Foundation for a Just Society
Foundation for a Just Society is a private foundation based in New York, New York. It advances the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQI people and supports gender and racial justice by resourcing people most affected by injustice to develop leadership and solutions.
Foundation for a Just Society at a glance
In short: Foundation for a Just Society gave $63.1M across 357 grants in 2024 (avg $177K), top state New York. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $63,123,280
- +3.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 357
- -9.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $176,816
- +14.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $125,000
- Total assets
- $1,290,267,836
- +3.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (49 of 242, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (49% 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 Foundation for a Just Society
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 23 West 20Th Street, New York, NY 10011
Phone: (646) 362-0039
Website: https://fjs.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Foundation for a Just Society funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Initiative Sankofa D'Afrique De L'ouest ($1.6M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $13.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,831 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 692 grants of 1,831 (38%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website describes grantmaking to local, national, regional, and global organizations and networks. In 2024, the largest reported shares of grant dollars by recipient state were New York (49%), California (7%), the District of Columbia (5%), and Massachusetts (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 357 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Foundation for a Just Society open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 49 of 242 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $141K; repeat grants $291K. How we count
Medians: $80K first-time, $190K repeat.
- 74% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+19%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 125% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $47.9M (2020) to $63.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 357 grants totaling $63.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fondo De Accion Urgente Para America Latina Y El Caribe New York, NY | To Provide General Operating Support | $1,100,000 |
| Urgent Action Fund - Africa New York, NY | To Provide General Operating Support | $1,100,000 |
| Borealis Philanthropy Minneapolis, MN | To Support the Black-Led Movement Fund | $1,000,000 |
| Capital for Good USA Paoli, PA | To support the charitable activities of girls first fund | $1,000,000 |
| Fondo Centroamericano De Mujeres Foundation Dover, DE | To provide general operating support to asociacion fondo centroamericano de mujeres (FCAM) | $1,000,000 |
| Fondo Semillas Ac New York, NY | To Provide General Operating Support | $1,000,000 |
| Initiative Sankofa D'Afrique De L'ouest New York, NY | To Support the Charitable Activities of Isdao | $1,000,000 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors New York, NY | To support the charitable activities of collaborative for gender and reproductive equity (CGRE) | $1,000,000 |
| Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Washington, DC | To support the charitable activities of the black feminist fund | $850,000 |
| Im-Defensoras | To Provide General Operating Support | $750,000 |
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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 | $1,290,267,836 | $27,633,286 | $76,844,139 | $63,123,280 | 357 | $76,796,425 | $25,206,490 | $61,591,456 |
| 2023 | $1,246,192,288 | $23,356,523 | $93,191,391 | $61,203,721 | 396 | $79,694,721 | $13,093,377 | $59,087,098 |
| 2022 | $1,257,461,093 | $151,151,927 | $66,003,447 | $56,036,683 | 351 | $64,746,420 | $149,456,823 | $57,535,233 |
| 2021 | $1,181,219,536 | $382,112,705 | $62,956,094 | $53,224,344 | 358 | $59,613,813 | $379,450,256 | $44,531,089 |
| 2020 | $875,125,327 | $262,120,919 | $79,717,051 | $47,859,078 | 369 | — | $275,332,106 | $32,312,340 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Foundation for a Just Society reported a distributable amount of $61.6M 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 stated mission is to advance the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQI people and support gender and racial justice by ensuring those most affected by injustice have resources to cultivate leadership and solutions. Its website describes an expansive, anti-racist feminism and emphasizes supporting organizations and movements led by people who experience injustice.
Its 2024 grants included support for organizations working in areas such as feminist activism, gender and reproductive equity, and the Black-led movement. For example, Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism describes its work as protecting, strengthening, and sustaining women’s human rights activists; Proteus Fund describes its mission as advancing racial, gender, queer, and disability justice and inclusive democracy.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 357 grants totaling $63,123,280. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $1,100,000, with a median of $125,000. Among the largest were $1,100,000 each to Fondo de Acción Urgente para América Latina y el Caribe and Urgent Action Fund - Africa for general operating support. Other awards included $1,000,000 to Borealis Philanthropy to support the Black-Led Movement Fund, and $1,000,000 to Capital for Good USA to support the charitable activities of Girls First Fund.
Other 2024 grants included $850,000 to Amalgamated Charitable Foundation to support the Black Feminist Fund, $700,000 to Ipas to support the charitable activities of Le Centre ODAS, and $500,000 to New York Women’s Foundation. New York Women’s Foundation describes its work as investing in women-led community solutions promoting the economic security, safety, and health of overlooked women.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Audrey Cappell as president; Jessica Postrozny as vice president; Kyla Barkin as secretary/treasurer; and Kady Safar, Elizabeth Simons, and Patricia Weisenfeld as directors. Patricia Weisenfeld is also listed as vice president of Hannah Charitable.
Foundation for a Just Society is led by Audrey Cappell, President on every filing since 2020; 4 of 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Audrey Cappell
President
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kady Safar
Director
On filings since 2020
3.5 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Patricia Weisenfeld
Director & Vice President Hannah Charitable
On filings since 2020
4.5 hrs/week
$5K (2021) → $13K (2024)
Elizabeth Simons
Director
On filings since 2020
3.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Postrozny
Vice President
On filings since 2020
3.5 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $13K (2024)
Kyla Barkin
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
4.5 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $13K (2024)
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 $13K, to Jessica Postrozny (Vice President). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Foundation for a Just Society
How much does Foundation for a Just Society give each year?
Foundation for a Just Society gave $63.1M across 357 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $61.2M across 396 grants.
What is Foundation for a Just Society's typical grant size?
Foundation for a Just Society's median grant in 2024 was $125,000, and its average grant was $176,816, across 357 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Foundation for a Just Society that year got $141K on average.
Where does Foundation for a Just Society give grants?
Foundation for a Just Society's top state is New York, with 49% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (7%) and District of Columbia (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (196 grants), Washington, DC (17 grants), Atlanta, GA (9 grants) and San Francisco, CA (9 grants).
Does Foundation for a Just Society give general operating support?
Yes: 28% of Foundation for a Just Society's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (101 of 357) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Employee Matching Gift" (30 grants), "To Support Travel to the 2024 Central American Donors Forum" (3 grants) and "To Support the Marea Verde Project" (3 grants).
Who are Foundation for a Just Society's largest grantees?
Foundation for a Just Society's largest 2024 grantees include Initiative Sankofa D'Afrique De L'ouest ($1,600,000 across 2 grants), Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors ($1,550,000 across 4 grants) and Fondo De Accion Urgente Para America Latina Y El Caribe ($1,536,136 across 5 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 7% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Foundation for a Just Society?
Foundation for a Just Society reported $1.3B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $76.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $61.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Foundation for a Just Society fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to advance the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQI people and support gender and racial justice by ensuring those most affected by injustice have resources to cultivate leadership and solutions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Foundation for a Just Society?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Foundation for a Just Society's EIN?
Foundation for a Just Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-3345774. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Foundation for a Just Society accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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). Foundation for a Just Society funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/foundation-for-a-just-society-morg_6f11ae6eb03249b9bfce93933c0e6636
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_273345774_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Foundation for a Just Society funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/foundation-for-a-just-society-morg_6f11ae6eb03249b9bfce93933c0e6636},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Foundation for a Just Society'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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