Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation
The Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation is a private foundation based in Rochester, New York, established in 1968 by Daisy Marquis Jones and her nephew Leo Marquis Lyons. It supports nonprofit programs and projects intended to improve the well-being of residents in Monroe and Yates counties, with particular emphasis on Rochester.
Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation at a glance
In short: Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation gave $2.7M across 85 grants in 2024 (avg $32K), mostly in New York. 22% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,740,377
- +7.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 85
- -2.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $32,240
- +9.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $48,022,561
- +2.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 22% first-time grantees (18 of 81, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation
- How to Apply
The process begins with a letter of inquiry for organizations that have not received a grant, have not received one in more than two years, have had a major organizational change, or plan to seek support for a…
The process begins with a letter of inquiry for organizations that have not received a grant, have not received one in more than two years, have had a major organizational change, or plan to seek support for a different project or significantly different amount. An LOI is not needed for an application consistent with recent grants. The Foundation will notify applicants whether it is interested in reviewing a full application. Applications are accepted year-round, and the Foundation may schedule review up to two months after submission. A hard-copy application is required; an electronic copy may also be submitted. Requests under $6,000 may omit the logic model and rationale; requests of $6,000 or more must complete all application sections. The Foundation states that it does not meet in July, August, or December.
- Review Cycle
- Applications are accepted year-round; the Foundation’s 2024 filing states that there are no deadlines.
- Deadline
- Applications are accepted year-round; the Foundation’s 2024 filing states that there are no deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: C John Matteson
Mailing address: 1600 South Ave Suite 250, Rochester, NY 14620
Phone: (585) 461-4950
Website: https://www.dmjf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation
Who Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Genesee Country Museum ($208K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Organizations only. It also paid 4 individual scholarships ($20,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
507 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 418 grants of 507 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s stated service area is Monroe and Yates counties in New York, with particular emphasis on the City of Rochester. Its website says eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations located in and serving one of those counties.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 85 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation open to new grantees?
22%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 18 of 81 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $37K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 26% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 94% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.1M (2020) to $3.7M (2021). In 2024 it made 85 grants totaling $2.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Genesee Country Museum Rochester, NY | Educational Support | $208,250 |
| George Eastman Museum Rochester, NY | General Support | $200,000 |
| Center for Youth Services Inc Watertown, NY | Crisis Nursery of Greater Rochester Initiative | $150,000 |
| Lifespan of Greater Rochester Inc Rochester, NY | A 2:1 matching grant in support of lifespan's 2024 celebration of aging | $100,000 |
| Mary Cariola Children's Center Rochester, NY | In Support of the Adaptive Equipment Workshop | $100,000 |
| Seneca Waterways Council Boy Scouts of America Rochester, NY | Summer day camps & after school scouting programs for rochester youth | $80,000 |
| Heritage Christian Services Inc Rochester, NY | In Support of Homes with Heart Capital Project | $75,000 |
| Equustrong Inc Rochester, NY | General Support | $74,300 |
| St Ann's Home Foundation Inc Adams, NY | Introduction of neurologic music therapy & expansion of music enrichment program | $60,000 |
| Center for Teen Empowerment Inc Rochester, NY | Neighborhood-Based Youth Organizing Initiative | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $48,022,561 | $4,554,726 | $3,399,153 | $2,740,377 | 85 | $3,093,802 | $4,249,375 | $3,278,541 |
| 2023 | $46,702,212 | $1,922,584 | $3,192,777 | $2,556,160 | 87 | $2,913,180 | $1,660,171 | $2,917,445 |
| 2022 | $47,927,071 | $3,984,460 | $3,641,711 | $2,984,784 | 106 | $3,339,056 | $3,711,069 | $2,947,643 |
| 2021 | $47,584,322 | $5,971,651 | $4,271,617 | $3,713,800 | 124 | $3,949,384 | $5,673,174 | $3,429,727 |
| 2020 | $45,884,288 | $3,442,555 | $2,671,914 | $2,145,222 | 105 | — | $3,177,377 | $2,905,902 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to improve the well-being of residents in Monroe and Yates counties, with a central concern for disadvantaged children, families, and their neighborhoods. Its vision emphasizes community support for access to health care, young children’s needs, senior citizens, and families’ economic security.
The Foundation funds 501(c)(3) organizations and values programs that help people build the tools to help themselves, have clear plans and measurable outcomes, encourage collaboration, and make a positive, long-term impact. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Lifespan of Greater Rochester describes its work as helping older adults through services, advocacy, guidance, training, and community education. Mary Cariola Children’s Center describes its work as providing education and life-skill solutions for people with complex disabilities and their families. Literacy Volunteers of Rochester says it trains volunteers to improve adults’ literacy skills.
The Foundation does not fund emergency requests, endowments, private schools, religious projects, research, scholarships, projects by individuals, non-501(c)(3) organizations, or organizations or projects outside Monroe and Yates counties.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation made 85 grants totaling $2,740,377. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $208,250, with a median grant of $20,000. All 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in New York.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $208,250 to Genesee Country Museum for educational support; $200,000 to George Eastman Museum for general support; $150,000 to Center for Youth Services for the Crisis Nursery of Greater Rochester Initiative; and $100,000 each to Lifespan of Greater Rochester for a matching grant supporting its Celebration of Aging and to Mary Cariola Children’s Center for its Adaptive Equipment Workshop. Other grants included $80,000 to Seneca Waterways Council Boy Scouts of America for summer day camps and after-school scouting programs for Rochester youth, and $75,000 to Heritage Christian Services for its Homes with Heart capital project.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists C John Matteson as treasurer and trustee; Kamra Whitney Rowland as president and trustee; Elizabeth Hayes as vice president and trustee; and Megan Whitney, Ann Crawford, Carol White, and Shannon Whitney as trustees. It also lists Roger Gardner as a trustee and notes that he was deceased in 2024.
Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation is led by Kamra Whitney Rowland, President & Trustee since 2022 (on filings since 2021); all 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kamra Whitney Rowland
President & Trustee
Chairman & Trustee → President & Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
$25K (2021) → $25K (2024)
C. John Matteson
Treasurer & Trustee
Trustee → Treasurer & Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$25K (2020) → $25K (2024)
Ann Crawford
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
$8K (2021) → $25K (2024)
Carol White
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
$8K (2021) → $25K (2024)
Elizabeth Hayes
Vice President & Trustee
Trustee → Vice President & Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
$8K (2021) → $25K (2024)
Megan Whitney
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
$25K (2021) → $25K (2024)
Shannon Whitney
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
$25K (2021) → $25K (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Roger Gardner (2020–2024) — Trustee · Filing note: Deceased 2024
- Former: Donald Whitney (2020) — Chairman & Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $25K, to C John Matteson (Treasurer/Trustee). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation
How much does Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation give each year?
Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation gave $2.7M across 85 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.6M across 87 grants.
What is Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation's typical grant size?
Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $32,240, across 85 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation that year got $23K on average.
Where does Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation give grants?
Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Rochester, NY (56 grants), Adams, NY (4 grants), Honeoye, NY (3 grants) and Penn Yan, NY (2 grants).
Does Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 40% of Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (34 of 85) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation's largest grantees?
Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Genesee Country Museum ($208,250), George Eastman Museum ($200,000) and Center for Youth Services Inc ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 4 individual scholarships ($20,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation?
Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation reported $48.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to improve the well-being of residents in Monroe and Yates counties, with a central concern for disadvantaged children, families, and their neighborhoods. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation?
The process begins with a letter of inquiry for organizations that have not received a grant, have not received one in more than two years, have had a major organizational change, or plan to seek support for a… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation's EIN?
Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7000227. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/daisy-marquis-jones-foundation-morg_411cdef581254fb9b6c193605ae6d254
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237000227_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/daisy-marquis-jones-foundation-morg_411cdef581254fb9b6c193605ae6d254},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Daisy Marquis Jones Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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