Local Enterprise Assistance Fund
The Local Enterprise Assistance Fund (LEAF) is a Boston-based public charity founded in 1982. It provides financing and advisory or development assistance to cooperatives, social-purpose ventures, and underserved Massachusetts businesses.
Local Enterprise Assistance Fund at a glance
In short: Local Enterprise Assistance Fund gave $319K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $20K), mostly in Massachusetts. 94% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $318,577
- +305.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- +220.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,911
- +26.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $22,246
- Total assets
- $34,477,645
- +10.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 94% first-time grantees (15 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Local Enterprise Assistance Fund
- Contact
Mailing address: 386 Western Avenue, Boston, MA 02135
Phone: (617) 232-1551
Website: https://leaffund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Local Enterprise Assistance Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Boathouse Bistro LLC ($25K). Together the top 10 received $231K.
Grant Size Distribution
30 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 29 grants of 30 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
LEAF’s website describes financing for cooperatives across the United States, including worker, food, and housing cooperatives. Its Massachusetts services include support for underserved small businesses and healthy food enterprises. All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Local Enterprise Assistance Fund open to new grantees?
94%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 15 of 16 grantees (94%) 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 $21K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $22K first-time, $8K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $56K (2021) to $319K (2025). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $319K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boathouse Bistro LLC North Weymouth, MA | Grant to Support Activities of Organization | $25,000 |
| The Boston Foundation Boston, MA | Grant to Support Activities of Organization | $25,000 |
| Vicente's New Bedford LLC Brockton, MA | Grant to Support Activities of Organization | $25,000 |
| Merengue Restaurant and Catering Roxbury, MA | Grant to Support Activities of Organization | $22,527 |
| Caitlyn Fontes - Two Sisters (Name of Restaurant) East Freetown, MA | Grant to Support Activities of Organization | $22,500 |
| Michael Agricola LLC Lawerance, MA | Grant to Support Activities of Organization | $22,500 |
| Rincon Limeno Revere Inc Revere, MA | Grant to Support Activities of Organization | $22,500 |
| Lenzi's Catering Dracut, MA | Grant to Support Activities of Organization | $22,492 |
| Ellen Wilson DBA Free Rangers Farm Carver, MA | Grant to Support Activities of Organization | $22,000 |
| Dieudonne Lean DBA Dee's Delux Caribbean Brockton, MA | Grant to Support Activities of Organization | $21,700 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,477,645 | $5,593,085 | $5,172,487 | $318,577 | 16 | $224,660 |
| 2024 | $31,143,770 | $5,216,398 | $4,323,969 | $78,558 | 5 | $277,627 |
| 2023 | $26,238,896 | $3,524,747 | $2,918,153 | $84,000 | Total only | $208,756 |
| 2022 | $24,155,726 | $8,343,201 | $2,679,863 | $257,500 | 5 | $2,638 |
| 2021 | $15,497,669 | $3,351,663 | $1,811,515 | $55,775 | 4 | $4,972 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
LEAF’s stated mission is to promote human and economic development by providing financing and development assistance to cooperatives and social-purpose ventures that create and retain jobs for low-income people. Its 2023 filing says its financing activities focus on healthy foods, affordable housing, cooperative ownership, and empowering low-income people to create and manage their own businesses.
The website describes financing and assistance for worker-owned, food, and housing cooperatives; Massachusetts farm and food retail businesses; community land trusts; and underserved minority- and women-owned businesses in Massachusetts. It also describes support for worker cooperatives and existing businesses across the United States that are converting to worker ownership.
In 2025, LEAF gave Mill City Grows Inc. $12,000. The grantee describes its mission as fostering food justice in Lowell through increased access to land, locally grown food, and education, while improving physical health, economic independence, and environmental sustainability.
Grantmaking
The 2025 filing reports 16 grants totaling $318,577. Grant amounts ranged from $8,100 to $25,000, with a median of $22,246. The largest listed grants included $25,000 each to Boathouse Bistro LLC, The Boston Foundation, and Vicente’s New Bedford LLC. Other listed recipients included Merengue Restaurant and Catering ($22,527), Caitlyn Fontes - Two Sisters ($22,500), and Michael Agricola LLC ($22,500). The stated purpose for these grants was to support the recipient organizations’ activities.
LEAF’s website describes a loan inquiry and underwriting process. After an initial inquiry, LEAF reviews fit and may schedule a call to discuss financial goals, social mission, use of funds, credit, equity, and collateral. Applicants it considers promising but not yet ready may receive suggestions for strengthening an application. Underwriting involves a completed loan application and document review; LEAF assesses mission fit, the number of low-income people served relative to the investment, financial viability, and available collateral. A written credit memorandum covers the transaction structure, organization history and operations, key individuals, partners, suppliers or customers, historical financial statements, and projections. The board votes on credit and investment decisions; only non-staff board members may vote. The website describes these as loan and investment decisions, not an application process for grants.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gerardo Espinoza as executive director and director; Christopher Hunter as a director; Damilola Odetola as director and treasurer; Alexander Pyle as director and clerk; Christine Clamp as director and chairperson; and Terry Lewis, David Hammer, and John Smith as directors. It also lists Fatiha Ainane as senior financial analyst and Matthew Pires as financial analyst.
Local Enterprise Assistance Fund is led by Gerardo Espinoza Director, Executive Director since 2025 (on filings since 2021); 13 of 20 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gerardo Espinoza Director
Executive Director
Leaf Executive Director → Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$124K (2021) → $200K (2025)
Christine Clamp
Director & Chairperson
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amine Benali Director
Managing Director
Leaf Managing Director → Managing Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$110K (2021) → $183K (2025)
Christopher Hunter Director
Advisory Service Director
Leaf Dvisory Service Director → Leaf Advisory Service Director, 2024
Leaf Advisory Service Director → Advisory Service Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$113K (2023) → $167K (2025)
Virginia Berman
Director of Committee & Marketing
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$125K (2025)
Alexander Pyle
Director & Clerk
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Damilola Odetola
Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Hammer
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shelley Miller
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Terry Lewis
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Smith
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jose Luis Rojas Director
Chief Lending Officer
Leaf Chief Operating Officer → Leaf Chief Lending Officer, 2024
Leaf Chief Lending Officer → Chief Lending Officer, 2025
On filings since 2022
32 hrs/week
$122K (2022) → $169K (2025)
Alan Singer
Senior Loan Officer
Leaf Senior Loan Officer → Senior Loan Officer, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$109K (2024) → $119K (2025)
Fatiha Ainane
Senior Financial Anal
Leaf Senior Financial Analyst → Senior Financial Anal, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$46K (2024) → $131K (2025)
Matthew Pires
Financial Analyst
Leaf Financial Analyst → Financial Analyst, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$76K (2024) → $119K (2025)
Carol Ann McAuliffe
CFO
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$183K (2025)
James Louney
Retiring CFO
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$150K (2025)
Jordan Browne
Financial Analyst
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$123K (2025)
Joshua Glickenhaus
Senior Loan Officer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$136K (2025)
Mary Wong
Senior Loan Officer
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$126K (2025)
Former officers (4)
- Former: Conor McFarland (2024) — Leaf Development Manager - Termed Oct
- Former: Kerwin Tesdell (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Josh Glickens Director (2023) — Leaf Development Manager
- Former: Betsy Cowan-Neptune (2021–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $200K, to Gerardo Espinoza Director (Executive Director). 13 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Local Enterprise Assistance Fund
How much does Local Enterprise Assistance Fund give each year?
Local Enterprise Assistance Fund gave $319K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $79K across 5 grants.
What is Local Enterprise Assistance Fund's typical grant size?
Local Enterprise Assistance Fund's median grant in 2025 was $22,246, and its average grant was $19,911, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Local Enterprise Assistance Fund that year got $21K on average.
Where does Local Enterprise Assistance Fund give grants?
Local Enterprise Assistance Fund gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Brockton, MA (2 grants).
Does Local Enterprise Assistance Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Local Enterprise Assistance Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Grant to Support Activities of Organization" (16 grants).
Who are Local Enterprise Assistance Fund's largest grantees?
Local Enterprise Assistance Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Boathouse Bistro LLC ($25,000), The Boston Foundation ($25,000) and Vicente's New Bedford LLC ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Local Enterprise Assistance Fund?
Local Enterprise Assistance Fund reported $34.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.6M.
What does Local Enterprise Assistance Fund fund?
LEAF’s stated mission is to promote human and economic development by providing financing and development assistance to cooperatives and social-purpose ventures that create and retain jobs for low-income people. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Local Enterprise Assistance Fund?
Local Enterprise Assistance Fund has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check leaffund.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Local Enterprise Assistance Fund's EIN?
Local Enterprise Assistance Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-2763724. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 17, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Local Enterprise Assistance Fund funds
Employment Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Local Enterprise Assistance Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Local Enterprise Assistance Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/local-enterprise-assistance-fund-morg_4be3f71ebc644c90a2ea20fbedb5cdeb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_042763724_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Local Enterprise Assistance Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/local-enterprise-assistance-fund-morg_4be3f71ebc644c90a2ea20fbedb5cdeb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Local Enterprise Assistance Fund'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.
Local Enterprise Assistance Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?