Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation
The Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2024, it reported 22 grants totaling $508,976, with nearly all grant dollars going to organizations in Pennsylvania.
Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation at a glance
In short: Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation gave $509K across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $23K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $508,976
- +98.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $23,135
- +98.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $4,720
- Total assets
- $5,920,263
- -4.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (11 of 22, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (96% 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 Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 233 S 6Th Street 2505, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone: (215) 322-6650
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Duffield Veterans Village ($247K). Together the top 10 received $480K.
Grant Size Distribution
88 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 83 grants of 88 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, Pennsylvania organizations received 96% of grant dollars. Florida received 2% and New Jersey 1%; Illinois and California each received less than 1%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 22 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $39K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 41% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 53% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 158% 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 $78K (2020) to $1.1M (2021). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $509K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Duffield Veterans Village Philadelphia, PA | General Charitable Purpose | $246,948 |
| Central High School Philadelphia, PA | General Charitable Purpose | $117,461 |
| Philadelphia Museum of Art Philadelphia, PA | General Charitable Purpose | $25,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania Trustees Philadelphia, PA | General Charitable Purpose | $25,000 |
| Jewish Family & Children's Service of Greater Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | General Charitable Purpose | $20,000 |
| Magee Rehab Hospital Philadelphia, PA | General Charitable Purpose | $15,000 |
| Congregation Brothers of Israel Newtown, PA | General Charitable Purpose | $10,000 |
| Transplant Foundation Miami, FL | General Charitable Purpose | $10,000 |
| Saint Pio Regional Catholic School Philadelphia, PA | General Charitable Purpose | $5,400 |
| Founding Forward Valley Forge, PA | General Charitable Purpose | $5,000 |
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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 | $5,920,263 | $288,071 | $516,607 | $508,976 | 22 | $508,976 | $280,440 | $321,715 |
| 2023 | $6,169,150 | $195,696 | $285,140 | $256,904 | 22 | $256,904 | $188,570 | $294,127 |
| 2022 | $6,251,647 | $931,392 | $232,124 | $170,452 | 23 | $186,017 | $880,127 | $289,646 |
| 2021 | $5,523,597 | $6,865,192 | $1,120,126 | $1,079,500 | 11 | $1,079,500 | $1,844,640 | $140,980 |
| 2020 | $1,827,284 | $251,181 | $119,871 | $77,850 | 10 | — | $106,356 | $98,189 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation reported a distributable amount of $322K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants supported organizations including educational, arts, health, historical, social-service, and veterans’ organizations. These are examples of grantees’ work, not stated focus areas of the foundation: Independence Historical Trust says it raises funds to support the historical, scientific, educational, and interpretive activities of Independence National Historical Park; Wounded Veterans Relief Fund says it provides urgent financial assistance and dental care to eligible wounded and disabled veterans in Florida; and Child Guidance Resource Centers says it provides community-based services for children, adolescents, and families with mental health, developmental disability, and residential needs.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave 22 grants totaling $508,976. Grant amounts ranged from $647 to $246,948, with a median grant of $4,720. The largest awards included $246,948 to Duffield Veterans Village and $117,461 to Central High School, both in Philadelphia. Other notable grants were $25,000 each to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the University of Pennsylvania Trustees, and $20,000 to Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia.
Other 2024 grants included $4,440 to West Chester University, $2,500 to Independence Historical Trust, $2,500 to Wounded Veterans Relief Fund, and $1,000 to Child Guidance Resource Centers.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Joan Spain is listed as trustee on the 2024 filing.
Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation is led by Joan Spain, Trustee & As Required on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joan Spain
Trustee & As Required
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation
How much does Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation give each year?
Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation gave $509K across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $257K across 22 grants.
What is Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation's typical grant size?
Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $4,720, and its average grant was $23,135, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation that year got $7K on average.
Where does Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation give grants?
Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (12 grants).
Does Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (22 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation's largest grantees?
Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Duffield Veterans Village ($246,948), Central High School ($117,461) and Philadelphia Museum of Art ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation?
Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation reported $5.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $509K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $322K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants supported organizations including educational, arts, health, historical, social-service, and veterans’ organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation's EIN?
Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6728780. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Joan & Bernard Spain 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 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). Joan & Bernard Spain Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/joan-and-bernard-spain-foundation-morg_9305eff2f96f4aad9fc8651f3aba3162
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_256728780_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Joan \& Bernard Spain Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/joan-and-bernard-spain-foundation-morg_9305eff2f96f4aad9fc8651f3aba3162},
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 Joan & Bernard Spain 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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