The Chrysopolae Foundation is a Bellevue, Idaho, based private grantmaking foundation that is the giving vehicle of Lawrence Charles Ford, Jr. 1
The nonprofit donates to schools and left-of-center environmental, criminal justice policy, and pro-abortion causes. 2
Background
Lawrence Charles Ford, Jr. founded the Chrysopolae Foundation in 1997. The nonprofit was originally located in San Francisco, California, but it eventually relocated to Bellevue, Idaho. 1
The nonprofit funds schools, assisted living centers, and left-of-center political causes such as environmental groups, pro-abortion groups, and criminal justice policy. 2
Giving
Bay Home, Inc.
The Chrysopolae Foundation’s largest contribution in 2022 was to Bay Home, Inc. which is an assisted living facility built out of a residential house with six licensed beds. 3 The nonprofit gave $73,950 to the facility that year. 2
Protect Our Winters
In 2022, the Chrysopolae Foundation gave $20,000 to the left-of-center environmentalist group Protect Our Winters. 2 According to Protect Our Winters’s theory of social change, the group supports a carbon tax and replacing reliable conventional sources of energy exclusively with weather-dependent energy sources. 4
Sierra Club Foundation
In 2022, the Chrysopolae Foundation gave $4,000 to the left-of-center environmentalist group Sierra Club Foundation which is the fundraising and education arm of the Sierra Club. 2 The group opposes the use of zero-carbon-emission nuclear power claiming that it is a “uniquely dangerous energy technology for humanity.” The group also claims every dollar spent on nuclear is one less dollar for intermittent, weather-dependent sources of energy such as wind and solar. 5
Schools Rule
In 2022, the Chrysopolae Foundation gave $5,000 to the Schools Rule program run by the Marin County Office of Education. 2 The group has an equity in an education fund that disburses money according to “needs-based” criteria instead of equal disbursement for each student. 6
Center for Reproductive Rights
In 2022, the Chrysopolae Foundation gave $30,000 to the pro-abortion Center for Reproductive Rights. 2 The group is best known for its pro bono lawsuits, often on behalf of abortion providers, against pro-life laws both inside the United States and internationally. 7
10,000 Degrees
In 2022, the Chrysopolae Foundation gave $18,000 to scholarship provider 10,000 Degrees. 2 The group does not have a minimum test score for scholarships and gives 93 percent of its scholarships to non-white students. 8
Youth Transforming Justice
In 2022, the Chrysopolae Foundation gave $4,000 to the left-of-center criminal justice policy group Youth Transforming Justice. 2 The group opposes the use of “zero-tolerance” discipline policies in schools because it sees them as a contributing factor to the “school to prison pipeline.” The group also opposes the traditional juvenile justice system and instead for what it calls “restorative justice.” 9
Rios To Rivers
In 2022, the Chrysopolae Foundation gave $10,000 to the environmentalist group Rios to Rivers for its “tribal waters program.” 2
Leadership
The Chrysopolae Foundation’s president is Lawrence Charles Ford, Jr. Ford previously lived in San Francisco and relocated to Bellevue, Idaho. 1
The treasurer and secretary of the nonprofit is Cynthia Carroll. 2
Finances
According to the Chrysopolae Foundation’s 2022 tax return, the group reported $415,337 in revenue, $517,356 in expenses, and $11,853,642 in assets. 2
References
- “Chrysopolae Foundation.” Cause IQ. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/chrysopolae-foundation,943265060/.
- “Chrysopolae Foundation, Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/943265060/202303199349108235/full.
- “Bay Home Inc – San Rafael, CA.” CareListings. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://carelistings.com/assisted-living-homes/san-rafael-ca/bay-home-inc/5acd019da71d8c15cf68348d.
- “Theory of Change.” Protect Our Winters. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://protectourwinters.org/about-pow/theory-of-change/.
- “Nuclear Free Future.” Sierra Club. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://www.sierraclub.org/nuclear-free.
- “Equity in Education Fund.” SchoolsRule Marin. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://schoolsrule.org/equity-in-education-fund/.
- “Pro Bono Program.” Center for Reproductive Rights. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://reproductiverights.org/about-us/pro-bono-program/.
- “Supports Students to, through, and Beyond College.” 10,000 Degrees. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://10000degrees.org/about-us/our-model/.
- “About: Youth Transforming Justice: California.” YTJ. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://www.ytjustice.org/about.