James Lee Sorenson Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and funds only organisations it has preselected, so a cold application will not be considered; a charity without an existing route in should not apply that way.
- Most of its grants are small: about 8 in 10 of its 67 grants to organisations fall between $500 and $200,000, and half were $500 or less, so a modest request fits better than a large one, though its largest grant was $1,700,000.
- Funding is heavily repeat, with 99% of its grant dollars to organisations going to groups it had also funded in the earlier filings, so a new applicant is starting from a small base.
- No geographic focus is stated, although the filing shows grants mainly in Utah, so an organisation working elsewhere should weigh that without treating it as a rule.
Overview
James Lee Sorenson Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Salt Lake City, UT.
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 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Across the filed grant record, most dollars are recorded as general support for a religious organisation, alongside substantial capital-campaign support for a university. Other grants went to amateur sport and economic innovation, and to organisations working in humanitarian relief and refugee assistance, arts and employment skills, housing, financial literacy, education, health research and care, services for children, and animal rescue. The record shows a varied mix of purposes rather than a stated set of foundation-wide programme priorities. Organisation grants were concentrated in Utah, while the record also reaches other US states.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Utah.
How to apply
Only preselected charitable organisations receive contributions; unsolicited requests are not accepted.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 99% 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 67 grants to organisations were $500 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 74% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to organisations James Lee Sorenson Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 7% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 31 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- The Church of Jesus Christ of LDS · General support$1,592,5402024 tax year
- University of Utah · Epicenter buildling capital campaign$250,0002024 tax year
- University of Utah · Epicenter buildling capital campaign$250,0002024 tax year
- Utah Sports Commission Foundation · Promotion of amateur sports/Olympics$200,0002024 tax year
- The Church of Jesus Christ of LDS · General support$150,0002024 tax year
- New Venture Fund · Economic innovation research$100,0002024 tax year
- Religious Family History Corporation · Genealogy research$15,0002024 tax year
- Choice Humanitarian · Charitable event fundraising$5,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- James Lee Sorenson — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,733,654 | $2,256,000 | $54,317,139 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,942,724 | $1,476,000 | $61,707,584 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,975,255 | $2,580,040 | $64,881,306 | 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 James Lee Sorenson Family 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
Applying to James Lee Sorenson Family 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