Lawson Family Charitable Foundation C/O John K Lawson
ActivePhilanthropy & Voluntarism
About Lawson Family Charitable Foundation C/O John K Lawson
The Lawson Family Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving on a small set of recipients, with a strong emphasis on higher education philanthropy and local community support. Major dollars have gone to a university endowment/greater university fund and to community-serving organizations in Lee County, often via general operating or program support. Grants are few but substantial and include repeat funding to the same organizations.
Focus Areas
Higher education fundraising/endowments (Iowa State University)Local community capacity through United Way general operating supportSupport for retirement community programs and elder services (Shell Point/Legacy Foundation)
Who They Fund
students/leadership program participantschildren and families affected by autismgeneral community memberseducational institutions/university-related programs
Giving Approach
Concentrated giving: a small number of relatively large grants, with repeat donations to a handful of core grantees across both an out-of-state alma mater and local charitable organizations.
About Lawson Family Charitable Foundation C/O John K Lawson
Lawson Family Charitable Foundation C/o John K Lawson gives in a concentrated way: two $110,000 grants to Iowa State University Foundation for the Greater University Fund, one in 2023 and one in 2024. That pattern points to a funder that makes relatively few grants but is willing to repeat support at a high level. The recent record also shows a mix of university philanthropy, community support, conservation, and services for children and families affected by autism. The foundation’s recent giving includes recurring support for Lee County United Way in Fort Myers and The Legacy Foundation at Shell Point, alongside grants to organizations in Sanibel, Bettendorf, Holland, and other communities. Its grant list includes both general fund support and purpose-specific support such as educational opportunities and conservation. The foundation’s typical grants fall in the $5,000 to $20,000 range, with a median of $7,500, but the upper end is anchored by the repeated six-figure university gifts. This produces a profile that combines a small number of larger anchor grants with a broader set of lower-dollar community awards.
What Lawson Family Charitable Foundation C/O John K Lawson Funds
Higher education is a central thread in the foundation’s recent giving. Iowa State University Foundation received $110,000 in 2024 for the Greater University Fund, and Iowa State University Cyclone Club received $7,500 in 2024 for educational opportunities. Community support is another visible area. Lee County United Way received $40,000 in 2024 for its general fund, while Habitat for Humanity in North Fort Myers received $5,000 in 2024 for general fund support. The foundation also funds conservation and services for specific populations. Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation received $7,500 in 2024 for conservation, and Benjamin’s Hope in Holland received $10,000 in 2024 for support for children and families affected by autism. In addition, Sanibel Congregational Church received $15,000 in 2024 for support of programs and upkeep.
How Lawson Family Charitable Foundation C/O John K Lawson Gives
Typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $7,500 at the median, and $20,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list shows repeated awards to the same recipients across 2023 and 2024, including several organizations that appear in both years. Grants are one-year awards, and the foundation uses both general operating support and program-specific support. The active grant programs also accept unsolicited applications for 501(c)(3) organizations, with grant sizes generally ranging from $2,500 to $25,000.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$372K
Total Assets
$6.5M
Total Revenue
$912K
Total Expenses
$464K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $5K and $20K, with a median of $8K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$8K
75th Percentile
$20K
Geographic Reach
National9 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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