John and Maria Laffin Trust

Mission

To provide grants to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations supporting education, animal welfare, medical research, and human services.

Annual application deadlines

July 31

Program areas

Education
Environment/animals
Health
Human services

Program limitations

Grants are made to educational institutions at the college and university level, animal welfare organizations, medical research organizations, and U.S.-based humanitarian organizations that alleviate human misery, suffering, and starvation in any part of the world.

States served

All

Geographic limitations

Grants for education and animal welfare are restricted to Los Angeles City or Los Angeles County, California. There are no geographic limitations for medical research and human services grants.

Trustees

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

The John and Maria Laffin Trust awards grants to organizations supporting education, animal welfare, medical research, and human services, as follows:

• 20% Education Funds shall be granted to educational institutions at the college and university level in the Los Angeles City and County areas that are dedicated to maintaining and raising the standards of scholastic excellence.
• 30% Animal Related Funds shall be granted to animal welfare organizations or foundations within Los Angeles City and County that are demonstrably dedicated to the preservation and humane placement of abandoned and/or homeless small domesticated animals.
• 25% Medical Research Funds shall be granted to medical research organizations that do not exclude from consideration any alternative or seemingly radical and/or controversial treatment that the American Medical Association may currently oppose.
• 25% Human Services Funds shall be granted to humanitarian organizations to alleviate human misery, suffering, and starvation in any part of the world.

Requirements

• To be eligible, organizations must qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Average giving

Average grant size: $5,000 to $10,000
Average number of grants per year: 25

Annual application period and deadlines

Applications must be submitted by the deadline to be reviewed at the annual grant meeting that occurs in September.

Communications

Applicants will receive an automated email confirming their submission. Grant decisions are generally communicated two months after the application deadline.

Required reports

Except as otherwise specified when a grant is awarded, a progress report must be submitted within 6 months after receiving funds.

About the Foundation

The John and Maria Laffin Trust was created under the Will of Valentina Laffin in honor of her parents. The Trust provides support for education at the college and university level, animal welfare, medical research, and human services. Ms. Laffin died on March 19, 1985. She was a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, California.