Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr
Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Saint Louis, MO. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $155K. Net investment income was $172K.
Key facts about Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr
In short: Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr gave $155K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $52K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 42-6610647
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $155,295
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- Average grant
- $51,765
- Median grant
- $51,765
- Total assets
- $2,382,013
- Primary geography
- Iowa (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.4M
+0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$155K
+3.6% YoY
Grant Count
3
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$52K
+3.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr reported a distributable amount of $150K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 107% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 3 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| STATE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA FOUNDATION Iowa City, IA | GENERAL OPERATING | $51,765 |
| MARSHALLTOWN AREA UNITED WAY Marshalltown, IA | GENERAL OPERATING | $51,765 |
| MARSHALLTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUND Marshalltown, IA | GENERAL OPERATING | $51,765 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,382,013 | $2,368,672 | $2,386,722 |
| Revenue | $207,495 | $176,543 | $342,523 |
| Expenses | $195,100 | $194,447 | $162,965 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $160,705 | $155,119 | $139,787 |
| Net Investment Income | $172,446 | $143,728 | $312,274 |
| Distributable Amount | $150,173 | $144,473 | $130,448 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 17, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr's only listed officer is Wells Fargo Bank N A, Trustee on every filing since 2023 (compensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
Wells Fargo Bank N A
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$23K (2023) → $33K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Wells Fargo Bank NA (2019–2022) — Custodian
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
Frequently asked questions about Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr
How much does Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr give each year?
Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr gave $155K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $150K across 3 grants.
What is Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr's typical grant size?
Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr's median grant in 2025 was $51,765, and its average grant was $51,765, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr give grants?
Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr gives mostly in Iowa: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Marshalltown, IA (2 grants).
Does Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr?
Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $161K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $150K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr?
Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Saint Louis, MO. It holds $2.4M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr's EIN?
Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-6610647. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Here's the math on researching Williams Lester & Frances Char Tr by hand.
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