The Lef Foundation
EIN 680070194Total Given 2017–2025
$3.4M
418 grants · $378K avg/year
based on 9 yrs of IRS 990-PF records on file
$100K+/yr
local funder
capacity
$5K
typical small grants · $2K–$10K
grant size
37%
supporter · 76/206 multi-year
repeat
$9.6M
Assets (2025)
206
Distinct Recipients
Focus Areas
Application Information
Accepts Unsolicited Proposals
Unknown
Contact Person
GENEVIEVE CARMEL
Phone
(707) 644-6575
Deadlines
PRODUCTION & POST-PRODUCTION LETTER OF INQUIRY DEADLINE FRIDAY, 21 JANUARY 2022
How to Apply
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. STUDENTS ENROLLED IN DEGREE-GRANTING PROGRAMS MAY NOT APPLY. MULTI-CHANNEL OR INSTALLATION WORK WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. APPLICANTS MUST HAVE A FISCAL SPONSOR (A NONPROFIT WITH A 501[C]3 DESIGNATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT)
Restrictions
SEE 2B ABOVE
Financial Trends
Giving Over Time
Total Assets Over Time
View financial data as table
| Year | Total Giving | Total Assets | Revenue | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $472K | $8.4M | $589K | 66 |
| 2018 | $398K | $8.6M | $586K | 59 |
| 2020 | $462K | $7.7M | $387K | 51 |
| 2021 | $586K | $8.4M | $374K | 80 |
| 2022 | $400K | $9.8M | $3.2M | 55 |
| 2024 | $500K | $10.1M | $533K | 51 |
| 2025 | $585K | $9.6M | $832K | 56 |
Grant Size Distribution
Based on 418 grants on record
Minimum
$1K
25th Pctl
$2K
Median
$5K
Average
$8K
75th Pctl
$10K
Maximum
$75K
Geographic Distribution
Officers & Directors
LK
Lyda Kuth
7+ yrs
President
Leadership
BK
Byron Kuth
7+ yrs
Vice President/Treasurer
Leadership
ST
Sarah Treeson
7+ yrs
Director
LF
Lauren Finneran
2 yrs
Director
LK
Lyda Kuth
7+ yrs
President
Leadership
BK
Byron Kuth
7+ yrs
Vice President/Treasurer
Leadership
LF
Lauren Finneran
2 yrs
Director
ST
Sarah Treeson
7+ yrs
Director
BK
Byron Kuth
7+ yrs
Vice President/Treasurer
Leadership
LK
Lyda Kuth
7+ yrs
President
Leadership
LF
Laurey Finneran
5 yrs
Director
ST
Sarah Treeson
7+ yrs
Director
BK
Byron Kuth
7+ yrs
Vice President/Treasurer
Leadership
LK
Lyda Kuth
7+ yrs
President
Leadership
LF
Laurey Finneran
5 yrs
Director
ST
Sarah Treeson
7+ yrs
Director
LK
Lyda Kuth
7+ yrs
President
Leadership
BK
Byron Kuth
7+ yrs
Vice President/Treasurer
Leadership
LF
Laurey Finneran
5 yrs
Director
ST
Sarah Treeson
7+ yrs
Director
LK
Lyda Kuth
7+ yrs
President
Leadership
BK
Byron Kuth
7+ yrs
Vice President/Treasurer
Leadership
LF
Laurey Finneran
5 yrs
Director
ST
Sarah Treeson
7+ yrs
Director
BK
Byron Kuth
7+ yrs
Vice President/Treasurer
Leadership
LK
Lyda Kuth
7+ yrs
President
Leadership
ST
Sarah Treeson
7+ yrs
director
LF
Laurey Finneran
5 yrs
Director
Grants Awarded (418 total)
| Purpose | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uniondocs | Ridgewood, NY | $75,000 | FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF MILTON GUILLN'S PROJECT MY SKIN AND I AS PART OF THE FSC-LEF FELLOWSHIP | 2025 |
| Filmmakers Collaborative Inc | San Francisco, CA | $50,000 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF FILMMAKERS | 2025 |
| California College of the Arts | Oakland, CA | $50,000 | CCA's Capital Campaign | 2017 |
| Center for Independent Documentary Inc | Sharon, MA | $45,000 | FUNDING FOR THE FOLLOWING:UNRESTRICTED GIFT IN SUPPORT OF CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY, AND INDEPENDENT WORKS... | 2025 |
| Points North Institute | Camden, ME | $40,000 | A GRANT IN SUPPORT OF THE LEF/CIFF FELLOWSHIP | 2025 |
| Points North Institute | Camden, ME | $36,000 | A GRANT IN SUPPORT OF THE LEF/CIFF FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT THE 2023 CAMDEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL | 2024 |
| Women Make Movies Inc - Amanda Kowa | New York, NY | $32,500 | PROGRAM SUPPORT OF AMANDA KOWALSKI'S PROJECT, "OUT IN THE MOUNTAINS (WORKING TITLE)" | 2025 |
| Albuquerque Community Foundation | Albuquerque, NM | $25,000 | PROGRAM SUPPORT OF ACF COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING | 2020 |
| Balagan Films Inc | Jamaica Plain, MA | $25,000 | PROGRAM SUPPORT OF JEFF SILVA & RAMONA BADESCU'S PROJECT THE ORDER OF THINGS | 2020 |
| Center for Independent Documentary Inc | Boston, MA | $25,000 | PROGRAM SUPPORT OF ZULILAH MERRY'S PROJECT NO ONE TOLD ME | 2020 |
| Center for Independent Documentary Inc | Boston, MA | $25,000 | PROGRAM SUPPORT OF KATHRYN RAMEY'S PROJECT EL SIGNO VACIO | 2020 |
| Filmmakers Collaborative of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | $25,000 | PROGRAM SUPPORT OF FRANZISKA BLOME & LLEW SMITH'S PROJECT BOUND BY BLOOD | 2020 |
| Roadrunner Food Bank | Albuquerque, NM | $25,000 | PROGRAM SUPPORT OF RFB COMMUNITY FOOD PROGRAMMING | 2020 |
| Cambridge Community Television | Cambridge, MA | $25,000 | PROGRAM SUPPORT OF RUDY HYPOLITE'S PROJECT BLACK BARBERSHOPS AND SALONS: NEIGHBORHOOD OASIS | 2021 |
| Documentary Educational Resources Inc | Roslindale, MA | $25,000 | PROGRAM SUPPORT OF MARGO GUERNSEY'S PROJECT THE PHILADELPHIA ELEVEN | 2021 |
| Documentary Educational Resources Inc | Roslindale, MA | $25,000 | PROGRAM SUPPORT OF ROBB MOSS'S PROJECT RIVER AND SHORE | 2021 |
| Meteor Films | Shelter Island, NY | $25,000 | PROGRAM SUPPORT OF DAVID REDMON & ASHLEY SABIN'S PROJECT ISLAND OF LOST TREASURES | 2021 |
| The Bay School | Presidio of San Franci, CA | $25,000 | PROGRAM SUPPORT OF KEYES CAMPAIGN | 2021 |
| Julie Mallozzi | Cambridge, MA | $25,000 | FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF JULIE MALLOZZI'S PROJECT, UNCONSCIOUS MEDICINE. | 2024 |
| Alexander Wolf Lewis | Cambridge, MA | $25,000 | FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF KAITLYN SCHWALJE'S PROJECT, UNLESS SOMETHING GOES TERRIBLY WRONG (WORKING TITLE) | 2024 |
| Ross McElwee | Cambridge, MA | $25,000 | FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF ROSS MCELWEE'S PROJECT, REMAKE. | 2024 |
| Angelo Madsen Minax | Cambridge, MA | $25,000 | FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF ANGELO MADSEN MINAX'S PROJECT, A BODY TO LIVE IN. | 2024 |
| Anna Barsan | Cambridge, MA | $25,000 | FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF ANNA BARSAN'S PROJECT, SOFTLY IN ALL DIRECTIONS. | 2024 |
| Patricia Alvarez Astacio | Cambridge, MA | $25,000 | FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF GABRIELLA GARCIA-PARDO AND RAUL PAZ-PASTRANA'S PROJECT, BACKSIDE. | 2024 |
| Color Congress | Oakland, CA | $25,000 | FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF COLOR CONGRESS'S WORK TO STRENGTHEN BIPOC-LED MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS (1 OF 2) | 2024 |