Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation
The Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation is a private foundation based in Walnut Creek, California. Established in 1989 by Dean Lesher and Margaret Lesher, it states that its mission is to enhance quality of life for residents of Contra Costa County through support for children and families, education, and arts and culture.
Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation at a glance
In short: Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation gave $5.3M across 128 grants in 2025 (avg $41K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,300,800
- -4.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 128
- -7.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $41,413
- +4.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $93,658,654
- -1.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing says to contact Executive Director Devorah Levine and submit a letter of inquiry describing a specific project or program, together with an application obtained from the Foundation. Grants are limited to projects and programs within Contra Costa County.
- Next open deadline
- November 2, 2026 (Lesher Foundation CARE Fund 2026)
- Contact
Application contact: Devorah Levine Executive Director
Mailing address: 1333 N California Blvd 575, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
Phone: (925) 935-9988
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation
Who Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Food Bank of Contra Costa Solano ($300K). Together the top 10 received $1.8M.
Organizations only. It also paid 6 grants to individuals ($136,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
534 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 381 grants of 534 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that grants are limited to projects and programs within Contra Costa County. All reported 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 128 itemized grants.
Cities
How Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation gives
- 70% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 143% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4.9M (2022) to $5.6M (2020). In 2025 it made 128 grants totaling $5.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Food Bank of Contra Costa Solano Concord, CA | FY 23-25 Food Bank General Support | $300,000 |
| Diablo Regional Arts Association Walnut Creek, CA | General Support | $285,000 |
| First 5 Contra Costa Concord, CA | Ready Community, Ready Schools, Ready Families | $230,100 |
| Contra Costa Family Justice Allianc Richmond, CA | Contra Costa Family Justice Center | $205,000 |
| John Muir Health Foundation Walnut Creek, CA | John Muir Cancer Center | $200,000 |
| Friends of the Oakley Library Oakley, CA | Capital Grant | $200,000 |
| Meals On Wheels Diablo Region Walnut Creek, CA | general operating support | $110,000 |
| Rubicon Programs Inc Richmond, CA | Equipping East Bay Communities to Achieve Lasting Mobility | $110,000 |
| City of Walnut Creek Walnut Creek, CA | Capital Improvements and Upgrades & Implementing New Strategic Plan | $100,000 |
| STAND For Families Free of Violence Concord, CA | Agency Core Support | $100,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $93,658,654 | $5,861,871 | $7,521,183 | $5,300,800 | 128 | $6,822,153 | $5,300,744 | $4,767,034 |
| 2024 | $95,293,739 | $30,213,973 | $7,798,112 | $5,529,375 | 139 | $7,408,536 | $29,689,518 | $4,105,162 |
| 2023 | $72,758,653 | $-15,593,732 | $7,201,005 | $4,959,200 | 125 | $6,732,700 | $1,519,220 | $4,369,032 |
| 2022 | $95,167,223 | $21,147,069 | $6,588,411 | $4,894,000 | 141 | $6,156,530 | $20,623,435 | $4,246,557 |
| 2021 | $81,108,894 | $8,575,909 | $6,715,991 | $5,302,200 | 1 | $6,211,326 | $8,178,660 | $5,027,156 |
| 2020 | $79,112,151 | $7,723,511 | $6,957,526 | $5,557,700 | 1 | — | $7,263,197 | $4,261,653 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.8M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to enhance the quality of life for all residents of Contra Costa County. Its website identifies support for children and families, education, and arts and culture as ways it pursues that mission.
Its 2025 grants included arts organizations, health and human-services organizations, libraries, and education and family-support programs. For example, Diablo Regional Arts Association says it invests in outstanding arts experiences and creates ways for everyone to enjoy the arts. Friends of the Oakley Library says it supports the Oakley Public Library and advocates for library resources, programs, and improvements. Meals on Wheels Diablo Region says it provides meals and supportive services to help older adults live independently, safely, and with dignity. STAND! says it works to eliminate intimate partner violence and cultivate safer communities, while Opportunity Junction says it helps Contra Costa County job seekers develop skills and confidence for careers leading to financial security.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 128 grants totaling $5,300,800. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $300,000, with a median grant of $25,000.
Among the largest reported 2025 grants were $300,000 to Food Bank of Contra Costa Solano for general support; $285,000 to Diablo Regional Arts Association for general support; $230,100 to First 5 Contra Costa for Ready Community, Ready Schools, Ready Families; $205,000 to Contra Costa Family Justice Alliance for the Contra Costa Family Justice Center; and $200,000 each to John Muir Health Foundation for the John Muir Cancer Center and Friends of the Oakley Library for a capital grant. Other grants included $110,000 to Meals on Wheels Diablo Region for general operating support and $100,000 to Opportunity Junction for general support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Stephen Lesher as President; Joseph Lesher as Vice President; David Lesher as Secretary; and Jill O’Brien, Cynthia Lesher, Linda Davis, Kathleen Odne, and Tim Lesher as Directors. The filing’s application instructions identify Devorah Levine as Executive Director.
Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation is led by Stephen Lesher, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); all 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Stephen Lesher
President
Director → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$14K (2020) → $14K (2025)
Cynthia Lesher
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $14K (2025)
Jill O'Brien
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $15K (2025)
Kathleen Odne
Director
Interim Executive Director → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$124K (2020) → $15K (2025)
Linda Davis
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$27K (2020) → $17K (2025)
Tim Lesher
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $3K (2025)
David Lesher
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $14K (2025)
Joseph Lesher
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $15K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $17K, to Linda Davis (Director). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation
How much does Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation give each year?
Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation gave $5.3M across 128 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $5.5M across 139 grants.
What is Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation's typical grant size?
Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $41,413, across 128 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation give grants?
Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Richmond, CA (19 grants), Concord, CA (14 grants), Walnut Creek, CA (13 grants) and Oakland, CA (13 grants).
Does Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 24% of Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (31 of 128) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "CARE Fund Grant" (12 grants).
Who are Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation's largest grantees?
Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Food Bank of Contra Costa Solano ($300,000), Diablo Regional Arts Association ($285,000) and First 5 Contra Costa ($230,100), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 6 grants to individuals ($136,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 15% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation?
Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation reported $93.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to enhance the quality of life for all residents of Contra Costa County. Its website identifies support for children and families, education, and arts and culture as ways it pursues that mission. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation?
The foundation’s filing says to contact Executive Director Devorah Levine and submit a letter of inquiry describing a specific project or program, together with an application obtained from the Foundation. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation's EIN?
Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0208980. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/dean-and-margaret-lesher-foundation-morg_96a682a814654ab6ba7c6f0dcf7415d1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_680208980_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/dean-and-margaret-lesher-foundation-morg_96a682a814654ab6ba7c6f0dcf7415d1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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