The Joel Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2012 and based in White Plains, New York. Founded by singer-songwriter Billy Joel and family, the foundation primarily supports arts education initiatives. The foundation does not maintain a public website, which limits transparency regarding its grantmaking strategies and detailed guidelines.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.9M
+179.6% YoY
Grant Count
23
+35.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$84K
+106.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Joel Foundation's primary focus is arts education, with particular emphasis on music education. Billy Joel, a longtime advocate for music education, has been instrumental in shaping the foundation's priorities. The foundation has supported organizations working in music education and performing arts instruction.
The foundation's grantmaking has supported organizations including Exploring the Arts (ETA) and Perlman Music Program. Billy Joel has personally been involved in music education advocacy through master class sessions on college campuses and benefit classes, as well as establishing the Rosalind Joel Scholarship for the Performing Arts at City College.
Grantmaking
The Joel Foundation typically makes grants for general support. The foundation prefers a proactive funding approach and does not accept unsolicited applications. Interested grant seekers are encouraged to network with previous grantees or reach out directly to the foundation.
Grant Range
$5,000–$619,450
Average Grant
$186
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects primarily in New York, with additional funding activity in California, Florida, and Washington D.C. Notable funded cities include New York, Brooklyn, and Astoria.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $4.8 million (with 2.6% growth from previous year)
- Annual Expenses: $757,867
- Annual Revenue: $694,910
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
76 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Nassau Boces ($619,450), Brooklyn Conservatory of Music ($275,000), The Fund for Public Schools ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oyster Bay Music Festival Halesite, NY | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| Nassau Boces Garden City, NY | GENERAL | $619,450 |
| The Perlman Music Program New York, NY | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| Sweet Relief Musicians Fund Brea, CA | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| Exploring the Arts Astoria, NY | GENERAL | $75,000 |
| THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION PALMETTO BAY, FL | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| The Fund for Public Schools NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $250,000 |
| KAUFMAN MUSIC CENTER NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $25,000 |
| Manhattan School of Music New York, NY | GENERAL | $12,500 |
| Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Brooklyn, NY | GENERAL | $275,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- William M Joel – Director
- Alexis Joel – Vice President
- Todd R Kamelhar – Treasurer
- Lee V Eastman – Secretary
All officers serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| William M Joel | Director | 0.25 | — |
| Alexis Joel | Vice President | 1 | — |
| Todd R Kamelhar | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Lee V Eastman | Secretary | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Joel Foundation has announced a three-year commitment supporting music education initiatives. Recent grants include $25,000 to The Carnegie for music education programming. The foundation has pledged support for Yale's Music in Schools Initiative as part of its multi-year commitment to expanding music education access.
Billy Joel's foundation helps fill NKY classrooms with musicSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Joel Foundation fund?
The Joel Foundation's primary focus is arts education, with particular emphasis on music education. Billy Joel, a longtime advocate for music education, has been instrumental in shaping the foundation's priorities. The foundation has supported organizations working in music education and performing arts instruction. The foundation's grantmaking has supported organizations including Exploring the Arts (ETA) and Perlman Music Program. Billy Joel has personally been involved in music education adv…
How do I apply for a grant from The Joel Foundation?
The Joel Foundation typically makes grants for general support. The foundation prefers a proactive funding approach and does not accept unsolicited applications. Interested grant seekers are encouraged to network with previous grantees or reach out directly to the foundation. **Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $1,923,861 (based on most recent IRS filing) • Annual grants awarded: 17 grants in 2024 • Total awarded in recent year: $688,000 • Typical grant range: $5,000–$619,450 • Average grant si…
Where does The Joel Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects primarily in New York, with additional funding activity in California, Florida, and Washington D.C. Notable funded cities include New York, Brooklyn, and Astoria.
What size grants does The Joel Foundation award?
In 2024, The Joel Foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $1.9M — an average of about $84K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Joel Foundation's EIN?
The Joel Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0795952. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Joel Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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