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Sorenson Impact Foundation

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.

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

The Foundation maintains a robust portfolio structure comprised of:

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
+5 more states

Cities

AtlantaBainbridge IslandBereaBerkeleyBerwynBostonBrooklynChicagoColumbusHolladayLouisvilleManchesterbytheSeaMiamiNew BruswickNew YorkNewburyportOaklandPhiladelphiaSalt Lake CitySan Francicso

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

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$1.0MUniversity of Utah$638KLafayettte Square Founda…$375KThe Aspen Institute$250KRutgers University$250KOwnership Works Inc$250KImpactAlpha$250KB Lab Company$250KNew Venture Fund$175KNew Venture Fund$75K

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 include Realize Impact ($1,000,000), University of Utah ($638,000), Lafayettte Square Foundation ($375,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
University of Utah Salt Lake City, UTImpact investing student program; general support$638,000
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
Realize Impact Bainbridge Island, WAPhilantrhopic investment grant for affordable home ownership$1,000,000
Ownership Works Inc New York, NYResearch and framework development for home shared ownership projects$250,000
New Venture Fund Washington, DCImpact investing alliance$75,000
New Venture Fund Washington, DCCatalytic capital consortium project$175,000
Lafayettte Square Foundation Miami, FLSupport for projects creating equitable wealth including employee ownership$375,000
ImpactAlpha Berkeley, CAProviding public education on homeownership, employee ownership and community ownership$250,000
Impact Investing Institute Development of educational campaign to promote and encourage impact investing to catalyze social change$40,000

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 SorensonDirector$5K

From 2024 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?

**Grant Activity:** • As of 2023, the Foundation has made 55 grants totaling $14.7 million • Median grant size: $125,000 to $175,000 • Grant range: $23,000 to $2,000,000 • Average award: $267,000 • The Foundation has supported 19 unique organizations **Portfolio Composition:** The Foundation maintains a robust portfolio structure comprised of: • Mission-related investment portfolio • Grant portfolio • Program-related investment portfolio with 61 active investments in companies headquartered in …

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.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in Sorenson Impact Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

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

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