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Joy Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Joy Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$674k
Granted FY2024still arriving
18
Grants FY2024still arriving
9
States reached
$257k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0194% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

International$1.6MHealth$711kSocial Science$360kArts & Culture$296kEducation$254kReligion$112kScience & Tech$100kPublic Benefit$92kOther$0
02FY2024 · 18 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k10 grants · $33k
  • $10k–50k4 grants · $59k
  • $50k–250k3 grants · $325k
  • $250k+1 grant · $257k
$5,000
Median grant
9
States reached
$8.1M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
INERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE$257,200
AMERICAN ACADEMY IN BERLIN$150,000
MAYO CLINIC$100,000
ASPEN INSTITUTE$75,000
NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL$22,100
CHABAD JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER ASPEN$16,000
PITZER COLLEGE$10,400
OCEANA$10,200
SIXTH & I SYNAGOGUE$5,000
SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS$5,000
FAIRVOTE$5,000
MILTON ACADEMY$4,300
SCHOOL YEAR ABROAD$4,000
MERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC$3,000
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH$2,800
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY18–21, $13k) land where the poverty rate runs at 17%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%GIRLS WHO CODE: $4k → 17%GIRLS WHO CODE: $3k → 17%GIRLS WHO CODE: $3k → 17%GIRLS WHO CODE: $3k → 17%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

MN
IL
NY
MA
CA
CO
MO
VA
MD
DC
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

96%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$3.6M · 28 repeat orgs$153k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +41% since the first grant, against +28% for those funded once.

28 repeat relationships: 14 still active in FY2024, 14 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

28
19

Total granted

$3.6M
$146k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+41%
+28%

Still filing today

82%
74%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 99% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $7k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
EducationArts & CultureInternationalEnvironmentHealthYouth DevelopmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • IR
    International Rescue Committee INC
    3× · 2017–2024 · $567k · revenue +81%
  • AA
    AMERICAN ACADEMY IN BERLIN
    8× · 2017–2024 · $460k · revenue +37%
  • THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC
    6× · 2019–2024 · $360k · revenue +192%

Funded once

  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2018 · $50k
  • TP
    THE PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY
    one grant, 2017 · $50k
  • AL
    ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUEgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $5k · revenue +28%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Peter G Peterson Institute for International Economics

The peterson institute for international economics (piie) is an independent nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization dedicated to strengthening prosperity and human welfare in the global economy through expert analysis and practical…

Social Science
2
Boston Architectural College

The bac is committed to provide excellence in design education grounded in practice and accessible to diverse communities.

—
3
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The mission of mit is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.

Education
4
The George Washington University

The mission of the george washington university (gw) is to educate individuals in liberal arts, languages, sciences, learned professions, and other courses and subjects of study, and to conduct scholarly research and publish the findings…

Education
5
University of New Haven

The University of New Haven is a student-centered comprehensive university with an emphasis on excellence in liberal arts and professional education. Our mission is to prepare our students to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in a…

Education
6
Open Markets Institute

The open markets institute works to help people relearn how to use competition policy to build stronger democracies, more just and equitable societies, more innovative and sustainable economies, and a more secure and peaceful world.

Education
7
Lehigh University

The university's goal in the coming decade is to advance learning through the integration of teaching, research and service to others. the core of this goal is to prepare graduates to engage with the world and lead lives of meaning. to do…

Education
8
World Resources Institute

Wri is committed to creating change that improves people's lives and ensures the natural world can thrive. (see schedule o)wri's bold vision requires a formula for success we call "count it. change it. scale it.":- count it: our work is…

International
9
National Opinion Research Center

See schedule onorc at the university of chicago conducts research and data science on critical societal issues to guide decision-making and the development of programs and public policy. our experts identify relationships and trends, and…

Social Science
10
United States Naval Institute

Provide an independent forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to global security.

—
11
Columbia College Chicago

The organization's mission is to educate students for creative occupations in diverse fields of arts and media.

Education
12
The International Institute for Strategic Studies - Us

To provide accurate, objective information and analysis on international strategic issues for legislators, diplomats, foreign affairs analysts, international business leaders, economists, the military, defense commentators, journalists,…

International
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Aspen Institute Inc; the most unlike its peers is Camp for All Kids. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

43 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2026.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2026, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 43 of the 52 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
42/43
Grantees still filing
30/43
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

International Rescue Committee INC: $567,200 · InternationalInternational Rescue Committee INCTHE CHICAGO COUNCIL ON GLOBAL AFFAIRS: $535,000 · InternationalTHE CHICAGO COUNCIL ON GLOBAL AFFAIRSAMERICAN ACADEMY IN BERLIN: $460,000 · InternationalAMERICAN ACADEMY IN BERLIN+3 more: $70,300 · InternationalIndividual grant recipient: $955,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipientCHABAD JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER ASPEN: $107,000 · OtherCHABAD JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER A…NEW AMERICA FOUNDATION: $80,000 · OtherNEW AMERICA FOUNDATIONIndividual grant recipient: $50,000 · OtherTHE PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY: $50,000 · Other+17 more: $100,780 · Other+17 moreMAYO CLINIC: $700,000 · HealthMAYO CLINIC+2 more: $11,347 · HealthTHE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC: $360,000 · Social ScienceTHE BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY INC: $250,000 · Arts & CultureMERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC: $26,500 · Arts & Culture+4 more: $15,940 · Arts & CulturePresident and Fellows of Harvard College: $200,000 · EducationPitzer College: $24,900 · EducationMILTON ACADEMY: $12,800 · EducationYouth Guidance: $10,500 · Education+5 more: $18,000 · EducationNATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC: $50,100 · EnvironmentSOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS (SEE) INC: $25,000 · EnvironmentOCEANA INC: $15,700 · EnvironmentFRIENDS OF ARAVA THE INSTITUTE LTD: $5,000 · Environment+1 more: $1,000 · Environment
International$1,632,500Other$1,342,780Health$711,347Social Science$360,000Arts & Culture$292,440Education$266,200Environment$96,800

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetMAYO CLINIC: $700,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetInternational Rescue Committee INC: $567,200 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CHICAGO COUNCIL ON GLOBAL AFFAIRS: $535,000 over 4y, 1.0% of budgetAMERICAN ACADEMY IN BERLIN: $460,000 over 8y, 1.9% of budgetTHE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC: $360,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetTHE BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY INC: $250,000 over 2y, 1.4% of budgetPresident and Fellows of Harvard College: $200,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetNEW AMERICA FOUNDATION: $80,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetNATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC: $50,100 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetSCHOOL YEAR ABROAD INC: $37,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetCOUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC: $27,500 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetMERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC: $26,500 over 8y, 0.4% of budgetSOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS (SEE) INC: $25,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetPitzer College: $24,900 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetCamp for All Kids: $24,500 over 7y, 1.0% of budgetOCEANA INC: $15,700 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetGIRLS WHO CODE INC: $13,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetMILTON ACADEMY: $12,800 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetONEGOAL: $12,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetYouth Guidance: $10,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetFAIRVOTE: $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetRush University Medical Center: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSHARE OUR STRENGTH: $7,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetWINDY CITY PLAYHOUSE: $7,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetHUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC: $5,800 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetKIPP CHICAGO SCHOOLS: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSIXTH & I SYNAGOGUE INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetErikson Institute: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCHICAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF ARAVA THE INSTITUTE LTD: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetMUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGARDENEERS: $3,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetUniversity of Chicago: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPartnership for Responsible Growth Inc: $2,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetACT NOW COALITION: $1,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetIra Sohn Conference Foundation Inc: $1,347 over 1y, 0.1% of budget350ORG: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetJewish Women International: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFeeding America: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNATIONAL THEATRE IN AMERICA INC: $940 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWOMEN'S BEAN PROJECT: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE OCEAN CLEANUP FOUNDATION: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds MAYO CLINIC ↗
  • Who funds International Rescue Committee INC ↗
  • Who funds THE CHICAGO COUNCIL ON GLOBAL AFFAIRS ↗
  • Who funds AMERICAN ACADEMY IN BERLIN ↗
  • Who funds THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC ↗
  • Who funds THE BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY INC ↗
  • Who funds President and Fellows of Harvard College ↗
  • Who funds NEW AMERICA FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC ↗
  • Who funds SCHOOL YEAR ABROAD INC ↗
  • Who funds COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS INC ↗
  • Who funds MERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC ↗
  • Who funds SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS (SEE) INC ↗
  • Who funds Pitzer College ↗
  • Who funds Camp for All Kids ↗
  • Who funds OCEANA INC ↗
  • Who funds GIRLS WHO CODE INC ↗
  • Who funds MILTON ACADEMY ↗
  • Who funds ONEGOAL ↗
  • Who funds Youth Guidance ↗
  • Who funds FAIRVOTE ↗
  • Who funds Rush University Medical Center ↗
  • Who funds SHARE OUR STRENGTH ↗
  • Who funds WINDY CITY PLAYHOUSE ↗
  • Who funds HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC ↗
  • Who funds ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE ↗
  • Who funds KIPP CHICAGO SCHOOLS ↗
  • Who funds SIXTH & I SYNAGOGUE INC ↗
  • Who funds Erikson Institute ↗
  • Who funds CHICAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY ↗
  • Who funds FRIENDS OF ARAVA THE INSTITUTE LTD ↗
  • Who funds MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Jewish Federation of …Baird Foundation IncNational Philanthropi…American Endowment Fo…Vanguard Charitable E…Morgan Stanley Global…Donor Advised Charita…American Online Givin…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan ChicagoIL13.2× affinity4 shared granteesties to 9 of 9Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago · Baird Foundation Inc · National Philanthropic Trust · American Endowment Foundation · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Amazonsmile Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Joy Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Joy Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 50%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →median 7%
  • President and Fellows of Harvard College: 7% of income from government
  • Milton Academy: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
5get no government money at all
5report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–75%
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 52 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Joy’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home