Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $20,450,000
Success Rate: 25% overall (75% for Rose Grant after LOI approval, 65% for Daffodil Grant after LOI approval)
Decision Time: 10-12 weeks (varies by program)
Grant Range: $1,000 - $1,000,000
Geographic Focus: Oregon and Washington State (primarily Oregon - 75%+ of grants)

Contact Details

Website: www.marielamfrom.org
Phone: 503-877-3943
Email: grants@marielamfrom.org
Address: 29030 SW Town Center Loop E # 202-436, Wilsonville, OR 97070-9490
Grant Portal: grantinterface.com

Key Contacts:

Tyler Hobbs, President: tyler@marielamfrom.org
Keisha Olsen, Director of Grant Programs: keisha@marielamfrom.org
Program Officers: Marina Bhargava (marina@marielamfrom.org), Meghan Campbell (meghan@marielamfrom.org), Kodi Thompson (kodi@marielamfrom.org)

Overview

The Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation was established in 1998 by Sally and Dave Bany to honor Sally's grandmother, Marie Lamfrom, who founded Columbia Sportswear Company in 1938 after emigrating from Germany. For over two decades, the foundation made modest investments in Oregon nonprofits before transformational growth occurred in 2019 when Gert Boyle (Marie's daughter and Sally's mother) left the foundation a remarkable bequest. This gift catalyzed exponential expansion: in 2020, the foundation hired its first employee and now awards over $20 million annually through 647 grants. The foundation operates as a private family foundation with board members from Marie's family, honoring her legacy through strategic support of education, community, arts, creativity, health, and well-being in Oregon. The foundation emphasizes values-based grantmaking centered on authenticity, creativity, equity, inclusivity, learning, and listening, with a strong commitment to racial equity and direct human impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Rose Grant (Primary Program - Least Competitive)

Eligibility: Organizations with operating expenses of $250,000+ in most recent fiscal year
Purpose: Mid-sized grants for established nonprofits delivering proven programs or investing in organizational capacity
Success Rate: 75% of eligible applicants receive full or partial funding after LOI approval
Application: Opens every January and June for 4-5 weeks
Award Type: Primarily unrestricted general operating support

Daffodil Grant (Primary Program)

Eligibility: Organizations with operating expenses of $500,000+ in most recent fiscal year
Purpose: Larger multi-year investments supporting high-performing organizations with robust infrastructure and demonstrated local or regional impact
Success Rate: 65% of eligible applicants receive full or partial funding after LOI approval
Application: Opens every January and June for 4-5 weeks
Award Type: Multi-year general operating support

Sunflower Grant (Primary Program - Launched 2024)

Eligibility: Organizations with operating expenses of $250,000 or less in most recent fiscal year; Oregon applicants only
Purpose: Modest yet meaningful awards to grassroots, growing, and small-but-mighty organizations
Award Type: General operating support; award amounts calculated through evaluation process rather than requested by applicant
Application: Opens every January and June for 4-5 weeks
Decision Time: Within 10 weeks of application closure

Zinnia Grant (Most Competitive - Secondary Program)

Award Range: $250,000 - $350,000 per year, typically over three years (total commitments typically exceed $500,000, up to $1,000,000)
Eligibility: Organizations with operating expenses exceeding $750,000; minimum of two prior grants from MLCF
Application: Self-nomination process with brief questions; opens January through February
Process: Requires meaningful in-person engagement with foundation staff
Competitiveness: 50-100 self-nominations expected; only two finalists selected
Evaluation: Quarterly (February, May, August, November)
Flexibility: Creative funding plans welcome (general operating, capital, matching challenges, or combinations)

Capital Grant (Secondary Program)

Award Range: $10,000 - $35,000 (typical), varies based on funding history, campaign size, and campaign progress
Purpose: Strategic investments in physical infrastructure to expand mission capacity
Eligible Projects: Property acquisition, new construction, major renovations, essential equipment purchases
Ineligible: Operating costs (rent, mortgage payments, ongoing facility expenses)
Eligibility: At least one prior Primary grant (Rose, Daffodil, or Sunflower); priority for organizations with two or more grants
Geographic Requirement: Oregon-based organizations with in-state projects
Application: Opens January through September on rolling basis
Decision Time: Up to six months

Washington Grant (Secondary Program)

Award Range: $10,000 - $15,000 average
Term: Typically one year; up to two years for exceptional applicants
Eligibility: Prior grantees only; Southwest, Central, or Eastern Washington locations (Western Washington/Seattle-area organizations ineligible)
Next Application: June 2026
Decision Time: Within three months of application close

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on organizations supporting:

Education: Learning opportunities and educational access
Community: Thriving, connected communities
Arts & Creativity: Cultural enrichment and creative expression
Health & Well-Being: Physical, mental, and emotional wellness
Human Services: Direct service to humans, particularly youth and marginalized community members

Key Priorities:

Organizations with proven direct human impact, especially on youth or the most marginalized
Deep commitment to equity, especially racial equity
Organizations centered on immediate human needs and direct human service
Nearly 90% of awards are unrestricted general operating support
In 2023, approximately 70% of dollars were for general operating purposes

What They Don't Fund

Organizational Types:

Private foundations
Fiscally-sponsored organizations
Faith-based or religious organizations (especially those with faith/participatory requirements for employees, participants, or volunteers, or who proselytize)
For-profit entities
Individuals
Political or lobbying organizations
Endowments or debt reduction campaigns
International organizations
Animal-focused organizations
Community foundations (rarely funded)

Program Restrictions:

Organizations not centered primarily and directly on human needs
Organizations focused primarily on animals, environmental trails, or legislation without direct human service
Bridge or emergency funding (except for natural disaster response like wildfires or earthquakes)

Funding Limitations:

Generally does not issue funding exceeding 10% of an organization's operating or capital campaign budget

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Sally Bany (Chair): Co-founder of the foundation with her late husband Dave Bany. Guides organizational vision, strategy, and foundation values.

Rachael Bany: Marie's great-granddaughter; serves as primary staff liaison and contributes high-level leadership and vision for the foundation's work.

Annie Bany: Entrepreneur and great-granddaughter of Marie; represents family values on the board.

As a family foundation, all board members are Marie's descendants and help inform vision, strategy, and impact in Oregon and Washington State.

Key Staff

Tyler Hobbs (President): Works closely with the Board of Trustees to guide foundation strategy and impact.

Brittany Leland (Sr. Director, Operations): Manages day-to-day operations including recruitment, hiring, onboarding, professional development, and training.

Keisha Olsen (Director, Grant Programs): Supports grant program implementation, oversight of evaluations, and management of the Zinnia Grant.

Program Officers: Marina Bhargava, Meghan Campbell, and Kodi Thompson support organizations in final proposal submission, evaluate applicant candidacy, and submit funding recommendations to the Board of Trustees.

Gizelle Polanco (Program Associate): Leads preliminary evaluations and assists with multiple grant programs.

Veronica Herrera (Office Administrator): Manages office operations, hosting, and correspondence.

Conner Peckham (Grant Operations Associate): Manages grant systems and nonprofit training initiatives.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Grant Portal: Applications submitted through grantinterface.com

First-Time Applicants: Create a new organizational account in the grant portal

Primary Programs (Rose, Daffodil, Sunflower):

Application periods open for 4-5 weeks, typically in January and June
Submit Preliminary Application (Letter of Inquiry/LOI) during open period
Foundation conducts initial review to identify finalists
All applicants notified of status following initial review
Finalists invited to submit full applications with personalized prompts

Application Features:

Final applications are unique and personalized to each organization
Prompts and questions tailored to eliminate irrelevant questions
Organizations encouraged to coordinate with finance managers for accurate documentation
Peer review recommended before submission

Secondary Programs:

Zinnia Grant: Self-nomination process; opens January through February; requires in-person engagement with staff
Capital Grant: Rolling basis January through September
Washington Grant: Fixed application period (next: June 2026)

Information Sessions: Available for prospective applicants; contact foundation for schedule

Questions: Contact grants@marielamfrom.org or reach out to program officers

Decision Timeline

Sunflower Grant: 10 weeks from application closure to funding decision

Rose & Daffodil Grants: Within 3 months from preliminary application closure to funding decision

Zinnia Grant: Evaluated quarterly (February, May, August, November); consult with Program Officer about recommended evaluation timeline

Capital Grant: Up to 6 months for review and decision

Washington Grant: Within 3 months of application closure

Notification: All applicants notified of decision status; evaluation periods shorter than in the past to expedite decisions

Success Rates

Overall: Only 1 in 4 applications (25%) expected to be funded in 2025

Rose Grant (after LOI approval): 75% of eligible applicants receive full or partial funding - described as "our most awarded grant" and "our least competitive"

Daffodil Grant (after LOI approval): 65% of eligible applicants receive full or partial funding

Sunflower Grant: Success rate not published; unsuccessful applicants encouraged to reapply in 1, 3, or 5 years depending on specific factors

Zinnia Grant: Most competitive program; 50-100 self-nominations expected with only 2 finalists selected annually

Annual Volume: More than 275 primary grant awards issued annually

Reapplication Policy

Return-to-apply eligibility varies by organization, often dependent on when last grant closed or when last funding decision was issued. The foundation communicates eligible return periods in decision communications and grant reports.

Key Policies:

Organizations with grant terms ending during an open application cycle should wait until the following cycle to apply
The foundation evaluates reapplication eligibility case-by-case rather than applying blanket waiting periods
If proposal declined but organization believes it is well-aligned, consider reaching out to foundation staff
For questions about reapplication eligibility, contact the foundation directly

Sunflower Grant: Unsuccessful applicants encouraged to reapply in 1, 3, or 5 years depending on specific factors contributing to the decision

Application Success Factors

The Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation evaluates organizations through multiple lenses and provides specific guidance on what makes applications successful:

Mission Alignment & Values (Critical)

Grants typically awarded to organizations "unquestionably aligned" with the foundation's mission and values. The foundation prioritizes:

Deep and integral commitment to equity, especially racial equity
Holistic alignment across all programs and operations with foundation's guiding values
Values of authenticity, creativity, equity, inclusivity, learning, and listening

Direct Human Impact (High Priority)

The foundation values partnerships that prove direct human impact, especially on:

Youth
The most marginalized community members
Immediate human needs addressed directly

Organizations must center on supporting humans directly and primarily, focusing immediately on human needs.

Operational & Financial Health (Essential)

Organizations must demonstrate:

Managing business and financial operations with utmost responsibility
Appropriate mitigation of operational or financial risk
Trusted, ethical, and effective leadership over time
Sound financial position and operational health

Data & Learning (Indicator of Success)

How an organization collects and reports data, leverages and communicates research, or practices ongoing operational learning is "often indicative of its long-term success."

Scope & Geographic Impact

Evaluations consider:

Impact demonstrated at local or regional level
Location within Oregon (75%+ of grants) or Washington State
Scope of need being addressed

Application Quality Tips

Coordination: Coordinate in advance with appropriate personnel (e.g., finance manager) to secure accurate documentation

Peer Review: Have colleagues or volunteers review application before submission

Staff Engagement: If you believe your organization is well-aligned but had a proposal declined, reach out to foundation staff

Information Sessions: Attend sessions for first-time applicants or those who may not understand the process

Competitive Context

The foundation is highly selective, funding only 1 in 4 applications in 2025. However, success rates improve significantly after passing initial LOI review:

Rose Grant: 75% of LOI-approved applicants funded
Daffodil Grant: 65% of LOI-approved applicants funded

This indicates the preliminary application is a critical screening stage where mission alignment, operational health, and strategic fit are evaluated.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Lead with equity commitment: The foundation prioritizes organizations with a "deep and integral commitment to equity, especially racial equity" - this must be evident across all programs and operations, not just in a diversity statement.
Emphasize direct human impact: Demonstrate how your work directly serves humans, particularly youth or marginalized communities. Organizations focused primarily on animals, trails, or legislation without direct human service are not prioritized.
General operating support is the norm: Nearly 90% of awards are unrestricted general operating dollars. The foundation trusts partners and maximizes impact through flexible funding, so make a strong case for organizational capacity, not just programs.
Budget size determines program eligibility: Know your operating expenses precisely - under $250K (Sunflower), $250K+ (Rose), $500K+ (Daffodil), or $750K+ with 2+ prior grants (Zinnia). Apply to the right program.
Build a funding relationship over time: Capital Grants and Washington Grants require prior grantee status. Zinnia Grants require at least two prior grants. Start with a Primary Program (Rose, Daffodil, or Sunflower) to establish the relationship.
Oregon organizations have strongest advantage: In 2023, more than 75% of grants and dollars were committed in Oregon. Washington grants are limited to non-Seattle regions and prior grantees only.
The LOI is make-or-break: Once past the preliminary application stage, success rates jump to 65-75% for Rose and Daffodil grants. Invest significant effort in a compelling, well-aligned LOI that demonstrates unquestionable mission fit.
Demonstrate operational excellence: The foundation evaluates financial health, risk mitigation, leadership effectiveness, and how you use data and learning. Show you're a responsible steward of resources with strong infrastructure.

References

Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation - Official Website. https://www.marielamfrom.org/. Accessed December 24, 2024.
"About Marie Lamfrom." Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation. https://www.marielamfrom.org/about-marie-lamfrom. Accessed December 24, 2024.
"Grant Programs." Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation. https://www.marielamfrom.org/programs. Accessed December 24, 2024.
"Rose & Daffodil Grants." Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation. https://www.marielamfrom.org/rose-daffodil. Accessed December 24, 2024.
"Sunflower Grant." Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation. https://www.marielamfrom.org/sunflower. Accessed December 24, 2024.
"Zinnia Grant." Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation. https://www.marielamfrom.org/zinnia. Accessed December 24, 2024.
"Application Prompts & Requirements." Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation. https://www.marielamfrom.org/application. Accessed December 24, 2024.
"FAQs." Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation. https://www.marielamfrom.org/questions. Accessed December 24, 2024.
"MLCF Team." Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation. https://www.marielamfrom.org/team. Accessed December 24, 2024.
"Funding Priorities & FAQs." Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation. https://www.marielamfrom.org/priorities. Accessed December 24, 2024.
"2023 Partnerships." Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation. https://www.marielamfrom.org/2023. Accessed December 24, 2024.
"2024 Partnerships." Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation. https://www.marielamfrom.org/2024. Accessed December 24, 2024.
Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation - GuideStar Profile. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/93-1254171. Accessed December 24, 2024.
Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation Trust - Cause IQ. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/marie-lamfrom-charitable-foundation-trust,931254171/. Accessed December 24, 2024.
Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation 091898 - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/931254171. Accessed December 24, 2024.