W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Charlotte, NC EIN: 56-6060695

W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Its 2025 filing reports 34 grants totaling $112,000 to organizations in North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, New York, and Wisconsin.

W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc gave $112K across 34 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in North Carolina. 42% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$112,000
+93.1% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
34
+70.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$3,294
+13.6% vs 2024
Median grant
$2,000
Total assets
$625,127
-16.3% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
42% first-time grantees (14 of 33, 2025)
Primary geography
North Carolina (66% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc

How to Apply

The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its 2024 filing states that there is no special application form, no deadline, and no award restrictions other than IRS approval.

Contact

Application contact: Mrs Carter B Macbain
Mailing address: 1911 Cassamia Pl, Charlotte, NC 28211
Phone: (704) 334-7271

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Central City Concern: $17KCentral City Concern$17KMyers Park Presbyterian Church: $13KMyers Park Presbyterian Church$13KJVC Northwest: $10KJVC Northwest$10KReligious Community Service: $8KReligious Community Service$8KThe Duke Mansion: $6KThe Duke Mansion$6KEdison High School: $5KEdison High School$5KNew Bern Historical Society: $4KNew Bern Historical Society$4KWhite Memorial Presbyterian: $4KWhite Memorial Presbyterian$4KChi Omega Foundation: $4KChi Omega Foundation$4KA Touch of the Father's Love: $3KA Touch of the Father's Love$3K

The largest 2025 recipient was Central City Concern ($17K). Together the top 10 received $72K.

Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($1,000), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

124 grants across all recorded years

124<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 124 grants of 124 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 66% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina, 30% to Oregon, and 3% to Tennessee. The filing also lists recipients in New York and Wisconsin, each accounting for 0% of grant dollars.

Grant Distribution by State

9states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.

Cities

CharlotteRaleighNew BernPortlandWinston-SalemNashvilleMilwaukieArapahoeColumbiaBooneLiberty CornerMemphisVancouverAtlantic BeachDurhamGreensboroLinvilleMadisonMarionNew York

Is W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

42%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 14 of 33 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $4K. How we count

Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.

  • 45% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 107% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 166% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K23 grants2021 24 grants2022 23 grants2023 20 grants2024 34 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $54K (2022) to $112K (2025). In 2025 it made 34 grants totaling $112K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Central City Concern Portland, ORHumanity for Homeless Individuals$16,500
Myers Park Presbyterian Church Charlotte, NCFor Community Needs & Building Fund$12,500
JVC Northwest Milwaukie, ORRespond to Community Needs$10,000
Religious Community Service New Bern, NCProvide Food, Clothing, and Shelter$8,000
The Duke Mansion Charlotte, NCHistorical Preservation$6,000
Edison High School Portland, OREducation for Diverse Students$5,000
New Bern Historical Society New Bern, NCConservation/Sharing History$4,000
White Memorial Presbyterian Raleigh, NCTo Serve the Community$3,500
Chi Omega Foundation Memphis, TNSupport Sorority Education Fund$3,500
A Touch of the Father's Love Nashville, NCProvide Food to Needy$3,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$625,127$35$114,566$112,00034$112,000$59,276$67,342
2024$746,480$21,413$61,250$58,00020$58,000$51,530$60,090
2023$796,059$52,807$55,925$54,50023$54,500$60,093$53,477
2022$804,225$57,460$61,550$54,00024$54,000$54,262$54,828
2021$806,748$14,672$63,902$56,20023—$47,135$55,571

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $67K 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 for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations working in areas such as homelessness, community needs, food and shelter, education, historical preservation, and women’s transitional housing.

Grantees describe their work in their own terms. Central City Concern says it provides comprehensive solutions to homelessness and self-sufficiency, including affordable housing and social services. Edison High School says it supports students with learning differences in academic success and personal growth. The New Bern Historical Society says it promotes New Bern and its heritage through events and education. Tried by Fire says it operates transitional housing for women returning to the community after incarceration. Other 2025 grantees include organizations whose stated missions address educational and leadership development, domestic violence, food insecurity, and protection of river watersheds.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation made 34 grants totaling $112,000. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $16,500, with a median of $2,000.

Largest reported grants included $16,500 to Central City Concern, $12,500 to Myers Park Presbyterian Church, $10,000 to JVC Northwest, $8,000 to Religious Community Service, and $6,000 to The Duke Mansion. Other grants included $5,000 to Edison High School, $4,000 to the New Bern Historical Society, and $3,500 each to White Memorial Presbyterian and the Chi Omega Foundation.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists William L Brooks III as president, Carter B MacBain as vice president, and Janet B Dudley as secretary.

W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc is led by William L. Brooks III, President since 2022 (on filings since 2021); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • William L. Brooks III

    President

    2nd Vice President → President, 2022

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Carter B. Macbain

    Vice President

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

  • Janet B. Dudley

    Secretary

    On filings since 2021

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Patty F. Brooks (2021) — President & Treasurer

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc

How much does W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc give each year?

W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc gave $112K across 34 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $58K across 20 grants.

What is W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $3,294, across 34 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc that year got $2K on average.

Where does W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc give grants?

W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 66% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Oregon (30%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charlotte, NC (8 grants), New Bern, NC (5 grants), Raleigh, NC (5 grants) and Portland, OR (3 grants).

Does W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 34 grants with a stated purpose on W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Central City Concern ($16,500), Myers Park Presbyterian Church ($12,500) and JVC Northwest ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($1,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc?

W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc reported $625K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $112K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $67K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations working in areas such as homelessness, community needs, food and shelter, education, historical preservation, and women’s transitional housing. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc?

The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc's EIN?

W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-6060695. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

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

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 3, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/w-lester-brooks-foundation-inc-morg_9a2167ddd04b419d95f2cc88d2fd82d3

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_566060695_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/w-lester-brooks-foundation-inc-morg_9a2167ddd04b419d95f2cc88d2fd82d3},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from W Lester Brooks Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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