Joyce & George Wein Foundation Inc
The Joyce & George Wein Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2009 to honor the legacy of jazz impresario George Wein and his wife Joyce Alexander Wein. Based in New York, the foundation continues the couple's lifelong commitment to supporting African American arts, jazz education, cultural preservation, and educational equity. The foundation operates by making strategic grants to preselected organizations that align with the Weins' philanthropic values.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$26.0M
+493.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$958K
+42.9% YoY
Grant Count
14
+7.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$68K
+32.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joyce & George Wein Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $890K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's funding priorities reflect the Weins' cultural and educational legacy:
- Jazz Programming and Arts Education: Supporting general purpose jazz programming and arts education
- African American Arts: Advancing African American artists and cultural institutions
- Cultural Preservation: Maintaining and promoting jazz heritage and cultural traditions
- Educational Equity: Supporting educational initiatives aligned with the founders' values
- Arts Advocacy: Funding organizations dedicated to arts access and cultural programming
The foundation administers the Joyce Alexander Wein Artist Prize through the Studio Museum in Harlem, an annual $50,000 award recognizing African American artists.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
**: Typical awards range from $2,500 to $500,000
Invitation Only
**: The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only to preselected organizations.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations nationally, with primary focus on:
- Northeast United States
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- California
- Specific cities include: New York, Bronx, Newark, Montclair, Essex, New Jersey communities, and Rhode Island
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $25,976,357 (2024)
Total Giving: $957,500 to $1,069,322 annually (2024)
Revenue: $23.8 million (2024)
Expenses: $1.12 million (2024)
Total Liabilities: $0 (2024)
Employees: 1
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $25,976,357 | $4,374,029 | $5,125,640 |
| Revenue | $23,807,166 | $26,504 | $2,287,377 |
| Expenses | $1,122,581 | $777,221 | $347,191 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,069,322 | $766,991 | $340,232 |
| Net Investment Income | $972,714 | $124,763 | $14,856 |
| Distributable Amount | $889,784 | $239,672 | $234,107 |
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
80 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Newport Festivals Foundation Inc ($500,000), Community Music Center of Boston ($150,000), New Jersey Performing Arts Center ($62,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| APOLLO THEATER NEW YORK, NY | JAZZ PROGRAMMING | $25,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| JAZZ FORUM ARTS DOBBS FERRY, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| JAZZMOBILE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $15,000 |
| LOUIS ARMSTRONG HOUSE MUSEUM CORONA, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $30,000 |
| NEW JERSEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER NEWARK, NJ | ARTS EDUCATION DONATION | $62,500 |
| NEW ORLEANS JAZZ MUSEUM NEW ORLEANS, LA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $30,000 |
| NEWPORT FESTIVALS FOUNDATION INC ESSEX, MA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $500,000 |
| PREP FOR PREP NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $10,000 |
| STUDIO MUSEUM IN HARLEM NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Deborah Ross: Secretary and Executive Director
- Bruce S. Gordon: President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEBORAH ROSS | SECRETARY/EXEC. DIR. | 25 | $85,000 |
| BRUCE S GORDON | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| NICOLAS PELL | TREASURER | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Joyce & George Wein Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's funding priorities reflect the Weins' cultural and educational legacy: • **Jazz Programming and Arts Education**: Supporting general purpose jazz programming and arts education • **African American Arts**: Advancing African American artists and cultural institutions • **Cultural Preservation**: Maintaining and promoting jazz heritage and cultural traditions • **Educational Equity**: Supporting educational initiatives aligned with the founders' values • **Arts Advocacy**: Fundin…
How do I apply for a grant from Joyce & George Wein Foundation Inc?
**Grant Range**: Typical awards range from $2,500 to $500,000 **Annual Distribution**: The foundation distributes over $1 million annually to cultural and educational institutions. Recent annual giving totaled $1,069,322 (2024) and $957,500 (2024 per alternative source). **Application Process**: The foundation does not maintain a public website and does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only to preselected organizations. **Recent Grantees** (2023): • Apollo Theat…
Where does Joyce & George Wein Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation supports organizations nationally, with primary focus on: • Northeast United States • New Orleans, Louisiana • California • Specific cities include: New York, Bronx, Newark, Montclair, Essex, New Jersey communities, and Rhode Island
What size grants does Joyce & George Wein Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Joyce & George Wein Foundation Inc awarded 14 grants totaling $958K — an average of about $68K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Joyce & George Wein Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Joyce & George Wein Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $890K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Joyce & George Wein Foundation Inc's EIN?
Joyce & George Wein Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1445446. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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