Lesher Foundation CARE Fund 2026
Funding Amount
Up to $10K
Deadline
November 2, 2026
29 days left
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- Annual
- Current deadline
- November 2, 2026
- Tracked since
- October 2026
Deadlines typically fall in: November
Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Eligible organizations
- Nonprofits
Geography
- Serving Contra Costa County residents, especially underserved or low-income communities
- Serving Contra Costa County
Other requirements
- Organizations that have received a CARE Fund grant must wait two years before reapplying.
Overview
The Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation's CARE Fund awards $200,000 a year in one-time grants of up to $10,000 to sustain and strengthen the staff of nonprofits serving Contra Costa County. Grants support wellness and renewal activities, team retreats and relationship building, professional training and development, and leadership coaching and wellness stipends.
The 2026 cycle opened October 1 and closes November 2, 2026 at 7:00 a.m. PT. Recipients are notified in early December 2026.
Full eligibility text
Nonprofits serving Contra Costa County residents, especially underserved or low-income communities, with a focus on children and families, education, or arts and culture. Organizations that have received a CARE Fund grant must wait two years before reapplying.
How to Apply
Apply through the Lesher Foundation grantee portal (select "CARE Fund application") by November 2, 2026, 7:00 a.m. PT.
What Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, 2025
- Grants in 2025
- 128
- Total given
- $5.3M
- Median grant
- $25K
- Range
- $5,000–$300K
- By dollars: California >99%, District of Columbia <1%. Top recipient cities: Richmond, CA; Concord, CA; Walnut Creek, CA.
- 13% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Example grants
Food Bank of Contra Costa Solano · Concord, CA
FY 23-25 Food Bank General Support
$300K
First 5 Contra Costa · Concord, CA
Ready Community, Ready Schools, Ready Families
$230K
Contra Costa Family Justice Allianc · Richmond, CA
Contra Costa Family Justice Center
$205K
John Muir Health Foundation · Walnut Creek, CA
John Muir Cancer Center
$200K
Friends of the Oakley Library · Oakley, CA
Capital Grant
$200K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Nonprofit capacity building
- Staff wellness
- Children and families
- Education
- Arts and culture
Categories
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