Gardner Harold & Lester
Gardner Harold & Lester is a private foundation, based in Hillsdale, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $684K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $45K. Net investment income was $29K.
Gardner Harold & Lester at a glance
In short: Gardner Harold & Lester gave $45K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $44,604
- -1.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,576
- -1.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,273
- Total assets
- $683,857
- -2.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (90% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
Who Gardner Harold & Lester funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Hillsdale County Community Foundation ($38K). Together the top 8 received $45K.
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 40 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Gardner Harold & Lester gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% 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 $39K (2020) to $49K (2022). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $45K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hillsdale County Community Foundation Hillsdale, MI | General Operating | $37,604 |
| Salvation Army of Hillsdale Hoffman Estates, IL | General Opearating | $1,273 |
| American Cancer Society Oklahoma City, OK | General Operating | $1,273 |
| American Heart Association St Petersburg, FL | General Operating | $1,273 |
| Hillsdale Community Library Hillsdale, MI | General Operating | $1,273 |
| Muscular Dystrophy Association Chicago, IL | General Operating | $636 |
| Cambria Baptist Church Hillsdale, MI | General Operating | $636 |
| Michigan Crossroads Council Inc Boy Scouts Flint, MI | General Operating | $636 |
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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 | $683,857 | $39,613 | $56,122 | $44,604 | 8 | $44,704 | $28,733 | $45,876 |
| 2024 | $700,365 | $38,292 | $57,186 | $45,440 | 8 | $46,540 | $27,803 | $44,837 |
| 2023 | $719,246 | $25,128 | $56,437 | $45,100 | 8 | $47,200 | $16,768 | $42,745 |
| 2022 | $750,606 | $31,843 | $62,027 | $49,200 | 8 | $50,455 | $22,412 | $44,743 |
| 2021 | $780,827 | $101,476 | $56,445 | $45,532 | 8 | $45,532 | $91,261 | $47,353 |
| 2020 | $735,796 | $30,546 | $48,734 | $39,040 | 8 | — | $21,434 | $41,017 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gardner Harold & Lester reported a distributable amount of $46K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Gardner Harold & Lester's only listed officer is County National Bank, Trustee on every filing since 2020 (compensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
County National Bank
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$9K (2020) → $10K (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 $10K, to County National Bank (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Gardner Harold & Lester
How much does Gardner Harold & Lester give each year?
Gardner Harold & Lester gave $45K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $45K across 8 grants.
What is Gardner Harold & Lester's typical grant size?
Gardner Harold & Lester's median grant in 2025 was $1,273, and its average grant was $5,576, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Gardner Harold & Lester give grants?
Gardner Harold & Lester gives mostly in Michigan: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Hillsdale, MI (3 grants).
Does Gardner Harold & Lester give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Gardner Harold & Lester's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (8 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Gardner Harold & Lester's largest grantees?
Gardner Harold & Lester's largest 2025 grantees include Hillsdale County Community Foundation ($37,604), Salvation Army of Hillsdale ($1,273) and American Cancer Society ($1,273), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 90% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Gardner Harold & Lester?
Gardner Harold & Lester reported $684K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $45K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $46K (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.
What is Gardner Harold & Lester's EIN?
Gardner Harold & Lester's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-6668100. 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.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 16, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 7, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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