Joy Foundation
Joy Foundation is a private foundation located in Aspen, Colorado. Established in 2000 in Illinois, the foundation operates as a family foundation with a focus on philanthropic grantmaking.
Key facts about Joy Foundation
- EIN
- 36-4410533
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $674,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- Average grant
- $37,444
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Primary geography
- New York (61% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026.
Who Joy Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Joy Foundation's 18 itemized 2024 grants were New York (61%), Minnesota (15%) and District of Columbia (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Chicago, IL (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$674K
+22.1% YoY
Grant Count
18
+80.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$37K
-32.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Higher education
- Education in childhood development
- International affairs
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants to support its stated focus areas, though specific grant sizes and application procedures are not detailed in available public information.
Grant Range
s and application procedures are not detailed in available public information.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily operates in the United States, with headquarters in Aspen, Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2023):
- Total assets: $8,211,647
- Total giving: $552,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
87 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Inernational Rescue Committee ($257,200), American Academy in Berlin ($150,000), Mayo Clinic ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| INERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $257,200 |
| AMERICAN ACADEMY IN BERLIN NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $150,000 |
| MAYO CLINIC ROCHESTER, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| ASPEN INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL HAGERSTOWN, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $22,100 |
| CHABAD JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER ASPEN ASPEN, CO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $16,000 |
| PITZER COLLEGE CLAREMONT, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,400 |
| OCEANA WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,200 |
| FAIRVOTE SILVER SPRING, MD | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS CALABASAS, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEAH JOY ZELL | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| JENNY WANGER | VICE PRESIDENT/SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| ELISE WANGER ZELL | VICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER | 1 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 335 Glen Eagles Rd, Aspen, CO 81611-3303
- Telephone: 970-544-0151
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Joy Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Higher education • Education in childhood development • International affairs
How do I apply for a grant from Joy Foundation?
**Financial Capacity:** • Total assets: $8,211,647 • Total giving: $552,000 (based on most recent IRS Form 990 filing for 2023) The foundation makes grants to support its stated focus areas, though specific grant sizes and application procedures are not detailed in available public information.
Where does Joy Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily operates in the United States, with headquarters in Aspen, Colorado.
What size grants does Joy Foundation award?
In 2024, Joy Foundation awarded 18 grants totaling $674K — an average of about $37K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Joy Foundation's EIN?
Joy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4410533. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Joy Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.