The Lerer Family Charitable Foundation
The Lerer Family Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY, established in 2001. Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a grantmaking foundation focused on charitable giving and investment-based philanthropy.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.0M
-6.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$637K
+55.1% YoY
Grant Count
25
+31.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
+17.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lerer Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $544K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary program area centers on investment gain. Its grantmaking focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services, with particular emphasis on initiatives in New York, California, and the District of Columbia.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 16 grants in its most recent fiscal year (2024). Recent grantees include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds charitable organizations in New York, California, and the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $9,031,781
- Total Revenues: $88,086
- Total Expenses: $733,050
- Investment Income and Dividends: $150,743
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation has maintained consistent assets over recent years, with total assets of $9.68 million reported in 2023.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,031,781 | $9,676,745 | $10,294,249 |
| Revenue | $88,086 | $-41,446 | $9,214,607 |
| Expenses | $733,050 | $576,220 | $360,842 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $636,700 | $410,500 | $294,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $129,067 | $122,040 | $4,492,837 |
| Distributable Amount | $543,600 | $514,176 | $430,966 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
87 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Mayo Clinic ($140,000), New York-presbyterian Fund Inc ($100,000), The Ben and Emily Lerer Charitable Gift Fund ($64,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE BEN AND EMILY LERER CHARITABLE GIFT FUND SAN FRANCISCO, CA | CHARITABLE | $64,000 |
| MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER, MN | CHARITABLE | $140,000 |
| NEW YORK-PRESBYTERIAN FUND INC NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $100,000 |
| RAISEDBY US INC NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| GIFFORDS LAW CENTER TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| ASSOCIATION TO BENEFIT CHILDREN NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA, PA | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| NORTHERN WESTCHESTER HOSPITAL CENTER FOUNDATION INC WESTBURY, NY | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| THE YOUNG MEN'S AND YOUNG WOMEN'S HEBREW ASSOCIATION NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES NEW YORK, NY | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Marissa Lerer is identified as a trustee associated with the foundation's philanthropic activities.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KENNETH BLERER | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| KATHERINE R SAILER | VICE-PRESIDENT | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lerer Family Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary program area centers on investment gain. Its grantmaking focuses on Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services, with particular emphasis on initiatives in New York, California, and the District of Columbia.
How do I apply for a grant from The Lerer Family Charitable Foundation?
The foundation made 16 grants in its most recent fiscal year (2024). Recent grantees include: • Mayo Clinic ($140,000) • New York-Presbyterian Fund ($100,000) • Giffords Law Center To Prevent Gun Violence ($25,000) • Bank Street College Education Typical grant awards range from $200 to $140,000. Total giving in 2024 was $636,700.
Where does The Lerer Family Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds charitable organizations in New York, California, and the District of Columbia.
What size grants does The Lerer Family Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, The Lerer Family Charitable Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $637K — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lerer Family Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lerer Family Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $544K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Lerer Family Charitable Foundation's EIN?
The Lerer Family Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1753295. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Lerer Family Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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