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Sorenson Impact Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Salt Lake City, UT EIN: 45-3203840 Website

Sorenson Impact Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2012 and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. The organization is designated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and operates as a grantmaking foundation with a distinctive focus on impact investing. The Foundation invests in innovative social entrepreneurs addressing global challenges and has moved 100% of its assets into impact investments annually to accomplish its mission.

Key facts about Sorenson Impact Foundation

EIN
45-3203840
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$3,603,000
Grants made (2024)
12
Average grant
$300,250
Median grant
$250,000
New grantees (estimate)
64% first-time grantees (7 of 11, 2024)
Primary geography
Washington (28% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply
According to available records, the Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. 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 Sorenson Impact Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Sorenson Impact Foundation's 12 itemized 2024 grants were Washington (28%), Utah (18%) and District of Columbia (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (3 grants). 8% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Is Sorenson Impact Foundation open to new grantees?

64%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 7 of 11 grantees (64%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $345K; repeat grants $297K. How we count

Medians: $250K first-time, $250K repeat.

  • 36% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 43% from 2021 to 2024. 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 Sorenson Impact Foundation

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$3.6M

+53.3% YoY

Grant Count

12

+9.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$300K

+40.5% YoY

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The Foundation's mission centers on making mission-aligned investments that sustain funding into the future while generating both scalable impact and financial returns. The organization demonstrates a commitment to showing the financial services market that social impact and financial returns are not mutually exclusive.

The Foundation's program-related investments deploy catalytic capital to create and improve systems that reduce inequality and increase access to opportunity for historically marginalized communities worldwide. Focus areas include increasing access to necessities such as healthcare, education, clean water, jobs, and safety.

Grantmaking

Grant Range

$125,000 to $175,000

How to Apply

**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Foundation primarily funds organizations in Utah, New York, and the District of Columbia. The program-related investment portfolio includes companies headquartered across 14 countries and five continents.

Grant Distribution by State

13states

Share of all 12 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

New YorkWashingtonSalt Lake CityBerwynOaklandPhiladelphiaAtlantaBostonBrooklynChicagoLouisvilleManchesterbytheSeaSan FrancicsoBainbridge IslandBereaBerkeleyColumbusHolladayMiamiNew Bruswick

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets & Income (2023):

  • Total Assets: $142 million to $154 million
  • Annual Revenue: $2.24 million (2023)
  • Annual Expenses: $4.13 million (2023)
  • Total Liabilities: $30,400 (2023)
  • Annual Distributions: $7.1 million (2023)

Historical Growth:

  • Total assets have grown from initial establishment in 2011 to $140.2 million by 2024
  • Annual giving grew from $3.2 million in 2020 to $8.9 million in 2022

Tax Status:

  • Tax-exempt since October 2011
  • EIN: 45-3203840
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.275$0.55$0.8250000000000001$1.120202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets———
Revenue———
Expenses———
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income———
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M$4M20 grants202011 grants202112 grants202211 grants202312 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Realize Impact: $1.0MRealize Impact$1.0MUniversity of Utah: $638KUniversity of Utah$638KLafayettte Square Foundation: $375KLafayettte Square Foundation$375KThe Aspen Institute: $250KThe Aspen Institute$250KRutgers University: $250KRutgers University$250KOwnership Works Inc: $250KOwnership Works Inc$250KNew Venture Fund: $250K across 2 grantsNew Venture Fund$250K · 2 grantsImpactAlpha: $250KImpactAlpha$250KB Lab Company: $250KB Lab Company$250KCrane Institute of Sustainability: $50KCrane Institute ofSustainability$50K

Grant Size Distribution

66 grants across all recorded years

6<$50K6$50–100K30$100–250K16$250–500K6$500K–1M2$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Realize Impact ($1,000,000), University of Utah ($638,000), Lafayettte Square Foundation ($375,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
Realize Impact Bainbridge Island, WAPhilantrhopic investment grant for affordable home ownership$1,000,000
University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTImpact investing student program; general support$638,000
Lafayettte Square Foundation Miami, FLSupport for projects creating equitable wealth including employee ownership$375,000
The Aspen Institute Washington, DCNeiborhood real estate ownership project and employee ownership project$250,000
Rutgers University New Bruswick, NJEducation and research in the area of emloyee ownership and profit sharing models$250,000
Ownership Works Inc New York, NYResearch and framework development for home shared ownership projects$250,000
ImpactAlpha Berkeley, CAProviding public education on homeownership, employee ownership and community ownership$250,000
B Lab Company Berwyn, PADevelopment of B Corp certification process and assistance$250,000
New Venture Fund Washington, DCCatalytic capital consortium project$175,000
New Venture Fund Washington, DCImpact investing alliance$75,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • James Lee Sorenson - Director (20 hours/week, $0 compensation)
  • Krista Sorenson - Director (5 hours/week, $0 compensation)
  • Luke Sorenson - Director (1 hour/week, $0 compensation)
  • Paul Ludlow - CFO & Secretary (10 hours/week, $0 compensation)
  • Lindsay Zizumbo - Program Manager (40 hours/week, $218,000)
  • Savannah Johnson - Investment Manager (40 hours/week, $205,000)
  • Jenny Romney - Executive Assistant (40 hours/week, $68,000)

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Krista Sorenson — Director: $5KKrista SorensonDirector$5K

From 2024 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
James Lee SorensonDirector20—
Krista SorensonDirector5$4,553
Luke SorensonDirector1—
Paul LudlowCFO & Secretary10—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

**Impact Metrics:**

2023

Through 2023, the Foundation's program-related investment portfolio companies have positively impacted the lives of over 775 million people worldwide. The portfolio has helped create over 174,000 jobs and supported access to essential services.

**Contact Information:**

Phone: (801) 490-1013

Website: sorensonimpactfoundation.org

Address: 6330 S 3000 E, Suite 630, Salt Lake City, UT 84121

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sorenson Impact Foundation fund?

The Foundation's mission centers on making mission-aligned investments that sustain funding into the future while generating both scalable impact and financial returns. The organization demonstrates a commitment to showing the financial services market that social impact and financial returns are not mutually exclusive. The Foundation's program-related investments deploy catalytic capital to create and improve systems that reduce inequality and increase access to opportunity for historically ma…

How do I apply for a grant from Sorenson Impact Foundation?

According to available records, the Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

Where does Sorenson Impact Foundation make grants?

The Foundation primarily funds organizations in Utah, New York, and the District of Columbia. The program-related investment portfolio includes companies headquartered across 14 countries and five continents.

What size grants does Sorenson Impact Foundation award?

In 2024, Sorenson Impact Foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $3.6M — an average of about $300K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is Sorenson Impact Foundation's EIN?

Sorenson Impact Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3203840. 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.

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