The Imago Dei Fund is a grantmaking foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts that drives resources to organizations both locally and across the globe. The organization's name, Latin for "image of God," reflects its commitment to the inherent dignity of every person. Founded in 2009 by Emily and Ross Jones, the fund was inspired by their Christian faith and a vision of stewardship as an essential part of their vocation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$61.3M
+28.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$15.1M
+19.1% YoY
Grant Count
126
-12.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$120K
+36.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Imago Dei Fund reported a distributable amount of $5.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Motivated by faith and commitment to the inherent dignity of all people, the Imago Dei Fund invests in visionary leaders and organizations working to advance universal human rights, gender balance, justice, and spiritual holism.
Vision: With locally-rooted change agents leading the way, the fund envisions a growing number of women and girls demonstrating agency and flourishing in a world marked by mutuality and interdependence.
The fund takes a holistic view of human flourishing and centers the rights, needs, and agency of women and girls. It recognizes the world as interconnected and values the power of faith, supports community-driven change, and is committed to care for creation. In 2023, the fund signed the International Philanthropy Commitment to Climate Change, publicly affirming its commitment to deepening understanding of climate change and its outsized impact on women and girls, and to more fully incorporating climate considerations into grantmaking, operational planning, and investment strategy.
Grantmaking
The fund prioritizes trust-based, relational practices in its grantmaking approach:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund operates both domestically and globally:
- Domestic: Partners work primarily in the Greater Boston Area
- Global: Partners work primarily in East Africa, Southeast Asia, and Haiti
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $61,341,889
- Total revenues: $45,584,597
- Total expenses: $20,595,623
- Total giving: $15,105,440
- Number of employees: 5
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) private foundation, tax-exempt since March 2010 (EIN: 26-1578446)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $61,341,889 | $47,827,875 | $49,776,295 |
| Revenue | $45,584,597 | $15,774,804 | $18,571,723 |
| Expenses | $20,595,623 | $17,730,775 | $14,945,636 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $18,713,630 | $16,214,600 | $13,855,893 |
| Net Investment Income | $24,347,456 | $13,156,035 | $3,326,383 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,152,104 | $4,140,992 | $4,346,761 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Beyond Borders ($300,000), Floresta Usa Inc (plant With Purpose) ($300,000), Emergency Fund ($291,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A CALL TO MEN ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY | GENERAL USE | $175,000 |
| ACCESO BROOKLYN, NY | GENERAL USE | $100,000 |
| ACEDONE BOSTON, MA | GENERAL USE | $60,000 |
| ACTION FOR FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT | GENERAL USE | $50,000 |
| AFRICA HEART HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO | GENERAL USE | $125,000 |
| AFRICAN ROAD WEST LINN, OR | GENERAL USE | $260,000 |
| AFRICAN VISIONARY FUND BOSTON, MA | GENERAL USE | $100,000 |
| AGENCIA ALPHA BOSTON, MA | GENERAL USE | $60,000 |
| ALLEGRO ORGANIZATIONAL SOLUTIONS INC HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL USE | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ZANA AFRICA WILMINGTON, DE | GENERAL USE | $60,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Emily Jones: Co-founder
- Ross Jones: Co-founder
- Andrew Jones: Co-Director and Impact Partner
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROSS M JONES | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| EMILY N JONES | TRUSTEE | 30 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2025, the fund marked the halfway point of its current strategic plan, which underscores renewed commitment to climate action and creation care. The fund has been integrating a creation care lens into its grantmaking, embracing principles that provide flexibility for grantee partners to respond to climate change and build resilience in ways that make sense for their communities.
The fund has emphasized investment in grantee partner well-being, participating in events such as UNGA Climate Week and the Opportunity Collaboration conference to connect with and support partners. The fund continues to prioritize proximate leadership and decision-making that centers the needs of women and girls, assessing alignment with mission and priorities through three lenses: women and girls, faith, and community-driven change.
Don''t Stop Believing and Fund Like a Feminist: Together Women RiseSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Imago Dei Fund fund?
**Mission:** Motivated by faith and commitment to the inherent dignity of all people, the Imago Dei Fund invests in visionary leaders and organizations working to advance universal human rights, gender balance, justice, and spiritual holism. **Vision:** With locally-rooted change agents leading the way, the fund envisions a growing number of women and girls demonstrating agency and flourishing in a world marked by mutuality and interdependence. The fund takes a holistic view of human flourishin…
How do I apply for a grant from Imago Dei Fund?
**Grant Structure and Support:** The fund prioritizes trust-based, relational practices in its grantmaking approach: • **80%** of funding is provided as multi-year unrestricted grants • **93%** of eligible partners received "Keep the Spark Alive" grants for wellbeing activities in the most recent reporting year • **97%** of eligible partners accessed "Flex Funds" for capacity strengthening in the most recent reporting year **Keep the Spark Alive Program:** This program offers current grantee pa…
Where does Imago Dei Fund make grants?
The fund operates both domestically and globally: • **Domestic:** Partners work primarily in the Greater Boston Area • **Global:** Partners work primarily in East Africa, Southeast Asia, and Haiti
What size grants does Imago Dei Fund award?
In 2024, Imago Dei Fund awarded 126 grants totaling $15.1M — an average of about $120K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Imago Dei Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Imago Dei Fund reported a distributable amount of $5.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Imago Dei Fund's EIN?
Imago Dei Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1578446. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Imago Dei Fund'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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