The Lawrence Family Foundation
The Lawrence Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 2024, it gave $570,375 through 22 grants to charitable organizations, including educational institutions, arts organizations, and organizations addressing health and community needs.
The Lawrence Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Lawrence Family Foundation gave $570K across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $26K), mostly in Minnesota. 64% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $570,375
- +6.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- +46.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $25,926
- -27.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $8,500
- Total assets
- $14,709,942
- +6.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 64% first-time grantees (14 of 22, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (66% 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 The Lawrence Family 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: 4415 E Lake Harriet Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55419-4746
Phone: (612) 825-5050
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Lawrence Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of MN Foundation ($150K). Together the top 10 received $522K.
Grant Size Distribution
100 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 79 grants of 100 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 66% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota, 18% to California, 12% to Connecticut, and 1% each to Rhode Island and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Lawrence Family Foundation open to new grantees?
64%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 14 of 22 grantees (64%) 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 $62K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $57K repeat.
- 36% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 30% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 91% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $439K (2021) to $673K (2022). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $570K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
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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 | $14,709,942 | $1,866,782 | $860,464 | $570,375 | 22 | $631,761 | $1,727,665 | $692,609 |
| 2023 | $13,837,342 | $-374,456 | $684,481 | $537,970 | 15 | $632,701 | $368,093 | $663,116 |
| 2022 | $14,047,823 | $890,640 | $780,412 | $673,025 | 18 | $762,470 | $867,982 | $692,191 |
| 2021 | $15,054,334 | $4,439,155 | $475,367 | $439,000 | 23 | $475,367 | $4,433,784 | $571,250 |
| 2020 | $10,326,738 | $653,107 | $510,983 | $453,600 | 22 | — | $653,107 | $503,099 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in education, music and the arts, reproductive health, prenatal alcohol exposure prevention, international engagement, and downtown safety and improvement.
The grantees describe their own missions as follows: Kent School says it educates students intellectually, socially, ethically, and spiritually to prepare them to contribute to the common good. Global Minnesota says it advances international understanding and engagement. Vibrant & Safe Downtown says it brings public and private sectors together on initiatives to enhance downtown and improve safety. Proof Alliance says it works to prevent prenatal alcohol exposure and support people affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Planned Parenthood North Central States says it supports access to high-quality, affordable reproductive health care.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 22 grants totaling $570,375. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $150,000, with a median grant of $8,500.
Its largest listed grants included $150,000 to the University of Minnesota Foundation for the Lawrence Fund; $100,000 to Foundation of AAO in support of the Parke Center; $78,625 to Minnesota Orchestra for campaign, guaranty fund, and event support; and $58,000 to Kent School for its annual fund and support of an annual fund for Afghan girls. Other grants included $55,000 to VocalEssence for general program support and $40,000 to Global Minnesota for organizational, membership, and gala support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists James Lawrence as president and chairman, and Mary Lawrence as secretary and treasurer.
The Lawrence Family Foundation is led by James Lawrence, President & Chairman since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
James Lawrence
President & Chairman
Director, Chairman & President → President & Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Lawrence
Secretary & Treasurer
Director, Secretary & Treasurer → Secretary & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 The Lawrence Family Foundation
How much does The Lawrence Family Foundation give each year?
The Lawrence Family Foundation gave $570K across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $538K across 15 grants.
What is The Lawrence Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Lawrence Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $8,500, and its average grant was $25,926, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Lawrence Family Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Lawrence Family Foundation give grants?
The Lawrence Family Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were California (18%) and Connecticut (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (9 grants), St. Paul, MN (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does The Lawrence Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 50% of The Lawrence Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Lawrence Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Lawrence Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of MN Foundation ($150,000), Foundation of AAO ($100,000) and Minnesota Orchestra ($78,625), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Lawrence Family Foundation?
The Lawrence Family Foundation reported $14.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $632K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $693K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Lawrence Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations working in education, music and the arts, reproductive health, prenatal alcohol exposure prevention, international engagement, and downtown safety and improvement. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Lawrence Family 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 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.
Does The Lawrence Family 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Lawrence Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Lawrence Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Lawrence Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-lawrence-family-foundation-morg_f3e9df0c31214b7e955f3655ee300609
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133935895_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Lawrence Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-lawrence-family-foundation-morg_f3e9df0c31214b7e955f3655ee300609},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 The Lawrence Family 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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