Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation
The Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, New York. It supports grassroots organizations and movements in the United States working across intersecting social-justice issues, and it also seeks to align its endowment investments with its mission.
Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation at a glance
In short: Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation gave $3.0M across 72 grants in 2024 (avg $42K), top state New York. 6% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,014,000
- +2.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 72
- +7.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $41,861
- -5.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $56,655,381
- +1.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (4 of 66, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (41% 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 Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. It makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. Its website says it offers multi-year support to grantee partners whose missions and work align deeply with its priorities.
- Contact
Mailing address: 275 Madison Avenue 600, New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212) 684-6577
Website: https://noyes.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Common Counsel Foundation ($175K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $965K.
Grant Size Distribution
517 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 367 grants of 517 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it prioritizes organizations working throughout New York State and Mississippi. It also describes supporting regional collaboratives or organizations working in the Northeast or South with national reach. In 2024, 41% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York and 26% to recipients in Mississippi; other leading recipient-state shares were California at 7%, Minnesota at 6%, and Washington, DC, at 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 72 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 66 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $48K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $40K repeat.
- 62% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 28% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 142% 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 $2.6M (2020) to $4.2M (2021). In 2024 it made 72 grants totaling $3.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Borealis Philanthropy Minneapolis, MN | Project support | $100,000 |
| Common Counsel Foundation Oakland, CA | Project support | $100,000 |
| NDN Collective Rapid City, SD | General operating support | $100,000 |
| Common Counsel Foundation Oakland, CA | Project support | $75,000 |
| Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York New York, NY | General operating support | $75,000 |
| Indigenous Environmental Network Bemidji, MN | General operating support | $75,000 |
| Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board of the American Baptist Churches New York, NY | General operating support | $75,000 |
| Progressive Multiplier Fund Washington, DC | General operating support | $75,000 |
| St Charles Hospital Port Jefferson, NY | General operating support | $75,000 |
| Friends of the Akwesasne Freedom School Rooseveltown, NY | General operating support | $60,000 |
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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 | $56,655,381 | $2,931,623 | $4,474,775 | $3,014,000 | 72 | $3,863,863 | $2,380,820 | $2,730,601 |
| 2023 | $55,705,644 | $948,528 | $4,666,395 | $2,956,000 | 67 | $4,110,948 | $426,081 | $2,668,896 |
| 2022 | $53,056,158 | $1,446,891 | $5,106,737 | $3,522,500 | 112 | $4,570,596 | $910,425 | $2,994,803 |
| 2021 | $69,197,263 | $7,099,858 | $5,839,408 | $4,171,123 | 134 | $5,012,042 | $6,369,195 | $3,288,012 |
| 2020 | $65,896,723 | $5,414,337 | $4,217,919 | $2,552,000 | 132 | — | $4,843,026 | $2,830,236 |
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 October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to support grassroots organizations and movements in the United States working to change environmental, social, economic, and political conditions toward a more just, equitable, and sustainable world. It envisions a society in which people can build the knowledge and power to exercise their rights and participate fully in decisions affecting their lives and communities.
Its grantmaking prioritizes grassroots organizations and coalitions working on intersecting racial, gender, economic, environmental, and Indigenous justice issues. The foundation describes an emphasis on cross-issue strategies, systemic change, and organizations led by people most impacted by injustice, particularly women of color and Indigenous people.
Examples of 2024 grantees illustrate the range of supported organizations. NDN Collective describes its mission as building the collective power of Indigenous peoples, communities, and nations to exercise self-determination. Indigenous Environmental Network says it works to educate youth and Indigenous people about environmental issues and their health. Friends of the Akwesasne Freedom School says it raises funds to support the school and help ensure a prosperous future for its students.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 72 grants totaling $3,014,000. Individual grants ranged from $2,500 to $100,000, with a median of $40,000. The foundation’s website says typical grants range from $10,000 to $75,000 and that it prioritizes multi-year general-operating support.
Among the largest reported 2024 grants were $100,000 each to Borealis Philanthropy for project support, Common Counsel Foundation for project support, and NDN Collective for general operating support. Other notable grants included $75,000 each to Indigenous Environmental Network for general operating support, Progressive Multiplier Fund for general operating support, and St Charles Hospital for general operating support. Friends of the Akwesasne Freedom School received $60,000 in general operating support, and MICA Group received $60,000 for project support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Marc Diaz as chair/director, Chad Raphael as vice chair/director, Rebecca Dixon as treasurer/director, and Rachel Norko as secretary/director. It also lists Elizabeth Flower, Vonda Brunsting, Brook Beardsley, Terrelene Massey, and Jason Beardsley as directors, and Rini Banerjee Conway as past president.
Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation is led by Richard Burns, Interim Executive Director on the 2024 filing; 2 of 14 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Richard Burns
Interim Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
35 hrs/week
$63K (2024)
Marc Diaz
Chair & Director
Director → Vice Chair & Director, 2022
Vice Chair & Director → Chair & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenifer Getz
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Terrelene Massey
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vonda Brunsting
Director
Treasurer & Director → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chad Raphael
Vice Chair & Director
Director → Vice Chair & Director, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Flower
Director
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Dixon
Treasurer & Director
Director → Treasurer & Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Essma Bengabsia
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Evelysse Vargas
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason Beardsley
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rachel Norko
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brook Beardsley
Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rini Banerjee Conway
Past President
President → Past President, 2024
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$220K (2020) → $44K (2024)
Former officers (11)
- Former: Caitlyn Beardsley (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Sharese Frederick (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Leilani Wilson Walkush (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Mark Berry (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Rachel Anderson (2020–2022) — Secretary & Director
- Former: Scott Budde (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Nicholas Jacangelo (2022) — Director
- Former: Judy Hatcher (2020–2021) — Chair & Director
- Former: Nick Jacangelo (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Lizzie Flower (2021) — Director
- Former: Dorothy Anderson (2020) — Director
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 $63K, to Richard Burns (Interim Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation
How much does Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation give each year?
Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation gave $3.0M across 72 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.0M across 67 grants.
What is Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation's typical grant size?
Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $40,000, and its average grant was $41,861, across 72 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation give grants?
Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation's top state is New York, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Mississippi (26%) and California (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (15 grants), Jackson, MS (8 grants), Oakland, CA (3 grants) and Buffalo, NY (3 grants).
Does Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 82% of Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (59 of 72) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Project support" (13 grants).
Who are Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation's largest grantees?
Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Common Counsel Foundation ($175,000 across 2 grants), Borealis Philanthropy ($100,000) and Mississippi Workers Center for Human Rights ($100,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 12% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation?
Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation reported $56.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support grassroots organizations and movements in the United States working to change environmental, social, economic, and political conditions toward a more just, equitable, and sustainable world. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation?
The foundation 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 Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation's EIN?
Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-5600408. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation 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 October 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). Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/jessie-smith-noyes-foundation-morg_8020372fd6214522b61bca73a7738e73
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_135600408_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/jessie-smith-noyes-foundation-morg_8020372fd6214522b61bca73a7738e73},
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 Jessie Smith Noyes 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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