Skip to content
James Lee Sorenson Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

James Lee Sorenson Family Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$2.6M
Granted FY2024still arriving
31
Grants FY2024still arriving
8
States reached
$1.6M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Religion$11MEducation$2.3MPhilanthropy$777kCivil Rights$256kPublic Benefit$250kInternational$232kRecreation & Sports$206kYouth Development$198kOther$0
02FY2024 · 31 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k24 grants · $23k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $15k
  • $50k–250k3 grants · $450k
  • $250k+3 grants · $2.1M
$500
Median grant
8
States reached
$61M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
The Church of Jesus Christ of LDS$1,592,540
University of Utah$250,000
University of Utah$250,000
Utah Sports Commission Foundation$200,000
The Church of Jesus Christ of LDS$150,000
New Venture Fund$100,000
Religious Family History Corp$15,000
Choice Humanitarian$5,000
Junior Achievement of Utah$3,000
Choice Humanitarian$2,500
UNICEF USA$1,000
Huntsman Cancer Institute University of Utah$1,000
International Rescue Committee$1,000
The Shelter Box$500
Danielle Byron Henry Migraine Foundation$500
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY20–23, $233k) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 43% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants spread fairly evenly across need levels.

area typical 10%Stand With Ukraine: $100k → 11%The Homeless Period Project: $500 → 10%The Road Home: $125k → 8%The Road Home: $500 → 8%Intermountain Therapy Animals: $1k → 8%Crossroads Urban Center: $500 → 8%Adopt-A-Native-Elder: $5k → 8%UT Refugee Connection: $500 → 8%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

WA
ID
MN
IL
WI
NY
OH
NJ
CT
CA
UT
MD
AR
TN
SC
DC
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

92%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$14M · 15 repeat orgs$1.2M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +48% since the first grant, against +20% for those funded once.

15 repeat relationships: 13 still active in FY2024, 2 since wound down; 14 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

15
53

Total granted

$14M
$1.2M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+48%
+20%

Still filing today

73%
72%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 99% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $22k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
InternationalHuman ServicesHealthEducationArts & CultureEnvironmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • US
    Utah Sports Commission Foundation
    3× · 2020–2024 · $206k · revenue +356%
  • TR
    THE ROAD HOME
    2× · 2020–2023 · $126k · revenue +48%
  • UF
    UTAH FOOD BANK
    2× · 2020–2024 · $126k · revenue +53%

Funded once

  • TO
    THE ORRIN G HATCH FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2021 · $250k · revenue -63%
  • AI
    AMERICAN IDEA FOUNDATION INC
    one grant, 2020 · $200k · revenue -9%
  • UW
    United Way of Utah
    one grant, 2020 · $125k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Actionaid Usa

Actionaid is an international network building a just, equitable, and sustainable world in solidarity with communities on the frontlines of poverty and injustice. actionaid usa is the u.s. branch of actionaid international, which works in…

Social Science
2
Utah Foundation

Utah foundation's mission is to produce objective, thorough and well- reasoned research and analysis that promotes the effective use of public resources, a thriving economy, a well-prepared workforce and a high quality of life for utahns.…

Public Benefit
3
Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah

Heal utah's mission is to protect utah's environment and its people by promoting clean air, clean energy, and comprehensive solutions to radioactive and toxic waste.

Environment
4
Project Drawdown

Project drawdown's mission is to drive meaningful climate action by advancing science-based solutions and strategies. project drawdown's work is focused on three pillars: science - advancing science-based climate solutions and strategies;…

Education
5
Pathfinder International

Pathfinder expands access to sexual and reproductive health services, opening the door to opportunities for women and all individuals to thrive-economically, educationally, and civically. driven by our country-led leadership and local…

International
6
Utah's Promise

Utah's promise (up) is committed to 100% of kids and families thriving. we unify leaders, partners, communities and systems to achieve that promise.

Philanthropy
7
Utah Humanities Council

Utah Humanities collaborates with libraries, museums, historical societies, schools, colleges, and cultural and civic groups; provides capacity-building opportunities for volunteers and professionals in the cultural sector; presents…

Arts & Culture
8
United States Association for Unhcr

USA for UNHCR protects and supports refugees by mobilizing resources, elevating awareness, and driving action through a network of engaged supporters.

International
9
Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Foundation

To engage and catalyze global seafood supply chains in rebuilding depleted fish stocks and reducing the environmental impacts of fishing and fish farming.

Animals
10
The Union of Concerned Scientists Inc

The union of concerned scientists puts rigorous, independent science into action, developing solutions and advocating for a healthy, safe, and just future.

International
11
Observer Research Foundation America

Organization mission the observer research foundation america orf america is an independent, non-partisan, and nonprofit organization in washington dc dedicated to addressing policy challenges facing the united states, india, and their…

International
12
Utahns Against Hunger

Our mission is to increase access to food across utah through advocacy, outreach, and education. utahns against hunger is utahs only state-wide anti-hunger non-profit organization working on public policy and advocacy for federal nutrition…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Waterorg; the most unlike its peers is Face It Foundation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

64 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 64 of the 84 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
11
Early backer (in before they grew)
63/64
Grantees still filing
41/64
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

The Church of Jesus Christ of LDS: $10,793,040 · OtherThe Church of Jesus Christ of LDSUNIVERSITY OF UTAH: $2,268,500 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF UTAH+61 more: $779,000 · Other+61 moreNEW VENTURE FUND: $500,000 · Environment+3 more: $1,500 · EnvironmentTHE ORRIN G HATCH FOUNDATION: $250,000 · Arts & CultureSALT CONTEMPORARY DANCE INC: $25,000 · Arts & CultureThe Leonardo: $25,000 · Arts & CultureTHE ROAD HOME: $125,500 · Human ServicesStand With Ukraine Inc dba To Ukraine With Love: $100,000 · Human Services+8 more: $9,000 · Human ServicesUtah Sports Commission Foundation: $205,500 · Recreation & SportsAMERICAN IDEA FOUNDATION INC: $200,000 · Civil RightsFIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND: $150,000 · Community Improvement+1 more: $1,000 · Community Improvement
Other$13,840,540Environment$501,500Arts & Culture$300,000Human Services$234,500Recreation & Sports$205,500Civil Rights$200,000Community Improvement$151,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetNEW VENTURE FUND: $500,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetTHE ORRIN G HATCH FOUNDATION: $250,000 over 1y, 8.4% of budgetUtah Sports Commission Foundation: $205,500 over 3y, 12% of budgetAMERICAN IDEA FOUNDATION INC: $200,000 over 1y, 24% of budgetFIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND: $150,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE ROAD HOME: $125,500 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetUTAH FOOD BANK: $125,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTHE SOLA FOUNDATION: $125,000 over 1y, 4.4% of budgetStand With Ukraine Inc dba To Ukraine With Love: $100,000 over 1y, 3.1% of budgetAMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH: $50,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCROSSROADS OF THE WEST COUNCIL INC BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA 590: $47,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetJunior Achievement of Utah & Idaho: $26,000 over 7y, 0.3% of budgetSAFFRON KITCHEN INC: $25,000 over 1y, 7.6% of budgetSALT CONTEMPORARY DANCE INC: $25,000 over 1y, 6.8% of budgetTHE CHILDREN'S CENTER UTAH: $25,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetCENTER FOR HUMANITARIAN OUTREACH AND INTERCULTURAL EXCHANGE: $20,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetGALLAUDET UNIVERSITY: $18,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetRELIGIOUS FAMILY HISTORY CORPORATION: $15,000 over 1y, 2.3% of budgetWOMENS RETREAT HOUSE: $10,000 over 1y, 16% of budgetAMANAKI FO'OU: $5,500 over 2y, 9.3% of budgetAdopt-A-Native Elder: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY: $2,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetInternational Rescue Committee INC: $1,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF: $1,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetIntermountain Therapy Animals: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetAMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE OCEAN CLEANUP FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetPANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CHRISTMAS BOX INTERNATIONAL: $1,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetUTAH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVISORY COUNCIL: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGranite Education Foundation: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMARGIE'S HAVEN HOUSE INC: $500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetDays For Girls International: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBREAKTHROUGH T1D: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE COALITION FKA FOOD & CARE COALITION OF UTAH VALLEY: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHUNTSMAN CANCER FOUNDATION: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCrossroads Urban Center: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE HOMELESS PERIOD PROJECT INC: $500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetTHE SKATEPARK PROJECT: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Pad Project: $500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMentors International: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetRESCUE MISSION OF SALT LAKE INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSEVENTH GENERATION FUND FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUTAH REFUGEE CONNECTION: $500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHUNTSMAN MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSHARE OUR STRENGTH: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Sorenson Legacy Found…The Community Foundat…Larry H Miller and Ga…George S and Dolores …C Scott & Dorothy E W…Kennecott Utah Copper…Ssir Cares IncdoTERRA Healing Hands…McCarthey Family Foun…Making a Difference F…Edwards Lifesciences …Crewe Endowment Found…
Sorenson Legacy FoundationUT27.4× affinity11 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Sorenson Legacy Foundation · The Community Foundation of Utah · Larry H Miller and Gail Miller Family Foundation · George S and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation · C Scott & Dorothy E Watkins Charitable Foundation · Kennecott Utah Copper Visitors Center Charitable Foundation · Ssir Cares Inc · doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation · McCarthey Family Foundation · Making a Difference Foundation · Edwards Lifesciences Foundation · Crewe Endowment Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization James Lee Sorenson Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from James Lee Sorenson Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%2%6%14%25%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    13report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to James Lee Sorenson Family Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to James Lee Sorenson Family Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 84 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on James Lee Sorenson Family’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home