The Lester Fund Inc | Foundation Profile

GrantBay analyzes IRS Form 990-PF data to help grant seekers find fit funders like The Lester Fund Inc. Data shown is extracted from Form 990-PF filings.

EIN: 26-3909321

Foundation Overview

Based in New York, NY, The Lester Fund Inc has awarded 35 grants totaling $591,618 to organizations in Virginia, New York and 6 other states, plus international recipients. Individual grants range from $250 to $30,000, with a median award of $25,000.

Latest Tax Year
2023
Total Giving (all years)
$591,618
Total Assets
$2,587
Median Grant (all grants)
$25,000

Latest Form 990-PF Snapshot

Total Grants
0 (No grants in 2023)
Median Grant
$0
% Median Grant Decline
-100% (vs previous year)
Data extracted from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Last filing year: February 2026

Foundation Intelligence

Advanced analytics and strategic insights to help nonprofit organizations assess grant opportunities and optimize their application strategies

New Applicant Friendliness
Limited Sample: 0%

2 total grants. Insufficient data for reliable pattern analysis. Foundation may be highly selective or recently established.

Geographic Focus
New York

46% of grants are awarded in New York, with additional funding distributed across 8 other locations. The foundation balances regional focus with broader geographic diversity. Within New York, funding concentrates in New York (94%), Brooklyn (6%).

Funding Trajectory
-97%

Declining funding trend with 97% decrease over 6 years may indicate reduced grant opportunities or shifting foundation priorities. This trajectory suggests more competitive application environment.

Program Areas
Community Projects

Highly focused on community projects with 100% of funding dedicated to this sector. This specialization indicates deep expertise and committed investment in the field.

Where is The Money Going?

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Grants & Funding

Analyzing past grantees provides valuable insights into The Lester Fund Inc's funding preferences, organizational priorities, and grant making patterns. This historical data helps potential applicants understand the foundation's strategic focus and identify successful funding approaches.

Name Amount Location Purpose Year
Nyc Employment And Training Coalition $5,000 New York, NY, US Operating Support 2022
Nyc Employment And Training Coalition $5,000 New York, NY, US Operating Support 2022
Kakenya's Dream $30,000 Arlington, VA, US Operating Support 2021
Kakenya's Dream $25,000 Arlington, VA, US Operating Support 2020
Nontraditional Employment For Women $250 New York, NY, US Operating Support 2020
Pen America $500 New York, NY, US Operating Support 2020
West Africa Vocational Education $25,000 Alagomejiyaba Lagos, N/A, NI Operating Support 2020
African Soup $25,000 Atlanta, GA, US Operating Support 2018
Akilah Foundation $25,000 Washington, DC, US Operating Supportoperating Support 2018
Educate $25,000 Denver, CO, US Operating Support 2018
Gbowe Peace Foundation $5,000 New York, NY, US Operating Support 2018
West Africa Vocational Education $26,250 Alagomejiyaba Lagos, N/A, NI Operating Support 2018
Akilah Foundation $25,000 Washington, DC, US Operating Supportoperating Support 2017
America Votesnew Venture Democracy Fund $20,000 Washington, DC, US Operating Support 2017
Digital Divide Data $25,000 New York, NY, US Operating Support 2017
Educate $25,000 Denver, CO, US Operating Support 2017
Kakenya's Dream $20,000 Washington, DC, US Operating Support 2017
Last Mile Health $25,000 Boston, MA, US Operating Support 2017
Partners In Health $10,000 Boston, MA, US Operating Support 2017
Shared Interest $350 New York, NY, US Operating Support 2017
Shining Hope For Communities $25,000 New York, NY, US Operating Support 2017
Tostan $10,000 Washington Dc, DC, US Operating Support 2017
West Africa Vocational Education $25,000 Alagomejiyaba Lagos, N/A, NI Operating Support 2017
Working America $15,000 Washington, DC, US Operating Support 2017
Akilah Institute Inc $25,500 Brooklyn, NY, US Operating Support 2016
American Jewish World Service $1,035 New York, NY, US Operating Support 2016
Digital Divide Data $25,000 New York, NY, US Operating Support 2016
Educate $25,000 New York, NY, US Operating Support 2016
Komo Learning Center $25,000 Scottsdale, AZ, US Operating Support 2016
Last Mile Health $25,000 Boston, MA, US Operating Support 2016
North Star Fund $338 New York, NY, US Operating Support 2016
Nyc Employment And Training Coalition $1,395 New York, NY, US Operating Support 2016
Shared Interest $6,000 New York, NY, US Operating Support 2016
Shining Hope For Communities $25,000 New York, NY, US Operating Support 2016
Tostan $10,000 Washington Dc, MD, US Operating Support 2016

Foundations Similar to The Lester Fund Inc

Discover 5 foundations with comparable assets ($2,528-$2,731), similar grant patterns, and geographic focus in NY that may also align with your organization's funding needs and grant seeking strategy.

Foundation Name Total Assets Typical Grant Size Service Area Similarity Match

EIN: 13-3288971 | 7 grants awarded
$2,619
(≈ Similar)
$24,581
median grant
Lawrence, NY
Same state
99%
Excellent match

EIN: 14-1515400 | 2 grants awarded
$2,546
(≈ Similar)
$32,525
median grant
Goshen, NY
Same state
99%
Excellent match

EIN: 81-0967486 | 8 grants awarded
$2,528
(≈ Similar)
$42,514
median grant
Airmont, NY
Same state
99%
Excellent match

EIN: 56-2427490 | 2 grants awarded
$2,663
(≈ Similar)
$26,545
median grant
Central Islip, NY
Same state
99%
Excellent match

EIN: 61-6293034 | 2 grants awarded
$2,731
(≈ Similar)
$15,000
median grant
Woodmere, NY
Same state
97%
Excellent match

Contact Information

Official contact details for The Lester Fund Inc as registered with the IRS. These details are essential for grant applications, correspondence, and due diligence processes.

EIN 26-3909321
Website http://thelesterfund.org
Address 55 CENTRAL PARK WEST 13A New York, NY 10023-0000

Key People (2)

Board members, trustees, and key staff who oversee The Lester Fund Inc's grant making decisions and strategic direction. Understanding leadership composition can provide insights into foundation priorities and potential networking opportunities.

President & Treasurer Bonnie Potter
Secretary Tina Potter

Forms 990-PF

IRS Form 990-PF filings provide comprehensive financial information, grant details, and operational data. These documents are essential resources for understanding foundation capacity, giving patterns, and strategic priorities.

Form 990-PF Research Tips
  • Review Part XV for detailed grant recipient information and funding purposes
  • Check Part I for total assets, annual giving amounts, and payout requirements
  • Examine Part VIII for key personnel compensation and board structure
  • Look for trends across multiple years to understand giving patterns

About This Foundation Profile

This comprehensive foundation profile for The Lester Fund Inc is powered by Grant Bay's advanced foundation research platform. Our system analyzes IRS Form 990-PF filings, grant histories, and philanthropic patterns to provide nonprofit organizations with actionable intelligence for grant seeking success.

Data Sources & Accuracy

All information is derived from official IRS filings and public records. Grant Bay processes thousands of Form 990-PF documents to extract grant details, financial data, and organizational information. Data accuracy depends on foundation reporting quality and IRS filing completeness.

Research Applications

Use this profile for prospect research, grant strategy development, application preparation, and relationship building. Combine this data with additional research on foundation priorities, application processes, and board member backgrounds for comprehensive grant seeking strategies.

Data Currency: Last updated February 2026 based on IRS Form 990-PF filings. Foundation information reflects most recent available tax year data.