Joel Dean Foundation
The Joel Dean Foundation is a private foundation based in Bethesda, Maryland. Its recent grants support organizations including arts and cultural institutions, colleges and universities, schools, civil-liberties organizations, and nonprofits working in areas such as malaria prevention, disability rights, and animal welfare.
Joel Dean Foundation at a glance
In short: Joel Dean Foundation gave $539K across 81 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), top state California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $539,000
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 81
- +12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,654
- +3.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $4,291,336
- +4.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (30% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Joel Dean Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co Jurrien Dean 7422 Hampden Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: (301) 656-1227
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Joel Dean Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Opera San Jose ($112K). Together the top 10 received $344K.
Grant Size Distribution
310 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 295 grants of 310 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in California (30%), New York (18%), Maryland (14%), Kentucky (10%), and Maine (5%). Listed recipients also include organizations in other states and Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 81 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Joel Dean Foundation gives
- 72% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $347K (2019) to $539K (2025). In 2025 it made 81 grants totaling $539K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Opera San Jose San Jose, CA | Program Support | $112,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | Endowment | $71,000 |
| Berea College Berea, KY | Endowment | $52,000 |
| Columbia University New York, NY | Dean Biological Sciences Fund | $27,000 |
| Friends and Benefactors of Marymount International School of Paris New York, NY | Digital Lab Equipment, Computer Technology, Software and APS | $26,500 |
| American Civil Liberties Union Foundation New York, NY | Program Support | $12,500 |
| Camp Joy Foundation Clarksville, OH | Program Support | $11,050 |
| Institute of Contemporary Art San Jose, CA | Program Support | $10,000 |
| Whitman College Walla Walla, WA | Program Support | $9,000 |
| Against Malaria Foundation Philadelphia, PA | Program Support | $7,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Joel Dean Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation files Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,291,336 | $733,794 | $555,289 | $539,000 | 81 | $541,606 | $731,187 | $590,142 |
| 2024 | $4,112,831 | $521,347 | $466,890 | $462,000 | 72 | $464,445 | $518,902 | $542,919 |
| 2023 | $4,058,374 | $239,722 | $482,023 | $471,000 | 64 | $473,105 | $237,617 | $465,426 |
| 2022 | $4,300,675 | $480,001 | $514,926 | $504,900 | 48 | $506,231 | $478,669 | $470,079 |
| 2021 | $4,335,600 | $469,021 | $405,299 | $396,000 | 45 | $398,622 | $466,399 | $507,723 |
| 2020 | $4,271,878 | $405,800 | $428,935 | $416,000 | 51 | — | $403,990 | $398,613 |
| 2019 | $4,294,245 | $347,288 | $353,280 | $346,500 | 1 | — | $345,788 | $417,063 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joel Dean Foundation reported a distributable amount of $590K for 2025 — 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 grants include program support for arts organizations and other nonprofits, as well as endowment gifts and support for educational institutions. For example, Opera San José describes its mission as producing entertainment that reflects Silicon Valley’s diverse community while developing opera talent. Berea College says it serves students with high promise and low means and covers students’ remaining education costs without loans.
Other supported organizations describe varied missions: the ACLU Foundation works to promote understanding of civil liberties and civil rights, while Freedom Reads brings handcrafted bookcases and libraries into prisons. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 81 grants totaling $539,000. Grants ranged from $500 to $112,000, with a median of $2,000. The largest grants included $112,000 to Opera San José for program support, $71,000 to Johns Hopkins University for endowment, $52,000 to Berea College for endowment, and $27,000 to Columbia University for the Dean Biological Sciences Fund. Other grants included $12,500 to the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation and $10,000 to the Institute of Contemporary Art for program support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jurrien Dean as president and treasurer, Gillian Dean as vice president and director, and Joel Dean Jr. as vice president and director.
Joel Dean Foundation is led by Gillian Dean, V. President & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gillian Dean
V. President & Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joel Dean Jr.
V. President & Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jurrien Dean
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Joel Dean Foundation
How much does Joel Dean Foundation give each year?
Joel Dean Foundation gave $539K across 81 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $462K across 72 grants.
What is Joel Dean Foundation's typical grant size?
Joel Dean Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $6,654, across 81 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Joel Dean Foundation give grants?
Joel Dean Foundation's top state is California, with 30% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (18%) and Maryland (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Austin, TX (9 grants), New York, NY (7 grants), San Jose, CA (5 grants) and Washington DC, DC (3 grants).
Does Joel Dean Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 1% of Joel Dean Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 81) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (70 grants) and "Endowment" (5 grants).
Who are Joel Dean Foundation's largest grantees?
Joel Dean Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Opera San Jose ($112,000), Johns Hopkins University ($71,000) and Berea College ($52,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Joel Dean Foundation?
Joel Dean Foundation reported $4.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $542K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $590K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Joel Dean Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its grants include program support for arts organizations and other nonprofits, as well as endowment gifts and support for educational institutions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Joel Dean Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Joel Dean Foundation's EIN?
Joel Dean Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6097306. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Joel Dean 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 13, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Joel Dean Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Maryland
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Annie E Casey Foundation Inc
Baltimore, MD
The Annie E. Casey Foundation funds U.S. nonprofits and other partners working to improve outcomes for children and young people, including family strengthening, child welfare, education, employment, community development and juvenile justice. In 2024, grants ranged from $50 to $1,185,000, with a median of $40,000. Grants are by invitation only; it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
1,462
Total Given
$93.1M
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg
Owings Mills, MD
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation funds direct services, programs, general operations, and capital projects in housing, health, jobs, education, and aging for low-income and vulnerable people. Its 2024 grants had a median of $50,000; its Small Grants Program offers up to $50,000 over two years, with funding focused on Baltimore, Hawaiʻi, Israel, and Northeastern Pennsylvania. It awards grants by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.8B
Grants
872
Total Given
$127.8M
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
Johns Hopkins University funds a broad range of education, research, health, and community-related work, with 2025 grants ranging from $5,500 to nearly $95 million and a median of $100,000; many of the largest awards were sub-awards. Its grants went to organizations across the U.S., with the largest shares in California and Maryland, and the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$25.3B
Grants
813
Total Given
$594.1M
The Keith Campbell Foundation
Bethesda, MD
The Keith Campbell Foundation funds nonprofits working for equitable, livable communities, especially on watershed health, clean water, agriculture, and related community needs, with a focus on the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays and California’s San Francisco Bay watershed. Giving varies widely: 2024 grants ranged from $40 to $1.5 million, with a median of $5,000. It accepts unsolicited requests, with two application cycles per year.
Assets
$420.2M
Grants
688
Total Given
$27.9M
More similar funders
More Funders in Maryland
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Joel Dean Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/joel-dean-foundation-morg_77505641ccee4c48b9f40c6577066f1e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136097306_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Joel Dean Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/joel-dean-foundation-morg_77505641ccee4c48b9f40c6577066f1e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Joel Dean 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.
Joel Dean Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?