Lessing Foundation
Lessing Foundation is a private foundation, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $179K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $10K. Net investment income was $10K.
Lessing Foundation at a glance
In short: Lessing Foundation gave $10K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,080
- -20.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- -22.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,440
- +2.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $179,137
- -3.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (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 Lessing Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was American Friends of TEL Aviv University ($6K). Together the top 7 received $10K.
Grant Size Distribution
30 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 30 grants of 30 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How Lessing Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 107% 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2021) to $20K (2019). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $10K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Friends of TEL Aviv University New York, NY | To Help with the Charities Main Purpose | $6,000 |
| Leo Baeck Institute New York, NY | To Help with the Charities Main Purpose | $2,100 |
| American Friends of the Israel Museum New York, NY | To Help with the Charity's Main Purpose | $1,100 |
| Artis New York, NY | To Help with Charities CAUS\E | $500 |
| Park Avenue Synagogue New York, NY | To Help with the Charities Main Purpose | $180 |
| Dorot New York, NY | To Help with the Charities Main Purpose | $100 |
| The Blue Card Inc New York, NY | To Help with the Charities Main Purpose | $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 | $179,137 | $5,602 | $11,993 | $10,080 | 7 | $10,130 | $10,245 | $9,486 |
| 2024 | $185,910 | $-9,136 | $14,148 | $12,615 | 9 | $12,665 | $9,461 | $8,773 |
| 2023 | $209,085 | $10,130 | $18,660 | $17,120 | 8 | $17,120 | $10,130 | $8,513 |
| 2022 | $217,870 | $18,358 | $9,540 | $8,480 | 5 | $8,530 | $18,358 | $10,000 |
| 2021 | $211,048 | $21,477 | $5,550 | $4,500 | 1 | — | $21,477 | $10,615 |
| 2020 | $195,575 | $34,037 | $8,800 | $7,750 | 2 | — | $22,706 | $9,479 |
| 2019 | $176,178 | $14,468 | $21,060 | $20,000 | 5 | — | $12,585 | $9,324 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lessing Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Lessing Foundation is led by Joan Lessing, President on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joan Lessing
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Lessing Foundation
How much does Lessing Foundation give each year?
Lessing Foundation gave $10K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $13K across 9 grants.
What is Lessing Foundation's typical grant size?
Lessing Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $1,440, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Lessing Foundation give grants?
Lessing Foundation gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (7 grants).
Does Lessing Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Lessing Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Help with the Charities Main Purpose" (5 grants).
Who are Lessing Foundation's largest grantees?
Lessing Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include American Friends of TEL Aviv University ($6,000), Leo Baeck Institute ($2,100) and American Friends of the Israel Museum ($1,100), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 91% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lessing Foundation?
Lessing Foundation reported $179K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $10K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $9K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Lessing Foundation's EIN?
Lessing Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3092013. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 26, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 23, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 12, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 2, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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