The Lazar Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker BLACK BUTTE RANCH, OR EIN: 13-6088182 Website

The Lazar Foundation is a private foundation dedicated to funding innovative and strategic projects that protect the environment in the Pacific Northwest. Incorporated in 1956 and based in Black Butte Ranch, Oregon, the foundation operates as a family foundation with a focused mission on environmental conservation and advocacy.

Key facts about The Lazar Foundation

EIN: 13-6088182
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $913,006
Grants made (2024): 44
Average grant: $20,750
Median grant: $20,000
Total assets: $16,164,269
Primary geography: Oregon (75% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply: All proposals are accepted by direct invitation only. No Letter of Inquiry process currently available.

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Lazar Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Lazar Foundation's 44 itemized 2024 grants were Oregon (75%) and Virginia (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, OR (14 grants), Houston, TX (4 grants), Bend, OR (3 grants) and Eugene, OR (3 grants). 30% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Oregon Ocean Program" (3 grants).

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$16.2M

-6.8% YoY

Annual Giving

$913K

+1.4% YoY

Grant Count

+10.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$21K

-7.8% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lazar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The Lazar Foundation's mission centers on environmental protection in the Pacific Northwest. The foundation's specific areas of interest include:

Conservation of large, biologically significant terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
Preservation of biological diversity
Projects that broaden the environmental movement
Projects that strengthen or increase the capacity of the environmental movement's ability to develop, shape, and communicate its message

The foundation occasionally makes grants based on trustee interests outside the primary environmental program area.

Grantmaking

The foundation does not accept proposals for:

Grant Range

$1,000 to $100,000

Review Cycle

April 1st and October 1st (two cycles per year)

How to Apply

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation funds projects in the Pacific Northwest, with specific focus on:

Idaho
Oregon
Washington

The foundation also makes grants in Virginia and Texas based on trustee interests.

Grant Distribution by State

Oregon $680K (75%)

Virginia $103K (11%)

New York $35K (4%)

Idaho $25K (3%)

California $25K (3%)

All other $45K (5%)

Share of all 44 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

Alaska Arizona California District of Columbia Idaho Maryland North Carolina New York Oregon Texas Virginia Washington

Cities

PortlandEugeneBendHoustonMiddleburgCorvallisBoiseLincoln CityWashingtonAshlandChapel HillCharlottesvilleNew YorkSan FranciscoTigardWarrentonChevy ChaseCoos BayLa GrandeSalem

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2023:

Total assets: $17,344,332
Total giving: $831,406 to $901,000
Total revenues: $597,192
Total expenses: $1,318,154
Investment income and dividends: $556,132
Number of employees: 1
Giving rate: 5.2% of assets

Historical Comparison (2022):

Total assets: $18,100,000
Total giving: $954,000
Number of grants: 40

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$16,164,269	$17,344,332	$18,065,294
Revenue	$217,341	$597,192	$663,258
Expenses	$1,397,404	$1,318,154	$1,409,732
Qualifying Distributions	$1,133,053	$1,072,291	$1,131,885
Net Investment Income	—	$351,329	$410,411
Distributable Amount	$1,189,154	$1,109,031	$1,109,328

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

207 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Central Oregon Land Watch ($50,000), Wild Salmon Center ($50,000), Oregon Wild ($45,000 across 2 grants).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
CENTRAL OREGON LAND WATCH BEND, OR	LAND USE PROGRAM	$50,000
WILD SALMON CENTER PORTLAND, OR	FOREST PROGRAM	$50,000
PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL WARRENTON, VA	VIRGINA LAND PRESERVATION	$45,000
SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA	VIRGINIA PROGRAM	$45,000
BIRD ALLIANCE OF OREGON PORTLAND, OR	OREGON OCEAN PROGRAM	$40,000
OREGON NATURAL DESERT ASSOCIATION BEND, OR	OREGON DESERT CONSERVATION	$40,000
CASCADIA WILDLANDS EUGENE, OR	OREGON FOREST DEFENSE	$35,000
CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS NEW YORK, NY	U.S. PROGRAM	$35,000
FRIENDS OF THE OWYHEE ONTARIO, OR	GENERAL SUPPORT	$35,000
KLAMATH-SISKIYOU WILDLANDS CENTER ASHLAND, OR	FOREST WATCH PROGRAM	$35,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

William B. Lazar – President
Jeanne L. Morency – Trustee

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
WILLIAM B LAZAR AND FNDT MGMT GRP	PRESIDENT	40	$116,000
JEANNE L MORENCY	SECRETARY	2	—
MATTHEW M MORENCY	TRUSTEE	2	—
JACK H LAZAR	TRUSTEE	2	—
RITA E MORENCY	TRUSTEE	2	—
REBECCA E LAZAR	TRUSTEE	2	—
LOUIS COOPER LAZAR	TRUSTEE	2	—

Contact Information

Website: lazarfoundation.org
Phone: 503-784-8332
Address: PO Box 8000, PMB 8083, Black Butte Ranch, OR 97759-8000
EIN: 13-6088182

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Lazar Foundation fund?

The Lazar Foundation's mission centers on environmental protection in the Pacific Northwest. The foundation's specific areas of interest include: • Conservation of large, biologically significant terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems • Preservation of biological diversity • Projects that broaden the environmental movement • Projects that strengthen or increase the capacity of the environmental movement's ability to develop, shape, and communicate its message The foundation occasionally makes grant…

How do I apply for a grant from The Lazar Foundation?

**Grant Characteristics:** • Annual giving: $700,000 to $800,000 • Typical grant range: $1,000 to $100,000 • Median grant size: $25,000 • Number of grants awarded annually: 36-40 grants **Application Process:** • All proposals are accepted by direct invitation only • No Letter of Inquiry process currently available • Grant deadlines: April 1st and October 1st (two cycles per year) • Full proposals must be submitted through the foundation's application portal • Early submissions are encouraged *…

Where does The Lazar Foundation make grants?

The foundation funds projects in the Pacific Northwest, with specific focus on: • Idaho • Oregon • Washington The foundation also makes grants in Virginia and Texas based on trustee interests.

What size grants does The Lazar Foundation award?

In 2024, The Lazar Foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $913K — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Lazar Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lazar Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.