Sorenson Impact Foundation

About Sorenson Impact Foundation

Sorenson Impact Foundation’s most distinctive pattern is its willingness to put large, concentrated capital behind infrastructure for impact investing and ownership-based wealth building. The biggest recent award in the data is a $2,000,000 grant to the University of Utah for the Epicenter building capital campaign, followed by multi-hundred-thousand-dollar support for impact-investing student programs, research, and field-building work. That mix shows a funder that backs both campus-based capacity and broader market infrastructure. Their portfolio also reaches into practical ownership tools. Recent support includes $1,000,000 to Realize Impact for a philanthropic investment grant for affordable home ownership, and $375,000 to Lafayette Square Foundation for projects creating equitable wealth through employee ownership. Other grants support education on community ownership, certification systems, and reporting standards, suggesting the foundation funds the ecosystem around a concept, not just individual programs. The foundation also uses program-related investments as part of its capital strategy, pairing grants with mission-aligned investment tools for social enterprises and related vehicles. Across the record, the emphasis is on scalable models, research, and institutions that can move capital toward inclusion, housing, and ownership.

What Sorenson Impact Foundation Funds

Impact investing education is a clear theme. Sorenson Impact Foundation gave $825,000 and $638,000 to the University of Utah for impact investing student programs and related activities, and also awarded $100,000 for an impact investing program, opportunity zone program, and Innovation Summit. Ownership and wealth-building show up in several forms. The foundation gave $250,000 to Ownership Works Inc for research and framework development for home shared ownership projects, and $250,000 to The Aspen Institute for a neighborhood real estate ownership project and employee ownership project. Field standards and public education are another focus. B Lab Company received $250,000 for development of the B Corp certification process and assistance, while ImpactAlpha received $250,000 for public education on homeownership, employee ownership, and community ownership. The grants suggest an interest in shaping the tools and information that other practitioners use.

How Sorenson Impact Foundation Gives