Cassiopeia Foundation Inc is a private philanthropic foundation based in Charlottesville, Virginia. Originally incorporated in 1944 in New York as the W. Alton Jones Foundation, the organization underwent significant restructuring in 2001, when it was renamed the Blue Moon Fund. The foundation operates as a grantmaking institution and impact investing vehicle focused on building human and natural resilience to a changing and warming world.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$48.8M
+1.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$641K
-5.7% YoY
Grant Count
8
+14.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$80K
-17.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cassiopeia Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports initiatives that work to build human and natural resilience to a changing and warming world, utilizing natural, social, and financial capital to implement new models in high-diversity regions around the world.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation has a particular emphasis on environmental and social impacts as defined by the founding family, with a strategic focus on sustainable community development and impact investing.
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in:
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Pennsylvania
The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to Central Appalachia through regional initiatives and impact investing platforms.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $48,805,149 (as of 2024 IRS Form 990)
Total Giving (2024): $640,500
Revenue (2020): $1,982,141
Expenses (2020): $10,541,493
Assets (2020): $58,599,463
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $48,805,149 | $48,239,446 | $48,866,163 |
| Revenue | $2,636,359 | $2,439,759 | $2,253,854 |
| Expenses | $2,070,676 | $2,620,824 | $3,129,491 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,521,756 | $1,574,307 | $2,202,368 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,109,180 | $1,260,930 | $1,078,859 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,076,430 | $2,111,152 | $2,391,675 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
83 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Focus Ultrasound ($250,000), Saint Annes Belfield School ($200,000), Haverford College ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Focus Ultrasound Charlottesville, VA | General Operating | $250,000 |
| Temple Gwathmey Foundation Elkton, MD | Rider Helmet Replacement Fund | $15,000 |
| Tandem Friends School Charlottesville, VA | General Operating Grant | $25,000 |
| Saint Annes Belfield School Charlottesville, VA | General Operating Grant | $200,000 |
| Foxfield Racing LLC Charlottesville, VA | General Operating - Fall Sponsorship | $25,000 |
| Haverford College Haverford, PA | Stephen Raben Miller Scholarship Fund | $75,000 |
| Lower Middlesex Fire Department Deltaville, VA | New Truck Fund | $50,000 |
| West Virginia Community Development Hub Charleston, WV | General Operating | $500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Diane Miller - President
Zachary Miller - CFO and Trustee. Miller is the great-grandson of William Alton "Pete" Jones, the oil tycoon and horse racing enthusiast who established the foundation in 1944. He is an amateur steeplechase jockey and professional horse trainer.
Stephanie Randolph - Team member focused on strategically identifying investment opportunities that advance environmental and social impacts. She provides intelligence and analysis on opportunities to drive social change, manages internal projects, and cultivates strategic relationships across diverse stakeholders. Randolph serves as co-chair of the Energy & Natural Resources Working Group of the Appalachia Funders Network and co-leads a regional initiative to launch an impact investing platform in Central Appalachia.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diane Edgerton Miller | CEO Trustee | 30 | $315,000 |
| Ethan A Miller | Secretary Trustee | 1 | — |
| Zachary Miller | CFO Trustee | 37.5 | $154,800 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In August 2024, the Cassiopeia Foundation announced the purchase of the Foxfield property in Albemarle County, Virginia. The acquisition ensures the preservation of this historic steeplechase racing site and provides a stable platform for the continued operations of the independent Foxfield Racing LLC, a 501(c)(3) organization. The purchase fulfills the vision of founder Mariann de Tejeda and commits the foundation to safeguarding the property for future generations. The property, located just 5 miles from downtown Charlottesville, is positioned as an ideal location to grow community engagement, education, and employment opportunities in the equine industry.
John William Pope Foundation Announces 2026 Joy W. Pope Memorial Grants |Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cassiopeia Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation supports initiatives that work to build human and natural resilience to a changing and warming world, utilizing natural, social, and financial capital to implement new models in high-diversity regions around the world. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation has a particular emphasis on environmental and social impacts as defined by the founding family, with a strategic focus on sustainable community dev…
How do I apply for a grant from Cassiopeia Foundation Inc?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $100 to $1,000,000. **Recent Activity:** Based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024), the foundation distributed $640,500 in total giving. **Investment Approach:** The foundation operates as an innovative philanthropic investment vehicle that supports its programmatic priorities solely through impact investing vehicles, strategically identifying investment opportunities that advance environmental and social impacts while producing financial r…
Where does Cassiopeia Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in: • Virginia • West Virginia • Pennsylvania The foundation has demonstrated particular commitment to Central Appalachia through regional initiatives and impact investing platforms.
What size grants does Cassiopeia Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Cassiopeia Foundation Inc awarded 8 grants totaling $641K — an average of about $80K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Cassiopeia Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Cassiopeia Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Cassiopeia Foundation Inc's EIN?
Cassiopeia Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6034219. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cassiopeia Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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