The Lessing Family Foundation
The Lessing Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Albany, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $451K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $30K. Net investment income was $19K.
Key facts about The Lessing Family Foundation
In short: The Lessing Family Foundation gave $30K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in District of Columbia. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 03-0518473
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $30,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- Average grant
- $15,000
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $450,553
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (83% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$451K
-3.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$30K
+9.1% YoY
Grant Count
2
-50.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
+118.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lessing Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $44K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How The Lessing Family Foundation gives
- Giving grew 20% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 74% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $25K (2020) to $540K (2021). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $30K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Leadership Roundtable ($25K). Together the top 2 received $30K.
Grant Size Distribution
12 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 11 grants of 12 (92%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership Roundtable Washington, DC | General Charitable Purposes | $25,000 |
| Southern Vermont Arts Center Manchester, VT | General Charitable Purposes | $5,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $450,553 | $464,365 | $483,048 |
| Revenue | $21,288 | $13,917 | $9,751 |
| Expenses | $35,100 | $32,600 | $35,100 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $32,500 | $30,000 | $32,600 |
| Net Investment Income | $18,788 | $11,415 | $7,242 |
| Distributable Amount | $43,826 | $35,381 | $26,955 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 21, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Lessing Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sandra Lessing
Trustee
Trustee < Hour Per Week → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen M. Lessing
Trustee
Trustee < Hour Per Week → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Lessing Family Foundation
How much does The Lessing Family Foundation give each year?
The Lessing Family Foundation gave $30K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $28K across 4 grants.
How large is The Lessing Family Foundation?
The Lessing Family Foundation reported $451K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $33K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $44K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
Where does The Lessing Family Foundation operate?
The Lessing Family Foundation has awarded grants in Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, New York, Vermont.
What is The Lessing Family Foundation's EIN?
The Lessing Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 03-0518473. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Here's the math on researching The Lessing Family Foundation by hand.
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