BP Lester & Regina John Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation makes contributions only to organisations it has preselected and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity should not send a cold proposal and should look for an introduction through someone who already knows it.
- Its recorded grants are all general operating support to a varied mix of organisations, so a request for core running costs fits the pattern better than a single project.
- Its typical grant band is $4,000 to $51,000, and across its three most recent filings half of its 240 grants were $15,000 or less, so a modest, realistic ask is the sensible starting point, though its largest grant was about $170,000, so that band is not a ceiling.
- In its latest filing, 91% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, which suggests a relationship-led process.
- No geographic focus is stated, and although most recorded grant dollars went to Oregon recipients, an organisation elsewhere should not read that as a bar.
Overview
BP Lester & Regina John Foundation is a US private foundation based in Portland, OR.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) 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 recorded grants are all labelled general operating support. Their recipients include Catholic schools and other educational institutions, churches, food-assistance organisations and a range of social-service, health, arts and community organisations. The record therefore shows broad operating support to a varied group of charitable organisations, rather than grant purposes tied to a specific project. Most recorded grant dollars went to Oregon recipients. The application information says contributions go only to preselected charitable organisations and unsolicited requests are not accepted; the filings do not explain how organisations are selected or provide a public way to seek consideration.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Oregon.
How to apply
Contributions are limited to preselected charitable organisations; unsolicited requests are not accepted. The filing gives no steps for organisations to seek consideration.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 91% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 240 grants to organisations were $15,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
4 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 8% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2025, 91% of grant dollars went to organisations BP Lester & Regina John Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 3% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 79 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $15,000 (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Saint Mary's Academy · General operating support$140,0002025 tax year
- Blanchet House of Hospitality · General operating support$125,0002025 tax year
- La Salle Catholic College Preparatory · General operating support$122,6002025 tax year
- Central Catholic High School · General operating support$110,0002025 tax year
- Society of Saint Vincent de Paul - Portland Council · General operating support$100,0002025 tax year
- Santa Clara University · General operating support$75,0002025 tax year
- Project Lemonade · General operating support$57,0002025 tax year
- De La Salle North Catholic High School · General operating support$51,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Melissa Hartnell — President / Secretary
- Suzann Baricevic Murphy — Director
- Mary E Graves — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $2,273,620 | $1,804,135 | $41,605,772 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,203,022 | $1,619,165 | $50,900,746 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $2,640,928 | $2,087,625 | $53,283,696 | Filing for 2025 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 BP Lester & Regina John Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Portland, OR
Applying to BP Lester & Regina John Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Portland, OR