Lauritzen Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Lauritzen Foundation, based in Omaha, NE, supports a broad mix of charitable organisations, including arts and cultural institutions, museums and libraries, schools and universities, environmental and conservation groups, health and social-service bodies, churches and religious bodies, and community and civic organisations, with most recorded giving in Nebraska, though no geographic focus is stated.
- A realistic request should be modest: about eight in ten of its 71 grants to organisations fall between $10,000 and $500,000, the median grant was $25,000, and half of its 71 grants across two filings were $25,000 or less, though the largest grant was about $2,050,000.
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and operates by invitation only, so a grant writer should not send a direct application; the approach is relationship-led.
- A large share of grant dollars, 79%, went to organisations it had also funded the previous year, suggesting it is fairly concentrated on existing relationships rather than open to many new applicants.
- There is no stated funding theme or formal eligibility criteria, so fit should be judged against the broad types of organisations it has supported.
Overview
Lauritzen Foundation is a US private foundation based in Omaha, NE.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The grant record shows support for a broad mix of charitable organisations, with most recorded giving in Nebraska. Recipients include arts and cultural institutions, museums and libraries; schools, universities and other educational organisations; environmental and conservation organisations; health and social-service organisations; churches and religious bodies; and community and civic organisations. The purposes are recorded as general exempt purpose, rather than tied to named programmes or specific activities. The available records therefore describe the types of organisations receiving grants, but do not state a defined funding theme, beneficiary group or formal eligibility criteria. Nebraska is the main geographic concentration in the recorded grants, although the filings do not state that grants are restricted to that state.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Nebraska.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 79% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 71 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.
Grant dollars by state
2 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 27% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2023, 79% of grant dollars went to organisations Lauritzen Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 36 grants in tax year 2023 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2023)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Lauritzen Gardens · General exempt purpose$2,055,0002023 tax year
- Omaha Performing Arts · General exempt purpose$1,200,0002023 tax year
- National Audubon Society · General exempt purpose$625,0002023 tax year
- Westside Community Schools · General exempt purpose$400,0002023 tax year
- Behavioral Health And Wellness Cemter · General exempt purpose$360,0002023 tax year
- Omaha Central Library · General exempt purpose$333,3332023 tax year
- Joslyn Art Museum · General exempt purpose$300,0002023 tax year
- Fontenelle Forest · General exempt purpose$300,0002023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Blair L Gogel — Vice President
- Margaret L Dodge — Secretary
- Clarkson D Lauritzen — Treasurer
- Bruce R Lauritzen — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $6,407,231 | $5,708,000 | $79,632,056 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $7,185,192 | $6,593,500 | $83,655,896 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
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At a glance
Applying to Lauritzen Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Omaha, NE
Applying to Lauritzen Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Omaha, NE