The India Benton Lesser Foundation
The India Benton Lesser Foundation is a private foundation based in Sarasota, Florida. Its website describes a family legacy of community involvement and says the foundation was established to help make Central and Northeast Georgia a better place for its residents.
The India Benton Lesser Foundation at a glance
In short: The India Benton Lesser Foundation gave $33K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Georgia. 56% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $32,718
- -41.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- -11.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,045
- -34.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,100
- Total assets
- $73,887
- -1.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 56% first-time grantees (9 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Georgia (56% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The India Benton Lesser Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2025 filing says to submit a written request indicating the need for aid and assistance. It lists no restrictions on awards and says there are no deadlines. The foundation’s website also provides a grant application and checklist.
- Contact
Application contact: Carter Bates
Mailing address: 438 Cotton Ave, Macon, GA 31201
Phone: (478) 749-9921
Website: https://thelesserfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The India Benton Lesser Foundation
Who The India Benton Lesser Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Davis Love Foundation ($15K). Together the top 10 received $30K.
Grant Size Distribution
83 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 83 grants of 83 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website describes its purpose as helping make Central and Northeast Georgia a better place for residents. The grant program description identifies Bibb County and surrounding areas and encourages organizations from Bibb, Hall, Clarke, and Sarasota Counties to apply. In 2025, 56% of grant dollars went to Georgia recipients and 36% to Florida recipients; Tennessee received 6% and Maryland 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The India Benton Lesser Foundation open to new grantees?
56%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 16 grantees (56%) 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 $935; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 38% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 40% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 904% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $33K (2025) to $56K (2024). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $33K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Davis Love Foundation St Simons Island, GA | General | $15,000 |
| Artists Series Sarasota, FL | General | $3,600 |
| Solo Parent Society Franklin, TN | General | $2,000 |
| Children First Sarasota, FL | General | $1,500 |
| Holiday House SRQ Sarasota, FL | General | $1,500 |
| Se Guide Dogs Palmetto, FL | General | $1,500 |
| Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia Macon, GA | General | $1,200 |
| YMCA of Athens Athens, GA | General | $1,200 |
| FL Westcoast Symphony Sarasota, FL | General | $1,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club Sarasota, FL | General | $1,000 |
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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 | $73,887 | $57,665 | $58,570 | $32,718 | 16 | $32,718 | $3,023 | $3,619 |
| 2024 | $74,792 | $61,337 | $76,184 | $55,760 | 18 | $55,760 | $3,099 | $5,105 |
| 2023 | $89,639 | $38,398 | $58,791 | $38,340 | 17 | $38,340 | $2,555 | $5,465 |
| 2022 | $110,032 | $141,917 | $142,471 | $54,285 | 15 | $54,285 | $33,488 | — |
| 2021 | $110,586 | $95,263 | $83,288 | $52,700 | 17 | $52,700 | $2,810 | — |
| 2020 | $98,611 | $-23,504 | $81,289 | $50,755 | 22 | — | $3,072 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The India Benton Lesser Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s program description identifies healthcare initiatives, educational development, family services, and youth welfare as areas of particular interest. The website also provides grant and scholarship application materials.
Its 2025 grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, Solo Parent says it empowers single parents through tailored programs and community support; Children First describes its work as strengthening children and families through development, education, health, and well-being services; and Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia describes residential programs for homeless men alongside community outreach. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $32,718. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $15,000, with a median grant of $1,100. The largest awards included $15,000 to Davis Love Foundation, $3,600 to Artists Series, and $2,000 to Solo Parent Society. Other notable grants included $1,500 each to Children First, Holiday House SRQ, and SE Guide Dogs, and $1,200 each to Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia and YMCA of Athens. The listed grants were reported for general purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists India Benton Lesser, Bruce W. Lesser, Steve Lesser, and Carolyn Severson as trustees. The foundation’s website identifies India Benton Lesser as its founder and says Bruce W. Lesser co-founded it with his wife.
The India Benton Lesser Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bruce W. Lesser
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
India Benton Lesser
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steve Lesser
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Severson
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Diane Walton (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Rachel Stokes (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Ruth M. Smith (2020–2024) — Trustee
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 The India Benton Lesser Foundation
How much does The India Benton Lesser Foundation give each year?
The India Benton Lesser Foundation gave $33K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $56K across 18 grants.
What is The India Benton Lesser Foundation's typical grant size?
The India Benton Lesser Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,100, and its average grant was $2,045, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The India Benton Lesser Foundation that year got $935 on average.
Where does The India Benton Lesser Foundation give grants?
The India Benton Lesser Foundation gives mostly in Georgia: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Florida (36%) and Tennessee (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Sarasota, FL (8 grants) and Macon, GA (2 grants).
Does The India Benton Lesser Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The India Benton Lesser Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The India Benton Lesser Foundation's largest grantees?
The India Benton Lesser Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Davis Love Foundation ($15,000), Artists Series ($3,600) and Solo Parent Society ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The India Benton Lesser Foundation?
The India Benton Lesser Foundation reported $74K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $33K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The India Benton Lesser Foundation fund?
The foundation’s program description identifies healthcare initiatives, educational development, family services, and youth welfare as areas of particular interest. The website also provides grant and scholarship application materials. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The India Benton Lesser Foundation?
The 2025 filing says to submit a written request indicating the need for aid and assistance. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The India Benton Lesser Foundation's EIN?
The India Benton Lesser Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-2436064. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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