Joseph C & Esther Foster Foundation Inc

SANTA FE, NM EIN: 04-6114436

The Joseph C & Esther Foster Foundation Inc is a private independent foundation established in 1961 in Massachusetts and currently based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The foundation supports a range of nonprofit organizations across multiple states and cities throughout the United States.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$2.3M

-5.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$152K

-0.7% YoY

Grant Count

-22.6% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$6K

+28.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joseph C & Esther Foster Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $175K 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

The foundation's primary funding interests include:

Education
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Human Services
Arts and Arts Access & Participation

The foundation supports initiatives across multiple U.S. cities and states, with particular activity in New Mexico, New York, and Minnesota.

Grantmaking

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. locations, including:

Albuquerque, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Brooklyn, New York
Additional cities in New York, Minnesota, and Massachusetts

Grant Distribution by State

New York $389K (51%)

New Mexico $169K (22%)

Colorado $85K (11%)

Florida $30K (4%)

District of Columbia $23K (3%)

Massachusetts $15K (2%)

Connecticut $12K (2%)

Pennsylvania $12K (2%)

+6 more states

States

California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Florida Louisiana Massachusetts Minnesota New Jersey New Mexico New York Pennsylvania South Carolina Vermont

Cities

AlbuquerqueAnnandaleonhudsonBecketBostonBrooklineBrooklynCedarhurstCharlestonElmsfordEspanolaFort CollinsIrvingtonLos AngelesMerion StationMiamiMontclairNew OrleansNew YorNew YorkNewton Centre

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Total Assets: $2,293,690 to $2,430,000
Annual Giving: $152,000
Annual Expenses: $233,744
Giving Rate: 6.3% of assets
EIN: 04-6114436

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$2,293,690	$2,431,534	$2,821,584
Revenue	$103,004	$-156,306	$-62,017
Expenses	$240,848	$233,744	$191,155
Qualifying Distributions	$152,000	$153,000	$86,500
Net Investment Income	$46,158	—	—
Distributable Amount	$174,586	$160,801	$176,439

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

136 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Central Fund of Israel ($30,000), Culture for One ($30,000), Albuquerque Jewish Community Center ($10,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
ALBUQUERQUE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER ALBUQUERQUE, NM	ENABLE DONEE'S EXEMPT FUNCTION	$10,000
CANCER FOUNDATION FOR NM SANTA FE, NM	ENABLE DONEE'S EXEMPT FUNCTION	$3,000
CENTRAL FUND OF ISRAEL CEDARHURST, NY	ENABLE DONEE'S EXEMPT FUNCTION	$30,000
CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY NEW YORK, NY	ENABLE DONEE'S EXEMPT FUNCTION	$2,000
CITY MEALS ON WHEELS NEW YORK, NY	ENABLE DONEE'S EXEMPT FUNCTION	$4,000
CSU FOUNDATION FORT COLLINS, CO	ENABLE DONEE'S EXEMPT FUNCTION	$10,000
CULTURE FOR ONE NEW YORK, NY	ENABLE DONEE'S EXEMPT FUNCTION	$30,000
DOE FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY	ENABLE DONEE'S EXEMPT FUNCTION	$5,000
ESPANOLA VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY ESPANOLA, NM	ENABLE DONEE'S EXEMPT FUNCTION	$1,000
EUGENE O'NEILL THEATRE NEW YORK, NY	ENABLE DONEE'S EXEMPT FUNCTION	$2,000

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
DANIEL F HAFT	PRESIDENT, TREASURER, DIRECTOR	25	$48,564
ROGER SCOVILLE	CLERK	1	—
NICOLE WERKMEISTER ESQ	DIRECTOR	1	—

Contact Information

Address: 7 Avenida Vista Grande #160, Santa Fe, NM 87508-9198

Telephone: 505-466-1575

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Joseph C & Esther Foster Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Arts and Arts Access & Participation The foundation supports initiatives across multiple U.S. cities and states, with particular activity in New Mexico, New York, and Minnesota.

How do I apply for a grant from Joseph C & Esther Foster Foundation Inc?

**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $1,000 to $30,000 • Median grant amount: $4,000 • Annual giving: $152,000 • Number of grants: Approximately 28 grants annually **Application Policy:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.

Where does Joseph C & Esther Foster Foundation Inc make grants?

The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. locations, including: • Albuquerque, New Mexico • Santa Fe, New Mexico • Brooklyn, New York • Additional cities in New York, Minnesota, and Massachusetts

What size grants does Joseph C & Esther Foster Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, Joseph C & Esther Foster Foundation Inc awarded 24 grants totaling $152K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Joseph C & Esther Foster Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Joseph C & Esther Foster Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $175K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Joseph C & Esther Foster Foundation Inc's EIN?

Joseph C & Esther Foster Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6114436. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.