Giving Back

We believe in a world where prosperity knows no bounds.

Beyond being your trusted one-stop shop for comprehensive financial services, we are deeply committed to creating a positive impact on communities – both in our own backyards and throughout the world. Our mission of “Empowering All to Flourish” extends far beyond the realm of finance. By giving back, we embrace a vision of shared success and well-being in our goal of seeing 100,000 clients, colleagues, and communities flourishing by 2030.


empower (verb) /imˈpouər/: to give a person the authority or power to do something themselves; to promote their self-actualization and fulfill one’s potential

flourish (verb) /ˈfləriSH/: to grow luxuriantly; to thrive; to achieve success; to prosper

These words are verbs, meaning they are actions. And we are serious about the actions we take.

Corporate Philanthropy

We want to see 100,000 clients, colleagues, and communities flourishing by 2030.

Employee
Service

We provide each of our employees with 16 hours of paid volunteer time each year to serve.

Employee
Giving

Employees’ charitable donations are matched by the Foundation, doubling their impact.

Empowering
Communities

We are always looking for charities to partner with, either domestically or abroad.


We believe the best way to find contentment and ultimately flourish is engaging the next generation on how to give back.

Paul Larson

The Larson Foundation:
Fostering Change + Generating Opportunities

Central to our mission of “Empowering All to Flourish” is the Larson Financial Foundation, our philanthropic arm. Established in 2012, the Foundation is dedicated to catalyzing meaningful change.

Communities around the world have been impacted by the Foundation’s contributions.

Some of the projects we’ve funded over the last decade include revitalizing an urban playground in St. Louis, Missouri, building greenhouses in Zambia to grow food to help support schools, and constructing a church and community center at an orphanage in Cambodia. And that’s just to name a few!


ALS Association

Larson supports ALS global research, nationwide advocacy, and local care.

One of the Foundation’s most recent endeavors is to fund a new well system for a school in Tanzania.

This allows students to have consistent access to clean water in which they can grow food, bathe, and cook meals. Tanzania is undergoing an extreme drought, and feeding and caring for students is virtually impossible without a reliable source of water. Through a grant from the Larson Foundation, these students have one less necessity to worry about.

Our active engagement in projects like these helps address pressing social issues around the world. From education initiatives to healthcare advancements, the Larson Financial Foundation is a beacon of hope, embodying our core values of compassion and responsibility.

The foundation continues to work in Cambodia, Romania, Tanzania, the Philippines, Haiti, India, Gambia, Zambia, and right here in our backyard of St. Louis. Each year, a substantial portion of the profits from Larson Financial Holdings is given to the foundation to advance our mission of empowering all to flourish.

Ronald McDonald House Charities

Larson supports families feeling at home. Even when they can’t be.

  • Identify Opportunities within viable markets in places of great need.
  • Empower Entrepreneurs to maximize impact through creative business strategies.
  • Grow Sustainable Businesses that create jobs, stimulate markets, and add value.
  • Engage Communities through holistic development initiatives.
  • Encourage Flourishing by participating in the renewal of all things.

Giving Back with Time

In pursuit of our 2030 goal of seeing 100,000 clients, colleagues, and communities flourishing, we encourage our employees (whom we call our Larson Warriors) to actively participate by volunteering. We provide each of our Warriors with 16 hours of paid volunteer time each year, allowing them to make direct and tangible influences in their communities through hands-on service.

Read about our recent efforts!

While our daily lives can seem hectic at times, and it often doesn’t feel like there are enough hours in the day, we believe that by stepping back and serving others opens us up to more genuine connections.

Giving Back though Employee Donations

Through the Larson Giving Campaign, our Warriors are able to make charitable donations directly from their paychecks, which are then matched by the Foundation. By multiplying these financial contributions, the charities that are near and dear to our employees’ hearts are impacted even more.

In 2023 alone, 45 of our Warriors donated to 54 unique charitable organizations, resulting in over $38,000 given to communities in need around the world.

And we’re not done.

One More Child

Larson supports services to vulnerable children and struggling families.

Words from our Warriors on the charities they support.

City Hope St. Louis provides emergency shelter and opportunities for the unhoused community in the St. Louis metropolitan area. One of their programs is called “Spirit’s Joy for the Youth”, which advocates to end bullying, and works with children on how to empower themselves. City Hope helps individuals overcome adversity and find a way to get to the root of the issues for a positive and permanent solve.

– Marcy J.
Director of Human Resources

CityServe is a nationwide organization based out of St. Louis, MO. They partner with local churches across the country to make an impact on their communities and spread the gospel of Jesus. This is accomplished through disaster relief and programs to minister to those who need assistance. By having a central organization, they can streamline and standardize their processes, allowing the local churches to identify which areas and specific needs to target. CityServe supports individuals in their time of need, and they are a great example of servant leadership, as they’ve already delivered $1.2 billion in goods through their network.

– Jacob F.
Financial Planner

It’s inspiring to see how mission minded this church is – the whole structure of their budget BEGINS with missions. By giving to others first, they ensure all the local and global initiatives they support get the full funding they need and can continue to operate without having to worry about any shortfalls. Once the missions’ coffers are filled, then the budget goes toward the church building, staff, etc. This is encouraging to see and an important reminder to put others before ourselves. The church is always generous and giving to those in need, especially in disaster events like hurricanes or flooding. Their support isn’t just financial; groups of volunteers travel to help affected areas, assemble flood buckets, and transport them where needed. It’s amazing to see how their focus is genuinely outward focused.

– Kacie R.
Financial Planner

Over twenty years ago, our daughter Jessica was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pediatric Liver cancer. She was treated at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital for over two years. She was in and out of the hospital for chemotherapy treatments, surgeries, low blood counts, and seizures; the list goes on. During those two years, we received many benefits from Friends of Kids with Cancer here in St. Louis. They provided opportunities for our family to participate in fun activities like the magic house, the science center, celebrity events (my kids could not have cared less about celebrities), trips to see Barney (I hate that guy), the Grinch, Fredbird, Ronald McDonald, and other characters. They also provided crafting and art supplies for the treatment centers and for the kids in the rooms on Four North of Cardinal Glennon.

Going through cancer treatments for a family with a two-year-old child is overwhelming to say the least. But having a group like Friends of Kids with Cancer nearby was almost game changing. Almost.

Likewise, Camp Rainbow provided a great experience for Jessica and her brother to “forget about things” for a while.

Jessica did indeed pass away. Since then, I’ve served on the board of directors for several years, and we do our best to participate in periodic events during the year. They keep their funds local. They help families who are going through hell. If you need an organization to donate to, this is an easy one, as they truly provide a support system for kids and their families.

– Luke W.
Controller

A few of my colleagues and I recently volunteered at the Loaves & Fishes Serenity Village location, and after seeing their impact in the community, I wanted to support them financially through the Larson Financial Foundation. We packed boxes of food into peoples’ cars as they drove through the church parking lot. Serenity Village supports individuals facing hunger by collecting food that would otherwise be thrown away by grocery stores and restaurants. This has a double impact: they estimate they save between six-eight tons of food per month, and they are helping the community. This distribution site runs every Friday, despite the weather, and even when holidays land on a Friday, they are still out there. They are a great example of servant leadership, and we will definitely volunteer there again.

– Aileen B.L.
Copywriter/Editor

All human lives have the same value, and every human being has the inalienable right to have health care. However, the playing field needs to be leveled for those who are born at a disadvantage. Partners in Health doesn’t just give resources to countries in need, but they train local community members on how to provide for themselves and help those in their culture.

– Kayleigh L.
Senior Client Service Manager

The Impact Center helps support one of the most poverty-stricken zip codes in the state of Indiana. They do so by mentoring people who have been incarcerated, hosting ESL and parenting classes, assisting with job placements, and much more. They provide turkeys during Thanksgiving, and meals and gifts for families during Christmas. My family and I regularly volunteer with them, and whatever arises, The Impact Center steps up to meet those needs.

– Andy B.
Compliance Officer

Empowering Communities

We are passionate about seeing communities flourish and we believe working with local charitable organizations is key in revitalizing individuals and the communities they live in. We are committed to this work because we believe in providing people with opportunities to thrive and flourish!  

True prosperity involves not just individual success but collective well-being. By focusing on giving back, we contribute to the betterment of communities while creating a sense of unity and shared progress.

  • Social Responsibility: As a responsible corporate citizen, we recognize the impact of our actions on the world. By actively participating in philanthropy, we fulfill our duty to society, working towards a more equitable and sustainable future.
  • Fulfilling a Higher Purpose: Beyond financial transactions, we believe in the power of purpose-driven actions. Giving back adds depth and meaning to our work, creating a positive ripple effect that extends far beyond the realm of numbers and accounts.

Pinkyswear Foundation

Larson supports kids with cancer and their families with financial and emotional support.

Financial Benefits of Giving Back:
Maximizing Impact

Beyond the intrinsic rewards of philanthropy, there are practical financial benefits to consider:

  • Tax Deductions: Many charitable contributions are eligible for tax deductions, providing you with a tangible financial benefit while supporting causes close to your heart. Our expert advisors can guide you through the intricacies of optimizing your philanthropic efforts for maximum tax advantages.
  • Legacy Building: Your philanthropic endeavors can become a lasting legacy, leaving a positive imprint on the world. We can assist you in crafting a strategic giving plan that aligns with your values, ensuring a meaningful impact for generations to come.

Join us in our mission of Empowering All to Flourish by embracing the transformative power of giving back. Let’s build a future where financial success is synonymous with social responsibility.

Contact us today to explore how your financial journey can make a difference beyond the balance sheet.

Empowering
Communities
One At A Time

“The Larson Foundation has left lasting marks upon Urban K-Life of St. Louis.  Their sincere partnership and resources to help develop and nurture urban youth have been genuine, invaluable, engaging, and effective.”

Dr. J. Sims
Operations Director – Urban K-Life of St. Louis
Disclosure

Disclosure

Testimonials provided by individuals in association with their organization. Individual was not compensated to provide testimonial.

Human Coalition is grateful for the support of Larson as we serve women facing unexpected pregnancies with life-affirming resources, compassion, and hope.”

Julie Scott Emmons
Director of Strategic Partnerships – Human Coalition
Disclosure

Disclosure

Testimonials provided by individuals in association with their organization. Individual was not compensated to provide testimonial.

The Larson Foundation has provided many children with life-changing surgeries. They have also donated funds to provide a much-needed vehicle and they are sponsoring the daily needs of many children who have been rescued from crisis situations. These children are now living in one of our three homes, which provides them with love, care, and a safe place to call home until we either return them to their extended family or in the majority of cases find them their forever family.”

Pauline Curtis-Smith
CEO, Ruel Foundation – Give A Smile
Disclosure

Disclosure

Testimonials provided by individuals in association with their organization. Individual was not compensated to provide testimonial.

How is LFF Structured?

LFF is a 501(c)(3) Private Foundation organized in the State of Missouri. Our approved exempted activities include program related investments to establish and support local businesses in emerging markets. These sustainable businesses will impact local economics through job creation and market expansion while enabling LFF to partner within communities in implementing sustainable development initiatives.

How Does the LFF Structure Serve its Vision?

Our structure allows us to combine the best aspects of the non-profit and for-profit models. We believe that sustainable business can and should have a holistic impact within the community it serves, and our exempted purpose allows for legitimate for-profit start-up businesses to be established, owned, and operated by LFF. LFF partnership in these businesses ensures that the community impact vision for each project remains in focus as our non-profit status commits all profits to be utilized in furtherance of our exempted purpose.

This structure allows independently sustained products, markets, and revenues to impact the economies of each community while ensuring resources generated are utilized in service toward the flourishing of each community.

Meet The People
Behind Larson.


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