About The Lawrence Foundation:
The Lawrence Foundation is a private family foundation based in Santa Monica, California. The foundation makes grants to US-based qualified charitable organisations working in three areas: Environment, Human Services, and Disaster Relief. The foundation operates with a simple, accessible grantmaking process — no Letter of Inquiry is required, applications are submitted through the Common Grant Application website, and all grants are issued as unrestricted funding.

The foundation is led by Jeff, his two children, and Lori, who each have allocated grantmaking budgets. A guest grantmaker is also invited each cycle, bringing different perspectives and interests. Each reviewer examines applications independently, meaning different reviewers may be drawn to different types of work.

Three Funding Areas:

• Environment: The foundation funds US-headquartered organisations operating environmental programmes in the US or ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD. This explicitly allows international environmental work — including Nepal — as long as the organisation is US-headquartered or has US 501(c)(3) status.
  
• Human Services: The foundation funds human services organisations. This area appears primarily US-focused based on past grantees, though no explicit geographic restriction is stated.
  
• Disaster Relief: The foundation funds US-headquartered organisations responding to disasters in the US or ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD on an occasional basis. This explicitly allows international disaster relief — including Nepal — as long as the organisation is US-headquartered or has US 501(c)(3) status.

Grant Details:
Grants typically range between $5,000 and $10,000. In some limited cases, the foundation may make larger grants, but this is typically after they have gotten to know the organisation over a period of time. The foundation generally does not make multi-year grants, although it may fund the same organisation on a year-by-year basis. All grants are issued as unrestricted, regardless of whether the request is for general operating or programme/project expenses. The foundation is comfortable with up to 50% of the grant being used for reasonable indirect costs. No grant report is required, but the foundation is happy to read one if provided.

Application Process — Notably Simple:

• Step 1 — Assess Eligibility: Confirm you are tax-exempt under 501(c)(3) or have a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status. Confirm your work aligns with Environment, Human Services, or Disaster Relief.
  
• Step 2 — Submit Application: The Lawrence Foundation does not require a Letter of Inquiry. Submit a grant application through the Common Grant Application website at https://www.commongrantapplication.com/. The application is fairly simple — contact information, brief description of organisation and funding needs, confirmation of tax-exempt status, and the amount requested. If you haven't opened an account, register first. All applications must be submitted online — no paper submissions.
  
• Step 3 — Application Review: All applications are collected and reviewed together after the cycle closes. The foundation does not review applications until the grant cycle closes. Jeff, his children, Lori, and a guest grantmaker each review independently. There may be follow-up questions. Notification of funding decisions via email through the Common Grant Application portal — both for funded and unfunded applications. Funded organisations receive grant cheques by June 30 (June cycle) or December 31 (December cycle).
  

What They Do NOT Fund:
Individuals for any purpose. International organisations that do not have a qualified US 501(c)(3) representative. For-profit businesses. Computers or software. Audio or video equipment. Designing and producing videos, kiosks, or promotional material. Music programmes or musical instruments. Gardening programmes or equipment. Physical education programmes or equipment. Recreational programmes. Theatre arts or performance arts programmes or equipment. Hospice or old age home programmes. Churches. Religious, charter, or magnet schools. Political lobbying or political purposes. Voter registration. Private foundations. Dinners, balls, or ticketed events. Programme Related Investments. Purposes outside of the foundation's funding priorities.
The foundation notes these lists are not absolute and may not always apply, but they provide guidance about their interests.

Competition:
The foundation typically receives between 1,000 and 1,500 applications per grant cycle and is able to make approximately 20 grants. This represents an acceptance rate of roughly 1.3–2% — making this highly competitive despite the small grant size. However, the simple application process means the time investment to apply is minimal.

Nepal Eligibility — Conditional:
Nepal-based organisations CANNOT apply directly — the foundation requires US 501(c)(3) status or a US fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status. However, international work in Nepal IS explicitly eligible under two of the three funding areas.

Who Can Apply for Nepal-Related Work:
US-registered NGOs working on Nepal environmental programmes. Examples: organisations working on Nepal community forestry, climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, clean energy, watershed management, air quality, wildlife protection, or sustainable agriculture — if they are US-registered 501(c)(3) organisations.

US-registered NGOs providing disaster relief in Nepal. Examples: organisations responding to Nepal earthquakes, floods, landslides, or other disasters — if they are US-registered 501(c)(3) organisations.

Nepal organisations with US fiscal sponsors. Any Nepal organisation that has an existing relationship with a US 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor can apply. The fiscal sponsor must provide written authorisation confirming willingness to act as sponsor.
US-Nepal diaspora organisations. Nepali diaspora organisations registered as US 501(c)(3) entities that run programmes in Nepal can apply.

Nepal Environment Work — What Could Be Funded: Community forestry and forest conservation. Climate adaptation and resilience programmes. Biodiversity protection — snow leopard, red panda, rhino conservation. Clean energy — solar, micro-hydro, biogas programmes. Watershed and water resource management. Air quality improvement — especially Kathmandu Valley. Sustainable agriculture and agroecology. Glacier monitoring and climate research. Waste management and environmental education. Any environmental programme in Nepal operated by a US 501(c)(3).
Nepal Disaster Relief — What Could Be Funded: Earthquake response and recovery (2015, 2023, future events). Monsoon flood and landslide response. Fire response in communities. Cold wave emergency response. Pre-positioning of relief supplies. Community disaster preparedness. Post-disaster shelter, WASH, health response. Any disaster relief in Nepal operated by a US 501(c)(3).

Strategy for Nepal Organisations:
If you are a Nepal organisation without US 501(c)(3) status: Identify a US fiscal sponsor — organisations like Global Giving, CAF America, King Baudouin Foundation United States, or Nepal-focused US organisations may serve as fiscal sponsors. Establish the fiscal sponsorship relationship well before the application deadline. The fiscal sponsor must provide written authorisation. Apply through the fiscal sponsor for the October 31 cycle.
If you are a US-registered Nepal-focused organisation: Apply directly — you are fully eligible. Focus on Environment or Disaster Relief (the two international categories). Review past grantees to calibrate your request.

Building a Relationship: The foundation may make larger grants over time after getting to know an organisation. Start with a $5,000–$10,000 request. If funded, reapply in subsequent cycles. Build a track record with the foundation.

KEY DETAILS

• Grant: The Lawrence Foundation
  

• DEADLINES — TWO CYCLES PER YEAR:
  — June Cycle: April 1–30 — PASSED ⚠️
  — December Cycle: Sep 1 – OCTOBER 31 — NEXT DEADLINE
  — Grants issued by June 30 or December 31

• APPLY:
  — Common Grant Application: https://www.commongrantapplication.com/
  — Register first, then submit
  — Online ONLY — no paper
  — No Letter of Inquiry needed — direct application

• GRANT: $5,000–$10,000 (typically)
  — Larger grants possible after relationship built
  — ALL grants issued as UNRESTRICTED
  — Up to 50% INDIRECT COSTS acceptable
  — No GRANT REPORT required (optional)
  — ~20 grants per cycle from 1,000–1,500 apps (~1.3% acceptance)

• FOR: US 501(c)(3) ORGANISATIONS ONLY
  — Or with US FISCAL SPONSOR (written authorisation)
  — Public schools and libraries also eligible
  — International orgs WITHOUT US 501(c)(3) not eligible
  — Individuals not eligible
  — For-profit businesses not eligible

• THREE FUNDING AREAS:
  — ENVIRONMENT — US or INTERNATIONAL (US-headquartered orgs worldwide)
  — HUMAN SERVICES — primarily US
  — DISASTER RELIEF — US or INTERNATIONAL (US-headquartered orgs worldwide)

• NEPAL: CONDITIONALLY ELIGIBLE 
  — Environment work in Nepal — through US 501(c)(3)
  — Disaster relief in Nepal — through US 501(c)(3)
  — Cannot apply directly without US status
  — Requires US 501(c)(3) or US FISCAL SPONSOR

• WHO CAN APPLY FOR NEPAL WORK:
  — US-registered NGOs with NEPAL ENVIRONMENTAL programmes
  — US-registered NGOs with NEPAL DISASTER RELIEF work
  — Nepal orgs with US FISCAL SPONSORS
  — US-Nepal DIASPORA organisations (registered 501(c)(3))
  — US-based CONSERVATION organisations working in Nepal
  — US-based HUMANITARIAN organisations responding in Nepal

• NEPAL ENVIRONMENT EXAMPLES:
  — Community FORESTRY, biodiversity, conservation
  — CLIMATE adaptation, clean energy, watershed
  — AIR QUALITY (Kathmandu Valley)
  — SUSTAINABLE agriculture, agroecology
  — WILDLIFE protection (snow leopard, rhino, red panda)

• NEPAL DISASTER RELIEF EXAMPLES:
  — EARTHQUAKE response (2015, 2023, future)
  — MONSOON flood and landslide response
  — FIRE response, cold wave emergencies
  — Pre-positioning RELIEF supplies
  — Community DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

• APPLICATION IS VERY SIMPLE:
  — Contact information
  — Brief DESCRIPTION of org and funding needs
  — Confirm TAX-EXEMPT status
  — AMOUNT requested
  — No LOI, no complex forms
  — ~15–30 minutes to complete

• IMPORTANT NOTES:
  — ⚠️ April 30 cycle PASSED — next is OCTOBER 31
  — EXTREMELY competitive — ~1.3% acceptance rate
  — But application is SIMPLE and FAST — minimal time investment
  — ALL grants are UNRESTRICTED — maximum flexibility
  — NO grant report required — lowest reporting burden imaginable
  — $5K–$10K is SMALL but UNRESTRICTED = high value
  — Foundation may fund SAME org year after year — build relationship
  — GUEST GRANTMAKER changes each cycle — different interests each time
  — Review PAST GRANTEES for calibration: https://thelawrencefoundation.org/past-grants
  — US fiscal sponsor relationship must be ESTABLISHED before applying
  — Written AUTHORISATION from fiscal sponsor required
  — Common Grant Application account can be used for OTHER funders too
  — Worth applying given minimal time investment despite low odds
  — Good FIRST US GRANT for Nepal orgs with fiscal sponsors

• FISCAL SPONSOR OPTIONS FOR NEPAL ORGS:
  — GlobalGiving (globalgiving.org)
  — CAF America (cafamerica.org)
  — King Baudouin Foundation US (kbfus.org)
  — Nepal-focused US diaspora organisations
  — US university partnerships
  — Any US 501(c)(3) willing to sponsor
  
  
• CONTACT:
  The Lawrence Foundation
  PO Box 3209, Santa Monica, CA 90408
  Website: https://thelawrencefoundation.org/
  Contact: https://thelawrencefoundation.org/contact-us
  

• SOURCE: https://thelawrencefoundation.org/apply-for-a-grant + https://thelawrencefoundation.org/application-process