LaureL Foundation

Quick Stats

• EIN: 94-2417772
• Annual Giving: $11,360,777 (2023)
• Total Assets: $82,931,616 (2024)
• Grant Range: Under $50,000 (typical); up to $5 million+ for major initiatives
• Number of Awards: 58 grants (2023)
• Geographic Focus: Northern California, primarily Bay Area and Silicon Valley
• Foundation Type: Donor-Advised Fund (transitioned from private foundation in 2022)

Contact Details

Mailing Address: PO Box 193809, San Francisco, CA 94119-3809

Phone: 415-284-8602

Website: www.laurel-fdn.org

Administrative Support: Whittier Trust Company

Grants Manager: Kristina Hernandez
Email: khernandez@whittiertrust.com
Phone: (626) 403-3290

Overview

The LaureL Foundation was established in 1995 by Laure L. Woods, a clinical researcher with experience at Bay Area pharmaceutical companies including Matrix Pharmaceutical and Genelabs Technologies. Originally a private non-operating foundation supporting nonprofits in Southern California, the foundation shifted its focus to the Bay Area and Silicon Valley after Woods settled near Palo Alto. In 2022, the foundation transitioned from a private foundation to a donor-advised fund structure while maintaining its original mission and geographic focus.

With total assets exceeding $82 million and annual grantmaking of over $11 million, the LaureL Foundation is committed to improving the lives of disadvantaged children living in Northern California. The foundation's grantmaking philosophy emphasizes organizations that incorporate the natural world, animals, and the empowerment of girls into their programs. A significant portion of funding supports Lyme disease research—a personal cause for Woods, who lives with late-stage Lyme disease and serves as Co-Founder and Board Chair of the Bay Area Lyme Foundation. The foundation also administers The LaureL STEM Fund, established in 2015, which focuses on STEM education for young girls, medical research, and climate change initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Grantmaking: Typical grants under $50,000, awarded on a rolling basis through a letter of inquiry process.

Major Initiative Funding: Grants of $50,000+ for significant projects; one notable $5 million grant supported Bay Area Lyme Foundation's scientific research, educational materials, and treatment assistance for low-income patients.

The LaureL STEM Fund: Donor-advised fund supporting K-12 STEM education in the Bay Area, with special emphasis on opportunities for young girls.

Priority Areas

Health: Lyme disease research and treatment, family health centers, breast cancer action, general health services for disadvantaged populations.

Education: K-12 education, particularly STEM programs; college preparatory schools; educational programs serving disadvantaged children.

Youth Development: Boys and Girls Clubs, youth services, programs empowering young girls, community service programs.

Environment & Animals: Marine mammal conservation, environmental education, animal welfare, climate change initiatives, stewardship of the natural world.

Geographic Focus: Bay Area cities including San Jose, East Palo Alto, Sausalito, Menlo Park, Oakland, and Silicon Valley communities.

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Lobbying efforts
• Organizations outside Northern California (with rare exceptions)
• Programs that don't serve children or disadvantaged populations

Governance and Leadership

Founding Donor: Laure L. Woods (Established 1995)
BS in Animal Science, University of California at Davis; former clinical researcher; Co-Founder and Board Chair of Bay Area Lyme Foundation; Board Member of L.K. Whittier Foundation. Woods created the foundation to formalize her charitable giving with a focus on "education and social services for disadvantaged children."

Philanthropic Advisor: Jesse Ostroff

Grants Manager: Kristina Hernandez
Contact: khernandez@whittiertrust.com / (626) 403-3290

The foundation operates with administrative support from Whittier Trust Company, which provides foundation administration services. The foundation's guiding philosophy, as stated on their website: "Because reaching full potential is every child's birthright and private philanthropy can help level the playing field."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The LaureL Foundation does not accept unsolicited full grant proposals. Instead, they welcome introductory letters of inquiry (LOI) of 2-3 pages at any time of the year. The foundation recommends initial email contact.

Letter of Inquiry Process:

1. Submit a 2-3 page LOI via email (recommended) or mail
2. Foundation reviews and invites selected organizations to submit full proposals
3. Invited applicants have one month to submit full proposal
4. Additional financial documentation may be required for first-time applicants or grants over $50,000

Application Method: Rolling basis throughout the year (no fixed deadlines)

Required Documentation (for invited proposals):

• Full grant proposal (by invitation only)
• Financial statements and documentation (for first-time applicants or requests over $50,000)
• Otherwise, streamlined process with minimal additional documentation required for repeat grantees

Decision Timeline

The foundation operates on a rolling basis with no published decision timeline. Organizations invited to submit full proposals typically have one month to prepare their submission. The foundation made 58 awards in 2023, suggesting regular review cycles throughout the year.

Success Rates

Based on available data, the foundation made 58 awards in 2023 and 54 awards in 2022. With assets over $82 million and annual giving exceeding $11 million, this represents a selective but active grantmaking program. Most grants are under $50,000, though the foundation has capacity for major initiative funding.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy was found in public documentation. The foundation's streamlined process for repeat grantees suggests they maintain ongoing relationships with successful applicants and welcome continued support requests from previously funded organizations.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Core Values: Organizations must demonstrate commitment to serving disadvantaged children in Northern California. Programs incorporating the natural world, animals, and empowerment of girls are especially favored.

Geographic Fit: Strong preference for Bay Area and Silicon Valley organizations. Specifically mentions interest in San Jose, East Palo Alto, Sausalito, Menlo Park, and Oakland.

Organizational Characteristics: The foundation seeks organizations demonstrating "superior level of integrity and transparency" and those that collaborate with complementary nonprofit programs. Novel and innovative approaches to complex or seemingly intractable problems are valued.

STEM and Girls' Empowerment: Special emphasis on STEM education opportunities for young girls aligns with the foundation's donor-advised STEM fund priorities.

Multi-Interest Spanning: Programs that span multiple interest areas (health, education, youth, environment, animals) may be particularly attractive.

Personal Connection to Lyme Disease: Given the founder's personal experience and major funding commitments to Bay Area Lyme Foundation and LymeLight Foundation, organizations addressing Lyme disease or tick-borne illness have secured significant support.

Documentation Requirements: For organizations requesting less than $50,000 and with previous LaureL Foundation funding history, minimal additional documentation is required, suggesting the foundation values efficiency and ongoing partnerships.

Sample Successful Grantees:

• Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula
• Eastside College Preparatory School
• Youth Alive
• Youth Community Service
• Bay Area Lyme Foundation ($5 million grant)
• LymeLight Foundation
• Breast Cancer Action
• Ravenswood Family Health Center
• California Family Foundation (supporting Beechwood School in Menlo Park)
• Marine Mammal Center
• Environmental Volunteers
• WildCare
• Helen Woodward Animal Center

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Start with a strong LOI: Your 2-3 page letter of inquiry is critical; this is where you make your first impression and secure an invitation to submit a full proposal.

• Emphasize child-focused impact: All programs must ultimately serve disadvantaged children in Northern California; make this connection explicit even if your work focuses on environment, animals, or health.

• Highlight intersectionality: Programs combining multiple foundation interests (e.g., environmental education for girls, animal-assisted youth programs, STEM health education) align well with their preference for initiatives spanning multiple areas.

• Demonstrate innovation and collaboration: The foundation seeks "novel and innovative approaches" and values organizations that collaborate with complementary nonprofits.

• Bay Area presence is essential: Geographic focus is clearly limited to Northern California, particularly Bay Area and Silicon Valley communities.

• Consider STEM for girls: The dedicated STEM fund represents a significant opportunity for organizations working in K-12 STEM education, especially programs targeting young girls.

• Build relationships over time: The streamlined process for repeat grantees suggests the foundation values ongoing partnerships; successful initial grants may lead to easier reapplication processes.

• Be prepared to move quickly: If invited to submit a full proposal, you have approximately one month to prepare and submit, so have supporting materials ready when sending your LOI.

References

• LaureL Foundation official website: https://www.laurel-fdn.org/
• LaureL Foundation Grantmaking page: https://www.laurel-fdn.org/grantmaking/
• LaureL Foundation About page: https://www.laurel-fdn.org/about/
• Laure L. Woods biography: https://www.laurel-fdn.org/team/laure-l-woods/
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Laural Foundation (EIN 94-2417772): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/942417772
• Grantmakers.io Profile: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/942417772-laural-foundation/
• Inside Philanthropy - Laurel Foundation profile: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/california-bay-area-grants/laurel-foundation
• Bay Area Lyme Foundation Leadership page: https://www.bayarealyme.org/about/leadership/
• Whittier Trust Foundation Administration: https://www.whittiertrust.com/foundation-administration/
• Tax Exempt World - Laural Foundation: https://www.taxexemptworld.com/organization.asp?tn=1351973
• Cause IQ - Laural Foundation profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/laural-foundation,942417772/

Dates accessed: February 2026