The Jolson Family Foundation is a private foundation based in San Rafael, California. Established in 2003, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with no employees and focuses on philanthropic grantmaking activities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.4M
+20.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$838K
+37.5% YoY
Grant Count
26
-31.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$32K
+101.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Jolson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $785K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Education
- Children, youth, families, and social services
- Community programs for the needy and homeless
- Science and STEM education
Grantmaking
The foundation distributed $838,061 in total giving during 2024. Recent grants include:
Grant Range
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, the District of Columbia, and Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $16,408,569
- Total Revenues: $3,948,770
- Total Expenses: $1,150,330
- Total Grants & Contributions: $2,600,000
- Investment Income & Dividends: $1,190,948
Contact Information
- Address: 1299 4th Street, Suite 200, San Rafael, CA 94901
- Telephone: 415-617-9242
- EIN: 20-0391079
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,408,569 | $13,610,129 | $13,690,734 |
| Revenue | $3,948,770 | $718,914 | $484,531 |
| Expenses | $1,150,330 | $1,010,164 | $922,793 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $899,450 | $674,342 | $680,565 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,408,455 | $890,547 | $461,950 |
| Distributable Amount | $784,672 | $847,339 | $832,293 |
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
154 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bridge the Gap ($225,561), 10000 Degrees ($185,500), Next Generation Scholars ($173,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 10000 DEGREES SAN RAFAEL, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $185,500 |
| BORDER KINDNESS EL CENTRO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| BRIDGE THE GAP MARIN CITY, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $225,561 |
| CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $48,000 |
| EXTRA FOOD MARIN SAN RAFAEL, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| HALLECK CREEK NICASIO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| HOMELESS ACTION CENTER BERKELEY, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| HOMEWARD BOUND OF MARIN OAKLAND, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| MARIN COMMUNITY FOOD BANK NOVATO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN ALEXANDRIA, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Joseph Jolson — Officer/President
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOSEPH A JOLSON | PRESIDENT AND TREASURER | 20 | — |
| KATHLEEN JOLSON | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Jolson Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Education • Children, youth, families, and social services • Community programs for the needy and homeless • Science and STEM education
How do I apply for a grant from The Jolson Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024)** The foundation distributed $838,061 in total giving during 2024. Recent grants include: | Grantee | Amount | Type | |---------|--------|------| | Bridge the Gap College Prep | $225,561 | General Support | | 10000 Degrees | $185,500 | General Support | | Next Generation Scholars | $173,000 | General Support | **Grant Range** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $225,561.
Where does The Jolson Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, the District of Columbia, and Colorado.
What size grants does The Jolson Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Jolson Family Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $838K — an average of about $32K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Jolson Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Jolson Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $785K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Jolson Family Foundation's EIN?
The Jolson Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0391079. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Jolson Family 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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