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Form 990-PFTax year 2024EIN 68-0070194

The Lef Foundation

A private foundation in Belmont, MA. Its return for tax year 2024 lists 56 grants and $584,600 paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Tax year 2024 (period ending Jun 30, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Accepts applications

The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.

Contact
Genevieve Carmel
PO Box 382066
Cambridge, MA 02238
(617) 492-5333
[email protected]
Form and materials
Guidelines lef invests in documentary film and video projects that demonstrate excellence in technique, originality of vision and voice, and creativity in form. The strongest proposals will be those that clearly articulate the ways in which the proposed project aligns with the program's funding criteria. Funding criteria quality of cinematic form and technique originality of filmmaker's voice, vision, and point of view resonance and power of the film's core idea or story feasibility of production. Eligibility projects must be long format; running times of 40 minutes or more. Primary creative personnel (director and/or producer) must reside in new england. Projects with directors or producers enrolled in high school, undergraduate or master's degree prpgra,s at the time of application are ineligible. Multi-channel or installation work will not be considered. Applicants are no longer required to have a fiscal sponsor.
Deadlines
Production & post-production letter of inquiry deadline friday, january 20, 2025.
Restrictions
See 2b above

Assets and giving by year

8 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2024

    $584,600

    Grants listed
    56
    Assets, end of year
    $7,194,118

  • Tax year 2023

    $499,500

    Grants listed
    51
    Assets, end of year
    $7,237,697

  • Tax year 2022

    $550,000

    Grants listed
    74
    Assets, end of year
    $7,561,197

  • Tax year 2021

    $400,500

    Grants listed
    55
    Assets, end of year
    $8,278,042

  • Tax year 2020

    $586,500

    Grants listed
    80
    Assets, end of year
    $5,867,752

  • Tax year 2019

    $461,750

    Grants listed
    51
    Assets, end of year
    $6,189,803

  • Tax year 2018

    $500,800

    Grants listed
    62
    Assets, end of year
    $6,560,595

  • Tax year 2017

    $396,425

    Grants listed
    60
    Assets, end of year
    $6,843,482

Grants paid in 2024

56 grants, largest first

As listed on the return. Grants to individuals show as “Individual”, with purpose and amount only.

  1. UniondocsRidgewood, NY

    Funds in support of milton guilln's project my skin and i as part of the fsc-lef fellowship

    $75,000
  2. Filmmakers Collaborative IncSan Francisco, CA

    General support of filmmakers

    $50,000
  3. Center for Independent Documentary IncSharon, MA

    Funding for the following:unrestricted gift in support of center for independent documentary, and independent works by siobhan landry, carolina borras, brooke sais, and the completion of "the dreamers and i"

    $45,000
  4. Points North InstituteCamden, ME

    A grant in support of the lef/ciff fellowship

    $40,000
  5. Individual

    PROGRAM SUPPORT OF [individual] KOWALSKI'S PROJECT, "OUT IN THE MOUNTAINS (WORKING TITLE)"

    $32,500
  6. Color CongressOakland, CA

    Funds in support of color congress's work to strengthen bipoc-led media organizations (1 of 2)

    $25,000
  7. Individual

    FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF [individual]'S PROJECT, MY SKIN AND I.

    $25,000
  8. Individual

    PROGRAM SUPPORT OF [individual]'S PROJECT, "THE RIVER".

    $25,000
  9. Documentary Educational Resources IncWatertown, MA

    Unrestricted gift in support of documentary educational resources

    $25,000
  10. Individual

    PROGRAM SUPPORT OF [individual] MACK'S PROJECT, "EARLY MOURNING, TARPON SPRINGS"

    $25,000
  11. Individual

    PROGRAM SUPPORT OF [individual] GIACCONI'S PROJECT, "MEMORY OF LIGHTNING AND AFFIDAVIT AS PART OF THE HARVARD FS...

    $20,000
  12. Individual

    PROGRAM SUPPORT OF [individual] 'S PROJECT, "THE TEACHERS PROJECT (WORKING TITLE)".

    $15,000
  13. Individual

    PROGRAM SUPPORT OF [individual] 'S PROJECT, "HEAVEN THROUGH THE BACKDOOR"

    $15,000
  14. Museum of Ceramic ArtsnyNew York, NY

    Program support of the work of the museum of ceramic arts/ new york

    $11,000
  15. Flahertyinternational Film SeminarsBrooklyn, NY

    In support of 2 fellowships at the 2024 flaherty seminar, and general operating/staffing expenses.

    $10,000
  16. Rhode Island School of DesignProvidence, RI

    Program support of the architectural department

    $10,000
  17. Roots and Branches ConservancySan Francisco, CA

    Program support of roots and branches programs

    $10,000
  18. American Civil Liberties UnionNew York, NY

    Program support of the aclu's civil rights work

    $7,000
  19. Massachusetts Production Coalition IncBoston, MA

    General support of film production

    $6,000
  20. CerfBattleboro, VT

    Program support of craft emergency relief fund/ cerf+

    $6,000
  21. Leopold Writing ProgramAlbuquerque, NM

    Program support of the writing residency at the leopold writing program

    $6,000
  22. Everson Museum of ArtsSyracuse, NY

    Program support of arts

    $5,500
  23. Individual

    PROGRAM SUPPORT OF [individual] 'S PROJECT, "TONADA MENGUANTE"

    $5,000
  24. Calistoga Cares Food Bank IncCalistoga, CA

    Program support of the calistoga cares food bank

    $5,000
  25. Individual

    [individual] AND MONA XIA'S PROJECT, KOWLOON DYNASTY.

    $5,000
  26. Doctors Without BordersNew York, NY

    General support of doctors without borders work in palestine

    $4,000
  27. Mercy Corp - National ProcessingBoone, IA

    Program support of mercy corps relief efforts

    $4,000
  28. Watershed Center for the Ceramic ArtsNewcastle, ME

    Support of the watershed center for the ceramic arts

    $4,000
  29. Global GivingWashington, DC

    Program support of global giving's relief work

    $3,500
  30. Progress Unity FundSan Francisco, CA

    Program support of the progress unity fund's organizing activities

    $3,000
  31. Yucca Valley Material LabYucca Valley, CA

    Program support of the work of the yucca valley material lamb

    $3,000
  32. American Indian Science and EngineeringAlbuquerque, NM

    Program support of the american indian science and engineering society

    $3,000
  33. American Indian ServicesLehi, UT

    Program support of american indian services

    $3,000
  34. Food Bank of the RockiesAurora, CO

    Program support of the food bank of the rockies

    $3,000
  35. Hawaii Community FoundationHonolulu, HI

    Maui strong relief fund at the hawaii community foundation

    $3,000
  36. International Documentary AssociationLos Angeles, CA

    Program support the archival producers alliance at ciff 2024

    $3,000
  37. MausaMcLean, VA

    Program support of mausa's relief work in gaza

    $3,000
  38. New Mexico Habitat for HumanityAlbuquerque, NM

    Program support of new mexico habitat for humanity

    $3,000
  39. Roadrunner Food BankAlbuquerque, NM

    Program support of roadrunner food bank

    $3,000
  40. World Central KitchenWashington, DC

    Program support of world central kitchen's relief work in gaza

    $3,000
  41. SparkLarkspur, CA

    Funding for larkspur corte madera school district's 2024-25 school year.

    $2,600
  42. Independent Film Society of BostonCambridge, MA

    A strategic grant in support of the 2024 independent film festival boston

    $2,500
  43. Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation IncBrookline, MA

    Work of the theatre's staff on behalf of the new england legacy screenings series.

    $2,500
  44. Individual

    Program support of "ezra" rose arscott's project, "paper ties"

    $2,500
  45. Individual

    Program support of rosalyn negrn's project, "rompi fuente en la noche (water breaks at...

    $2,500
  46. Cove PTO the Cove SchoolCorte Madera, CA

    Program support of art displays for the cove school

    $2,000
  47. Conservation Colorado Education FundDenver, CO

    Program support of the conservation colorado education fund

    $2,000
  48. GLBT Historical SocietySan Francisco, CA

    Funding of participation in the moving trans history forward conference.

    $2,000
  49. New Mexico Land ConservancySanta Fe, NM

    Program support of the work of the new mexico land conservancy

    $2,000
  50. New Mexico Voices for ChildrenAlbuquerque, NM

    Program support of the programming of new mexico voices for children

    $2,000
  51. Rio Grande Agricultural Land TrustAlbuquerque, NM

    Program support of the rio grande agricultural land trust

    $2,000
  52. Southern Utah Wilderness AllianceSalt Lake Cty, UT

    Program support of the southern utah wilderness alliance

    $2,000
  53. Vallejo Naval and Historical MuseumVallejo, CA

    Program support of the exhibit, a pride of trans posters, from the louise lawrence trans.

    $1,500
  54. Individual

    PROGRAM SUPPORT OF THE BOXO [individual] A PROJECT OF FISCALLY SPONSORED BOXO.

    $1,500
  55. The Foundation for PsusdPalm Springs, CA

    Program support of the kings circle scholarships

    $1,500
  56. Outpost Performance SpaceAlbuquerque, NM

    Program support of outpost performance space

    $1,000

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Arts and culture9 grants $207,00080% of the total
  2. Human services3 grants $11,0004% of the total
  3. Education1 grant $10,0004% of the total
  4. Food and agriculture4 grants $10,0004% of the total
  5. International aid2 grants $7,0003% of the total
  6. Community development1 grant $6,0002% of the total
  7. 3 other causes4 grants $9,0003% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. New York6 grants $112,500
  2. California12 grants $108,600
  3. Massachusetts5 grants $81,000
  4. Maine2 grants $44,000
  5. New Mexico8 grants $22,000
  6. Rhode Island1 grant $10,000
  7. District of Columbia2 grants $6,500
  8. Vermont1 grant $6,000
  9. Colorado2 grants $5,000
  10. Utah2 grants $5,000

Officers, directors and trustees

4 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Lauren FinneranDIRECTOR Hours 0.25Pay $0
  • Sarah TreesonDIRECTOR Hours 0.25Pay $0
  • Byron KuthVICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER Hours 0.25Pay $0
  • Lyda KuthPRESIDENT Hours 10Pay $0

The return

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