Funding search · EIN 542036566 · Roanoke, VA

The Louise R Lester Foundation

Name: The Louise R Lester Foundation grants, 2022–2025
Creator: PaperOrbit
License: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organization-public-disclosure-and-availability-requirements

A private foundation (files IRS Form 990-PF). Most private foundations do not take unsolicited applications; the route in is usually a program officer.

182
grants reported: $2.9M
total given: 2022–2025
filing years: $10,000
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 2022–2025. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

food scholarship care training access children disaster distribution

Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is built Report an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

Eastlake Community Church4 grants · $375,000
Frankie Lemmon Foundation4 grants · $224,000
Renewanation3 grants · $125,000
Agape Center4 grants · $101,740
Mill Mountain Zoo5 grants · $81,500
Spca of Martinsville Henry Co4 grants · $80,669
Healing Strides of Virginia5 grants · $80,000
Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy3 grants · $75,000
Habitat for Humanity Franklin Co4 grants · $71,000
Carilion Foundation2 grants · $60,000

Giving over time

$709,852

2022

$633,301

2023

$634,040

2024

$879,378

2025

Grant history

The 100 largest of 182 grants.

$200,000
Eastlake Community Church · Moneta, VA · 2025
Bleachers for football field
$75,000
Eastlake Community Church · Moneta, VA · 2022
Football field lights
$63,000
Frankie Lemmon Foundation · Raleigh, NC · 2025
1-3 grade expansion
$63,000
Frankie Lemmon Foundation · Raleigh, NC · 2024
1-2 grade expansion
$63,000
Frankie Lemmon Foundation · Raleigh, NC · 2023
Grade 1-2 expansion
$50,000
Renewanation · Roanoke, VA · 2025
Chuch/family and christian education programs
$50,000
Eastlake Community Church · Moneta, VA · 2024
Baseball field fencing
$50,000
Renew a Nation · Roanoke, VA · 2024
Book and debate training production
$50,000
Ymca of Virginia'S Blue Ridge · Roanoke, VA · 2024
Naming rights for new ymca
$50,000
Eastlake Community Church · Moneta, VA · 2023
Football field lights
$50,000
Renewanation · Roanoke, VA · 2023
General operating match - all programs
$39,169
Spca of Martinsville Henry Co · Martinsville, VA · 2025
New van
$35,000
Frankie Lemmon Foundation · Raleigh, NC · 2022
Multipurpose room av upgrades
$32,300
Ronald McDonald House Swva · Roanoke, VA · 2024
Playroom renovations
$30,000
Carilion Foundation · Roanoke, VA · 2025
Mental health services children
$30,000
Restoration Housing · Roanoke, VA · 2025
Elderly affordable housing
$30,000
Agape Center · Moneta, VA · 2023
Facility support items
$30,000
Carilion Foundation · Roanoke, VA · 2023
Mental health services children
$30,000
Agape Center · Moneta, VA · 2022
Food distributions projects
$30,000
Beafourt Co Community College Foundation · Washington, NC · 2022
Scholarship fund/endowment
$29,240
Agape Center · Moneta, VA · 2024
Facility support
$25,000
Hope Nc · Chapel Hill, NC · 2025
Community access fund and pavilion construction
$25,000
Mill Mountain Zoo · Roanoke, VA · 2025
Veterinary clinic equipment project
$25,000
Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy · Moneta, VA · 2025
Scholarship program
$25,000
Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy · Moneta, VA · 2023
Scholarship program
$25,000
Habitat for Humanity Roanoke Valley · Roanoke, VA · 2022
General operating
$25,000
Mill Mountain Zoo · Roanoke, VA · 2022
Zoo cho project
$25,000
Renewanation · Roanoke, VA · 2022
New school start up
$25,000
Smith Mountain Lake Christian Academy · Moneta, VA · 2022
Scholarship program
$21,000
Habitat for Humanity Franklin Co · Rocky Mount, VA · 2025
Critical home repairs
$20,000
Healing Strides of Virginia · Boones Mill, VA · 2025
Equine-assisted services
$20,000
Gods Pit Crew · Danville, VA · 2024
New 53ft trailers
$20,000
Good Samaritan Hospice · Roanoke, VA · 2024
Hospice care
$20,000
Virginia Western Community College · Roanoke, VA · 2024
Scholarship program
$20,000
Children'S Assistive Technology · Roanoke, VA · 2023
General operating support
$20,000
Healing Strides of Virginia · Boones Mill, VA · 2023
Expansion of programs
$20,000
Virginia Western Community College Foundation · Roanoke, VA · 2023
Scholarship program
$20,000
Children'S Assistive Technology · Moneta, VA · 2022
General operating support
$20,000
Greenbrier County Youth Camp · Frankford, VA · 2022
Two portable storage sheds
$20,000
Habitat for Humanity Franklin Co · Rocky Mount, VA · 2022
Aging in place home repairs
$20,000
Healing Strides of Virginia · Boones Mill, VA · 2022
Operating expenses and mental health pilot program for sexual abuse
$20,000
Rescue Mission of Roanoke · Roanoke, VA · 2022
Security system upgrade
$20,000
Virginia Western Community College Foundation · Roanoke, VA · 2022
Scholarship program
$19,000
Spencer Penn Centre · Spencer, VA · 2022
Refinishing hardwood floors
$18,468
Esteamed Coffee · Cary, NC · 2025
Social events program
$18,000
Southern Area Agency On Aging · Martinsville, VA · 2024
In home elder care
$17,500
Mill Mountain Zoo · Roanoke, VA · 2023
Wildlife conservation or facility improvements
$16,500
Spca of Martinsville Henry Co · Martinsville, VA · 2022
Fund additional equipment for lrl clinic
$15,125
Renick Community Center · Renick, WV · 2025
General operating
$15,000
Feeding American Swva · Salem, VA · 2025
General operation/food bank&distribution
$15,000
Fruits of Labor (Seed Sowers Inc) · Meadow Bridge, WV · 2025
The seeds project
$15,000
Gods Pit Crew · Danville, VA · 2025
Creative team equipment upgrades
$15,000
Good Samaritan Hospice · Roanoke, VA · 2025
Hospice care
$15,000
Local Office On Aging · Roanoke, VA · 2025
Meals on wheels program
$15,000
Roanoke Valley Spca · Roanoke, VA · 2025
Sara jane & mickey second chance fund/care fund
$15,000
Sml Gives · Moneta, VA · 2025
Food distribution program
$15,000
Feeding American Swva · Salem, VA · 2024
General operation/food bank&distribution
$15,000
Habitat for Humanity Franklin Co · Rocky Mount, VA · 2024
Construction storage and safety
$15,000
Habitat for Humanity Roanoke Valley · Roanoke, VA · 2024
Womens build
$15,000
Healing Strides of Virginia · Boones Mill, VA · 2024
Equine-assisted services
$15,000
Roanoke Valley Spca · Roanoke, VA · 2024
Sara jane & mickey second chance fund/care fund
$15,000
Seed Sowers Inc (Fruits of Labor) · Meadow Bridge, WV · 2024
The seeds project
$15,000
Spca of Martinsville Henry Co · Martinsville, VA · 2024
General operating funds
$15,000
Adult Care Center of Roanoke Valley · Salem, VA · 2023
Sue nutter scholarship fund/gen op
$15,000
God'S Pit Crew · Danville, VA · 2023
New lift truck
$15,000
Habitat for Humanity Franklin Co · Rocky Mount, VA · 2023
Purchase new box truck
$15,000
Seed Sowers Inc (Fruits of Labor) · Dawson, WV · 2023
The seeds project
$15,000
Virginia Institute of Autism · Charlottesville, VA · 2023
Paes curriculum
$15,000
Adult Care Center of Roanoke Valley · Salem, VA · 2022
Sue nutter scholarship fund/gen op
$15,000
Seed Sowers Inc (Fruits of Labor) · Bekley, WV · 2022
The seeds project
$14,061
Renick Community Center · Renick, WV · 2023
General operating
$12,891
Roanoke Rescue Mission · Roanoke, VA · 2025
Women & childrens center playground
$12,500
Agape Center · Moneta, VA · 2025
Facility improvements
$12,500
Via Centers for Neurodevelopment · Roanoke, VA · 2025
Roanoke day school playground
$12,500
Renick Community Center · Renick, WV · 2024
General operating
$12,000
Renick Community Center · Renick, WV · 2022
General operating
$10,000
Adult Center of Roanoke Valley · Salem, VA · 2025
Sue nutter scholarship fund
$10,000
American Adverting Federation of Roanoke · Roanoke, VA · 2025
Two episodes of buzz
$10,000
Community Storehouse · Martinsville, VA · 2025
Food programs
$10,000
Family Promise of Greater Roanoke · Roanoke, VA · 2025
Emergency family shelter program
$10,000
Free Clinic of Franklin County · Rocky Mount, VA · 2025
Operating funds
$10,000
Greenbrier Co Young Life · Lewisburg, WV · 2025
Intern program
$10,000
Made 4 Me · Raleigh, NC · 2025
Making abilities possible
$10,000
Mill Mountain Theater · Roanoke, VA · 2025
Young audiences program
$10,000
Renovation Alliance · Roanoke, VA · 2025
General operating
$10,000
Rx Partnership · Richmond, VA · 2025
Gen operating/access to medication program
$10,000
St Francis Service Dogs · Roanoke, VA · 2025
Fund the training of a service dog
$10,000
Young Life Martinsville Henry Co · Martinsville, VA · 2025
General operating support
$10,000
American Adverting Federation of Roanoke · Roanoke, VA · 2024
Two episodes of buzz
$10,000
Beafourt Co Community College Foundation · Washington, NC · 2024
Minute meals pantry
$10,000
Free Clinic of Franklin County · Rocky Mount, VA · 2024
Operating funds
$10,000
Friendship Circle of Va · Richmond, VA · 2024
Seniors programs
$10,000
Lovable Services · Roanoke, VA · 2024
Part time coordinator
$10,000
Made 4 Me · Raleigh, NC · 2024
Making abilities possible
$10,000
Mill Mountain Theater · Roanoke, VA · 2024
Young audiences program
$10,000
Mill Mountain Zoo · Roanoke, VA · 2024
It upgrades
$10,000
Rx Partnership · Richmond, VA · 2024
Gen operating/access to medication program
$10,000
St Francis Service Dogs · Roanoke, VA · 2024
Fund the training of a service dog
$10,000
American Advertising Federation of Roanoke · Roanoke, VA · 2023
Two episodes of buzz
$10,000
Bradley Free Clinic · Roanoke, VA · 2023
Patient fund

View all 182 grants →

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Grants already paid are the record; PaperOrbit reads your paper and finds the funders whose record matches it — then explains why.

Search funders like this one

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV, as filed by the foundation. These are grants already paid — a record of what this funder backs, not an open call.