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
Ready to take the next step with The Joel Foundation?
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
No grants recorded for .
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
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Launa Beuhler Foundation for
BROOKLYN, NY
Assets
$2K
Grants
4
Total Given
$20K
Uw E J Madden Mem Open Hearts Club 10-214880
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$307K
Hindy's Foundation
BROOKLYN, NY
Assets
$142K
Grants
8
Total Given
$225K
Jeanne & Thomas Hardy Family Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$3K
Grants
3
Total Given
$3K
Ramsleg Foundation
BRIGHTWATERS, NY
Assets
$543
Grants
1
Total Given
$500
Druckenmiller Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.8B
Grants
58
Total Given
$135.7M
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Joel Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities