Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation
The Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation is a private foundation based in Reno, Nevada. Its activities are limited solely to grantmaking, and its 2026 filing reports grants to charitable organizations including cultural, health, education, and youth-serving organizations.
Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation at a glance
In short: Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation gave $625K across 33 grants in 2026 (avg $19K), mostly in Nevada. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $625,000
- +12.1% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 33
- -2.9% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $18,939
- +15.5% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $9,600,171
- +1.6% vs 2025
- Primary geography
- Nevada (58% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a written application with the requested narrative and documents to Michael Melarkey and Vicki Puliz.
- Review Cycle
- Applications are accepted throughout the year, according to the 2025 filing.
- Deadline
- Applications are accepted throughout the year, according to the 2025 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Michael Melarkey And Vicki Puliz Tr
Mailing address: 165 W Liberty Street Suite 200, Reno, NV 89501
Phone: (775) 221-8004
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Kidzone Museum ($200K). Together the top 10 received $405K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($35,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
136 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 126 grants of 136 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In the 2026 filing, 58% of grant dollars went to recipients in Nevada and 42% to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation gives
- 84% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (+20%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 111% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2026). 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 2021 to 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $523K (2023) to $627K (2021). In 2026 it made 33 grants totaling $625K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kidzone Museum Truckee, CA | Capital Campaign New Facility | $200,000 |
| Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation Truckee, CA | Medical | $50,000 |
| Artown Reno, NV | General Purpose | $30,000 |
| Sparks Rotary Community Fund Sparks, NV | General Purpose | $25,000 |
| 2 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $35,000 |
| Terry Lee Wells Discovery Museum Reno, NV | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| University of Nevada Foundationkunr Reno, NV | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| University of Nevada Foundation Constitutional Law Reno, NV | General Purpose | $20,000 |
| Care Chest of Sierra Nevada Reno, NV | Medical Support for Low Income | $15,000 |
| Nevada Museum of Art Reno, NV | General Purpose | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Roxie and Azad Joseph 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $9,600,171 | $928,219 | $767,466 | $625,000 | 33 | $640,410 | $808,163 | $574,901 |
| 2025 | $9,447,655 | $573,614 | $704,116 | $557,500 | 34 | $576,380 | $453,122 | $540,369 |
| 2024 | $9,551,592 | $596,718 | $640,305 | $527,500 | 35 | $539,447 | $500,860 | $514,557 |
| 2023 | $9,516,822 | $402,637 | $662,026 | $522,500 | 33 | $538,354 | $299,418 | $514,213 |
| 2022 | $9,776,211 | $1,317,774 | $692,809 | $565,000 | 1 | $581,181 | $1,206,676 | $588,387 |
| 2021 | $9,936,298 | $269,473 | $752,941 | $626,500 | 1 | — | $156,149 | $544,301 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation reported a distributable amount of $575K for 2026 — 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 2026 grants include support for a museum capital campaign, medical services, scholarships, arts and cultural organizations, and youth mentoring. These examples describe the organizations it funded, not stated foundation-wide priorities.
Among its grantees, Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation says it works to foster collaboration and creative solutions in community health care. Artown says its mission is to strengthen Reno’s arts industry and civic identity. Care Chest of Sierra Nevada says it provides free medical resources to people in need. Big Brothers Big Sisters says it creates and supports one-to-one youth mentoring relationships.
Grantmaking
In its 2026 filing, the foundation reported 33 grants totaling $625,000. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $200,000, with a median of $10,000. The largest grant listed was $200,000 to KidZone Museum in Truckee, California, for a new-facility capital campaign. Other notable awards included $50,000 to Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation for medical purposes; $30,000 to Artown for general purposes; and $25,000 each to Sparks Rotary Community Fund for general purposes and an individual recipient Community College for scholarships.
The foundation’s 2025 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It states that applications should be submitted in writing with a project or program narrative, an IRS determination letter confirming 501(c)(3) status, and the applicant’s most recent Form 990. The filing names Michael Melarkey and Vicki Puliz as contacts. It also states that it makes no contributions to the American Red Cross.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Michael Melarkey and Vicki Puliz as trustees.
Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation's 2026 filing lists 2 officers; all 2 officers listed in 2026 are compensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Michael Melarkey
Trustee
On filings since 2021
6 hrs/week
$32K (2021) → $32K (2026)
Vicki Puliz
Trustee
On filings since 2021
6 hrs/week
$32K (2021) → $32K (2026)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Gregg W. Zive (2021–2024) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $32K, to Michael Melarkey (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation
How much does Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation give each year?
Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation gave $625K across 33 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $558K across 34 grants.
What is Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation's typical grant size?
Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation's median grant in 2026 was $10,000, and its average grant was $18,939, across 33 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation give grants?
Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation gives mostly in Nevada: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (42%). The most frequent recipient cities were Reno, NV (24 grants), Truckee, CA (3 grants) and Sparks, NV (2 grants).
Does Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 61% of Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation's 2026 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 33) were for general or operating support, per its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (3 grants) and "Youth Mentoring" (3 grants).
Who are Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation's largest grantees?
Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation's largest 2026 grantees include Kidzone Museum ($200,000), Tahoe Forest Health System Foundation ($50,000) and Artown ($30,000), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($35,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation?
Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation reported $9.6M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $640K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $575K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2026 grants include support for a museum capital campaign, medical services, scholarships, arts and cultural organizations, and youth mentoring. These examples describe the organizations it funded, not stated foundation-wide priorities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation?
Submit a written application with the requested narrative and documents to Michael Melarkey and Vicki Puliz. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation's EIN?
Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2388760. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2026.
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 2026 (received by the IRS August 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Bretzlaff Foundation Inc
Reno, NV
The Bretzlaff Foundation supports youth development, research, arts and culture, legal aid, and other community programs, with most 2025 grant dollars going to Nevada, followed by Hawaii and Virginia. Its 15 grants in 2025 ranged from $5,000 to $600,000, with a median of $250,000. It accepts written applications; no deadline is stated.
Assets
—
Grants
15
Total Given
$2.8M
Renown Health
Reno, NV
Renown Health funds community health and wellness work, with 2026 priorities including mental health, access to health care and community services, and maternal and child health. Its Better Together program offers grants of up to $10,000 for projects in areas served by its Reno-area medical centers, especially Washoe County and nearby communities. The program accepts applications from eligible nonprofits and public-sector groups; whether it accepts unsolicited requests outside the program is not stated.
Assets
$594.5M
Grants
3
Total Given
$43.0M
Robert Z Hawkins Foundation
Reno, NV
The Robert Z Hawkins Foundation funds charitable projects in food assistance, education, health, arts, and youth and community services, primarily in Nevada; its 2024 grants ranged from $2,000 to $200,000, with a median of $16,932. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$16.0M
Grants
50
Total Given
$1.3M
The E L Cord Foundation
Reno, NV
The E.L. Cord Foundation supports education and literacy, children and youth, arts and culture, science, and charitable activities, primarily in Northern Nevada and Nevada’s rural counties. Its 2024 grants ranged from $3,500 to $830,000, with a median of $20,000. It accepts applications by mail year-round.
Assets
$68.8M
Grants
90
Total Given
$3.6M
Robert R Banks Foundation Inc
Reno, NV
The foundation primarily supports youth services and organizations benefiting children, with recent grants also covering health, family support, and general support. Recent awards ranged from $7,000 to $50,000, with a median of $15,000, and all reported grants went to Nevada organizations. It accepts applications year-round; the filing does not say whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$3.9M
Grants
10
Total Given
$165K
Estelle J Kelsey Foundation
Reno, NV
The foundation supports specific projects in education, religion, social services, health and science, and arts and culture, with a focus on strengthening existing programs and a preference for Northern Nevada. In 2025, grants ranged from $2,500 to $250,000, with a median of $10,875; it accepts solicitations from eligible organizations, with no stated application deadline.
Assets
$15.0M
Grants
36
Total Given
$1.3M
More similar funders
More Funders in Nevada
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/roxie-and-azad-joseph-foundation-morg_a2a6e49e038448a09fe3d0453a6da395
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_202388760_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/roxie-and-azad-joseph-foundation-morg_a2a6e49e038448a09fe3d0453a6da395},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Roxie and Azad Joseph 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.
Roxie and Azad Joseph Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?