Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation

NEW YORK, NY EIN: 13-5600408 Website

The Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation based in New York City that makes grants to people-powered organizations participating in intersecting social-justice movements across the United States. The foundation combines grantmaking with mission-aligned investing to strengthen and support social justice movements.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$56.7M

+1.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$3.0M

+2.0% YoY

Grant Count

+7.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$42K

-5.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Mission Statement: The foundation envisions a socially just and environmentally sustainable society in which all people are able to gain the knowledge and build the power they need to exercise their rights and participate fully in the economic, social, and political decisions that affect their lives and communities.

Primary Focus Areas:

Racial justice and equity
Gender justice and women's empowerment
Economic justice
Environmental justice and sustainability
Indigenous justice
Reproductive rights
International human rights
Support for marginalized communities including Asian, Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and immigrant communities
Hazardous waste management and toxic substance control

Grantmaking Approach: The foundation prioritizes grassroots organizations and coalitions working on intersecting issues. Its approach is guided by three core principles:

Uplifting the power of the people through collective action led by those most harmed by the status quo
Amplifying voices for equity by supporting organizations that address injustice at its roots and communicate strategically for change
Expanding influence through coalitions, strategic alliances, and intersecting movements

Grantmaking

Typical awards range from $1,000 to $100,000.

Grant Range

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation funds organizations across the United States, with particular activity in New York, California, Washington, Mississippi, and the District of Columbia.

Grant Distribution by State

New York $3.7M (42%)

Mississippi $2.1M (24%)

California $693K (8%)

Tennessee $605K (7%)

Minnesota $365K (4%)

District of Columbia $363K (4%)

Maryland $247K (3%)

Illinois $165K (2%)

+15 more states

Cities

AkwesasneAlbanyAlbuquerqueAmarillaAmherstAshevilleAtlantaBaltimoreBemidjiBerkeleyBiloxiBloomfieldBostonBrookingsBrooklynBuffaloCalabasasCambridgeCaryCatskill

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets:

$56,655,381 (based on 2024 IRS Form 990)
$55,705,644 (alternative recent filing)

Annual Giving:

$3,014,000 (2024)

Annual Revenue:

$948,528 (recent filing)
$4,092,301 (alternative recent data)

Annual Expenses:

$4,666,395 (recent filing)

Staffing: The foundation employs 5 people, with approximately 4 based in the United States and 1 in the United Kingdom.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$56,655,381	$55,705,644	$53,056,158
Revenue	$2,931,623	$948,528	$1,446,891
Expenses	$4,474,775	$4,666,395	$5,106,737
Qualifying Distributions	$3,863,863	$4,110,948	$4,570,596
Net Investment Income	$2,380,820	$426,081	$910,425
Distributable Amount	$2,730,601	$2,668,896	$2,994,803

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 Borealis Philanthropy ($100,000), Common Counsel Foundation ($100,000), NDN Collective ($100,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
AIDS Services Coalition Hattiesburg, MS	Project support	$40,000
American Red Cross in Greater New York New York, NY	General operating support	$10,000
Black Farmer Fund New York, NY	General operating support	$40,000
Borealis Philanthropy Minneapolis, MN	Project support	$100,000
Boy Scouts of America Irving, TX	General operating support	$2,500
BYP100 Education Fund Springfield, IL	General operating support	$40,000
Center for Court Innovation New York, NY	Project support	$40,000
Center for Transformative Action Ithaca, NY	Project support	$30,000
Central Baptist Church of Norwich CT Norwich, CT	General operating support	$10,000
Clean Air Coalition of Western New York Buffalo, NY	General operating support	$40,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Key Personnel:

Rini Banerjee Conway - President (compensated board member earning $311,787 annually)
Amy T Morris - Incoming President
Nia Holton-raphael - Board Member (joined January 2026)
Chad Raphael - Board Member
Lizzie Flower - Board Member

The foundation's board consists of several directors who serve without compensation, reflecting a commitment to volunteer leadership.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
REBECCA DIXON	TREASURER/DIRECTOR	2	—
RACHEL NORKO	SECRETARY/DIRECTOR	2	—
ELIZABETH FLOWER	DIRECTOR	2	—
VONDA BRUNSTING	DIRECTOR	2	—
MARC DIAZ	CHAIR/DIRECTOR	2	—
BROOK BEARDSLEY	DIRECTOR	2	—
TERRELENE MASSEY	DIRECTOR	2	—
CHAD RAPHAEL	VICE CHAIR/DIRECTOR	2	—
RINI BANERJEE CONWAY	PAST PRESIDENT	35	$44,263
JASON BEARDSLEY	DIRECTOR	2	—
ESSMA BENGABSIA	DIRECTOR	2	—
EVELYSSE VARGAS	DIRECTOR	2	—
JENIFER GETZ	DIRECTOR	2	—
RICHARD BURNS	INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR	35	$62,900

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2026

The foundation announced new leadership in February 2026, welcoming Amy T Morris as Incoming President and Nia Holton-raphael as a new Board Member.

Welcoming our New Leadership - Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation fund?

**Mission Statement:** The foundation envisions a socially just and environmentally sustainable society in which all people are able to gain the knowledge and build the power they need to exercise their rights and participate fully in the economic, social, and political decisions that affect their lives and communities. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Racial justice and equity • Gender justice and women's empowerment • Economic justice • Environmental justice and sustainability • Indigenous justice …

How do I apply for a grant from Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation?

**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $100,000. **Annual Giving:** Total giving of $3,014,000 (based on most recent IRS 990 filing for 2024). **Grant Focus:** The foundation supports grassroots organizations and movements working to change environmental, social, economic, and political conditions to bring about a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.

Where does Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation make grants?

The foundation funds organizations across the United States, with particular activity in New York, California, Washington, Mississippi, and the District of Columbia.

What size grants does Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation award?

In 2024, Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation awarded 72 grants totaling $3.0M — an average of about $42K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.