The India Benton Lesser Foundation logo

The India Benton Lesser Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Sarasota, FL EIN: 58-2436064 Website

The India Benton Lesser Foundation is a private foundation based in Sarasota, Florida. Its grant program supports qualified 501(c)(3) organizations, with stated interests in healthcare initiatives, educational development, family services, and youth welfare.

Key facts about The India Benton Lesser Foundation

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.

EIN
58-2436064
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$32,718
Grants made (2025)
16
Average grant
$2,045
Median grant
$1,100
New grantees (estimate)
56% first-time grantees (9 of 16, 2025)
Total assets
$73,887
Primary geography
Georgia (56% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
The 2025 filing says to submit a written request indicating the need for aid and assistance. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$74K

-1.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$33K

-41.3% YoY

Grant Count

16

-11.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$2K

-34.0% YoY

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.

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. 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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s grant program identifies healthcare initiatives, educational development, family services, and youth welfare as areas of particular interest. Its program information describes eligible organizations as qualified 501(c)(3)s and names Bibb County, Georgia, and surrounding areas; it also encourages organizations from Bibb, Hall, Clarke, and Sarasota Counties to apply.

Its 2025 grantees illustrate a range of work. Holiday House SRQ says it creates community holiday experiences and removes barriers to education by providing resources to Title 1 elementary schools. Children First describes its mission as strengthening children and families through development, education, health, and well-being services. Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia says it provides residential programs for homeless men and community outreach, including meals and supplies for people in need. SPCA Florida says it works to eliminate animal suffering through adoption, veterinary services, and other animal-welfare programs.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $32,718 through 16 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $15,000, with a median of $1,100. The largest grants included $15,000 to Davis Love Foundation; $3,600 to Artists Series; $2,000 to Solo Parent Society; and $1,500 each to Children First, Holiday House SRQ, and SE Guide Dogs. The filing lists the grants’ purposes as “GENERAL.”

Review Cycle

, and reports no restrictions on awards. The foundation’s website also provides grant application materials and a checklist.

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from The India Benton Lesser Foundation

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation’s website describes its work as helping make Central and Northeast Georgia a better place. Its grant-program information identifies Bibb County and surrounding areas and encourages applications from Bibb, Hall, Clarke, and Sarasota Counties. In 2025, 56% of grant dollars went to Georgia recipients, 36% to Florida, 6% to Tennessee, and 2% to Maryland.

Grant Distribution by State

9states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.

Cities

SarasotaMaconAthensSt Simons IslandBaltimoreBradentonChestnut MountainPonte Vedra BeachEnglewoodMarquetteNew YorkPalmettoRoswellWashingtonFranklinGainesvilleGsainesvilleHagerstownSt PetersburgStevens Point Dr

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$20K$40K$60K22 grants2020 17 grants2021 15 grants2022 17 grants2023 18 grants2024 16 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $33K (2025) to $56K (2024). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $33K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Davis Love Foundation: $15KDavis Love Foundation$15KArtists Series: $4KArtists Series$4KSolo Parent Society: $2KSolo Parent Society$2KChildren First: $2KChildren First$2KHoliday House SRQ: $2KHoliday House SRQ$2KSe Guide Dogs: $2KSe Guide Dogs$2KRescue Mission of Middle Georgia: $1KRescue Mission of MiddleGeorgia$1KYMCA of Athens: $1KYMCA of Athens$1KFL Westcoast Symphony: $1KFL Westcoast Symphony$1KBoys & Girls Club: $1KBoys & Girls Club$1K

The largest 2025 recipient was Davis Love Foundation ($15K). Together the top 10 received $30K.

Grant Size Distribution

83 grants across all recorded years

83<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 83 grants of 83 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Davis Love Foundation St Simons Island, GAGeneral$15,000
Artists Series Sarasota, FLGeneral$3,600
Solo Parent Society Franklin, TNGeneral$2,000
Children First Sarasota, FLGeneral$1,500
Holiday House SRQ Sarasota, FLGeneral$1,500
Se Guide Dogs Palmetto, FLGeneral$1,500
Rescue Mission of Middle Georgia Macon, GAGeneral$1,200
YMCA of Athens Athens, GAGeneral$1,200
FL Westcoast Symphony Sarasota, FLGeneral$1,000
Boys & Girls Club Sarasota, FLGeneral$1,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

The filing reports the following amounts:

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $73,887 $57,665 $58,570 $32,718
2024 $74,792 $61,337 $76,184 $55,760
2023 $89,639 $38,398 $58,791 $38,340
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$50K$100K$150K$200K2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$73,887$74,792$89,639
Revenue$57,665$61,337$38,398
Expenses$58,570$76,184$58,791
Qualifying Distributions$32,718$55,760$38,340
Net Investment Income$3,023$3,099$2,555
Distributable Amount$3,619$5,105$5,465

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 12, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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 she taught in Bibb County for 29 years. It describes Bruce W. Lesser as a co-founder.

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.

Contact

Application contact: Carter Bates
Mailing address: 438 Cotton Ave, Macon, GA 31201
Phone: (478) 749-9921
Email: www.thelesserfoundation.org
Website: https://thelesserfoundation.org

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 grant program identifies healthcare initiatives, educational development, family services, and youth welfare as areas of particular interest. 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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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