The Monica Lester Charitable Trust
The Monica Lester Charitable Trust is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in LOS ANGELES, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $9.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 16 grants totaling $600K. Net investment income was $34K.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.9M
-2.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$600K
+50.0% YoY
Grant Count
16
+45.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$38K
+3.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Monica Lester Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $543K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The Monica Lester Charitable Trust
Based on IRS filings
The Monica Lester Charitable Trust is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in LOS ANGELES, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $9.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 16 grants totaling $600K. Net investment income was $34K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,944,501 | $10,145,456 | $10,137,385 |
| Revenue | $921,909 | $875,995 | $503,261 |
| Expenses | $1,123,196 | $867,924 | $819,621 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $640,100 | $412,600 | $610,100 |
| Net Investment Income | $34,099 | — | $78,311 |
| Distributable Amount | $542,992 | $555,777 | $643,569 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
51 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Cedars-sinai Medical Center ($150,000), Loyola Marymount University ($125,000), City of Hope ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER LOS ANGELES, CA | SUPPORTING MEDICAL RESEARCH | $150,000 |
| CHABAD'S TERROR VICTIMS PROJECT BROOKLYN, NY | PROVIDING COMMUNITY SERVICE | $10,000 |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES, CA | SUPPORTING MEDICAL RESEARCH | $60,000 |
| CITY OF HOPE DUARTE, CA | FUNDING CANCER RESEARCH | $100,000 |
| FEDERATION OF JEWISH COMMUNITIES OF CIS (UKRAINE) NEW YORK, NY | PROVIDING COMMUNITY SERVICE | $5,000 |
| FRIENDS OF UNITED HATZALAH NEW YORK, NY | PROVIDING COMMUNITY SERVICE | $10,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS CHICAGO, IL | PROVIDING COMMUNITY SERVICE | $10,000 |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA | SUPPORTING HIGHER EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY LOS ANGELES, CA | SUPPORTING HIGHER EDUCATION | $125,000 |
| PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION SANTA MONICA, CA | FUNDING CANCER RESEARCH | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRANK LEE | TRUSTEE | 5 | $50,000 |
| JOEL LEVINE | TRUSTEE | 5 | $50,000 |
| PAUL LESTER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Monica Lester Charitable Trust?
The Monica Lester Charitable Trust is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in LOS ANGELES, CA. It holds $9.9M in total assets as of 2025.
How large is The Monica Lester Charitable Trust?
As of 2025, The Monica Lester Charitable Trust holds $9.9M in total assets with $922K in annual revenue. It awarded 16 grants totaling $600K in 2025.
Where does The Monica Lester Charitable Trust operate?
The Monica Lester Charitable Trust has awarded grants in California, Illinois, New York, Tennessee.
What size grants does The Monica Lester Charitable Trust award?
In 2025, The Monica Lester Charitable Trust awarded 16 grants totaling $600K — an average of about $38K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Monica Lester Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Monica Lester Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $543K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Monica Lester Charitable Trust's EIN?
The Monica Lester Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-1000768. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Monica Lester Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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