John and Maria Laffin Trust
/OVERVIEW: The John and Maria Laffin Trust supports education, environment, animal welfare, health and human services in Los Angeles, California.
FUNDING AREAS: Education, environment, animal welfare, health, human services
IP TAKE: This accessible Los Angeles-focused funder has very specific things in mind with regard to what it prefers to support with its annual general operating support grants. Only the topics of education and animal welfare are specific to Los Angeles for this funder; however, these topics make up a sizable portion of overall grants.
PROFILE: The John and Maria Laffin Trust is a private foundation managed by Wells Fargo Philanthropic Services, which serves as a trustee for the foundation. Valentina Laffin created this trust in her will to honor of her parents. Valentina Laffin was a lifelong Los Angeles resident who died in 1985. The foundation aims to "provide grants to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations supporting education, animal welfare, medical research and human services.” It funds local efforts for education, environment, animal welfare, health and human services.
The John and Maria Laffin Trust primarily provides funding for educational institutions at the university and college level. It also provides steady support to animal welfare groups, medical research organizations and humanitarian organizations. Twenty percent of grants go towards educational institutions at the university and college level that are located in the city and county of Los Angeles and that are dedicated to improving scholastic excellence. Thirty percent of grants are animal-related and go to animal welfare organizations in the city and county of Los Angeles that support abandoned and homeless small domestic animals. Twenty-five percent of grants go to medical research, with consideration given to “seemingly radical and/or controversial treatment that the American Medical Association may currently oppose.” The final 25 percent of grants are for human services and go towards the alleviation of human misery, suffering and starvation. Overall, the foundation awards around 25 grants per year.
Grants range between about $2,000 and $40,000. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on Los Angeles, California for animal welfare and education grants. However, the funder considers grants for medical research and human services with no geographic limitations and provides funding for causes related to these topics in any state. Past local grantees include the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Stray Cat Alliance and Much Love Animal Rescue.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. The grant application deadline each year is July 31. Grantseekers should submit their requests electronically through the Wells Fargo online grants system. Applicants receive automated email messages to confirm their submissions. The foundation reviews applications annually at a grant meeting in September and generally notifies applicants of its decisions within two months of the deadline. Direct general questions to the staff at grantadministration@wellsfargo.com or 888-235-4351.
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