David & Janis Larson Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation accepts no unsolicited requests and gives only to organisations it has preselected, and the filing gives no further application steps, so a cold proposal is unlikely to be considered.
- Approach it only where you have a credible existing connection.
- Where a request fits, typical grants fall between $20,000 and $500,000, half of its 109 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less, and the median grant was $100,000, so a modest, well-costed request is the realistic size.
- Its giving is heavily repeat, with 79% of grant dollars in the latest filing going to organisations it had also funded in an earlier filing, and while the filings show most grants in Minnesota and Kansas, no geographic focus is stated.
Overview
David & Janis Larson Foundation is a US private foundation administered by its trustee, First Trust Company LLC, in Minneapolis, MN.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 13 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Across the filed grants, most funding went to Minnesota organisations, with a substantial share also going to Kansas. General charitable purposes account for most recorded awards, alongside grants identified for scholarships, student achievement and youth leadership. Recipients include public charities, schools and a local government body. The organisations supported include cultural and civic facilities, libraries and historical societies, youth programmes, veteran-support charities and organisations working on health-related causes. The filings show giving across several kinds of organisations and purposes, rather than a single specialist field. Repeat funding is evident: most dollars in the latest filing went to organisations funded in an earlier filing.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Minnesota and Kansas.
How to apply
Contributions go only to preselected charitable organisations; unsolicited requests are not accepted. The filing gives no further application steps.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 79% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 109 grants to organisations were $100,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 20% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 79% of grant dollars went to organisations David & Janis Larson Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 4% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 43 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $100k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Sanneh Foundation · General charitable purposes$1,301,5002024 tax year
- Kansas University Endowment Association · Larsons scholars fund$1,051,0002024 tax year
- University of Minnesota Athletics · General charitable purposes$600,0002024 tax year
- Redwood Area Library Foundation · Children's wing addition$500,0002024 tax year
- Central Square Cultural and Civic Center · General charitable purposes$350,0002024 tax year
- Kansas University Endowment Association · Ku leads fund$350,0002024 tax year
- YMCA of the North · General charitable purposes$300,0002024 tax year
- St Croix Valley Foundation · Capistrant parkinsons fund$300,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- First Trust Co LLC — Trustee
- Reid M Larson — Trustee
- D Lance Larson — Trustee
- Janis L Larson — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $10,522,687 | $9,300,000 | $165,745,900 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $8,720,976 | $8,000,000 | $186,672,130 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $9,381,235 | $8,390,000 | $207,597,283 | Filing for 2024 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
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At a glance
Applying to David & Janis Larson Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Minneapolis, MN (office of its trustee, First Trust Company LLC)
Applying to David & Janis Larson Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Minneapolis, MN (office of its trustee, First Trust Company LLC)