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James Lee Sorenson Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.5M
Grant Range
$1K - $1.8M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,476,000 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $500 - $1,775,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Utah, with some grants to California and Washington D.C.

Contact Details

Address: 6330 S 3000 E 630, Salt Lake City, UT 84121

Phone: (801) 490-1013

Website: sorensonimpactfoundation.org (Note: This website appears to be for the related Sorenson Impact Foundation)

Overview

The James Lee Sorenson Family Foundation was established in 2012 as a private grantmaking foundation based in Salt Lake City, Utah. With assets of approximately $58.4 million as of 2023, the foundation distributed $1,476,000 in grants that year. Founded by James Lee Sorenson, a prominent Utah philanthropist and impact investor, the foundation operates as part of a broader network of Sorenson philanthropic entities. The foundation is characterized as having a Christian/religious orientation and operates with no full-time employees. James Lee Sorenson is known for his pioneering work in impact investing and his philosophy of creating self-sustaining charitable enterprises that can scale to address social problems.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specific applications or deadlines. Grantmaking appears to be discretionary, determined by the trustee(s).

Priority Areas

Based on recent giving patterns, the foundation supports:

  • Education: Support for educational institutions and programs
  • Human Services: Organizations serving refugees and vulnerable populations
  • Arts and Culture: Contemporary dance and arts programming
  • Economic Development: Innovation and economic opportunity initiatives
  • Philanthropy and Voluntarism: Support for grantmaking infrastructure

Geographic Focus

  • Primary focus on Utah-based organizations
  • Occasional grants to organizations in California and Washington D.C.

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly disclosed. As a private family foundation with discretionary grantmaking, funding decisions appear to be made based on trustee priorities rather than formal exclusion criteria.

Governance and Leadership

Trustee: James Lee Sorenson

James Lee Sorenson is the son of legendary Utah philanthropists James LeVoy Sorenson and Beverley Taylor Sorenson. He has established himself as a leader in impact investing and social entrepreneurship. In his philanthropic work, Sorenson emphasizes "self-sustaining charitable enterprises that can lift and empower people and communities."

Sorenson founded Sorenson Communications and is chairman of Village Capital, a nonprofit organization using peer support to build world-changing enterprises. He has served on numerous boards including the University of Utah Board of Trustees, where Utah Governor Gary Herbert appointed him. In 2013, Sorenson made a $13 million gift to the University of Utah's David Eccles School of Business to establish the James Lee Sorenson Global Impact Investing Center (now the Sorenson Impact Institute).

Sorenson joined the Board of Directors of the Economic Innovation Group, reflecting his commitment to impact investing and economic development.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation operates as a private family foundation with grants determined through trustee discretion. According to database records, the foundation "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded based on the trustee's selection rather than through an open application process. Organizations are typically identified through the trustee's networks, relationships, and philanthropic interests rather than through competitive application.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable given the invitation-only nature of grantmaking.

Success Rates

Not applicable. The foundation made 29 awards in 2023, but this reflects proactive grantmaking rather than response to applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's private, discretionary nature, the following factors appear important based on observed giving patterns:

  • Alignment with Utah community: The foundation has a strong focus on Utah-based organizations and causes impacting the local community
  • Innovation and scalability: Consistent with James Lee Sorenson's broader philanthropic philosophy, organizations demonstrating innovative, scalable approaches to social problems may attract attention
  • Mission-driven impact: Organizations with clear social impact and measurable outcomes align with Sorenson's impact investing background
  • Connection to trustee priorities: Education, workforce development, economic opportunity, and arts/culture reflect areas where grants have been awarded
  • Pre-existing relationships: As with most private family foundations operating without public applications, relationships with the trustee or knowledge of the foundation's interests through shared networks is essential

Example of Recent Funding (2022):

  • New Venture Fund: $100,000 for "Economic Innovation"
  • Rise Culinary Institute: $25,000 for "Providing Refugees With Culinary Job Skills Training"
  • Salt Contemporary Dance: $25,000 for "Support for Art Programming"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications. It operates through trustee discretion and invitation only.
  • Utah focus: Strong preference for Utah-based organizations and causes benefiting Utah communities
  • Part of larger ecosystem: Understanding that this foundation is one of several Sorenson family philanthropic entities may provide context for relationship building
  • Impact investing philosophy: The trustee's background in impact investing suggests appreciation for organizations with sustainable, scalable models
  • Variable grant sizes: Grant amounts have ranged from $500 to over $1.7 million, suggesting flexibility based on project and relationship
  • Fluctuating activity: The number of grants varies significantly year to year (from 4 to 37 awards), suggesting opportunistic rather than programmatic grantmaking
  • No staff: The foundation operates without employees, indicating a streamlined, trustee-driven operation

References

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