Larson Family Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 46-0412311 · since 1991larsonfoundation.org·South Dakota·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$1.4M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$800 to $100k

Grant range

From the funder's website

$30,000

Typical grant (median)

29 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

If your organisation is based in South Dakota and works on basic human needs such as food, clothing, shelter or education, your work fits the foundation's stated focus, and only South Dakota-based 501(c)(3) organisations may send a letter of inquiry.
Half of its grants to organisations were $35,000 or less, so a modest request is the realistic size to ask for, though its stated grant range runs from $800 to $100,000.
Send a short email letter of inquiry between January 2 and February 15 or between July 2 and August 15, since an invitation to apply is then due on March 1 or September 1.
Repeat giving is strong, with 84% of its grant dollars to organisations going to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so a previous grantee should submit a final evaluation before reapplying.
Do not apply for loans, individual scholarships, research, costs of fundraising events, rent, or administrative equipment, and a religiously affiliated group should first check that its programme is open to anyone and does not involve proselytising.

Overview

Larson Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Sioux Falls, SD.

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 Larson Family Foundation focuses on basic human needs, including food, clothing, shelter and education. It makes grants to tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organisations, including educational institutions, and qualified government units. Letters of inquiry must come from South Dakota-based 501(c)(3) organisations. Within these priorities, it supports new, expanding or sustaining programme services, endowments, capital campaigns and general operating expenses, subject to limits on specified overhead and administrative costs. It funds only non-denominational programmes; a religiously affiliated group may operate a programme if participation is open to anyone and services do not involve proselytising. Salary and equipment expenses may be considered when they form part of expanding programme services.

Themes

Basic human needs

Geographic Focus

South Dakota.

What They Don't Fund

General fundraising
Deficit financing
Research projects
Conferences, seminars, media events or workshops unless they are an integral part of a broader program
Rent, utilities, office furniture, salaries, benefits, and computer equipment used for administrative purposes
Individuals, such as scholarships, loans or pledges for fundraising events such as marathons, relays/walks, cycling, etc
Loans or reduction of existing debt
Benefits and event sponsorship
Economic development projects
Costs affiliated with fundraising events, political campaigns or programs designed to influence legislation
Assisted living or medical facilities (except in the area of health prevention programs; medical equipment excluded)

How to apply

Organisations first email a short letter of inquiry (LOI). The Foundation reviews inquiries and invites organisations whose work best fits its guidelines, criteria and priorities to complete the grant application; an LOI does not guarantee funding.

Deadlines:

Letters of inquiry may be submitted from January 2 to February 15 and July 2 to August 15 each year.
Invited applications are due March 1 and September 1 each year.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 84% 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 93 grants to organisations were $35,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

Grantees must submit a final evaluation at the end of the project.
Applicants that have received a grant are advised to submit a final evaluation report before applying again.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

South Dakota98%

District of Columbia1%

Connecticut<1%

Missouri<1%

The largest single recipient received 14% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 84% of grant dollars went to organisations Larson Family 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

29 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $30,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 29 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$2.5k–$5k3%

$5k–$10k0%

$10k–$25k28%

$25k–$50k38%

$50k–$100k21%

$100k–$250k7%

$250k–$500k3%

Median $30,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Brookings Area Habitat for Humanity · Program expenses
$260,0002024 tax year
Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Plains · Program expenses
$180,0002024 tax year
Teach for America - South Dakota · Program expenses
$100,0002024 tax year
South Dakota Network Against Family Violence & Sexual Assault · Program expenses
$90,0002024 tax year
One Spirit · Program expenses
$78,0002024 tax year
Oneheart · Program expenses
$75,0002024 tax year
Working Against Violence · Program expenses
$60,0002024 tax year
Dakotabilities · Program expenses
$60,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Carmelle Jackson — Secretary
O Dale Larson — President
Maree Larson — Vice President

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$2,330,444	$2,076,579	$21,673,330	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$2,522,545	$2,328,400	$22,689,270	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$1,665,785	$1,427,500	$23,075,315	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.