The Lester Family Foundation
The Lester Family Foundation is a private foundation based in La Jolla, California, established in 1994. It operates as a family foundation with limited staffing and focuses its philanthropic efforts on select charitable organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$664K
+6.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$25K
-89.4% YoY
Grant Count
1
-88.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
-4.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lester Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $38K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Education
- Human Services
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Primary geographic focus is Texas.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
Range:** Typical awards range from $5,000 to $1,000,000.
How to Apply
** The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $664,335
- Total Giving: $25,000
- Total Revenues: $65,895
- Total Expenses: $28,362
Revenue Composition (FY 2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $12,822
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $53,073
Staffing: The foundation has no paid employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $664,335 | $626,802 | $858,389 |
| Revenue | $65,895 | $15,143 | $37,985 |
| Expenses | $28,362 | $246,730 | $1,220,134 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $25,000 | $239,215 | $1,200,100 |
| Net Investment Income | $62,558 | $7,628 | $33,951 |
| Distributable Amount | $38,473 | $38,318 | $73,564 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 1 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
29 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American Heart Association ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION DALLAS, TX | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Mary Lester – President (1 hour/week, $0 compensation)
- Kirk Lester – Treasurer (1 hour/week, $0 compensation)
Contact Information:
- Kirk Lester
- PO Box 2089
- La Jolla, CA 92038
- (310) 277-3373
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY LESTER CO KIRK LESTER | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| KIRK LESTER | TREASURER | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lester Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Education • Human Services • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Primary geographic focus is Texas.
How do I apply for a grant from The Lester Family Foundation?
**Application Process:** The foundation operates on a preselected-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications for funds. **Recent Grant Activity:** • 2024: $25,000 grant to American Heart Association (General Purpose) **Grant Size Range:** Typical awards range from $5,000 to $1,000,000.
Where does The Lester Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Texas.
What size grants does The Lester Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Lester Family Foundation awarded 1 grants totaling $25K — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lester Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lester Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $38K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Lester Family Foundation's EIN?
The Lester Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3205279. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Lester Family 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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