The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc
The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Its 2025 filing lists grants to organizations including a music festival, arts organizations, and an animal-welfare organization.
The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc gave $81K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $81,000
- -23.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -42.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,125
- +34.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $4,000
- Total assets
- $1,397,831
- -2.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (56% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 37 School House Rd 10, Weymouth, MA 02188
Phone: (781) 800-4024
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Halycon Music Festival ($45K). Together the top 7 received $81K.
Grant Size Distribution
60 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 60 grants of 60 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 56% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 43% to recipients in New York, and 1% to recipients in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc gives
- Giving fell 36% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 470% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $81K (2025) to $528K (2020). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $81K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Halycon Music Festival Cambridge, MA | supporting foundation purposes | $45,000 |
| Reflections Series New York, NY | supporting foundation purposes | $15,000 |
| Reflections Series New York, NY | supporting foundation purposes | $10,000 |
| Opus 118 New York, NY | supporting foundation purposes | $5,000 |
| Carnegie Hall New York, NY | supporting foundation purposes | $3,000 |
| The Knights Brooklyn, NY | supporting foundation purposes | $1,500 |
| ASPCA Washington, DC | supporting foundation purposes | $1,000 |
| Maizie Holton Foundation New York, NY | supporting foundation purposes | $500 |
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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 | $1,397,831 | $66,049 | $88,255 | $81,000 | 8 | $81,000 | $30,831 | $17,252 |
| 2024 | $1,427,888 | $16,858 | $110,744 | $105,750 | 14 | $108,733 | $16,842 | $19,466 |
| 2023 | $1,529,533 | $107,265 | $108,865 | $97,200 | 10 | $97,200 | $9,080 | $89,411 |
| 2022 | $1,445,242 | $30,115 | $155,421 | $127,000 | 15 | $127,000 | $5,935 | $88,291 |
| 2021 | $1,570,548 | $472,632 | $105,173 | $89,000 | 13 | $89,000 | $23,250 | $81,213 |
| 2020 | $1,203,089 | $456,801 | $536,953 | $528,300 | 15 | — | $328,091 | $90,410 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $17K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for Halycon Music Festival, Reflections Series, Opus 118, Carnegie Hall, The Knights, ASPCA, and Maizie Holton Foundation. Carnegie Hall describes its own mission as presenting and promoting artistic performances and exhibitions, educating the community about the arts, and encouraging community participation while preserving its historic facility.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 8 grants totaling $81,000. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $45,000, with a median of $4,000. The largest awards were $45,000 to Halycon Music Festival, $15,000 and $10,000 to Reflections Series, and $5,000 to Opus 118. The filing lists “supporting foundation purposes” as the purpose for these grants.
The foundation made 14 grants totaling $105,750 in 2024 and 10 grants totaling $97,200 in 2023.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Mark S Ptashne as president, treasurer, and director; Lucy H Gordon and James Doon as directors; and Steven A Branson as clerk.
The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc is led by Mark S Ptashne, President, Treasurer & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mark S Ptashne
President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Doon
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lucy H Gordon
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven A Branson
Clerk
On filings since 2020
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 The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc
How much does The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc give each year?
The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc gave $81K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $106K across 14 grants.
What is The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $4,000, and its average grant was $10,125, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc give grants?
The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc gives mostly in Massachusetts: 56% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (43%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants).
Does The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Supporting Foundation Purposes" (8 grants).
Who are The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Halycon Music Festival ($45,000), Reflections Series ($25,000 across 2 grants) and Opus 118 ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc?
The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $81K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $17K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for Halycon Music Festival, Reflections Series, Opus 118, Carnegie Hall, The Knights, ASPCA, and Maizie Holton Foundation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3151628. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 19, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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