Sorenson Impact Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation's stated focus is impact investing and innovative, scalable solutions in education, workforce development, healthcare, sanitation, water and clean energy, and its grants have included impact-investing education and employee ownership, so check the RFP to see whether your work matches.
- Its typical grant band runs from $50,000 to $700,000, with a median of $250,000, and half of its 35 grants to organisations were $250,000 or less, so a modest request in the lower part of that band is a sensible starting point.
- In its latest filing, 33% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in its earlier filings, so a prior relationship may help, but new applicants are not shut out.
- Applications vary by programme, so download the full RFP to confirm the submission process, parameters and timetable, and note that it seeks measurable social impact outcomes, strong leadership and a well-thought-out plan.
Overview
Sorenson Impact Foundation is a US private foundation based in Salt Lake City, UT.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Foundation was created to advance the flow of capital into innovative, scalable solutions to the world’s most pressing needs. It describes its mission as serving underserved communities around the world through innovative start-ups and the impact-investing space broadly. Its programme-related investments target for-profit impact start-ups whose business models are closely tied to social impact, including solutions in education, workforce development and healthcare, and other issues disproportionately affecting underserved populations. It also identifies sanitation, water and clean energy among the needs its companies address. Its grants in the filings support impact-investing education and field-building, employee and community ownership, B Corp certification and initiatives for equitable wealth. The grant record also includes education and research relating to employee ownership and profit-sharing.
Themes
- Impact investing
- Education
- Workforce development
- Healthcare
- Sanitation
- Water
- Clean energy
Geographic Focus
Around the world.
How to apply
Download the full RFP to review its focus areas, submission process and parameters for consideration.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 33% 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 35 grants to organisations were $250,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- For PRIs, the Foundation values innovative and potentially disruptive solutions.
- It seeks proposals with measurable social impact outcomes that are essential to the business model.
- It favours work that directly meets the needs of, or solves a critical issue for, an underserved population.
- It looks for strong leadership and a well-thought-out plan.
- It seeks scalable, early-stage companies that are post-proof of concept.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
5 other states: 15%
- The largest single recipient received 41% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 33% of grant dollars went to organisations Sorenson Impact Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- <1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (United Kingdom).
- 12% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 12 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $250k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Realize Impact · Philantrhopic investment grant for affordable home ownership$1,000,0002024 tax year
- University of Utah · Impact investing student program; general support$638,0002024 tax year
- Lafayettte Square Foundation · Support for projects creating equitable wealth including employee ownership$375,0002024 tax year
- B Lab Company · Development of B Corp certification process and assistance$250,0002024 tax year
- Rutgers University · Education and research in the area of emloyee ownership and profit sharing models$250,0002024 tax year
- Ownership Works · Research and framework development for home shared ownership projects$250,0002024 tax year
- ImpactAlpha · Providing public education on homeownership, employee ownership and community ownership$250,0002024 tax year
- Aspen Institute · Neiborhood real estate ownership project and employee ownership project$250,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Paul Ludlow — Chief Financial Officer & Secretary
- Luke Sorenson — Director
- Krista Sorenson — Director
- James Lee Sorenson — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $6,189,659 | $4,472,800 | $142,242,498 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $4,132,028 | $2,350,000 | $153,722,930 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $5,342,680 | $3,603,000 | $151,619,918 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Sorenson Impact Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Salt Lake City, UT
- sorensonimpactfoundation.org
Applying to Sorenson Impact Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Salt Lake City, UT
- sorensonimpactfoundation.org