The Leir Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The Leir Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to charitable organisations it has preselected, so a cold application is unlikely to be considered; approach it only if you have a relationship that could lead to an invitation.
- Its grants are recorded mainly for disadvantaged children and conferences, so a children's programme or a conference centre is the closest fit, although the filing does not state these as its priorities.
- The filing gives no grant range, so no realistic request size can be drawn from it.
- Its geographic focus is not stated, so do not assume your area is excluded.
- Repeat giving is common: 42% of its grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so an existing relationship with the foundation is likely to carry more weight than a new request.
Overview
The Leir Foundation is a US private foundation based in Ridgefield, CT.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filings record grants for the operation of programmes for disadvantaged children and a conference centre for charitable organisations. They also record grants described only as being for donees’ exempt purposes. Among the named recipients are a retreat centre and a foundation; other recipients are not identified in the e-filed rows. No wider funding priorities, applicant eligibility rules or geographic grant policy are stated in the sources reviewed. The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected charitable organisations.
Themes
From its grants, not stated by the foundation:
- Disadvantaged children and conferences
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Connecticut and Switzerland.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 42% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 40%
- The largest single recipient received 60% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 42% of grant dollars went to organisations The Leir Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 40% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Switzerland).
Grants
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Pont de Vue Stiftung · Grants for donee's exempt purpose$5,000,0002024 tax year
- Leir Retreat Center · Support of operation of programs for disadvantaged children and conference center for charitable organizations$3,649,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Dr Jack S C Fong MD — Director
- Paul Cambrai-Bell — Director & Vice President
- Joseph Whalen — Director / Chair / Treasurer
- Markus Fuchs — Director / President / Secretary/Assistant Treasurer
- Laurie Kuhn — Assistant Secretary
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $8,380,452 | $5,593,993 | $111,947,226 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $7,477,185 | $2,853,000 | $118,644,230 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $15,044,921 | $4,072,614 | $115,153,075 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Leir Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Ridgefield, CT
Applying to The Leir Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Ridgefield, CT