The Joelson Foundation
The Joelson Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1966 by Julius Joelson and Stella P. Joelson. The foundation is based in Princeton, New Jersey, with a mailing address in New York.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.6M
-10.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$482K
-21.9% YoY
Grant Count
1
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$482K
-21.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Joelson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $874K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Arts, with emphasis on performing arts
- Health
- Education
- Social services
- Jewish organizations
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program, though specific application procedures and deadlines are not detailed in available sources.
Review Cycle
are not detailed in available sources.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations primarily in the United States, with particular presence in New York and New Jersey areas.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Resources (2024):
- Total assets: $16,638,703
- Total giving: $482,235
- Total liabilities: $0
- Revenue: −$749,000 (2024)
- Expenses: $1.12 million (2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,638,703 | $18,511,125 | $19,179,281 |
| Revenue | $-748,728 | $664,964 | $5,785,586 |
| Expenses | $1,119,671 | $1,330,278 | $1,186,043 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $947,765 | $1,083,685 | $997,271 |
| Net Investment Income | $269,122 | $497,442 | $5,584,605 |
| Distributable Amount | $873,927 | $860,811 | $973,077 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 1 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
54 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Various Contributions - See Attached ($482,235).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| VARIOUS CONTRIBUTIONS - SEE ATTACHED PRINCETON, NJ | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $482,235 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BARBARA J FIFE | PRESIDENT | 35 | $150,000 |
| STEPHEN FIFE | DIRECTOR | 1 | $12,000 |
| EVELYN LIPTON | DIRECTOR | 20 | $90,000 |
| HOWARD FIFE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: C/O WSB, 506 Carnegie Center 400 Princeton, NJ 08540
Telephone: 609-520-1188
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Joelson Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • **Arts**, with emphasis on performing arts • **Health** • **Education** • **Social services** • **Jewish organizations**
How do I apply for a grant from The Joelson Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: $482,235 (based on most recent 2024 IRS Form 990) • Typical award size: $6,500 The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program, though specific application procedures and deadlines are not detailed in available sources.
Where does The Joelson Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations primarily in the United States, with particular presence in New York and New Jersey areas.
What size grants does The Joelson Foundation award?
In 2024, The Joelson Foundation awarded 1 grants totaling $482K — an average of about $482K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Joelson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Joelson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $874K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Joelson Foundation's EIN?
The Joelson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6220799. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Joelson 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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