Funding search · EIN 680070194 · Belmont, MA

The Lef Foundation

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

236
grants reported
$2.0M
total given
2021–2024
filing years
$5,000
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 20212024. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

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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.

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Top recipients

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

  • Center for Independent Documentary17 grants · $222,500
  • Points North Institute4 grants · $126,000
  • Uniondocs2 grants · $80,000
  • Filmmakers Collaborative4 grants · $72,500
  • Color Congress2 grants · $50,000
  • Documentary Educational Resources6 grants · $50,000
  • The Bay School2 grants · $50,000
  • Westchester Institute for Human Develop3 grants · $45,000
  • Independent Feature Project3 grants · $45,000
  • Sara Archambault2 grants · $40,000

Giving over time

$400,500
2021
$550,000
2022
$499,500
2023
$584,600
2024

Grant history

The 100 largest of 236 grants.

  • $75,000

    Uniondocs · Ridgewood, NY · 2024

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

  • $50,000

    Filmmakers Collaborative · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    General support of filmmakers

  • $45,000

    Center for Independent Documentary · Sharon, MA · 2024

    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"

  • $40,000

    Points North Institute · Camden, ME · 2024

    A grant in support of the lef/ciff fellowship

  • $40,000

    Creative Capital · New York, NY · 2022

    Program support

  • $36,000

    Points North Institute · Camden, ME · 2023

    A grant in support of the lef/ciff fellowship program at the 2023 camden international film festival

  • $32,500

    Women Make Movies Inc - Amanda Kowa · New York, NY · 2024

    Program support of amanda kowalski's project, "out in the mountains (working title)"

  • $25,000

    Color Congress · Oakland, CA · 2024

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

  • $25,000

    Documentary Educational Resources · Watertown, MA · 2024

    Unrestricted gift in support of documentary educational resources

  • $25,000

    Experimental Sound Studio - Jodie M · Chicago, IL · 2024

    Program support of jodie mack's project, "early mourning, tarpon springs"

  • $25,000

    Milton Guillen · Cambridge, MA · 2024

    Funds in support of milton guillen's project, my skin and i.

  • $25,000

    Sara Archambault · Cambridge, MA · 2024

    Program support of sara archambault's project, "the river".

  • $25,000

    Alexander Wolf Lewis · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of kaitlyn schwalje's project, unless something goes terribly wrong (working title)

  • $25,000

    Angelo Madsen Minax · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of angelo madsen minax's project, a body to live in.

  • $25,000

    Anna Barsan · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of anna barsan's project, softly in all directions.

  • $25,000

    Color Congress · Oakland, CA · 2023

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

  • $25,000

    Julie Mallozzi · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of julie mallozzi's project, unconscious medicine.

  • $25,000

    Patricia Alvarez Astacio · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of gabriella garcia-pardo and raul paz-pastrana's project, backside.

  • $25,000

    Ross McElwee · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of ross mcelwee's project, remake.

  • $25,000

    Center for Independent Documentary · Boston, MA · 2022

    Program support of shirley kim-ryu's project kaksor!!

  • $25,000

    Center for Independent Documentary · Boston, MA · 2022

    Program support of khary saeed jones's project night fight

  • $25,000

    Points North Institute · Camden, ME · 2022

    Program support of the lef/ciff fellowship program at the 2022 camden international film...

  • $25,000

    President & Trustees of Bates College · Lewiston, ME · 2022

    Program support of carolina gonzalez valencia's project how to clean a house in 10 easy ...

  • $25,000

    The Bay School · Presidio of San Franci, CA · 2022

    Program support of the bay school capital campaign

  • $25,000

    Westchester Institute for Human Develop · Valhalla, NY · 2022

    Program support of dan habib's project my disability roadmap (working title)

  • $25,000

    Center for Independent Documentary · Boston, MA · 2021

    Program support of amy jenkin's project adam's apple

  • $25,000

    Independent Feature Project · Brooklyn, NY · 2021

    Program support of leigh and jason morfoot's project school district

  • $25,000

    Independent Film Alliance Chicago · Chicago, IL · 2021

    Program support of wynne hannan's project cairo, il project

  • $25,000

    Points North Institute · Camden, ME · 2021

    Program support of the lef/ciff fellowship at the camden international film festival

  • $25,000

    The Bay School · Presidio of San Franci, CA · 2021

    Program support of the second installment of a three part grant for the the bay school's...

  • $25,000

    Tikkun Olam Productions · Somerville, MA · 2021

    Program support of eric axelman's project israelism

  • $23,000

    California College of the Arts · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    Program support of the david meckel scholarship fund

  • $20,000

    Tufts University - Riccardo Giaccon · Medford, MA · 2024

    Program support of riccardo giacconi's project, "memory of lightning and affidavit as part of the harvard fs...

  • $20,000

    Save the Children · Fairfield, CT · 2023

    Supporting work in war torn areas

  • $15,000

    Film Forum - Luke Meyer · New York, NY · 2024

    Program support of luke meyer's project, "the teachers project (working title)".

  • $15,000

    Mirabel Pictures - Banker White · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    Program support of banker white's project, "heaven through the backdoor"

  • $15,000

    Adam Mazo · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of adam mazo's project, we sing nonetheless.

  • $15,000

    Christina Mastrangelo · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of christina mastrangelo's project, life is strange, leia lu

  • $15,000

    Heather Cassano · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of heather cassano's project, the fate of human beings.

  • $15,000

    Iyabo Kwayana · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of iyabo kwayana's project, black pearl.

  • $15,000

    Milton Guillen · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of milton guillen's project, my skin and i.

  • $15,000

    Myles Jewell · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of myles jewell's project, burlington, this is you!

  • $15,000

    Sara Archambault · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of caitlyn greene's project, the river.

  • $15,000

    California College of Arts & Crafts · Oakland, CA · 2022

    Program support of cca's annual fund

  • $15,000

    Center for Independent Documentary · Boston, MA · 2022

    Program support of anna barsan's project softly in all directions

  • $15,000

    Center for Independent Documentary · Boston, MA · 2022

    Program support of john hulsey's project from the land

  • $15,000

    Center for Independent Documentary · Boston, MA · 2022

    Program support of shirley kim-ryu's project kaksori

  • $15,000

    Documentary Educational Resources · Roslindale, MA · 2022

    Program support of james rutenbeck's project the fuck you spark

  • $15,000

    Experimental Sound Studio · Chicago, IL · 2022

    Program support of jodie mack's project early mourning, tarpon spring

  • $15,000

    Film Independent · Los Angeles, CA · 2022

    Program support of amanda erickson's project she cried that day

  • $15,000

    Filmmakers Collaborative · Melrose, MA · 2022

    Program support of sabriba aviles and jenny alexander's project chelsea (working title)

  • $15,000

    Independent Feature Project · Brooklyn, NY · 2022

    Program support of rachael decruz & jeremy s. Levine project nine

  • $15,000

    Uniondocs · Brooklyn, NY · 2022

    Program support of angelo madsen minax's project a body to live in

  • $15,000

    Center for Independent Documentary · Boston, MA · 2021

    Program support of emily graham-handley's project king luck

  • $15,000

    New York Foundation for the Arts · Brooklyn, NY · 2021

    Program support of mary patierno's project requiem for a river

  • $15,000

    The Film Collaborative · Los Angeles, CA · 2021

    Program support of mary-jane doherty's project cosmic coda

  • $15,000

    Westchester Institute for Human Develop · Valhalla, NY · 2021

    Program support

  • $15,000

    Women Make Movies · New York, NY · 2021

    Program support of kiran jandu'd project the source of life (te puna ora)

  • $11,000

    Museum of Ceramic Artsny · New York, NY · 2024

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

  • $11,000

    Progress Unity Fund · San Francisco, CA · 2021

    Program support

  • $10,000

    Flahertyinternational Film Seminars · Brooklyn, NY · 2024

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

  • $10,000

    Rhode Island School of Design · Providence, RI · 2024

    Program support of the architectural department

  • $10,000

    Roots and Branches Conservancy · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    Program support of roots and branches programs

  • $10,000

    Flahertyinternational Film Seminars · Brooklyn, NY · 2023

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

  • $10,000

    Center for Independent Documentary · Boston, MA · 2022

    Program support of cid's sponsored film project, a decent home

  • $10,000

    The Evergreen State College · Nw Olympia, WA · 2022

    Program support

  • $10,000

    California College of the Arts · Oakland, CA · 2021

    Program support of 2022 annual fund california college of the arts

  • $10,000

    Rhode Island School of Design · Providence, RI · 2021

    Program support of rodoldo machado lecture fund at the rhode island school of design

  • $9,000

    International Film Seminars · New York, NY · 2022

    A strategic grant in support of four lef new england fellows at the 2023 flathery film seminar

  • $9,000

    Progress Unity Fund · San Francisco, CA · 2022

    Program support in general support of the anti-war anti-racism work for answer organizes

  • $9,000

    Progress Unity Fund · San Francisco, CA · 2021

    Program support of the anti-war anti-racism work that answer organizes.

  • $9,000

    The Flaherty · Brooklyn, NY · 2021

    Program support of four lef new england fellows at the 2022 flaherty film seminar

  • $8,000

    Calistoga Art Center · Calistoga, CA · 2023

    Program support of gen. Operations to be used as match for ca arts council gen. Operations grant

  • $8,000

    Calistoga Art Center · Calistoga, CA · 2022

    Program support of the general operating support of the calistoga art center

  • $7,500

    Project X Foundation · Los Angeles, CA · 2022

    Program support for project x foundation

  • $7,000

    American Civil Liberties Union · New York, NY · 2024

    Program support of the aclu's civil rights work

  • $7,000

    Albuquerque Museum Foundation · Albuquerque, NM · 2022

    Program support of the exhbit, danny lyon-journey west, photgraphs and film

  • $6,000

    Cerf · Battleboro, VT · 2024

    Program support of craft emergency relief fund/ cerf+

  • $6,000

    Leopold Writing Program · Albuquerque, NM · 2024

    Program support of the writing residency at the leopold writing program

  • $6,000

    Massachusetts Production Coalition · Cambridge, MA · 2024

    General support of film production

  • $6,000

    Planned Parenthood · Washington, DC · 2022

    Program support of the critical work that planned parenthood does.

  • $5,500

    Everson Museum of Arts · Syracuse, NY · 2024

    Program support of arts

  • $5,000

    Blackstar Projects Inc - Luis Arnas · Philadelphia, PA · 2024

    Program support of luis arnas's project, "tonada menguante"

  • $5,000

    Calistoga Cares Food Bank · Calistoga, CA · 2024

    Program support of the calistoga cares food bank

  • $5,000

    Film Independent - Erin Ramirez and · San Francisco, CA · 2024

    Erin ramirez and mona xia's project, kowloon dynasty.

  • $5,000

    Calistoga Art Center · Calistoga, CA · 2023

    General support of the calistoga arts center

  • $5,000

    Center for Architecture and Design · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    Enhance public appreciation for architecture and design

  • $5,000

    Doctors Without Borders · New York, NY · 2023

    General support of doctors without borders work in palestine

  • $5,000

    Fern Silva · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of fernando silva's project, rebounds.

  • $5,000

    Horizons Albuquerque · Albuquerque, NM · 2023

    Scholarships in celebration for 10th anniversary

  • $5,000

    Isamu Noguchi Foundation at the Garden Museum · Long Island City, NY · 2023

    General support of the toshiko takaezy project undertaken by the isamu noguchi foundation

  • $5,000

    Jay Paris · Tamworth, NH · 2023

    Funds in support of jay paris's project, the selma project.

  • $5,000

    Kate Way · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of kate way's project, 97.

  • $5,000

    Leila Philip · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of leila philip's project, the cardiff tapes.

  • $5,000

    Mary Jirmanus Saba · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of mary jirmanus saba and kelly gallagher's project, by all your memories.

  • $5,000

    Massachusetts Production Coalition · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    General support of film production

  • $5,000

    Michelle Trujillo · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of michelle trujillo's project, 1511.

  • $5,000

    Palm Springs Cultural Center · Palm Springs, CA · 2023

    General support of the coachella valley filipino festival at the palm springs cultural center.

  • $5,000

    Progress Unity Fund · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    Program support in general support of anti war anti racism work

  • $5,000

    Sarah Bliss · Cambridge, MA · 2023

    Funds in support of sarah bliss's project, uncovered.

View all 236 grants →

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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.