Lafetra Foundation
The Lafetra Foundation is a private foundation established in 1992 and based in Berkeley, California. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a family foundation with a focus on grantmaking across multiple sectors including education, philanthropy, human services, and environmental conservation.
Key facts about Lafetra Foundation
- EIN
- 95-4380652
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,778,142
- Grants made (2024)
- 33
- Average grant
- $84,186
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $63,955,435
- Primary geography
- California (51% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lafetra Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Lafetra Foundation's 33 itemized 2024 grants were California (51%), Arizona (11%) and New York (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Oakland, CA (5 grants), San Francisco, CA (4 grants), Los Angeles, CA (3 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants). 91% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$64.0M
+1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.8M
+6.0% YoY
Grant Count
33
-2.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$84K
+9.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lafetra Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the Lafetra Foundation supports:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Historic preservation and historic buildings preservation
- Arts
- Science education
- Environmental conservation and water resources
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only.
Grant Range
s:**
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Lafetra Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 33 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $63,955,435
- Total revenues: $3,953,525
- Total expenses: $3,125,239
- Investment income and dividends: $1,812,141
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $2,121,028
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $63.1 million
- Total revenues: $6.88 million
- Total expenses: $2.87 million
- Total liabilities: $0
Giving Rate: Approximately 4.2% of assets annually
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $63,955,435 | $63,127,149 | $59,225,984 |
| Revenue | $3,953,525 | $6,881,386 | $7,428,185 |
| Expenses | $3,125,239 | $2,873,317 | $2,536,504 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,919,292 | $2,726,090 | $2,241,950 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,727,222 | $1,456,849 | $2,995,856 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,537,518 | $2,881,853 | $2,711,779 |
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
165 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Lafd Foundation ($713,142), Center for Biological Diversity ($300,000), Polar Bears International ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LAFD FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $713,142 |
| CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY TUSCON, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $300,000 |
| POLAR BEARS INTERNATIONAL BOZEMAN, MT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| DOC SOCIETY BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| CHICKEN AND EGG PICTURES INC SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| CLIMATE AND CLEAN ENERGY EQUITY FUND WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| COMMUNITY OF WRITERS NEVADA CITY, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| FOR THE FISHES KIHEL, HI | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| GRIST SEATTLE, WA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| ROOSEVELT INSTITUTE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees include:
- Suzanne La Fetra Collier
- Anthony La Fetra
- Michael W La Fetra
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUZANNE LAFETRA | PRESIDENT/CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL W LAFETRA | TREASURER/SECRETARY | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1600 Euclid Ave Berkeley, CA 94709
Telephone: 626-633-6541
EIN: 95-4380652
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Lafetra Foundation fund?
The foundation has not publicly provided a formal mission statement. However, based on its grantmaking patterns, the Lafetra Foundation supports: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Historic preservation and historic buildings preservation • Arts • Science education • Environmental conservation and water resources
How do I apply for a grant from Lafetra Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $2,778,142 • Total giving in 2023: $2,622,000 • Number of grants (2024): 33 grants • Number of grants (2023): 34 grants **Grant Sizes:** • Typical award range: $2,500–$713,142 • Median grant amount: $63,000 • Grant range: $5,000–$350,000 **Recent Grantees (2024):** • LAFD Fire Hogs Foundation: $713,142 (General Support) • Center for Biological Diversity: $300,000 (General Support) • Polar Bears International: $200,000 (General Support) • The Universit…
Where does Lafetra Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does Lafetra Foundation award?
In 2024, Lafetra Foundation awarded 33 grants totaling $2.8M — an average of about $84K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Lafetra Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Lafetra Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Lafetra Foundation's EIN?
Lafetra Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4380652. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Lafetra Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lafetra 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.