The William & Betty Lester Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on supporting Jewish communal life and institutional infrastructure, with the bulk of funding directed to Jewish federations and synagogue-related organizations. Giving is geographically focused on Greater MetroWest, NJ, with secondary support in South Palm Beach County, and includes both unrestricted federation funding and synagogue/program support.
Concentrated and high-dollar: a small number of relatively large grants, often repeated to the same organizations (multi-grant support for federations and a synagogue), favoring institutional/core support over many small awards.
William & Betty Lester Foundation Inc channels most of its recent giving through general support for Jewish communal institutions, with the largest grants going to the Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ and the Jewish Community Fdtn of Greater Metrowest NJ. That pattern points to a foundation centered on Jewish communal infrastructure rather than a broad issue portfolio. The grant list also shows direct support for synagogue life: Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston received back-to-back general-support grants in 2024 and 2023. Beyond Greater MetroWest, the foundation extends support to the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, showing a secondary regional relationship outside New Jersey. Its active grant programs add more texture to the profile, including scholarship support for study in Israel, community grantmaking through the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ, and restricted endowment grants tied to partnership communities in Israel. The result is a funder that uses both unrestricted institutional giving and named scholarship or endowment channels to support Jewish life, education, and community organizations.
Jewish communal infrastructure is a clear priority. In 2024, the foundation gave $27,458 to the Jewish Community Fdtn of Greater Metrowest NJ for general support, alongside substantially larger general-support grants to the Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ. Synagogue support is another visible thread: Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston received $21,698 in 2024 and $20,711 in 2023, both for general support. Education and Israel study also appear in the active program list through the JCF Prime High School in Israel Fund, which offers scholarships up to $2,000 for a full semester or up to $1,500 for six- to eight-week programs. The foundation also supports older-adult services through the Grotta Fund for Older Adults, which funds programs that help older adults age in place safely and independently in Essex, Union, and Morris counties.
Typical grants cluster around the low five figures, with a p25 of $19,578, a median of $21,698, and a p75 of $141,936. The recent record also shows a concentration of repeat support: the Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ appears in consecutive years, as does Temple Beth Shalom and the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County. That pattern suggests an ongoing institutional-giving model rather than isolated project grants. The foundation operates through multiple grantmaking channels, including community grantmaking and restricted endowment grants, and it also supports scholarship funds with fixed award amounts. Some active programs accept unsolicited applications, including the JCF Prime High School in Israel Fund, Grotta Fund for Older Adults, Brody-Bier Professional Education Scholarship Fund, Ilana Schuster Jonsson Scholarship Fund, and the Alisa Flatow Memorial Scholarship Fund.
$7.8M
$0
$453K
$7.8M
Most grants fall between $20K and $142K, with a median of $22K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$22K
75th Percentile
$142K
GLORIA LESTER
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Notable grantees: Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, Temple Beth Shalom, Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest NJ
Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in New Jersey: 71% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and New Jersey is also the top state by grant count. Greater MetroWest NJ is the core geography, with repeated grants to organizations in Whippany and Livingston. The foundation also gives to Boca Raton, Florida, through the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County. Programmatic geography extends further in the active grant list, including county-level support in Essex, Union, and Morris counties and Israel-focused grants tied to partnership communities such as Ofakim, Merchavim, Arad, Kibbutz Erez, Rishon LeZion, and Hurfeish.
Its recent grants center on Jewish communal institutions, especially the Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ, the Jewish Community Fdtn of Greater Metrowest NJ, and Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston. The active programs also include scholarship funds, community grantmaking, and older-adult services tied to Jewish community needs.
No. New Jersey is the main geography, but the recent grants also include the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County in Boca Raton, Florida. Active programs likewise include Israel-focused scholarships and restricted grants tied to partnership communities in Israel.
The grant-size distribution centers in the low five figures: p25 is $19,578, median is $21,698, and p75 is $141,936. Recent examples include both larger institutional awards and smaller general-support grants to local Jewish organizations.
Yes. The Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ received grants in both 2024 and 2023, Temple Beth Shalom received grants in both years as well, and the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County appears in both years too. That points to recurring support rather than one-time funding only.
Yes, several active programs accept unsolicited applications, including the JCF Prime High School in Israel Fund, Grotta Fund for Older Adults, Brody-Bier Professional Education Scholarship Fund, Ilana Schuster Jonsson Scholarship Fund, and The Alisa Flatow Memorial Scholarship Fund.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from William & Betty Lester Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Open to agencies and synagogues serving the Jewish Community of Greater MetroWest NJ and the remainder of Somerset County. One application per organization.
Deadline: Applications for FY2027 grants are open from April 20-May 28. Deadline to apply is May 28, 2026 (page states FY2027 cycle).
Who can apply: Open only to organizations located in or serving residents of Greater MetroWest NJ's partnership communities in Israel, including Ofakim/Merchavim, Arad, Kibbutz Erez, Rishon LeZion, and Hurfeish. One grant available per category.
Deadline: Applications open each spring.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Metrowest N | Whippany, NJ | $7,424,356 | 2026 | General support |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER METROWEST NJ | WHIPPANY, NJ | $285,300 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEMPLE BETH SHALOM | LIVINGSTON, NJ | $23,044 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTH PALM BEACH COUNTY | BOCA RATON, FL | $19,589 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER METROWEST NJ | WHIPPANY, NJ | $275,801 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEMPLE BETH SHALOM | LIVINGSTON, NJ | $22,277 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTH PALM BEACH COUNTY | BOCA RATON, FL | $18,936 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| Jewish Community Housing Corp | Livingston, NJ | $14,390 | 2025 | general support |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER METROWEST NJ | WHIPPANY, NJ | $296,094 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY FDTN OF GREATER METROWEST NJ | WHIPPANY, NJ | $27,458 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEMPLE BETH SHALOM | LIVINGSTON, NJ | $21,698 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTH PALM BEACH COUNTY | BOCA RATON, FL | $18,445 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER METROWEST NJ | WHIPPANY, NJ | $256,413 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEMPLE BETH SHALOM | LIVINGSTON, NJ | $20,711 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF SOUTH PALM BEACH COUNTY | BOCA RATON, FL | $17,605 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
TEMPLE BETH SHALOM
$23,044GENERAL SUPPORT
TEMPLE BETH SHALOM
$22,277GENERAL SUPPORT
Jewish Community Housing Corp
$14,390general support
TEMPLE BETH SHALOM
$21,698GENERAL SUPPORT
TEMPLE BETH SHALOM
$20,711GENERAL SUPPORT
