Lawrence Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $570,375 (2024)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: N/A (preselected organizations)
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $250,000
• Geographic Focus: Minnesota, New York, Connecticut (primary)

Contact Details

• Address: 4415 E Lake Harriet Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55419-4746
• Phone: Not publicly available
• Email: Not publicly available
• Website: No public website
• EIN: 133935895

Overview

The Lawrence Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1997 and based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. With total assets of approximately $14.7 million, the foundation distributes $500,000-$600,000 annually through 15-29 grants per year. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, making contributions exclusively to preselected charitable organizations. Their grantmaking focuses on education, community development, human services, and philanthropic initiatives, primarily in Minnesota, New York, and Connecticut, though they occasionally fund organizations in other states and internationally.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs but makes discretionary grants ranging from $1,000 to $250,000 to preselected organizations.

Priority Areas

• Education and Educational Institutions
• Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations
• Community and Economic Development
• Community Improvement and Capacity Building
• Human Services

Geographic Focus

• Primary: Minnesota, New York, Connecticut
• Secondary: California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island
• Cities served: Minneapolis, St. Paul, New York City, New Haven, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Providence, among others
• Occasional International: Kenya (documented in 2021)

What They Don't Fund

As an invitation-only funder, the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals from any organizations or causes.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a small family board:

• James Lawrence - President/Chairman (serves without compensation)
• Mary Lawrence - Secretary/Treasurer (serves without compensation)

The foundation operates with minimal administrative overhead, with board members serving on a volunteer basis, allowing maximum funds to go directly to charitable purposes.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Lawrence Family Foundation explicitly states that it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. All grants are made at the discretion of the board to organizations they have identified and chosen to support.

Grant Distribution Pattern

Based on recent tax filings:

• 2024: $570,375 in total grants
• 2023: $537,970 across 15 organizations
• 2022: 18 grant awards
• 2021: 23 grant awards
• 2020: 22 grant awards
• 2019: 29 grant awards

The foundation maintains a relatively consistent annual giving level while varying the number of recipients year to year.

Financial Overview

Asset Base

• Total Assets (2024): $14,709,942
• Investment Portfolio: Generates income through dividends ($484,195) and capital gains ($1,382,587)

Annual Operations

• Total Revenue (2024): $1,870,000
• Total Expenses: $860,464
• Charitable Disbursements: $631,761
• Grants Paid: $570,375

The foundation maintains a conservative spending approach, typically distributing 3-4% of assets annually while preserving capital for long-term philanthropic impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process - This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals
• Operates exclusively through invitation-only grantmaking to preselected organizations
• Focuses on established relationships with organizations in Minnesota, New York, and Connecticut
• Typical grants range from $1,000 to $250,000
• Makes 15-29 grants annually with total giving around $500,000-$600,000
• Family-governed foundation with minimal administrative overhead
• Organizations cannot proactively seek funding from this foundation

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990 filings and financial data (accessed February 2026)
• Cause IQ Foundation Profile - Organizational analytics and grantmaking patterns (accessed February 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report - Geographic distribution and grant analysis (accessed February 2026)
• Grantmakers.io - Application policy confirmation (accessed February 2026)
• IRS Tax-Exempt Organization Database - Official registration and compliance status (accessed February 2026)