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Larson Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$0.3M
Grant Range
Up to $0.3M00
00

Larson Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $271,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not applicable (preselected organizations)
  • Grant Range: Varies significantly year to year
  • Geographic Focus: Eugene, Oregon and surrounding areas

Contact Details

Address: Eugene, OR 97440
EIN: 93-1200088
Website: None
Phone: Not publicly available
Email: Not publicly available

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or contact information for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Larson Family Foundation was established in June 1996 as a private grantmaking foundation in Eugene, Oregon. With total assets of $7.5 million as of 2024, the foundation has grown substantially from its initial assets of $1.4 million in 2011. The foundation is supported by the Estate of Deborah Larson and managed entirely by family members who volunteer their time without compensation. Annual charitable giving has ranged from approximately $64,000 to $271,000 depending on market performance and strategic priorities. The foundation's giving was most active between 2010-2015, when it made 37-50 grants annually to diverse local Oregon organizations. In recent years (2016-2024), the foundation has shifted to making fewer, larger grants—typically one significant grant per year.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs or application cycles. All grants are made to preselected charitable organizations at the discretion of the board of trustees.

Recent Grant Activity:

  • 2024: One grant of $271,000 to undisclosed recipient(s) in Eugene, OR
  • 2020: $200,500 in total grants
  • 2010-2015: 37-50 grants annually to local organizations

Priority Areas

Based on historical grant patterns (2010-2015), the foundation has supported:

  • Universities and educational institutions
  • Food banks and hunger relief organizations
  • Arts and cultural organizations
  • Community services in the Eugene area

Geographic Focus: Funding is concentrated within Eugene, Oregon, and the broader state of Oregon.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. They work exclusively with preselected charitable organizations.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is managed by three family members who serve without compensation:

  • Richard Larson - President (2 hours/week)
  • John Larson - Treasurer (10 hours/week)
  • Charlie Larson - Secretary (2 hours/week)

The foundation maintains a lean operational structure with no paid staff. Approximately 85% of annual expenses are directed toward charitable disbursements, demonstrating a strong commitment to maximizing grant dollars.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The foundation has explicitly stated that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." Grants are awarded at the discretion of the board of trustees to organizations with which they have pre-existing relationships or knowledge.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable. The foundation does not operate on a formal application or decision timeline. Grant decisions are made by the board at their discretion throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications, as none are accepted.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. Organizations seeking support from the Larson Family Foundation would need to:

  • Be located in or serving the Eugene, Oregon area
  • Have an established track record in their field
  • Operate in areas that align with the foundation's historical funding patterns (education, hunger relief, arts, community services)
  • Be known to the trustees through existing community connections

Important Note: Given the foundation's closed application process, organizations cannot proactively apply for funding from this source.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: The Larson Family Foundation exclusively funds preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited proposals
  • Local focus: All funding is directed to Eugene, Oregon, and the broader Oregon region
  • Family foundation: Managed by three Larson family members who volunteer their time
  • Shifting grant strategy: The foundation has moved from making many smaller grants (37-50 annually in 2010-2015) to making one large grant per year in recent years
  • Growing assets: Foundation assets have grown from $1.4 million (2011) to $7.5 million (2024), suggesting continued capacity for grantmaking
  • No contact information: The foundation does not maintain a website, public phone number, or email for grant inquiries
  • Not a viable prospect for cold outreach: Organizations without existing relationships with the Larson family should not expect to receive funding from this source

References

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