Harvey L. and Maud C. Sorensen Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 94-1542559 · since 1962sorensenfellowship.org·California·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$2.2M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$10,000 to $200k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$50,000

Typical grant (median)

19 grants in the latest filing

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.

Key takeaways

The foundation's work fits best if your organisation is in California and works on children's mental health or on child and adolescent psychiatry research and training at accredited California medical schools, since the Geographic focus and themes say so.
Do not send an unsolicited request, because the foundation says it does not accept them; its filing gives invitation as the only route, so a warm introduction through someone connected to it is the sensible first step.
A realistic request sits within the range it usually gives: about 8 in 10 of its 57 grants to organisations fall between $10,000 and $200,000, and half were $40,000 or less, so a request towards the lower end is more likely to be in proportion.
Its giving is largely to organisations it has funded before, with 98% of its grant dollars to organisations going to organisations it had also funded in recent filings, so expect a relationship-led process, and note that the Career Award is competitive, peer-reviewed and open only to clinician-scientists and junior faculty at accredited California medical schools.

Overview

Harvey L. and Maud C. Sorensen Foundation is a US private foundation based in San Rafael, CA.

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 foundation supports children’s health in California, with a stated long-term focus on translational research to improve prevention and treatment for children with psychiatric disorders. It seeks to address the shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists pursuing academic research careers and to cultivate mentors for future generations. Its Career Award supports clinician-scientists moving from fellowship training to junior faculty roles and junior faculty pursuing permanent, tenure-track posts at accredited California medical schools. The award is competitive and peer-reviewed, with scientific review and progress informing funding. Its grants also reach universities and medical schools, child and family services, conservation organisations and educational institutions.

Themes

Children’s mental health

Geographic Focus

California.

How to apply

The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 98% 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 57 grants to organisations were $40,000 or less.

Where grants go

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

Grant dollars by state

California93%

Texas2%

Wisconsin2%

Michigan2%

Hawaii<1%

The largest single recipient received 50% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to organisations Harvey L. and Maud C. Sorensen Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
<1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

19 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $50,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 19 grants in tax year 2024 by size

$10k–$25k21%

$25k–$50k21%

$50k–$100k32%

$100k–$250k21%

$250k–$500k0%

$500k–$1M0%

$1M and over5%

Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)

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

University of California San Francisco Foundation · To encourage child and adolescent psychiatry fellows and other professionals at california's accredited medical schools and schools of social work to pursue research and clinical practice that will result in effective treatments and preventions for children with psychiatric disorders.
$1,068,8892024 tax year
Yolo Crisis Nursery · For general operating support
$200,0002024 tax year
Ducks Unlimited · For the klamath basin initiative and the california wetlands initiative
$160,3332024 tax year
Uc Davis School Of Veterinary Medicine · To support the california veterinary emergency team (cvet)
$100,0002024 tax year
Peninsula College Fund · For general operating support
$100,0002024 tax year
Pacific Legal Foundation · For general operating support
$75,0002024 tax year
Hillsdale College · For student scholarships
$75,0002024 tax year
Ben Richey Boys and Family Program · For general operating support at the albany campus
$53,4442024 tax year

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

Officers and directors

Christy Lindley-Bacchetti — Trustee
Silvio Reggiarado III — Trustee
Leslie Tuel — Trustee & Secretary
Houston Nelson Tuel III — Trustee
Duncan Cook Mccormack IV — Trustee & President
Dean Witter III — Trustee & CFO

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$2,335,554	$2,043,665	$43,006,161	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$2,380,544	$2,040,391	$51,001,716	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$2,558,630	$2,151,110	$52,658,753	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.