Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation
The Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation is a private foundation based in Kirkland, Washington. In filing year 2024, it reported $107,500 in grants to 22 organizations, supporting work that included environmental stewardship, journalism, civic participation, and health care.
Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation at a glance
In short: Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation gave $108K across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), top state Maine. 82% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $107,500
- +100.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- +29.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $4,886
- +54.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,889,332
- +122.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 82% first-time grantees (18 of 22, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maine (28% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 13468 64Th Terrace Ne, Kirkland, WA 98034
Phone: (202) 413-3122
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Keepers of Baker Island ($26K). Together the top 10 received $81K.
Grant Size Distribution
149 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 149 grants of 149 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Kirkland, Washington. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Maine (28%), Washington, DC (26%), Oregon (12%), Illinois (9%), and Connecticut (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation open to new grantees?
82%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 18 of 22 grantees (82%) 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 $5K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 5% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 268% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 130% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $29K (2021) to $108K (2024). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $108K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Keepers of Baker Island Northeast Harbor, ME | To promote stewardship of baker island's natural and cultural resources | $25,500 |
| American Independent Radio (Co American Independent Foundation) Washington, DC | To support the use of radio journalism to educate the public on local and federal issues | $10,000 |
| Our Children's Trust Eugene, OR | To support the empowerment of youth in transforming the entire energy paradigm | $7,500 |
| Environmental Law Institute Washington, DC | To support promotion of laws and policies that enable leaders to make environmental progress | $7,500 |
| Americares Stamford, CT | To help people and communities around the world access health care in times of disaster and every day | $5,000 |
| Compassion and Choices Littleton, CO | To support patient autonomy and individual choice at the end of life | $5,000 |
| When We All Vote Carol Stream, IL | To support increasing participation in elections by helping to close the race and age gap | $5,000 |
| Feel Good Action Seattle, WA | To support the creation of shareable media to promote social justice and voter participation | $5,000 |
| Movement Voter Project Northampton, MA | To support year-round organizing and movement building in pivotal places and races | $5,000 |
| Black Voters Matter Carol Stream, IL | To support the empowerment and mobilization of black voters against voter suppression | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Sam and Mary Lawrence 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,889,332 | $1,137,862 | $118,034 | $107,500 | 22 | $107,500 | $56,040 | $82,892 |
| 2023 | $849,359 | $110,109 | $56,218 | $53,623 | 17 | $53,648 | $21,846 | $53,531 |
| 2022 | $694,746 | $130,462 | $43,738 | $36,775 | 42 | $43,545 | $22,485 | $45,130 |
| 2021 | $635,745 | $175,220 | $29,924 | $29,224 | 34 | $41,083 | $13,775 | $40,839 |
| 2020 | $491,208 | $119,180 | $30,588 | $30,280 | 34 | — | $13,034 | $28,857 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation reported a distributable amount of $83K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas such as environmental protection, local journalism, voter participation, disaster and everyday health care, and stewardship of natural and cultural resources.
The grantees describe their own work in varied terms. Environmental Law Institute says it advances environmental protection through effective law and governance systems. Our Children’s Trust says it empowers youth to secure their rights to life and a livable climate. Feel Good Action says it uses social networks and digital media to motivate action toward resilient communities, just societies, and a healthy planet. Friends of Acadia says it works to preserve, protect, and promote stewardship of Acadia National Park and surrounding communities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 22 grants totaling $107,500. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $25,500, with a median of $5,000.
The largest reported grants included $25,500 to Keepers of Baker Island for stewardship of the island’s natural and cultural resources; $10,000 to American Independent Radio for radio journalism on local and federal issues; and $7,500 each to Our Children’s Trust and Environmental Law Institute. Other grants of note included $5,000 to Americares, Compassion & Choices, When We All Vote, Feel Good Action, Movement Voter Project, Black Voters Matter, Center for Public Integrity, and Report for America.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Susan Carlson, Mary Caulfield, and Samuel A. Lawrence Jr. as trustees.
Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Samuel A. Lawrence Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Caulfield
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Carlson
Trustee
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Samuel A. Lawrence Sr. (2023) — Trustee
- Former: Samuel A Lawrence (2020–2022) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation
How much does Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation give each year?
Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation gave $108K across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $54K across 17 grants.
What is Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation's typical grant size?
Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $4,886, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation give grants?
Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation's top state is Maine, with 28% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (26%) and Oregon (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (5 grants), Southwest Harbor, ME (4 grants) and Carol Stream, IL (2 grants).
Does Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation's largest grantees?
Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Keepers of Baker Island ($25,500), American Independent Radio (Co American Independent Foundation) ($10,000) and Our Children's Trust ($7,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation?
Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $108K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $83K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations working in areas such as environmental protection, local journalism, voter participation, disaster and everyday health care, and stewardship of natural and cultural resources. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation?
The foundation 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 Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation's EIN?
Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1498472. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Sam and Mary Lawrence 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 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sam-and-mary-lawrence-foundation-morg_978a22a02203435fb25b465eeb00aa1a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_521498472_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sam and Mary Lawrence Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sam-and-mary-lawrence-foundation-morg_978a22a02203435fb25b465eeb00aa1a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Sam and Mary Lawrence 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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