Esther K Lerner Foundation Trust
Esther K Lerner Foundation Trust is a private foundation, based in West Hartford, CT. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $50K. Net investment income was $76K.
Esther K Lerner Foundation Trust at a glance
In short: Esther K Lerner Foundation Trust gave $50K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), mostly in Connecticut. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $50,000
- -54.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,000
- -31.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $2,159,858
- +1.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Esther K Lerner Foundation Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Autism Families of CT ($25K). Together the top 2 received $50K.
Grant Size Distribution
16 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 16 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Esther K Lerner Foundation Trust gives
- Giving fell 50% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 39% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $40K (2020) to $125K (2023). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $50K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Autism Families of CT Newington, CT | Educational Support | $25,000 |
| University of Hartford West Hartford, CT | Educational Support | $25,000 |
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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 | $2,159,858 | $125,485 | $101,398 | $50,000 | 2 | $50,000 | $75,745 | $127,405 |
| 2024 | $2,135,771 | $181,135 | $156,630 | $110,000 | 3 | $110,000 | $122,188 | $117,507 |
| 2023 | $2,111,266 | $118,270 | $170,149 | $125,000 | 6 | $125,000 | $48,662 | $111,035 |
| 2022 | $2,171,209 | $98,339 | $150,009 | $100,000 | 3 | $100,000 | $33,330 | $53,003 |
| 2021 | $2,222,689 | $482,461 | $118,549 | $65,000 | 2 | $65,000 | $67,111 | $53,801 |
| 2020 | $1,854,892 | $1,928,532 | $72,165 | $40,000 | 2 | — | $60,597 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Esther K Lerner Foundation Trust reported a distributable amount of $127K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Esther K Lerner Foundation Trust is led by John F. Kearns III, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John F. Kearns III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $0 (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
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
Frequently asked questions about Esther K Lerner Foundation Trust
How much does Esther K Lerner Foundation Trust give each year?
Esther K Lerner Foundation Trust gave $50K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $110K across 3 grants.
How large is Esther K Lerner Foundation Trust?
Esther K Lerner Foundation Trust reported $2.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $50K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $127K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
Where does Esther K Lerner Foundation Trust operate?
Esther K Lerner Foundation Trust has awarded grants in Connecticut, Ohio.
What is Esther K Lerner Foundation Trust's EIN?
Esther K Lerner Foundation Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-6716895. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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