Lesley Family Foundation

The Lesley Family Foundation is a Dallas-based private family foundation managed by Bank of America's philanthropic services unit, with co-directors Joseph D. Lesley and Sarah A. Keeyes serving without compensation. The foundation administers roughly $900K–$1.1M in annual grants from an endowment of approximately $16.25 million — making it a mid-sized private funder with consistent, highly predictable giving patterns that sophisticated grant seekers can plan around with confidence.

The foundation's philosophy centers on four thematic pillars: child welfare and psychological well-being, animal welfare and rehabilitation, arts and cultural enrichment, and environmental conservation and heritage preservation. Within these pillars, the foundation has demonstrated a strong preference for organizations with established track records. Texas Christian University ($650,000 across three grants for the Purvis Institute of Child Development), Promise House ($330,000 across three grants for housing and operating support), and Shumla Archaeological Research ($149,000 across three grant cycles for heritage site preservation) exemplify the kind of sustained, deepening relationships the foundation cultivates over time.

First-time applicants should understand several structural realities. The foundation is open to unsolicited applications through its annual window (May 1 – September 1) with no LOI requirement — the online application IS first contact. The form cannot be saved mid-session, so all required documents must be assembled in advance. Grant decisions are made by the two co-directors, meaning this is a personal, values-driven process rather than a committee-scored rubric. The bank-managed structure (contact: tx.philanthropic@bofa.com) means there are no program officers to cultivate; alignment must be demonstrated entirely through the written application.

Organizations that succeed here typically demonstrate strong North Texas roots, a specific and well-scoped program or capital need, and a beneficiary population that clearly maps to the foundation's stated interests. The foundation has also shown willingness to fund unusual or globally situated projects — the $143,660 grant to Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund for rare cacao genetic cluster research in Peru and Colombia reflects how family personal interests shape giving beyond conventional North Texas grant-making. First-time applicants targeting a $10,000–$25,000 entry-level grant stand the best chance of building the multi-year relationship that leads to anchor-level funding.

The Lesley Family Foundation distributed $897,190 in grants in 2024 across 32 recipients — consistent with its five-year average of approximately $900K per year in grants paid. The foundation's total documented giving since 2011 exceeds $9.6 million across 74 unique grantee relationships.

Median grant: $17,500 (2024 cycle). Average grant: $28,037 (2024 cycle). Historical average across all years: $43,041 (weighted). Range: $5,000 (Friends of Little Elm Animal Shelter) to $300,000 (Furry Friendzy, building construction capital grant). The 2024 distribution shows a clear three-tier structure:

• Anchor grants ($75,000–$150,000): Reserved for multi-year institutional partners. In 2024, only Texas Christian University ($150,000) and Shumla Archaeological Research Center ($75,825) reached this tier.
• Mid-tier grants ($20,000–$50,000): The most common range, distributed across food security (North Texas Food Bank, $50,000), environmental programs (Great Plains Restoration Council, $40,000), arts (Ennis Public Theatre, $35,000), and community services.
• Entry-level grants ($5,000–$15,000): Typically first or second-cycle grants used to test organizational capacity before scaling investment.

By program area, child welfare and human services dominate at approximately 38% of 2024 giving. Animal welfare accounts for roughly 15% (across six grantees). Conservation and environmental projects captured approximately 22%, including the outsized Heirloom Cacao grant. Arts and culture represented about 12%. The remaining 13% covered refugee services, HIV/AIDS support, and globally oriented family-interest grants.

Geographically, 92% of grants stay in Texas, with 68 of 74 documented grants in-state. Outliers (Global Fund for Children in Washington DC, Utah, Washington state) all reflect documented family interests. Asset trajectory: from $8.7M in 2012 to $16.25M in 2023, representing 87% endowment growth over 11 years, driven by strong net investment income averaging $700K–$1.4M annually from Bank of America management.

The Lesley Family Foundation occupies a clearly defined niche among mid-sized private family foundations with assets in the $16–17M range. Its commitment to an open, documented annual application cycle is a meaningful differentiator — most comparably sized family foundations either operate invite-only or lack any public-facing application infrastructure.

Among peer foundations at this asset level, the Lesley Family Foundation's transparency stands out: it publishes annual guidelines, application procedures, and a full annual grant list on its website — infrastructure that most comparable private family foundations do not maintain. Its bank-managed structure (Bank of America) ensures fiduciary continuity and consistent grant administration regardless of family leadership transitions. The two-director decision structure (versus a larger board committee) likely produces faster, more personal evaluation cycles. Grant seekers who have been declined by opaque family foundations of similar size will find Lesley's documented process refreshingly navigable.

No public press releases, media coverage, or social media announcements from the Lesley Family Foundation were identified for 2025 or 2026. The foundation does not maintain a public social media presence and issues no press communications — all grantee information is published exclusively on its own website.

The most recent confirmed grantmaking round was the 2024 cycle ($897,190 total, 32 grantees), published on the foundation's grants page. Notable 2024 developments include: an expanded commitment to Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund ($143,660 for rare cacao genetic cluster conservation in Peru and Colombia), reflecting the family's consistent interest in unusual environmental and heritage causes. Texas Christian University again received the largest single grant ($150,000 for the Purvis Institute of Child Development), extending what is now the foundation's highest-value multi-year relationship.

Three organizations received grants for the first time in 2024 that had not appeared in prior public records: Design Connect Create (STEM programs for girls of color, $20,000), Phased IN (foster youth transition housing, $15,000), and Teco Theatrical Productions (arts education, $15,000). This confirms the foundation remains genuinely open to first-time applicants with strong mission alignment.

The 2025 application window ran May 1 – September 1, 2025, with grant decisions due by December 1, 2025 and distributions by December 31, 2025. The 2026 window opened May 1, 2026 and closes September 1, 2026.

The Lesley Family Foundation's application process is deceptively simple but rewards meticulous preparation. The following tips are specific to this funder's documented practices and grantee patterns.

Timing: target a June submission. The window runs May 1–September 1. Early submission is strongly advisable — the online form cannot be saved, meaning a June submission protects against August technology failures, leadership travel, or document scrambles at fiscal year-end. The foundation notifies all applicants by December 1, so there is no advantage in waiting.

One application per 12-month period — no exceptions. This restriction applies organization-wide, not per-program. If any department of your organization submitted in the prior cycle, the 12-month clock applies. Do not apply again until the anniversary date has passed.

Pre-assemble every document before opening the form. The online application at lesleyfamilyfoundation.org/apply/ must be completed in one session. Required PDFs (max 4MB each): (1) cover letter signed by organizational leadership, (2) current organization-wide operating budget with all funding sources identified, (3) program/project-specific budget, (4) board list with each member's professional affiliation, (5) IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, and (6) most recent audited financial statement. Missing any of these requires starting over.

Map your work explicitly to the four pillars. The foundation has articulated four priority areas: child welfare and psychological well-being, animal welfare and rehabilitation, arts and cultural enrichment, and nature and wildlife conservation. Use this exact language in your project description. If your work spans pillars (e.g., environmental education for foster youth), name both explicitly.

Reference past grantees — this is expected. The foundation's guidelines state applicants should be familiar with previously funded programs and prepared to explain how their work expands or improves upon those efforts. Review the annual grants page and cite 2-3 relevant past grantees by name.

Capital requests require leverage documentation. The $300,000 Furry Friendzy building grant shows capital projects are considered, but applicants should demonstrate other major funders are co-investing — the foundation is unlikely to serve as a sole capital source.

Do not send extras. Brochures, recommendation letters, annual reports, or any unrequested materials will not be reviewed and may signal inattention to instructions — a serious red flag in a two-director evaluation process.