← Back to US Funders Directory

David And Janis Larson Foundation

Annual Giving
$8.0M
Grant Range
Up to $15.0M00
00

David And Janis Larson Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $8,000,000
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: Average grant size $222,222
  • Geographic Focus: Minnesota, Kansas, Missouri, and Wisconsin (primarily Minneapolis/St. Paul area and Kansas City)

Contact Details

Address: 1055 Wayzata Boulevard East, Wayzata, MN 55391
Phone: (952) 473-3310
Website: No public website available
Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The David And Janis Larson Foundation was established in 2013 (with tax-exempt status granted in March 2015) to carry out the philanthropic vision of David M. Larson, a retired Cargill executive vice president and University of Minnesota regent who passed away in 2014 at age 70. The foundation is now managed by his widow, Janis "Jani" Larson, and their sons, D. Lance Larson and Reid M. Larson, who serve as trustees. With assets totaling approximately $140 million and annual grant distributions of $8 million, the foundation has awarded over $90 million since 2013 to institutions and charitable endowments. The foundation reflects David Larson's belief that "if a cause is worth supporting today, it's worth supporting in perpetuity." The foundation made 36 grants in 2023, with an average grant size of $222,222, focusing on education, health and safety, goodwill, leadership, athletics, and historical preservation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as a private family foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking. There are no formal grant programs with specified amounts, but typical grants range widely based on the nature of the project.

Known Major Grants Include:

  • University of Minnesota: $15 million gift to Gopher Athletics for Football Performance Center
  • University of Minnesota Larson Scholars: $5 million endowment in 2008 (grown to $15 million) supporting 350+ middle-class students
  • Pinky Swear Foundation: $3 million matching gift in 2020 for Super Cal Endowment (childhood cancer support)

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on six core areas:

  1. Education - Particularly supporting access for middle-class families and institutions like the University of Minnesota and St. Olaf College (David Larson's alma mater)
  2. Health and Safety - Including support for organizations like Pinky Swear Foundation (childhood cancer)
  3. Goodwill - Community benefit organizations
  4. Leadership Development - Programs that develop future leaders
  5. Athletics - Youth sports programs and collegiate athletics, especially at University of Minnesota
  6. Historical Preservation - Projects that preserve institutional and community history

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publicly specify exclusions, but appears to focus on established institutions and endowments rather than operating grants or start-up organizations.

Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees:

  • Janis L. Larson - President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Trustee (widow of founder David M. Larson)
  • D. Lance Larson - Trustee (son; co-founder of ViaWealth, based in Leawood, Kansas)
  • Reid M. Larson - Trustee (son; co-founder of ViaWealth, based in Plymouth, Minnesota)

Foundation Administrator:

  • First Trust Company LLC (received $202,473 in trustee compensation in 2024)

About the Founder - David M. Larson (1944-2014):

David Larson spent 44 years at Cargill, rising from trainee in 1966 to executive vice president in 1999. He was known for his advocacy of corporate branding, quality, and employee recognition. He articulated his leadership philosophy: "Our good leaders are those who focus on others, give undivided attention and build trust. Leaders can either give energy to people or drain energy from people." He also believed "you shouldn't kick someone on the bottom unless you have your arm around his shoulder."

His son Reid described him as "aggressive in business but humble in attitude... certainly a leader, but not one that necessarily needed to take the prize at the end of day." Lance noted his father's gift was to ask rhetorical questions that stimulated critical thinking, saying "dad was two or three steps ahead of everybody... directing them down a path of success while letting them think they had everything to do with it."

David was a lifelong advocate for the University of Minnesota, where he earned his political science degree and later served as a regent from 2005 until his death.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation operates through trustee discretion, with grants directed by the Larson family based on their philanthropic priorities and the vision established by David M. Larson.

Grants appear to be awarded to:

  • Organizations with existing relationships with the family
  • Institutions the family has historical connections to (University of Minnesota, St. Olaf College)
  • Organizations in their geographic areas of interest (Minnesota, Kansas City)
  • Causes that align with David Larson's values of education, leadership development, and community benefit

Getting on Their Radar

Note: This section includes only foundation-specific information discovered through research.

  • Family connections matter: The foundation's significant gifts (University of Minnesota Football Performance Center, Pinky Swear Foundation Super Cal Endowment) came from family connections. Lance and Reid Larson were family friends of the Reinhardt family when they supported Pinky Swear.

  • Geographic presence: The foundation supports organizations in areas where the family has presence - primarily Minnesota (where Janis resides and the family has deep roots), but also Kansas (where Lance is based in Leawood through ViaWealth) and Missouri/Wisconsin.

  • Institutional relationships: David Larson's legacy as a University of Minnesota regent and St. Olaf College alumnus suggests the foundation values established institutional relationships.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As a private family foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking, decisions are made at the discretion of the trustees.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. With 36 grants awarded in 2023, the foundation appears selective in its grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly available.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than public applications, the following factors appear important based on documented giving patterns:

Values Alignment: The foundation seeks to honor David Larson's legacy and values, which centered on:

  • Supporting education and making it accessible, particularly for middle-class families
  • Developing leadership in others - David believed in "focusing on others" and bringing out the best in people
  • Long-term, sustainable impact - David believed "if a cause is worth supporting today, it's worth supporting in perpetuity"
  • Team-oriented approaches rather than individual glory - Reid noted David "was always about being part of a team"

Types of Support That Resonate:

  • Endowments and capital projects - The foundation's major gifts have gone to endowments (Larson Scholars, Super Cal Endowment) and capital projects (Football Performance Center)
  • Matching gifts - The $3 million Pinky Swear match demonstrates willingness to catalyze broader fundraising
  • Middle-class focus - The Larson Scholars program specifically addresses rising education costs for middle-class families, a concern David and Janis shared

Known Recipients Include:

  • University of Minnesota (athletics, scholarships)
  • Pinky Swear Foundation (childhood cancer support)
  • YMCA of the North
  • St. Olaf College (likely based on David's attendance there)
  • Organizations in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Kansas City

Strategic Considerations:

  • The foundation appears to prefer established institutions over start-ups
  • Large, transformational gifts seem preferred over smaller operating grants
  • Projects that can be permanently named or associated with the Larson family legacy
  • Causes that reflect David Larson's interests in education, athletics, health, and community benefit

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process - This is a trustee-directed private foundation. Grants come from family relationships and established institutional connections, not open applications.
  • Relationship-driven grantmaking - All documented major grants have come through family connections to the University of Minnesota, friendship with families like the Reinhardts (Pinky Swear), or geographic ties to Minnesota and Kansas.
  • Preference for endowments and capital projects - Major gifts have supported permanent, legacy-building projects rather than annual operating support.
  • Average grant is substantial - At $222,222 average, this foundation makes significant investments in fewer organizations rather than many small grants.
  • Geographic focus - Strong preference for Minnesota organizations, particularly Minneapolis/St. Paul area, with secondary interest in Kansas City where sons operate ViaWealth.
  • Values-driven philanthropy - The foundation seeks to honor David Larson's values of leadership development, education access, team-oriented approaches, and sustainable long-term impact.
  • Catalytic giving - The $3 million Pinky Swear match shows interest in using their resources to inspire broader community support for worthy causes.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory