The Lawrence Family Foundation
The Lawrence Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1997 and based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on philanthropic grantmaking to support charitable causes across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$14.7M
+6.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$570K
+6.0% YoY
Grant Count
22
+46.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$26K
-27.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lawrence Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $693K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports the following impact areas:
Educational Access: Funding SAT/TOEFL training and exam fees for high-achieving students in underserved communities, donating school supplies and learning materials, and providing mentorship and career guidance for students seeking global university admission.
Health Equity & Awareness: Supporting local and international NGOs to provide life-saving tools and running awareness campaigns on mental health, preventive care, and vaccinations, as well as partnering with health clinics for outreach services.
Basic Needs & Community Support: Installing clean water solutions in African communities, providing food assistance and winter relief packages, and sponsoring shelters and local outreach programs.
Strategic Grantmaking: Supporting grassroots NGOs and health-focused programs, as well as funding innovative education or health equity initiatives.
The foundation also focuses on philanthropy, foundations, community and economic development, and community improvement.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
**: $500 to $250,000, with recent grants ranging from $1,000 to $250,000
Invitation Only
**: The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, making contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. No public application process is available.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations primarily in:
- Primary: Minnesota, New York, Connecticut
- Secondary: California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island
- International: Operations in multiple countries including Bangladesh and African communities
The foundation has funded projects in various U.S. cities including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Roseville, New Haven, Providence, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and others.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $14.7 million (2024)
- Total Assets: $13.8 million (2023)
- Annual Giving: $537,970 to $632,000
- Total Expenses: $860,464 (2024)
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $14,709,942 | $13,837,342 | $14,047,823 |
| Revenue | $1,866,782 | $-374,456 | $890,640 |
| Expenses | $860,464 | $684,481 | $780,412 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $631,761 | $632,701 | $762,470 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,727,665 | $368,093 | $867,982 |
| Distributable Amount | $692,609 | $663,116 | $692,191 |
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
100 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Mn Foundation ($150,000), Foundation of Aao ($100,000), Minnesota Orchestra ($78,625).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF MN FOUNDATION MINNEAPOLIS, MN | LAWRENCE FUND | $150,000 |
| FOUNDATION OF AAO LOS ANGELES, CA | IN SUPPOR OF PARKE CENTER | $100,000 |
| MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA MINNEAPOLIS, MN | MUSIC MOMENTS CAMPAIGN; FY24 GUARANTY FUND; SYMPHONY BALL, RIVER RHAPSODY | $78,625 |
| KENT SCHOOL KENT, CT | LFF/ANNUAL FUND; IN SUPPORT OF ANNUAL FUND FOR AFGHAN GIRLS | $58,000 |
| VOCAL ESSENCE MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT | $55,000 |
| GLOBAL MINNESOTA MINNEAPOLIS, MN | IN SUPPORT OF GLOBAL MN; PRESIDENT'S CIRCLE 2024 MEMBERSHIP; COME SAIL AWAY 2024 GALA--SILVER SPONSOR | $40,000 |
| YALE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MINNEAPOLIS, MN | SUPPORT OF PUBLIC HEALTH EVENTS | $10,500 |
| YALE COLLEGE NEW HAVEN, CT | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT; CLASS DUES 2023-2024 | $10,250 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD NORTH CENTRAL STATES ST PAUL, MN | GENERAL PROGRAM SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| PROOF ALLIANCE ST PAUL, MN | GALA VISIONARY SPONSOR | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- James Lawrence: President, Chairman, and Director (serves without compensation)
- Mary Lawrence: Secretary, Treasurer, and Director (serves without compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES LAWRENCE | PRESIDENT/ CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| MARY LAWRENCE | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
Recent Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation made 29 grants in 2024, with notable support for educational institutions, music organizations, and international development initiatives. The foundation continues to focus on community development and philanthropic initiatives across its priority areas.
LCW and 8 COMMUNITY PARTNERS AWARDED $5 MILLION BY ATRIUS HEALTH EQUITY FOUNDATIONSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lawrence Family Foundation fund?
The foundation supports the following impact areas: • **Educational Access**: Funding SAT/TOEFL training and exam fees for high-achieving students in underserved communities, donating school supplies and learning materials, and providing mentorship and career guidance for students seeking global university admission. • **Health Equity & Awareness**: Supporting local and international NGOs to provide life-saving tools and running awareness campaigns on mental health, preventive care, and vaccina…
How do I apply for a grant from The Lawrence Family Foundation?
**Grant Range**: $500 to $250,000, with recent grants ranging from $1,000 to $250,000 **Annual Distribution**: Approximately $537,970 to $632,000 annually **Grant Frequency**: 15-29 grants per year **Application Process**: The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, making contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. No public application process is available. **Recent Grantees** (2024): • Friends of the Minnesota Orchestra: $78,625 • Kent School: $58,000 • Global…
Where does The Lawrence Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations primarily in: • **Primary**: Minnesota, New York, Connecticut • **Secondary**: California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island • **International**: Operations in multiple countries including Bangladesh and African communities The foundation has funded projects in various U.S. cities including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Roseville, New Haven, Providence, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and others.
What size grants does The Lawrence Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Lawrence Family Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $570K — an average of about $26K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lawrence Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lawrence Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $693K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Lawrence Family Foundation's EIN?
The Lawrence Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3935895. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Lawrence Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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