What kinds of organizations does William & Betty Lester Foundation Inc support most often?

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.

Does the foundation fund only New Jersey organizations?

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.

What is the typical grant size?

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.

Are there repeat grantees in the recent data?

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.

William & Betty Lester Foundation

Name: William & Betty Lester Foundation — grants, 990 financials & funding data
Creator: Kindora

ActiveMutual & Membership Benefit

WHIPPANY, NJWebsite9739293094

About William & Betty Lester Foundation

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.

Focus Areas

Core operating and unrestricted support for Jewish Federations in Greater MetroWest, NJSynagogue support and programming (e.g., Temple Beth Shalom)Support for regional Jewish community foundations and endowmentsTargeted support for Jewish communities in South Palm Beach County

Giving Approach

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.

Funding Style

unrestricted/general operating supportcore operating support

About William & Betty Lester Foundation

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.

What William & Betty Lester Foundation Funds

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.

How William & Betty Lester Foundation Gives

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.

Financial Snapshot

Annual Giving

$7.8M

Total Assets

Total Revenue

$453K

Total Expenses

$7.8M

Typical Grant Size

Most grants fall between $20K and $142K, with a median of $22K.

25th Percentile

$20K

Median

$22K

75th Percentile

$142K

Geographic Reach

Regional2 states funded

Funding intensity

Low

High

Headquarters

Leadership

GLORIA LESTER

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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

William & Betty Lester Foundation

About William & Betty Lester Foundation

Focus Areas

Giving Approach

Funding Style

About William & Betty Lester Foundation

What William & Betty Lester Foundation Funds

How William & Betty Lester Foundation Gives

Financial Snapshot

Typical Grant Size

Geographic Reach

Leadership

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Frequently Asked Questions About William & Betty Lester Foundation

What kinds of organizations does William & Betty Lester Foundation Inc support most often?

Does the foundation fund only New Jersey organizations?

What is the typical grant size?

Are there repeat grantees in the recent data?

Can organizations apply for some of the foundation’s programs?

Open Grant Opportunities

The Alisa Flatow Memorial Scholarship Fund (Israel Scholarship / Institutional Scholarships)

Local Greater MetroWest NJ Grants

JCF Restricted Endowment Grants — Israel Restricted Grants (GRC)

Recent Grants

William & Betty Lester Foundation

About William & Betty Lester Foundation

Focus Areas

Giving Approach

Funding Style

About William & Betty Lester Foundation

What William & Betty Lester Foundation Funds

How William & Betty Lester Foundation Gives

Financial Snapshot

Typical Grant Size

Geographic Reach

Leadership

Unlock Deep Analysis

See Similar Funders

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Want a Personalized Pitch for William & Betty Lester Foundation?

The Grant Brief

Where William & Betty Lester Foundation Makes Grants

Frequently Asked Questions About William & Betty Lester Foundation

What kinds of organizations does William & Betty Lester Foundation Inc support most often?

Does the foundation fund only New Jersey organizations?

What is the typical grant size?

Are there repeat grantees in the recent data?

Can organizations apply for some of the foundation’s programs?

Open Grant Opportunities

The Alisa Flatow Memorial Scholarship Fund (Israel Scholarship / Institutional Scholarships)

Local Greater MetroWest NJ Grants

JCF Restricted Endowment Grants — Israel Restricted Grants (GRC)

Recent Grants