The Lauridsen Family Foundation concentrates its giving on a small number of large, transformational gifts to regional arts and education institutions. Grants indicate a strong interest in sustaining performing arts (notably opera and film/media organizations) alongside support for formal educational philanthropy. The foundation appears to favor well-established nonprofit organizations in or near Iowa and makes sizable one-off awards rather than many small grants.
Highly concentrated giving: very few, large grants that represent the bulk of annual funding. Funds are directed to established regional institutions rather than many small community groups, with an emphasis on singular, significant investments rather than broad distribution.
A $500,000 general-support grant to Culver Educational Fund stands out in the Lauridsen Family Foundation’s recent record and points to a pattern of large, flexible awards to established institutions. The foundation gave another $400,000 to Des Moines Metro Opera, reinforcing a clear interest in performing arts organizations with operating needs rather than project-only funding. Its recent grants also extend into education, with sizable support for schools and university-related organizations, including University of Wisconsin, Northwestern University, and Simpson Colloge Offices of Adv. The grant list shows a mix of arts, education, and a small number of health-related gifts, but the largest checks consistently go to organizations with substantial institutional budgets and long-running missions. General support is the dominant grant purpose across the sample, which suggests the foundation favors unrestricted or core-operating funding. With $1.6 million in annual grants and a $10.6 million asset base, it appears to concentrate resources in a limited number of awards rather than spreading funds widely across many recipients.
Performing arts organizations account for a major share of the foundation’s recent support. It gave $220,000 to Mainframe Studios for general support, $100,000 to the Des Moines Art Center for general support, and $25,000 to the Des Moines Playhouse for general support. Music-focused groups also appear repeatedly, including $30,000 to Civic Music Association and $10,000 to Music Under the Stars, both for general support. Education is another clear theme. The foundation awarded $500,000 to Culver Educational Fund for general support and $50,000 to the University of Wisconsin for general support, while also supporting Simpson Colloge Offices of Adv. and Northwestern University at $10,000 each. A smaller set of gifts extends beyond arts and education, such as $100,000 to Crawford County Wellness and $100,000 to National Canine Cancer Foundation, each for general support.
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $30,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent record also includes much larger awards at $220,000, $400,000, and $500,000. The pattern is weighted toward one-off, institution-level support rather than repeated program-specific awards. In the sample provided, grants are listed for 2023 and 2024, with no repeated grantee appearing across those two years. The foundation gives general support across the board, and its philosophy tags point to unrestricted operating support, core support, and flexible funding.
$3.5M
$24.2M
$7.2M
$3.7M
Most grants fall between $10K and $100K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$100K
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Notable grantees: Culver Educational Fund, Des Moines Metro Opera, Mainframe Studios
Most grants land in the Midwest, with Iowa accounting for 60% of grants in the available data. Des Moines appears repeatedly as a recipient city, including Mainframe Studios, Des Moines Art Center, Civic Music Association, Des Moines Playhouse, Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens, and Music Under the Stars. Other recipient locations include Indianola, Culver, Madison, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Evanston. Outside the U.S., there are no recipient countries in the recent-grants sample; all listed grants go to U.S. organizations.
The recent grants show a strong emphasis on performing arts and education. Examples include Des Moines Metro Opera, Mainframe Studios, Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines Playhouse, Culver Educational Fund, the University of Wisconsin, Northwestern University, and Simpson Colloge Offices of Adv., all funded with general support.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $30,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger gifts of $220,000, $400,000, and $500,000.
Yes. Iowa receives 60% of the grants in the available data. Des Moines appears multiple times among recipient cities, alongside Indianola, Denison, and other Midwest locations such as Culver, Madison, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Evanston.
Yes. The recent grants are listed as general support throughout, and the foundation’s philosophy tags include general support, unrestricted operating support, core/operational support, and flexible funding.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BALLET DES MOINES | DES MOINES, IA | $1,000,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DES MOINES METRO OPERA | INDIANOLA, IA | $400,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PLYMOUTH CHURCH | DES MOINES, IA | $382,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WORLD FOOD PROGRAM USA | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DES MOINES CHILDREN'S MUSEUM | WEST DES MOINES, IA | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| IOWA CONFLUENCE WATER TRAILS | DES MOINES, IA | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CMA FOUNDATION | NASHVILLE, TN | $200,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DES MOINES SYMPHONY | DES MOINES, IA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MET OPERA | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL IOWA | DES MOINES, IA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOPE MINISTRIES | DES MOINES, IA | $100,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CIVIC DES MOINES PERFORMING ARTS | DES MOINES, IA | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF IOWA | IOWA CITY, IA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CITIZENS FOR SCHOOL BETTERMENT | DES MOINES, IA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORMANDY FUND | NEW YORK CITY, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN | MADISON, WI | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK CITY BALLET | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DES MOINES SYMPHONY | DES MOINES, IA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTER AT SIXTH | DES MOINES, IA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BRAVO GREATER DES MOINES | DES MOINES, IA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MIND AND SPIRIT COUNSELING | URBANDALE, IA | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OPERA AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OPERA AMERICA TABLE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE UNVIERSITY OF CINCINNATI FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WESLEY CHRISTMAS EMPLOYEE FUND | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BALLET DES MOINES | DES MOINES, IA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DES MOINES METRO OPERA | INDIANOLA, IA | $400,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOPE MINISTRIES | DES MOINES, IA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| IOWA CONFLUENCE WATER TRAILS | DES MOINES, IA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DES MOINES SYMPHONY | DES MOINES, IA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CIVIC DES MOINES PERFORMING ARTS | DES MOINES, IA | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF IOWA | IOWA CITY, IA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN | MADISON, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PLYMOUTH CHURCH | DES MOINES, IA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CULVER EDUCATIONAL FUND | CULVER, IN | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BRAVO GREATER DES MOINES | DES MOINES, IA | $45,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CULVER EDUCATIONAL FUND | CULVER, IN | $31,980 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MIND AND SPIRIT COUNSELING | URBANDALE, IA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OPERA AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE UNVIERSITY OF CINCINNATI FOUNDATION | CINCINNATI, OH | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RYAN OPERA CENTER | CHICAGO, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OPERA AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | EVANSTON, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WESLEY CHRISTMAS EMPLOYEE FUND | DES MOINES, IA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CULVER EDUCATIONAL FUND | CULVER, IN | $500,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DES MOINES METRO OPERA | INDIANOLA, IA | $400,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
DES MOINES METRO OPERA
$400,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PLYMOUTH CHURCH
$382,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DES MOINES CHILDREN'S MUSEUM
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GENERAL SUPPORT
DES MOINES SYMPHONY
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MET OPERA
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CITIZENS FOR SCHOOL BETTERMENT
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NORMANDY FUND
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DES MOINES SYMPHONY
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CENTER AT SIXTH
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BRAVO GREATER DES MOINES
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MIND AND SPIRIT COUNSELING
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WESLEY CHRISTMAS EMPLOYEE FUND
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DES MOINES METRO OPERA
$400,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HOPE MINISTRIES
$200,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DES MOINES SYMPHONY
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PLYMOUTH CHURCH
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CULVER EDUCATIONAL FUND
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BRAVO GREATER DES MOINES
$45,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MIND AND SPIRIT COUNSELING
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WESLEY CHRISTMAS EMPLOYEE FUND
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DES MOINES METRO OPERA
$400,000GENERAL SUPPORT