Joy in Blue Foundation
Joy in Blue Foundation is a private foundation based in Litchfield Park, Arizona. It supports organizations with charitable, educational, scientific, or literary purposes that qualify under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Joy in Blue Foundation at a glance
In short: Joy in Blue Foundation gave $1.2M across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $39K), top state Minnesota. 11% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,171,650
- +15.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 30
- -3.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $39,055
- +19.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $29,214,489
- +4.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (3 of 28, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (47% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Joy in Blue Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website describes the process as invitation-only.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5115 N Dysart Rd 202 Pmb 601, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
Phone: (952) 988-5945
Website: https://joyinbluefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Joy in Blue Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Minnesota Foundation ($219K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $775K.
Grant Size Distribution
156 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 132 grants of 156 (85%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota (47%), Washington, DC (13%), Massachusetts (9%), Connecticut (9%), and Illinois (7%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Joy in Blue Foundation open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 28 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $45K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 79% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 98% 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 (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $852K (2020) to $1.2M (2025). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota Foundation Minneapolis, MN | Next generation global engagement scholarship fund (umf fund #22981) | $160,000 |
| Boston College Trustees Chestnut Hill, MA | Drinan family fund in support of public interest law | $100,000 |
| National Science and Technology Medals Foundation Washington, DC | Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Save the Children Federation Inc Fairfield, CT | Operating Support | $100,000 |
| World Central Kitchen Inc Washington, DC | Operating Support | $55,000 |
| Feeding America Chicago, IL | Operating Support | $50,000 |
| Solid Ground White Bear Lake, MN | Operating Support | $41,000 |
| Women's Advocates Saint Paul, MN | Operating Support | $40,000 |
| Helping Paws Inc Hopkins, MN | Operating Support | $35,000 |
| Penumbra Theatre Company Inc Saint Paul, MN | Operating Support | $35,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Joy in Blue Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $29,214,489 | $2,063,404 | $1,547,928 | $1,171,650 | 30 | $1,361,792 | $1,875,814 | $1,389,782 |
| 2024 | $27,945,639 | $1,473,157 | $1,372,717 | $1,011,500 | 31 | $1,214,481 | $1,297,972 | $1,350,405 |
| 2023 | $25,980,906 | $650,938 | $1,374,854 | $1,061,999 | 32 | $1,238,377 | $403,358 | $1,210,767 |
| 2022 | $23,224,425 | $732,164 | $1,372,422 | $1,047,612 | 32 | $1,235,083 | $329,728 | $1,251,898 |
| 2021 | $28,717,993 | $3,588,451 | $1,283,522 | $915,625 | 31 | $1,072,192 | $3,979,386 | $1,239,731 |
| 2020 | $24,491,934 | $2,609,742 | $1,119,859 | $852,000 | 25 | — | $2,502,428 | $1,056,086 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joy in Blue Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M 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
The foundation states that it supports organizations with charitable, educational, scientific, or literary purposes. Its 2025 grants illustrate support for a range of organizations and activities. For example, the University of Minnesota Foundation describes its role as supporting the University of Minnesota; Save the Children Federation describes its work as children’s relief and development; and World Central Kitchen describes providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.
Other 2025 grantees describe work in food access, housing and homelessness prevention, domestic-violence services, youth development, and the performing arts. These are the grantees’ stated missions and do not constitute a separately stated list of the foundation’s funding priorities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 30 grants totaling $1,171,650. Grants ranged from $1,650 to $160,000, with a median grant of $30,000.
Among the largest 2025 grants were $160,000 to the University of Minnesota Foundation for its Next Generation Global Engagement Scholarship Fund; $100,000 each to Boston College Trustees for the Drinan Family Fund in Support of Public Interest Law, the National Science and Technology Medals Foundation for operating support, and Save the Children Federation for operating support; and $55,000 to World Central Kitchen for operating support. Other notable grants included $50,000 to Feeding America and $41,000 to Solid Ground, both for operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Laura Jean Rathmann as president, Richard G Rathmann as treasurer/secretary, and Kaeli J Rathmann as director.
Joy in Blue Foundation is led by Laura Jean Rathmann, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Laura Jean Rathmann
President
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kaeli J. Rathmann
Director
On filings since 2024
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard G. Rathmann
Treasurer & Secretary
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Joy in Blue Foundation
How much does Joy in Blue Foundation give each year?
Joy in Blue Foundation gave $1.2M across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.0M across 31 grants.
What is Joy in Blue Foundation's typical grant size?
Joy in Blue Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $39,055, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Joy in Blue Foundation that year got $17K on average.
Where does Joy in Blue Foundation give grants?
Joy in Blue Foundation's top state is Minnesota, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (13%) and Massachusetts (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Saint Paul, MN (7 grants), Minneapolis, MN (5 grants), Annapolis, MD (4 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does Joy in Blue Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 80% of Joy in Blue Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (24 of 30) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Joy in Blue Foundation's largest grantees?
Joy in Blue Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Minnesota Foundation ($219,000 across 3 grants), Boston College Trustees ($100,000) and National Science and Technology Medals Foundation ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Joy in Blue Foundation?
Joy in Blue Foundation reported $29.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (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 Joy in Blue Foundation fund?
The foundation states that it supports organizations with charitable, educational, scientific, or literary purposes. Its 2025 grants illustrate support for a range of organizations and activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Joy in Blue 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 Joy in Blue Foundation's EIN?
Joy in Blue Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-0528682. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Joy in Blue 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Joy in Blue Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Joy in Blue Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/joy-in-blue-foundation-morg_2a1d3626c3c84a6fb638c48c53c94de6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_830528682_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Joy in Blue Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/joy-in-blue-foundation-morg_2a1d3626c3c84a6fb638c48c53c94de6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Joy in Blue 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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