WALNUT CREEK, CALIF — With gratitude to nonprofit organizations for their continued commitment to elevating the community, the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation is pleased to announce the CARE Fund.
This one-time $300,000 fund marks the Lesher Foundation’s 30-year history of grantmaking and honors its community partners.
“Organizations rooted in the community are essential to addressing social problems and taking on tough issues. It’s inspiring to see the network of support Contra Costa children and families can rely on for safety, hope, joy, strength, and opportunities,” said Steve Lesher, Lesher Foundation Board President. “Our family is proud to carry forward my grandparents’ vision of enhancing the quality of life in our community, and we will continue to support our community partners for many years to come.”
The Lesher Foundation will award a limited number of one-time grants ranging from $1,000 to $15,000 to support organizational resilience and nonprofit staff well-being, providing funding for retreats, practices of care, conferences, training, and coaching. Nonprofit organizations that are in Contra Costa County or directly benefit its residents and support children and families, education, and arts and culture are invited to apply. Online applications are due by July 19, 2024, and applicants will be notified by August 30, 2024.
“We know many of our nonprofits carry their mission and vision on their shoulders, and that can be a heavy weight day after day and year after year,” said Devorah Levine, Executive Director of the Lesher Foundation. “The CARE Fund supports the strength and wisdom of the nonprofit sector and recognizes the essential need to focus on the care and well-being of staff and organizational resilience.”
The Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation has a clear and simple mission—to enhance the quality of life for all residents of Contra Costa County. Founded in 1989 by the late Dean Lesher and his wife Margaret, the Lesher Foundation continues to uphold this value, giving more than $100 million in grants to programs benefitting children and families, particularly those in underserved and low-income areas.
Eligibility
To apply, a nonprofit must meet ALL of the following criteria:
- Have a 501(c)3 status or are fiscally sponsored
- Located in or directly serving residents of Contra Costa County
- Work in any of the Lesher Foundation’s focus areas of arts and culture, children and families, or education
- Work with low-income or marginalized communities
We particularly invite nonprofits with less than 10 years of experience and/or annual organizational budgets of less than $1 million to apply.
How to Apply
- Requests for one-time grants can range from $1,000 up to $15,000. A request should not exceed 25% of any nonprofit’s organizational budget.
- Applications will be accepted June 10 – July 19, 2024. Applicants will be notified of CARE Fund grant decisions by August 30, 2024.
- Click to begin the online application process.
For more information, visit lesherfoundation.org/care-fund or call (925) 935-9988
