How to apply
Provide a letter of inquiry articulating a specific project or program in mind. Submit the letter together with an application that must be obtained from the Foundation. Contact: Devorah Levine Executive Director, 1333 N California Blvd 575, Walnut Creek, Ca, 9259359988 Deadlines: None Restrictions: Grants are limited to projects and programs within Contra Costa County.
Quoted from Part XV of the foundation's 2025 Form 990-PF; the full text is in the filing. Confirm on the foundation's website before you write.
Grants paid in 2025
Top 60 of 128 grants by amount · from Form 990-PF Part XV
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Food Bank of Contra Costa SolanoConcord, CA | FY 23-25 Food Bank General Support | $300K |
| Diablo Regional Arts AssociationWalnut Creek, CA | General Support | $285K |
| First 5 Contra CostaConcord, CA | Ready Community, Ready Schools, Ready Families | $230K |
| Contra Costa Family Justice AlliancRichmond, CA | Contra Costa Family Justice Center | $205K |
| John Muir Health FoundationWalnut Creek, CA | John Muir Cancer Center | $200K |
| Friends of the Oakley LibraryOakley, CA | Capital Grant | $200K |
| Meals on Wheels Diablo RegionWalnut Creek, CA | general operating support | $110K |
| Rubicon Programs IncRichmond, CA | Equipping East Bay Communities to Achieve Lasting Mobility | $110K |
| City of Walnut CreekWalnut Creek, CA | Capital Improvements and Upgrades & Implementing New Strategic Plan | $100K |
| Stand for Families Free of ViolenceConcord, CA | Agency Core Support | $100K |
| Opportunity JunctionAntioch, CA | General Support | $100K |
| Monument ImpactConcord, CA | Technology for Success | $98K |
| Tandem Partners in Early LearningMartinez, CA | Early Learning Innovations in East Contra Costa | $90K |
| Bay Area Legal AidOakland, CA | Contra Costa Legal Safety Net Project | $80K |
| Loaves Fishes of Contra CostaMartinez, CA | Nourishing Lives in Contra Costa County | $80K |
| Village Community Resource CenterBrentwood, CA | Post Pandemic Responsive Programming in East Contra Costa | $80K |
| California Symphony OrchestraWalnut Creek, CA | General Operations for California Symphony 2022-2024 | $75K |
| Meals on Wheels of Contra Costa IncMartinez, CA | Meals for Homebound Elders in Contra Costa County | $75K |
| Richmond Community FoundationRichmond, CA | Ensuring Opportunity Campaign to End Poverty in Contra Costa | $75K |
| The Ryse CenterRichmond, CA | Rooted and Rysing: Black and Brown Young People Leading in He | $75K |
| Yes Nature to NeighborhoodsRichmond, CA | Base Camp Capital Campaign; Community & Outdoor Leadership Development for Richmond Youth & | $75K |
| We Care Services for ChildrenConcord, CA | We Care Services for Children | $70K |
| Shelter IncConcord, CA | Preventing and Ending Homelessness for Children, Women, and | $65K |
| Greater Richmond Interfaith ProgRichmond, CA | Homeless services | $65K |
| St Vincent de Paul of Contra CostaPittsburg, CA | General Operating Support | $60K |
| Bay Area Rescue MissionRichmond, CA | Love Without Limits Program | $55K |
| Shepherd's GateLivermore, CA | Core Programming for Homeless and Abused Women and Children | $55K |
| Court Appointed Special Advocates CConcord, CA | Filling the Gaps for Foster Children in Contra Costa County | $50K |
| Jewish Family Community Services ofBerkeley, CA | General Support | $50K |
| Lindsay Wildlife ExperienceWalnut Creek, CA | Environmental Education for Title I Schools in Contra Costa Count | $50K |
| Winter Nights Family Shelter IncPleasant Hill, CA | Winter Nights Family Shelter | $50K |
| CivicorpsOakland, CA | Civicorps Contra Costa County Expansion Project | $50K |
| Arts Contra Costa County ArtscccRichmond, CA | General Operations | $50K |
| Cityside Journalism InitiativeBerkeley, CA | Civicorps' Contra Costa County Expansion Project | $50K |
| Diablo BalletWalnut Creek, CA | General support | $50K |
| Mission Edge El TimpanoSan Francisco, CA | Media designed for CCC Latinos | $50K |
| West County Public Educ FundRichmond, CA | General Support | $50K |
| Richmond Art CenterRichmond, CA | General Support | $45K |
| Trinity Center Walnut CreekWalnut Creek, CA | Transformational Opportunities | $45K |
| Ujima Family Recovery ServicesSan Pablo, CA | General Support | $45K |
| Share the Spirit W Sj Mercury NewsWalnut Creek, CA | Share the Spirit | $40K |
| United Way Bay AreaSan Francisco, CA | SparkPoint Contra Costa | $40K |
| Bridge Builders to the New GeneratiAntioch, CA | Change the Narrative | $35K |
| Coco KidsConcord, CA | Road to success and recovery | $35K |
| Girl Scouts of Northern CaliforniaAlameda, CA | Girl Scouts Discover Together / Increasing Access to Girl Scouting | $35K |
| Pogo ParkRichmond, CA | Pogo Park: A Safe, Green, Healthy Public Space | $35K |
| Teach for America - Bay AreaSan Francisco, CA | Beyond Recovery: Ensuring West County Students Thrive After Cri | $35K |
| Mt Diablo Education FoundationConcord, CA | General Operations | $35K |
| Contra Costa Senior Legal ServicesConcord, CA | Contra Costa Senior Legal Services (CCSLS) | $34K |
| Contra Costa County LibraryMartinez, CA | Book Purchases at Juvenile Hall & Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation | $33K |
| First Place for YouthOakland, CA | My First Place Contra Costa County | $30K |
| Kidpower Teenpower FullpowerCastro Valley, CA | From Trauma to Thriving Resilience Skill-Building for Families | $30K |
| Mindful Life ProjectRichmond, CA | Covid Related Grant Proposal for Martinez Un | $30K |
| Renaissance Entrepreneurship CenterSan Francisco, CA | Creating Pathways to Economic Vitality for Lower-Income Contra Costa Residents | $30K |
| Students Rising AboveSan Francisco, CA | College and Career Success for Low-Income Contra Costa Youth | $30K |
| Fierce Advocates Fka Building BlockRichmond, CA | Parents Leading Personal, Family, and Community | $30K |
| Living JazzOakland, CA | General Operations | $30K |
| Immigration Institute of the Bay ArSan Francisco, CA | CARE Fund grant | $28K |
| Headwaters Science InstituteSoda Springs, CA | School-Based Research Experience for Richmond Students | $25K |
| Los Cenzontles Cultural Arts AcademSan Pablo, CA | Youth Arts Academy | $25K |
By state: California 127 · District of Columbia 1
About this foundation
Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation in Walnut Creek, California, tax-exempt since 1994. Private foundations must pay out roughly 5% of their assets each year, mostly as grants to 501(c)(3) public charities.
Does Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation accept grant applications?
Yes. On its 2025 Form 990-PF the foundation indicates it accepts applications. Provide a letter of inquiry articulating a specific project or program in mind. Submit the letter together with an application that must be obtained from the Foundation. Deadlines: None.
How much does Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation give each year?
In tax year 2025 it paid $5.3M across 128 grants, a median of $25K.
Where does Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation give?
California (127 grants), District of Columbia (1 grants), per its latest filing.
More foundations near Walnut Creek that accept applications
All in California| Foundation | Based in | Grants paid | Median grant | Accepts applications | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Joseph and Vera Long Foundationsince 1967 | Walnut Creek, CA | $5.5M95 grants · 2025 | $25K | Preselected only | $139M |
| The Larry Ellison Foundationsince 1997 | Walnut Creek, CA | $70M1 grants · 2024 | $70M | Preselected only | $117M |
| Svane Family Foundationsince 2021 | Walnut Creek, CA | $1.3M19 grants · 2024 | $10K | Preselected only | $40M |
| Coit Family Foundationsince 1998 | Walnut Creek, CA | $2.3M50 grants · 2024 | $10K | Preselected only | $38M |
| Pitzer Family Foundationsince 1994 | Walnut Creek, CA | $1.5M6 grants · 2024 | $270K | Preselected only | $18M |
| Noll Foundation Incsince 1982 | Walnut Creek, CA | $815K20 grants · 2025 | $33K | Yes | $16M |
| Rothenberg Endowment Fundsince 2022 | Walnut Creek, CA | $388K1 grants · 2024 | $388K | Preselected only | $10M |
| Heffernan Foundationsince 2007 | Walnut Creek, CA | $1.4M254 grants · 2024 | $1,000 | Yes | $9.0M |