James M Lea Foundation
The James M Lea Foundation is a private foundation based in Seattle, Washington. Its 2023 filing is marked as the organization’s final return and states that the foundation distributed all its funds to qualified charities aligned with the founder’s mission and has terminated. It therefore appears to have wound down and stopped grantmaking.
James M Lea Foundation at a glance
In short: James M Lea Foundation gave $1.3M across 16 grants in 2023 (avg $78K), mostly in Washington. 25% of 2023 grantees were new. Source: 2023 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2023)
- $1,255,488
- -6.1% vs 2022
- Grants made (2023)
- 16
- -15.8% vs 2022
- Average grant
- $78,468
- +11.5% vs 2022
- Median grant
- $42,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (4 of 16, 2023; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Washington (100% of itemized 2023 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2023 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2023; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to James M Lea Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 119 S Main Street Suite 405, Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: (206) 728-5858
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who James M Lea Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2023
The largest 2023 recipient was Washington National Park Fund ($300K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
68 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 35 grants of 68 (51%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All 2023 grant dollars went to recipients in Washington State.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2023 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is James M Lea Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2023
In 2023, 4 of 16 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $18K; repeat grants $99K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $75K repeat.
- 75% of 2023 grantees were also funded in 2022. Method
- Giving grew 43% from 2020 to 2023. Method
- In 2023 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2023). 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 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $876K (2020) to $1.3M (2022). In 2023 it made 16 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Washington National Park Fund Seattle, WA | Preserve National Parks in Washington | $300,000 |
| Washington Trails Association Seattle, WA | To Support Washington Trails Association's Youth Programs. | $200,000 |
| Conservation NW Seattle, WA | To Fund Environmental Protection Programs. | $168,000 |
| YMCA of Greater Seattle Seattle, WA | To fund the outdoor bold & gold education program & the ymca camp programs | $150,000 |
| Univ of Washington Foundation Seattle, WA | To support the engineering academic center endowed fund, eac staff support, 2020 summer wise-up bridge program; and eac undergraduate scholarships. | $140,000 |
| Woodland Park Zoo Seattle, WA | To support the zoo corp youth program and the living northwest conservation programs, including endangered species recovery; education and conservation action; and wildlife science. | $85,000 |
| Foss Waterway Seaport Tacoma, WA | To fund the "science on the sea program and "eco-kayaking program" | $65,000 |
| Bellevue Community College Bellevue, WA | Support Engineering Programs and Student Aide | $50,000 |
| WSU Foundation Seattle, WA | Beach Watchers and Naturalist Program | $35,000 |
| The Zoo Society Tacoma, WA | To Support Low LNCOME School Scholarships. | $30,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2023 filing reports 16 grants.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | $34,180 | $1,258,868 | $1,255,488 | 16 | $1,257,178 | $32,490 | $32,613 |
| 2022 | $1,224,688 | $198,809 | $1,350,700 | $1,337,300 | 19 | $1,346,295 | $194,404 | $95,518 |
| 2021 | $2,377,375 | $236,789 | $1,197,675 | $1,184,500 | 17 | $1,190,884 | $229,997 | $164,179 |
| 2020 | $3,338,261 | $-126,127 | $889,066 | $875,600 | 16 | — | $54,395 | $189,608 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James M Lea Foundation reported a distributable amount of $33K for 2023 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s 2023 filing describes its charitable activity as “preserving the wonders of the Pacific Northwest by supporting education, conservation and engineering programs.” Its 2023 grants included support for parks, trails, environmental protection, youth and outdoor education, wildlife conservation, maritime science programs, and engineering education.
Among its grantees, Washington Trails Association describes its mission as connecting everyone to the outdoors and building a community that gives back to trails and public lands. Conservation NW says it protects, connects, and restores wildlands and wildlife from the Washington coast to the British Columbia Rockies. Foss Waterway Seaport describes its mission as celebrating Tacoma’s maritime heritage.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation gave $1,255,488 through 16 grants. Grants ranged from $3,000 to $300,000, with a median of $42,500. Notable grants included $300,000 to Washington National Park Fund, $200,000 to Washington Trails Association, $168,000 to Conservation NW, $150,000 to YMCA of Greater Seattle, and $140,000 to the University of Washington Foundation.
The foundation’s filing states that it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. The filing also says the foundation has terminated.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The officers and directors listed on the 2023 filing are John Keckemet, president; Sandra Prince, treasurer; Mary Anne Petesch and Christopher Mason, board members; and Charles Frevert, secretary.
James M Lea Foundation is led by John Keckemet, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2023 report compensation.
Officers on the 2023 filing
John Keckemet
President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles Frevert
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Mason
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Anne Petesch
Board Member
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Prince
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2023. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about James M Lea Foundation
How much does James M Lea Foundation give each year?
James M Lea Foundation gave $1.3M across 16 grants in 2023, according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2022 it gave $1.3M across 19 grants.
What is James M Lea Foundation's typical grant size?
James M Lea Foundation's median grant in 2023 was $42,500, and its average grant was $78,468, across 16 grants on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from James M Lea Foundation that year got $18K on average.
Where does James M Lea Foundation give grants?
James M Lea Foundation gives mostly in Washington: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (10 grants) and Tacoma, WA (3 grants).
Does James M Lea Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2023: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on James M Lea Foundation's 2023 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are James M Lea Foundation's largest grantees?
James M Lea Foundation's largest 2023 grantees include Washington National Park Fund ($300,000), Washington Trails Association ($200,000) and Conservation NW ($168,000), according to its 2023 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2023 grant dollars.
What does James M Lea Foundation fund?
The foundation’s 2023 filing describes its charitable activity as “preserving the wonders of the Pacific Northwest by supporting education, conservation and engineering programs.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from James M Lea Foundation?
James M Lea Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines.
How much is James M Lea Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2023, James M Lea Foundation reported a distributable amount of $33K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is James M Lea Foundation's EIN?
James M Lea Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-1949537. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2023.
Does James M Lea Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
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