Laube Family Foundation

The Laube Family Foundation is a Kalamazoo, Michigan-based private foundation with a distinctive and evolving portfolio centered on Christian faith-based values. Named for Yukako Laube (Vice President and founder), the foundation's philanthropic focus has shifted dramatically over its decade of operation: from San Francisco performing arts and youth programs (2013–2017) to Florida-based Christian ministries and anti-human trafficking organizations (2018–present).

Miko Kepko serves as President ($8,000 annual compensation), alongside Yukako Laube as Vice President, Thomas T. Huff as VP/Secretary, and Jonathan Kepko as Director ($8,000 annual compensation) — a small, family/close-network board structure. The foundation's stated mission from its website explicitly covers "arts, education and athleticism for children, at-risk youth and families, as well as veterans and first responders."

The foundation is preselected with no open application process. The strong Christian evangelical and anti-trafficking focus, alongside child-serving organizations, indicates the foundation's recent pivot toward mission-driven Christian philanthropy rather than the secular arts focus of its early years.

Assets have grown significantly: from $597,250 in 2016 to $4,238,956 in 2024, fueled by regular large contributions ($100,000–$512,503 annually from 2017–2023). The foundation is actively growing its endowment through ongoing donor contributions — an unusual profile among the foundations reviewed. In 2024, no new contributions were received, while $123,100 in grants were distributed from $4.2M in assets (a conservative 2.9% payout).

Grant sizes range from $1,000 (minimum) to $25,000 (maximum in 2024), with an average of approximately $12,310. The 10 grants in FY2024 totaling $123,100 are larger on average than prior years when 3–7 grants averaged $5,000–$15,000. The foundation is writing fewer, larger checks as its asset base has grown.

Geographic shift is visible in the data: 2013–2017 grants went exclusively to San Francisco Bay Area organizations (San Francisco Ballet, San Francisco Symphony, Girls on the Run Bay Area, Embarcadero YMCA). By 2018, the geography shifted to Florida with occasional Michigan and California grants. By 2020–2024, the portfolio is dominated by Florida (particularly St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay area), with individual grants to Michigan (A Door of Hope in Owosso), Minnesota (Minneapolis), Utah (Salt Lake City — Operation Underground Railroad), Indiana (Hope Center Indy), and Florida predominantly.

The Laube Family Foundation's anti-human trafficking focus aligns with a specific philanthropic subculture: Christian evangelical organizations dedicated to combating child sex trafficking and exploitation. Our Rescue (formerly Tim Ballard's Operation Underground Railroad, though OUR and OUR have organizational splits) and the Child Rescue Coalition (digital forensics firm tracking online predators, based in Boca Raton FL) are both significant organizations in this space.

Child Rescue Coalition (Boca Raton) received two consecutive year grants from the Laube foundation (2023, 2024) — suggesting a deepening relationship. CRC builds technology to help law enforcement identify child predators online; it is a well-regarded technology-focused anti-trafficking nonprofit.

Operation Underground Railroad (Salt Lake City) has faced significant controversy since 2020 regarding founder Tim Ballard's conduct and operational claims. The foundation's continued support for anti-trafficking missions through other organizations (Child Rescue Coalition, Our Rescue, A Door of Hope) suggests commitment to the cause rather than a single founder personality.

The geographic footprint (Michigan + Florida + national anti-trafficking organizations) suggests the family has homes or significant ties in both western Michigan (Kalamazoo) and the St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay area of Florida.

FY2024 saw 10 grants totaling $123,100, with several new grantees: Ripple Effects Community Inclusion Center (Portage MI — disability inclusion programs), A Bridge Across Borders (Clearwater FL — migrant/refugee services), Hope Center Indy (Indianapolis — urban Christian ministry), Goodwill Suncoast (Clearwater FL), Our Rescue (Minneapolis), St. Petersburg Christian (school or church). Faith Covenant Church (Temple Terrace FL) continued as a recurring grantee.

The foundation's website (laubefamilyfoundation.org) is active and well-maintained, describing the foundation's mission and providing contact information. The description "arts, education and athleticism for children, at-risk youth and families, as well as veterans and first responders" remains from earlier years but does not fully reflect the current anti-trafficking and Christian ministry heavy portfolio.

No new contributions were received in 2024, potentially marking a transition to a distribution-only phase as the family's asset accumulation needs evolve.

The Laube Family Foundation funds exclusively preselected organizations. Given the Christian evangelical values orientation and anti-trafficking focus, cold applications would not be productive. Organizations best positioned for relationship-building include those in:

1. Anti-human trafficking (particularly technology-enabled approaches or survivor services in Michigan or Florida): Child Rescue Coalition and A Door of Hope are model grantees 2. Christian faith-based community service (Urban ministry, migrant services): Hope Center Indy and A Bridge Across Borders are reference models 3. St. Petersburg / Tampa Bay area nonprofits serving at-risk youth, families, or people with disabilities (Shorecrest Preparatory School, Goodwill Suncoast, Ripple Effects Community Inclusion Center) 4. Veterans and first responders programs in Michigan or Florida — stated mission area not yet heavily reflected in grant data, suggesting potential opportunity

Engage through faith community networks in the Kalamazoo MI or St. Petersburg FL areas. The foundation's website (laubefamilyfoundation.org) provides the best contact information for direct outreach to Miko Kepko or Yukako Laube.