The Louise R Lester Foundation Inc
The Louise R Lester Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established in 2002 and based in Roanoke, Virginia. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic grantmaking across multiple states in the Southeast and beyond.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.3M
-0.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$634K
+0.1% YoY
Grant Count
39
-9.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
+10.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Louise R Lester Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $754K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- STEM Education
- Youth Education
- Environmental Education
- Scholarships and Higher Education
The foundation supports general operating support, educational programs, and specialized initiatives including the Seeds Project, Young Audiences Program, Young Life Summer Camp, Virtual Get Schooled Program, and TAP Tax Clinic.
Grantmaking
The foundation reports being open to new applicants.
Grant Range
** $500 to $75,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in:
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- West Virginia
- Idaho
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $13,318,525 to $13,374,043 (as of 2023-2024)
Annual Giving: $634,040 (2024)
Revenue: $512,837 (2023)
Expenses: $938,919 (2023)
Investment Income: $393,105 (2023)
Giving Rate: 5.9%
Number of Employees: 1 (B.J. Robertson, Executive Director)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,318,525 | $13,374,043 | $13,795,978 |
| Revenue | $890,859 | $512,837 | $479,468 |
| Expenses | $946,084 | $938,919 | $1,035,967 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $805,859 | $799,000 | $874,805 |
| Net Investment Income | $756,549 | $375,377 | $344,164 |
| Distributable Amount | $753,533 | $718,346 | $750,233 |
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
232 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Louise R Lester Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Frankie Lemmon Foundation ($63,000), Eastlake Community Church ($50,000), Renew a Nation ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AGAPE CENTER MONETA, VA | FACILITY SUPPORT | $29,240 |
| AMERICAN ADVERTING FEDERATION OF ROANOKE ROANOKE, VA | TWO EPISODES OF BUZZ | $10,000 |
| BEAFOURT CO COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, NC | MINUTE MEALS PANTRY | $10,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF SWVA ROANOKE, VA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BRADY VALCHO AUTISM FOUNDATION HOLLY SPRINGS, NC | GENERAL OPERATING | $2,500 |
| EASTLAKE COMMUNITY CHURCH MONETA, VA | BASEBALL FIELD FENCING | $50,000 |
| ESTEAMED COFFEE CARY, NC | SOCIAL EVENTS PROGRAM | $8,000 |
| FREE ROANOKE ROANOKE, VA | GENERAL OPERATING | $7,500 |
| FEEDING AMERICAN SWVA SALEM, VA | GENERAL OPERATION/FOOD BANK&DISTRIBUTION | $15,000 |
| FIVE HEARTS THERAPUTIC HORSEMANSHIP RALEIGH, NC | GENERAL OPERATING | $7,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Elaine R. Zopp – President (5 hours/week)
- Barry Robertson – Vice President (1 hour/week)
- B.J. Robertson – Executive Director (40 hours/week, $96,082 annual compensation)
- Suzanne R. Jones – Director (1 hour/week)
- Laura B. Robertson – Director (1 hour/week)
- Lindsey A. Coley – Secretary (1 hour/week)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELAINE R ZOPP | PRESIDENT | 5 | — |
| BARRY ROBERTSON | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| B J ROBERTSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $100,843 |
| SUZANNE R JONES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LAURA B ROBERTSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LINDSEY A COLEY | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has made recent grants supporting food insecurity initiatives at Beaufort County Community College and provided scholarship funding to students. The foundation has also awarded grants to animal welfare organizations, including the SPCA of Martinsville Henry County, and continues to support educational expansion projects through organizations like the Frankie Lemmon Foundation.
The Louise R Lester Foundation Inc | CandidContact Information
Website: LRLFOUNDATION.ORG
Address: 3130 Chaparral Drive, Suite 108, Roanoke, VA 24018-4369
Phone: 540-595-7876
EIN: 54-2036566
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Louise R Lester Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • STEM Education • Youth Education • Environmental Education • Scholarships and Higher Education The foundation supports general operating support, educational programs, and specialized initiatives including the Seeds Project, Young Audiences Program, Young Life Summer Camp, Virtual Get Schooled Program, and TAP Tax Clinic.
How do I apply for a grant from The Louise R Lester Foundation Inc?
**Grant Range:** $500 to $75,000 **Recent Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $634,040 • Total giving in 2023: $799,000 • Number of grants awarded in 2024: 43 grants • Number of grants awarded in 2023: 54 grants • Median grant amount: $10,000 **Grant Programs:** • General Operating Support (averaging $11,508-$11,667) • The Seeds Project (averaging $15,000) • Scholarship Program (averaging $22,500) • Young Audiences Program • Special Circumstance Donations (averaging $2,750) **Recent Grantees In…
Where does The Louise R Lester Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in: • Virginia • North Carolina • West Virginia • Idaho
What size grants does The Louise R Lester Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Louise R Lester Foundation Inc awarded 39 grants totaling $634K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Louise R Lester Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Louise R Lester Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $754K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Louise R Lester Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Louise R Lester Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-2036566. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Louise R Lester Foundation Inc'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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