.org
- Address: 15 Roszel Rd Ste 10, Princeton, NJ 08540-6248
- Mailing Address: PO Box 1024, Glastonbury, CT 06033
- EIN: 13-6920044
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lawson Valentine Foundation fund?
The foundation supports organizing, policy, and leadership development in food systems, food sovereignty, and workers' rights. Funding is also focused on climate and environmental justice in disempowered communities. Primary areas of interest include: • **Food Systems** – Supporting sustainable agriculture, food sovereignty, and policy development • **Environmental Justice** – Focusing on justice in disempowered communities • **Workers' Rights** – Empowering workers through rights advocacy and …
How do I apply for a grant from Lawson Valentine Foundation?
Proposals by invitation only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Lawson Valentine Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds primarily in the Northeast, with grants also made in New York, Georgia, and California.
What size grants does Lawson Valentine Foundation award?
In 2024, Lawson Valentine Foundation awarded 63 grants totaling $328K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lawson Valentine Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lawson Valentine Foundation reported a distributable amount of $678K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Lawson Valentine Foundation's EIN?
Lawson Valentine Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6920044. 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-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.