Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc
Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in areas including environmental conservation, historic preservation, the arts, public health, and community character.
Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc gave $166K across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), mostly in New York. 4% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $166,000
- -2.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- -3.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $6,385
- +1.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $4,500
- Total assets
- $3,172,675
- -2.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (1 of 26, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (60% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 11 East 47Th Street Ste 6R, New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 371-7810
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Kingston Land Trust Inc ($40K). Together the top 10 received $108K.
Grant Size Distribution
139 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 138 grants of 139 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 60% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York and 32% to recipients in Washington. The remaining grant dollars went to Louisiana (3%), the District of Columbia (3%), and Oregon (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 26 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 92% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−13%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 104% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $166K (2024) to $192K (2020). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $166K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kingston Land Trust Inc Kingston, NY | General Support Environmental & Historic Preservation | $40,000 |
| Asian Counseling and Referral Services Seattle, WA | General Support Public Health | $10,000 |
| Wing Luke Museum Seattle, WA | General Support Fine and Decorative Arts | $10,000 |
| Hudson River Watershed Alliance Kingston, NY | General Support Environmental Conservation | $10,000 |
| Maya Gold Foundation New Paltz, NY | General Support Community Character | $10,000 |
| Living Traditions Brooklyn, NY | Restricted to Monas and Brooklyn Folk Festival Projects Performing Arts | $7,500 |
| Threadhead Cultural Foundation New Orleans, LA | Restricted to Sarah Quintana Project Performing Arts | $5,000 |
| Land Trust Alliance Washington, DC | General support Environmental conservation | $5,000 |
| YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County Kingston, NY | Restricted to the Y Farm Project Public Health | $5,000 |
| Friends of Historic Kingston Kingston, NY | General Support Historic Preservation | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,172,675 | $97,542 | $166,966 | $166,000 | 26 | $166,000 | $25,464 | $159,979 |
| 2023 | $3,265,651 | $98,807 | $170,466 | $169,500 | 27 | $169,500 | $33,077 | $161,627 |
| 2022 | $3,293,175 | $88,971 | $175,634 | $174,500 | 28 | $174,500 | $26,075 | $169,160 |
| 2021 | $3,648,803 | $90,481 | $191,084 | $190,000 | 30 | $190,000 | $26,758 | $184,726 |
| 2020 | $3,749,972 | $91,659 | $192,464 | $192,000 | 28 | — | $22,112 | $190,212 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $160K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No formal mission statement is provided. The foundation’s 2024 grants included general support for environmental and historic preservation, environmental conservation, public health, fine and decorative arts, and community character, as well as restricted support for performing arts projects.
Its grantees describe a range of community, cultural, and conservation work. Kingston Land Trust says it protects urban and rural lands, including historic sites, wetlands, scenic areas, and forests in the Kingston area. Friends of Historic Kingston says it supports and protects Kingston’s architectural, historical, and cultural heritage through advocacy, education, and preservation. Living Traditions describes itself as an arts space showcasing folk and traditional music and art, with programming that supports artists and provides community enrichment and education. Seattle Theatre Group describes its work as creating arts experiences, engaging diverse communities, and stewarding historic theatres.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 26 grants totaling $166,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $40,000, with a median of $4,500.
The largest grant was $40,000 to Kingston Land Trust Inc. Other notable grants included $10,000 each to Asian Counseling and Referral Services, Wing Luke Museum, Hudson River Watershed Alliance, and Maya Gold Foundation. Living Traditions received $7,500 for Monas and Brooklyn Folk Festival projects. Threadhead Cultural Foundation received $5,000 for the Sarah Quintana Project, and YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County received $5,000 for the Y Farm Project.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kevin McEvoy as president, Barbara Epstein as treasurer, and Gary Epstein as director.
Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc is led by Kevin McEvoy, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kevin McEvoy
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gary Epstein
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Epstein
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc
How much does Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc give each year?
Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc gave $166K across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $170K across 27 grants.
What is Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $4,500, and its average grant was $6,385, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc that year got $4K on average.
Where does Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc give grants?
Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Washington (32%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (11 grants), Kingston, NY (4 grants) and New Paltz, NY (2 grants).
Does Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 85% of Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (22 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Kingston Land Trust Inc ($40,000), Asian Counseling and Referral Services ($10,000) and Wing Luke Museum ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc?
Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc reported $3.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $166K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $160K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc fund?
No formal mission statement is provided. The foundation’s 2024 grants included general support for environmental and historic preservation, environmental conservation, public health, fine and decorative arts, and community character, as well as restricted support for performing arts projects. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc's EIN?
Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-1912764. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc 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 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lester-and-phyllis-epstein-foundation-inc-morg_78d75bbb0eae447080ca07054cc5bc60
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_821912764_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lester-and-phyllis-epstein-foundation-inc-morg_78d75bbb0eae447080ca07054cc5bc60},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Lester and Phyllis Epstein Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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