Leeson Foundation
Leeson Foundation is a private foundation, based in Los Gatos, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $92K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $3K. Net investment income was $3K.
Leeson Foundation at a glance
In short: Leeson Foundation gave $3K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $425), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,400
- -2.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $425
- -15.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $450
- Total assets
- $92,456
- -3.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (56% 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 Leeson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Symph San Jose Artspark ($1K). Together the top 8 received $3K.
Grant Size Distribution
33 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 33 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Leeson Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 132% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $2K (2020) to $4K (2021). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $3K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Symph San Jose Artspark San Jose, CA | EDU | $1,000 |
| Caltech Pasadena, CA | EDU | $600 |
| MIT Cambridge, MA | EDU | $600 |
| Uofm Ann Arbor, MI | EDU | $600 |
| Wayne St U Detroit, MI | EDU | $300 |
| Stanford Hist Soc Stanford, CA | EDU | $100 |
| CHM Mountain View, CA | EDU | $100 |
| Stanford Cancer Standord, CA | EDU | $100 |
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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 | $92,456 | $3,077 | $6,088 | $3,400 | 8 | $6,088 | $3,077 | $4,629 |
| 2024 | $95,493 | $3,847 | $4,750 | $3,500 | 7 | $4,750 | $3,847 | $4,734 |
| 2023 | $96,396 | $4,188 | $4,328 | $3,200 | 7 | $4,328 | $4,188 | $4,740 |
| 2022 | $96,509 | $1,178 | $5,041 | $3,950 | 6 | $5,041 | $1,178 | $4,874 |
| 2021 | $100,372 | $50 | $4,704 | $4,000 | 5 | $5,404 | $50 | $5,165 |
| 2020 | $106,151 | $306 | $2,993 | $1,750 | 4 | — | $306 | $5,321 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Leeson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Leeson Foundation is led by David B Leeson, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David B Leeson
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barbara S Leeson
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Leeson Foundation
How much does Leeson Foundation give each year?
Leeson Foundation gave $3K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $4K across 7 grants.
What is Leeson Foundation's typical grant size?
Leeson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $450, and its average grant was $425, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Leeson Foundation give grants?
Leeson Foundation gives mostly in California: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Michigan (26%) and Massachusetts (18%).
Does Leeson Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Leeson Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Edu" (8 grants).
Who are Leeson Foundation's largest grantees?
Leeson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Symph San Jose Artspark ($1,000), Caltech ($600) and MIT ($600), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Leeson Foundation?
Leeson Foundation reported $92K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Leeson Foundation's EIN?
Leeson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0487136. 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
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