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Luan Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.1M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $105,000 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: Information limited; known grants include $105,000 to MIT and other organizations
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily California/United States
  • Total Assets: $2.19 million (2023)

Contact Details

Address: 2570 N 1st St Suite 200, San Jose, CA 95131

Note: No website, phone number, or email contact information is publicly available. The foundation operates from a virtual office/coworking space address.

Overview

The Luan Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2005 and based in Fremont/San Jose, California. With total assets of approximately $2.19 million as of 2023, the foundation focuses on advancing science and technology education. The foundation operates as an independent family foundation with no full-time employees and generates income primarily through investments. In 2023, the foundation made two grants totaling $105,000, with recipients including MIT. The foundation has remained relatively small and focused since its inception, making strategic grants to support educational institutions and programs aligned with its mission of promoting science and technology education. The foundation appears on California's list of nonprofits that are delinquent with state registrations, which may indicate administrative filing delays but does not necessarily reflect on the foundation's grant-making activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Luan Foundation does not appear to operate formal, named grant programs. Based on available tax filing information:

  • Science and Technology Education Support: Grant amounts vary; 2023 grants totaled $105,000 distributed to two recipients
  • Application Method: No public application process; grants appear to be made at the discretion of the foundation trustees

Priority Areas

  • Science and technology education advancement
  • Support for educational institutions (including major research universities like MIT)
  • Programs that promote STEM learning and research

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, given the foundation's narrow focus on science and technology education, it likely does not fund:

  • Arts and humanities programs unrelated to technology
  • General operating support for organizations outside the education sector
  • International development projects
  • Healthcare or medical research (unless directly tied to educational programs)
  • Social services

Governance and Leadership

The Luan Foundation is described as an independent family foundation governed by family members serving as trustees. Specific names of trustees and officers are not readily available in public sources. The foundation operates with no paid employees, indicating that governance and grant-making decisions are handled entirely by volunteer family members who serve on the board.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Luan Foundation does not have a public application process.

The foundation appears to identify and select grant recipients through trustee discretion and direct outreach. There is no website, publicly listed email address, or phone number for prospective applicants to contact. This is characteristic of many small family foundations that:

  • Make grants to pre-identified institutions
  • Fund organizations known to family members or trustees
  • Operate through invitation only
  • Focus on a small number of strategic partnerships

Organizations seeking support from the Luan Foundation would likely need to have an existing relationship with the trustees or be invited to apply.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. Given the small size of the foundation and limited staff resources (no employees), decision timelines likely vary depending on trustee meeting schedules.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. With only two grants awarded in 2023, the foundation maintains a highly selective approach.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly available due to the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information about the Luan Foundation's grant-making approach, specific success factors are difficult to determine. However, based on the foundation's characteristics:

Alignment with Mission: The foundation's primary focus is science and technology education. Projects and organizations that advance STEM education, particularly at the higher education or research level, appear most likely to receive consideration.

Institutional Credibility: The foundation has funded prestigious institutions like MIT, suggesting they favor established, reputable educational organizations with proven track records in science and technology education.

Strategic Impact: With limited resources and a small number of annual grants, the foundation likely seeks opportunities where their funding can make a measurable difference in advancing science and technology education outcomes.

Existing Relationships: As a family foundation without a public application process, personal or professional connections to the trustees may be essential for consideration.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications; funding decisions are made by trustees without a formal application procedure
  • Highly Selective: With only two grants made in 2023, competition is extremely limited to organizations already known to the foundation
  • STEM Focus: Mission is narrowly focused on science and technology education; proposals outside this area are unlikely to be considered
  • Institutional Preference: Evidence suggests preference for established educational institutions, particularly research universities
  • Small Scale: With annual giving around $100,000, individual grants are modest relative to larger foundations
  • Limited Public Information: The foundation maintains minimal public presence and does not provide guidelines, contact information, or transparency about grant-making criteria
  • Administrative Concerns: The foundation's delinquent status with California state registrations may indicate administrative challenges

References

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