The Jay DeFeo Foundation
The Jay DeFeo Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in San Francisco, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $21.8M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $317K. Net investment income was $249K.
Key facts about The Jay DeFeo Foundation
- EIN
- 94-6642644
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $317,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- Average grant
- $35,222
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $21,750,730
- Primary geography
- New York (72% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who The Jay DeFeo Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Jay DeFeo Foundation's 9 itemized 2024 grants were New York (72%), Texas (21%) and California (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants). 67% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
How The Jay DeFeo Foundation gives
- Giving grew 633% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 358% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Next steps with The Jay DeFeo Foundation
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$21.8M
-3.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$317K
+947.9% YoY
Grant Count
9
+12.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$35K
+831.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Jay DeFeo Foundation reported a distributable amount of $268K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The Jay DeFeo Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Jay DeFeo Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in San Francisco, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $21.8M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $317K. Net investment income was $249K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 9 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $21,750,730 | $22,467,729 | $22,393,855 |
| Revenue | $305,260 | $767,071 | $1,870,039 |
| Expenses | $1,016,713 | $860,566 | $957,634 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $958,384 | $891,562 | $947,463 |
| Net Investment Income | $249,266 | $697,717 | $1,781,381 |
| Distributable Amount | $267,798 | $458,783 | $213,445 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
46 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Whitney Meuseum of American Art ($120,000), Museum of Modern Art New York ($75,000), The Menil Collection Houston ($65,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Whitney Meuseum of American Art New York, NY | General Support - 2 Art Works by Jay DeFeo | $120,000 |
| Museum of Modern Art New York New York, NY | General Support - 1 Art Work by Jay DeFeo | $75,000 |
| The Menil Collection Houston Houston, TX | General Support - 1 Art Work by Jay DeFeo | $65,000 |
| The Drawing Center New York, NY | General Support - 1 Art Work by Jay DeFeo | $24,000 |
| Laguna Art Museum Laguna Beach, CA | Support for catalogue to accompany exhibition | $10,000 |
| Roulette Intermedium-Zeena Parkins Brooklyn, NY | General Support | $8,000 |
| The Aspen Institute Washington, DC | General Support | $5,000 |
| BAMPFA Berkeley, CA | BAM Fellowship | $5,000 |
| SFMOMA San Francisco, CA | Support for catalogue to accompany exhibition | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leah Levy | Trustee/Dir. | 45 | $210,000 |
| Jane Green | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Diane Frankel | Trustee | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Jay DeFeo Foundation?
The Jay DeFeo Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in San Francisco, CA. It holds $21.8M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is The Jay DeFeo Foundation?
As of 2024, The Jay DeFeo Foundation holds $21.8M in total assets with $305K in annual revenue. It awarded 9 grants totaling $317K in 2024.
Where does The Jay DeFeo Foundation operate?
The Jay DeFeo Foundation has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas.
What size grants does The Jay DeFeo Foundation award?
In 2024, The Jay DeFeo Foundation awarded 9 grants totaling $317K — an average of about $35K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Jay DeFeo Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Jay DeFeo Foundation reported a distributable amount of $268K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Jay DeFeo Foundation's EIN?
The Jay DeFeo Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-6642644. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.