John and Maria Laffin Trust Fund

The John and Maria Laffin Trust, administered by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., is a philanthropic foundation created through the will of Valentina Laffin in honor of her parents. Established in 1985 following Ms. Laffin’s death, the trust serves as a vehicle for charitable giving in the areas that mattered deeply to her family—education, animal welfare, medical research, and humanitarian relief. Valentina Laffin was a lifelong resident of Los Angeles, California, and her philanthropic legacy continues through this trust. The trust provides grants exclusively to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that support one of four designated program areas. The distribution of funds is allocated by category: 20% of available funding supports educational institutions at the college and university level located within the Los Angeles City and County area, emphasizing scholastic excellence. Animal welfare efforts receive 30% of the funds, restricted to organizations operating in Los Angeles City and County that focus on the humane care and placement of abandoned or homeless small domesticated animals. A further 25% is allocated to medical research organizations across the U.S., with a particular openness to funding alternative or controversial treatments, even if they are not currently endorsed by the American Medical Association. The final 25% supports human services, providing relief to humanitarian organizations working globally to alleviate suffering, starvation, and human misery, with no geographic restrictions. Grant awards typically range from $5,000 to $10,000, and the trust generally distributes around 25 grants annually. Eligible applicants must be U.S.-based nonprofit organizations with current IRS 501(c)(3) status. Applications are reviewed once annually, and must be submitted by July 31 for consideration at the September grant meeting. Applicants will receive automated confirmation of their submission and should expect to receive funding decisions within approximately two months of the deadline. Unless otherwise noted at the time of award, all grantees are required to submit a progress report within six months of receiving funds. There are specific geographic restrictions tied to the education and animal welfare categories, which are limited to organizations located within Los Angeles City and County, California. However, the medical research and human services categories have no geographic constraints, allowing for a broader range of eligible applicants in these areas. The trust explicitly outlines that all supported entities must not be individuals or for-profit organizations, and must align with the trust’s philanthropic values and program priorities. Applications can be submitted online via the Wells Fargo Philanthropic Services platform. While application questions are not publicly listed, applicants should be prepared to provide detailed organizational information and documentation to demonstrate alignment with the trust’s funding priorities. For technical support or additional inquiries, applicants can contact the grant administration team via phone at 1-888-235-4351 or email at grantadministration@wellsfargo.com. More general information about Wells Fargo’s philanthropic services can be found on their community impact web page.