Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation
The Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation is a family foundation established in 1989 and based in Walnut Creek, California. The foundation enhances the quality of life in Contra Costa County through strategic charitable giving and community partnerships.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$95.3M
+31.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.5M
+11.5% YoY
Grant Count
139
+11.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
+0.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to enhance the quality of life in Contra Costa County, California, through charitable giving in support of:
- Education
- The Arts
- Children & Families
The foundation emphasizes supporting organizations that serve underserved and low-income communities within the county.
Grantmaking
The foundation offers various grant programs:
Grant Range
Up to $10,000
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Contra Costa County, California, with particular emphasis on underserved and low-income communities within the region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $95,293,739 | $72,758,653 | $95,167,223 |
| Revenue | $30,213,973 | $-15,593,732 | $21,147,069 |
| Expenses | $7,798,112 | $7,201,005 | $6,588,411 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,408,536 | $6,732,700 | $6,156,530 |
| Net Investment Income | $29,689,518 | $1,519,220 | $20,623,435 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,105,162 | $4,369,032 | $4,246,557 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Diablo Regional Arts Association ($260,000), First 5 Contra Costa ($183,000), Contra Costa Family Justice Allianc ($152,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Aim High for High School San Francisco, CA | Expanding Aim High Magic in Richmond: 2023 & 2024 Middle School Summer Enrichment | $30,000 |
| Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation Pasadena, CA | Champ Camp | $5,000 |
| Bay Area Creative Hayward, CA | CARE Fund Grant Award | $25,000 |
| Bay Area Crisis Nursery Concord, CA | Crisis Nursery Services | $20,000 |
| Bay Area Legal Aid Oakland, CA | Contra Costa Legal Safety Net Project | $75,000 |
| Bay Area Rescue Mission Richmond, CA | Love Without Limits Program | $55,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bay Are Oakland, CA | Benefit Contra Costa youth | $25,000 |
| Biotech Partners Berkeley, CA | Antioch High Biotech Academy - Creating Bioscience Career Pathways for At-Promise Youth | $45,000 |
| Bridge Builders to the New Generati Antioch, CA | Change the Narrative | $40,000 |
| California State Univ East Bay Fdn Hayward, CA | Mathematics, engineering, science achievement | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Devorah Levine — Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jill O'Brien | Director | 2 | $15,000 |
| Cynthia Lesher | Director | 2 | $6,000 |
| Stephen Lesher | President | 2 | $13,500 |
| David Lesher | Secretary | 2 | $15,000 |
| Linda Davis | Director | 5 | $25,500 |
| Kathleen Odne | Director | 2 | $15,000 |
| Tim Lesher | Director | 2 | $13,500 |
| Joseph Lesher | Vice President | 2 | $15,000 |
Contact Information
- Website: www.lesherfoundation.org
- Phone: 925-935-9988
- Address: 1333 N California Blvd Ste 575, Walnut Creek, CA 94596-4555
- EIN: 68-0208980
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to enhance the quality of life in Contra Costa County, California, through charitable giving in support of: • **Education** • **The Arts** • **Children & Families** The foundation emphasizes supporting organizations that serve underserved and low-income communities within the county.
How do I apply for a grant from Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation?
The foundation offers various grant programs: **CARE Fund Grants** • Annual funding pool: $200,000 • Individual grant size: Up to $10,000 • Purpose: One-time grants to support nonprofit staff wellness, resilience, and organizational strength • Eligible activities include wellness and renewal activities, team retreats and relationship-building, professional training and development, and leadership coaching and wellness stipends **General Grants** • Recent grants have ranged from $10,000 to $400,…
Where does Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation make grants?
Contra Costa County, California, with particular emphasis on underserved and low-income communities within the region.
What size grants does Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation award?
In 2024, Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation awarded 139 grants totaling $5.5M — an average of about $40K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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