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Laidir Foundation

Annual Giving
$3.3M
Grant Range
$16K - $0.5M

Laidir Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3,256,625 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only funding)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $15,960 - $540,000 (recent grants); Historical range: $3,662 - $700,000
  • Median Grant: $175,000
  • Geographic Focus: Multi-state/International (primarily California, District of Columbia, Washington, New York)
  • Total Assets: $64+ million

Contact Details

Laidir Foundation C/o Brian Lonergan Seattle, WA

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Contact information for pre-application inquiries is not publicly available.

Overview

The Laidir Foundation is a Seattle-based private foundation established by Brian and Shauna Lonergan. With assets exceeding $64 million and annual giving of approximately $3.3 million, the foundation describes its mission as working to "improve the lives of others as much as possible with our limited resources." The foundation's evolving mission includes research, development, and partnerships with people dedicated to moving the planet in a new direction. Closely aligned with the effective altruism movement, Laidir takes an evidence-based, impact-focused approach to philanthropy. In 2023, the foundation awarded 15 grants totaling $3,256,625 across multiple focus areas. Brian Lonergan is an energies trader associated with Elliott Bay Energy in Seattle.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-directed grantmaking rather than formal grant programs. Recent grants (2023) have ranged from approximately $15,960 to $540,000, with a median award of $175,000.

Application Method: Invitation only - the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

Priority Areas

The Laidir Foundation focuses on five key areas:

1. Reducing Extreme Poverty

  • Organizations developing and piloting novel interventions
  • Rigorous measurement and evaluation of impact
  • Efforts to attract public and private funding to scale effective interventions
  • Recent grant: Innovations for Poverty Action ($250,000) to discover and promote effective solutions to global poverty problems

2. Improving Governance

  • Strengthening institutional competence through improved talent pipelines into government
  • Reducing political polarization
  • Supporting multilateral cooperation infrastructure

3. Reducing AI-Related Risks

  • Enhancing policymakers' understanding of current AI capabilities and future evolution
  • Designing policies to reduce catastrophic risks while avoiding excessive burdens on beneficial AI uses
  • Providing critical public goods for research and coordination
  • Supporting civil society collaboration to address AI risks
  • Recent grants: The A.I. Safety Tactical Fund ($500,000); Longview Philanthropy ($400,000) for OECD and grantmaking advisory projects

4. Housing and Clean Energy Development

  • "Yes in My Backyard" (YIMBY) land-use reform movement (supported since 2015)
  • Lowering barriers to housing construction in high-cost urban areas
  • Reducing energy consumption and addressing climate change
  • Recent grant: Sightline Institute ($525,000) to further its housing and urbanism program

5. Mental and Social Health

  • Developing and testing scalable interventions
  • Mirroring the foundation's poverty-reduction approach with rigorous evaluation

Geographic Distribution

While based in Seattle, the foundation demonstrates multi-state and international reach. Recent U.S. domestic priorities include:

  • California: 15 grants (43% of U.S. giving)
  • District of Columbia: 7 grants
  • Washington: 6 grants
  • Also funds organizations in New York and other states

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation's explicit policy of only funding preselected organizations means they do not consider general applications from organizations outside their identified priority areas.

Governance and Leadership

Brian Lonergan: Founder and primary contact. An energies trader associated with Elliott Bay Energy in Seattle, Lonergan appears to be particularly interested in the effective altruism movement and global poverty issues.

Shauna Lonergan: Co-founder who moves philanthropy alongside Brian through the Laidir Foundation.

The foundation's governance structure reflects a private foundation model with trustee-directed grantmaking. Detailed information about additional board members or staff is not publicly available.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Laidir Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states on its website and public filings that it "does not accept unsolicited proposals" and "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations."

Grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on the foundation's own research and identification of organizations aligned with their priority areas.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed, as the foundation operates through an invitation-only model. Organizations are identified and selected by the foundation's leadership rather than through a competitive application process.

Success Rates

Success rates are not applicable given the invitation-only nature of the foundation's grantmaking.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications or reapplications from organizations they have not preselected.

Application Success Factors

While there is no public application process, the foundation's documented priorities and recent grantmaking patterns reveal what they value:

Effective Altruism Alignment: The foundation is closely aligned with effective altruism principles, focusing on evidence-based approaches that maximize impact per dollar spent.

Rigorous Evaluation: In poverty reduction and mental health work, the foundation explicitly supports organizations that conduct "rigorous measurement and evaluation of impact."

Policy Impact: Multiple focus areas emphasize policy change and institutional strengthening (AI governance, YIMBY housing reform, improving governance).

Scalability: The foundation values "organizations with promising, innovative approaches" and supports "efforts to attract public and private funding to scale effective interventions."

Novel Interventions: Across multiple areas, the foundation specifically highlights supporting organizations that "design and pilot novel interventions."

Recent Grant Recipients as Examples:

  • Longview Philanthropy ($400,000): Support for OECD and grantmaking advisory projects - demonstrating interest in philanthropic infrastructure and international policy
  • The A.I. Safety Tactical Fund ($500,000): Through Vanguard Charitable - showing willingness to fund through fiscal sponsors and interest in emerging technology risks
  • Sightline Institute ($525,000): Housing and urbanism program - long-term commitment to YIMBY movement since 2015
  • Innovations for Poverty Action ($250,000): Evidence-based poverty solutions - alignment with rigorous evaluation approaches

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: Organizations cannot apply directly. The foundation identifies and selects grantees through its own research and networks.
  • Effective Altruism Network: Being active and visible in effective altruism circles appears critical. The foundation funds organizations recommended by or connected to the EA movement.
  • Evidence-Based Impact: Organizations must demonstrate rigorous evaluation methodologies and measurable outcomes aligned with EA principles.
  • Policy and Systems Change: The foundation shows strong interest in organizations working at policy levels rather than direct service delivery.
  • Long-Term Relationships: The foundation has supported YIMBY causes since 2015, suggesting they build sustained relationships with aligned organizations.
  • Significant Grant Sizes: With a median grant of $175,000 and recent grants ranging up to $540,000, this foundation makes substantial awards to selected organizations.
  • Innovative Approaches: Novel interventions, pilot programs, and organizations designing new solutions appear to attract the foundation's attention more than established programs.

References

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