The Joan Ganz Cooney Center for
Named for the co-founder and visionary behind sesame street, the joan ganz cooney center is an independent research and innovation lab within sesame workshop that advances positive futures for kids in the digital world. We conduct research on emerging technologies and collaborate with technologists, digital media producers, and educators to put this research into action to support children's learning and well-being. We facilitate an international network of researchers and partner with young people themselves, elevating their voices in our research and engaging them in co-designing digital media experiences. We also work directly with policy makers and investors to drive national conversations and decisions that help children thrive within our digital world.
The Joan Ganz Cooney Center for at a glance
- Total assets
- $34,455,327
- +14.3% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $2,838,885
- +258.6% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $329,142
- +72.9% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $2,885,518
- +45.8% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Joan Ganz Cooney Center for
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Joan Ganz Cooney Center for
By/With/For Youth: Inspiring Next Gen Public Media Audiences (Next Gen Public Media Accelerator)
The Joan Ganz Cooney Center
Amount
$15,000 per station
Deadline
Deadline not published
Families Learning Across Boundaries (FamLAB) Spark Grants
The Joan Ganz Cooney Center
Amount
$100,000 total ($25,000 per award implied)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Joan Ganz Cooney Center for funds
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2020 it made 3 grants totaling $19K.
Ready to take the next step with The Joan Ganz Cooney Center for?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,455,327 | $2,838,885 | $2,885,518 | — | — | $329,142 |
| 2024 | $30,156,696 | $791,763 | $1,979,234 | — | — | $190,406 |
| 2023 | $28,086,018 | $1,504,764 | $2,318,677 | — | — | $-974 |
| 2022 | $26,282,482 | $1,074,474 | $1,766,045 | — | — | $87,061 |
| 2021 | $29,362,307 | $2,732,051 | $1,449,766 | — | — | $2,330,274 |
| 2020 | $23,865,425 | $108,390 | $1,543,543 | $18,750 | 3 | $-66,200 |
About The Joan Ganz Cooney Center for
Based on IRS filings
The Joan Ganz Cooney Center for is a public charity focused on Education, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $34.5M in total assets. Net investment income was $329K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Joan Ganz Cooney Center for is led by Sherrie Rollins Westin, CEO & President of Sesame Workshop since 2024 (on filings since 2021); none of the 12 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sherrie Rollins Westin
CEO & President of Sesame Workshop
Director & President Sesame Workshop → Chairman & President Sesame Workshop, 2022
Chairman & President Sesame Workshop → CEO & President of Sesame Workshop, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Preston
Executive Director Jgc Center
Executive Director → Executive Director Jgc Center, 2021
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joan Ganz Cooney
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Wartella
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Esteban Sosnik
Director
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Byer
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hina Talib
Director
On filings since 2024
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Medha Tare
Senior Director & Research
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Youngwood
Former Director
Director & CEO → Director, 2024
Director → Former Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Brett Robinson
Treasurer & CFO of Sesame Workshop
Treasurer → Treasurer & CFO of Sesame Workshop, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Valerie Mitchell-Johnston
Secretary
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Janet Wolf
Office Manager
New on the 2025 filing
50 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Joseph Salvo (2020–2024) — Former Director
- Former: Michael Levine (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Lloyd Morrisett (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Karen Haynes-Blake (2022–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Daryl Mintz (2020–2022) — Treasurer · Filing note: Thru 3182022
- Former: Jeffery Dunn (2022) — Director
- Former: Jeffrey Dunn (2020–2021) — Director · Filing note: Thru 6302021
- Former: Lori Takeuchi (2020–2021) — Deputy Director & Head of Research · Filing note: Thru 832020
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 The Joan Ganz Cooney Center for
How large is The Joan Ganz Cooney Center for?
The Joan Ganz Cooney Center for reported $34.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.8M.
What is The Joan Ganz Cooney Center for?
The Joan Ganz Cooney Center for is a public charity focused on Education, based in New York, NY. It holds $34.5M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does The Joan Ganz Cooney Center for operate?
The Joan Ganz Cooney Center for has awarded grants in California, Idaho, Washington.
What is The Joan Ganz Cooney Center for's EIN?
The Joan Ganz Cooney Center for's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8783702. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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