The Lawrence Foundation
The Lawrence Foundation is a private foundation established in 1976 and tax-exempt since August 1977. Based in Orient, New York, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting programs that serve individuals living with economic insecurity. The foundation takes a rigorous, relationship-based approach to grantmaking, identifying organizations that bring innovative, proven solutions to scale and work toward building a more just and inclusive society.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$76.5M
+1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.5M
-2.2% YoY
Grant Count
69
-11.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$50K
+10.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lawrence Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: "Investing in human potential - We support programs that serve individuals living with economic insecurity, because everyone should have the opportunity to build better lives for themselves and their families."
The foundation supports organizations across five primary program areas:
- Education — Ensuring every student has the academic skills they need to succeed
- Financial Inclusion — Decreasing inequalities and creating economic dignity for all people
- Health — Supporting safe and effective medical services to improve health outcomes for individuals and families
- Housing — Investing in affordable housing solutions and making long-term decisions to strengthen and revitalize communities
- Workforce Development — Empowering individuals with the training and expertise they need to advance in the 21st century economy
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. The foundation makes grants twice a year and uses a rigorous selection process focused on identifying organizations with:
Grant Range
$1,100–$250,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
While the foundation's primary geographic focus is the metro New York area, its impact extends beyond the region's borders. The foundation funds organizations that create equity and opportunity nationally.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $76,480,637
- Revenue: $5,650,678
- Expenses: $4,455,132
- Net Income: $1,195,546
- Total Liabilities: $217
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $75,285,773
- Total Revenues: $4,703,154
- Total Expenses: $4,301,495
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Contributions: 1.1% of total revenue
- Investment income and dividends: 47.5% of total revenue
- Other sources: 51.4% of total revenue
Staffing: 3 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $76,480,854 | $75,285,773 | $74,883,862 |
| Revenue | $5,650,678 | $4,703,154 | $4,985,867 |
| Expenses | $4,455,132 | $4,301,495 | $4,404,684 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,151,332 | $4,079,398 | $4,211,574 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,900,154 | $2,326,774 | $2,265,389 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,445,841 | $4,195,010 | $4,052,964 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Arbor Rising ( Formerly Arbor Brothers) ($100,000), Bowery Residents' Committee (brc) ($100,000), Breaking Ground ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| ACUMEN NEW YORK, NY | FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES | $50,000 |
| AFYA FOUNDATION YONKERS, NY | FOR HEALTH PURPOSES | $50,000 |
| ARBOR RISING ( FORMERLY ARBOR BROTHERS) NEW YORK, NY | FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES | $100,000 |
| ARC OF WESTCHESTER FOUNDATION HAWTHORNE, NY | FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| ASCENDUS ( FORMERLY ACCION) NEW YORK, NY | FOR COMMUNITY DEVELPMENT PURPOSES | $75,000 |
| BEHIND THE BOOK INC NEW YORK, NY | FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES | $50,000 |
| BLOOMINGDALE FAMILY PROGRAM NEW YORK, NY | FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES | $50,000 |
| BOTTOMLESS CLOSET NEW YORK, NY | FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT/JOB TRAINING PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| BOWERY RESIDENTS' COMMITTEE (BRC) NEW YORK, NY | FOR HOUSING PURPOSES | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Lawrence Bernstein — Trustee and Executive Director
- Audrey Bernstein — Trustee and Director of Programs
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWRENCE BERNSTEIN | TRUSTEE/EXEC DIRECTOR | 40 | $228,036 |
| AUDREY BERNSTEIN | TRUSTEE/DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS | 20 | $86,612 |
| LAURA J BERNSTEIN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lawrence Foundation fund?
**Mission:** "Investing in human potential - We support programs that serve individuals living with economic insecurity, because everyone should have the opportunity to build better lives for themselves and their families." The foundation supports organizations across five primary program areas: 1. **Education** — Ensuring every student has the academic skills they need to succeed 2. **Financial Inclusion** — Decreasing inequalities and creating economic dignity for all people 3. **Health** — S…
How do I apply for a grant from The Lawrence Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 75 grants in 2023 and 78 grants in 2024 • Total giving: $3,470,150 (2024) • Typical grant range: $1,100–$250,000 **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. The foundation makes grants twice a year and uses a rigorous selection process focused on identifying organizations with: • Innovative, proven solutions that can be scaled • Ability to adapt and change programs as causes of economic inequality shift • Inspired leadership from sta…
Where does The Lawrence Foundation make grants?
While the foundation's primary geographic focus is the metro New York area, its impact extends beyond the region's borders. The foundation funds organizations that create equity and opportunity nationally.
What size grants does The Lawrence Foundation award?
In 2024, The Lawrence Foundation awarded 69 grants totaling $3.5M — an average of about $50K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lawrence Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lawrence Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Lawrence Foundation's EIN?
The Lawrence Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-2880731. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Lawrence 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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