The Lester Family Foundation
The Lester Family Foundation is a private foundation based in La Jolla, California. Its 2025 filing reports grants to two charitable organizations, including a school in California and an organization in Virginia.
The Lester Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Lester Family Foundation gave $105K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $53K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $105,000
- +320.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $52,500
- +110.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $52,500
- Total assets
- $659,036
- -0.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Lester Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Application contact: Kirk Lester
Mailing address: PO Box 2089, La Jolla, CA 92038
Phone: (310) 277-3373
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Lester Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sacred Heart School ($100K). Together the top 2 received $105K.
Grant Size Distribution
23 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 23 (57%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 5% to recipients in Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Lester Family Foundation gives
- Giving fell 91% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 292% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $25K (2024) to $2.1M (2021). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $105K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sacred Heart School Los Angeles, CA | General Purpose | $100,000 |
| Lenity Project Inc Great Falls, VA | General Purpose | $5,000 |
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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 | $659,036 | $112,266 | $117,565 | $105,000 | 2 | $109,375 | $104,101 | $37,445 |
| 2024 | $664,335 | $65,895 | $28,362 | $25,000 | 1 | $25,000 | $62,558 | $38,473 |
| 2023 | $626,802 | $15,143 | $246,730 | $235,640 | 9 | $239,215 | $7,628 | $38,318 |
| 2022 | $858,389 | $37,985 | $1,220,134 | $1,200,000 | 3 | $1,200,100 | $33,951 | $73,564 |
| 2021 | $2,040,538 | $699,728 | $2,135,308 | $2,110,000 | 8 | $2,111,500 | $699,551 | $193,260 |
| 2020 | $3,476,118 | $158,540 | $2,086,353 | $2,060,348 | 8 | — | $326,336 | $226,958 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lester Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $37K 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
No mission statement or specific funding priorities are stated. The 2025 grants show support for a school and for Lenity Project Inc. Lenity Project describes its mission as charitable fundraising to assist disadvantaged children in poverty.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported two grants totaling $105,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $100,000, with a median of $52,500. The largest grant was $100,000 to Sacred Heart School in Los Angeles, California, for general purposes. Lenity Project Inc. in Great Falls, Virginia, received $5,000 for general purposes.
The foundation’s filing states that it does not accept unsolicited requests. It lists Kirk Lester as the contact, with no application form or materials required, no deadlines, and no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mary Lester Co Kirk Lester as president and Kirk Lester as treasurer.
The Lester Family Foundation is led by Mary Lester Co Kirk Lester, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mary Lester Co Kirk Lester
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kirk Lester
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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 Lester Family Foundation
How much does The Lester Family Foundation give each year?
The Lester Family Foundation gave $105K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $25K across 1 grant.
How large is The Lester Family Foundation?
The Lester Family Foundation reported $659K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $109K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $37K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Lester Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement or specific funding priorities are stated. The 2025 grants show support for a school and for Lenity Project Inc. Lenity Project describes its mission as charitable fundraising to assist disadvantaged children in poverty. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Lester Family Foundation?
The Lester Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines.
Where does The Lester Family Foundation make grants?
In 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 5% to recipients in Virginia.
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 2020–2025.
Does The Lester Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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 19, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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