The Josetta Fund
The Josetta Fund is a private family foundation established in 1996 in Massachusetts and granted tax-exempt status in January 1997. Based in Boston, MA, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization without paid staff, managed by three trustees. The foundation holds approximately $27.4 million in total assets and distributes approximately $5 million annually through roughly 75-81 grants.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$27.4M
-4.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.1M
+5.1% YoY
Grant Count
81
+5.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$63K
-0.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Josetta Fund reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Josetta Fund supports a diverse range of causes including:
- Religious and spiritual initiatives
- Education and religious/spiritual education programs
- Animal care and rescue
- Libraries and literacy programs
- Food banks and hunger relief
- Pregnancy counseling services
- Women's organizations
Grantmaking
The Josetta Fund does not accept unsolicited grant applications. The foundation selects beneficiary organizations through trustee discretion on an invitation-only basis.
Grant Range
$2,500 to $800,000
Average Grant
$63,000–$65,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, Maine, and New York, though grants have been made across 26 states.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2024:
- Total assets: $27,441,267
- Total giving: $5,141,818
- Total revenues: $3,770,774
- Total expenses: $5,631,837
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $27,441,267 | $28,776,049 | $31,748,853 |
| Revenue | $3,770,774 | $2,346,103 | $2,098,529 |
| Expenses | $5,631,837 | $5,363,337 | $5,370,456 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,333,293 | $5,091,798 | $4,973,918 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,246,439 | $1,849,564 | $1,471,123 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,712,721 | $1,749,193 | $1,959,535 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Miracle German Shepherd Rescue ($225,000), Alpha Pregnancy ($222,129), Jezreel International ($200,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALEXANDER HAMILTON INSTITUTE FOR STUDY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION CLINTON, NY | EDUCATION | $50,000 |
| ALPHA PREGNANCY ALBANY, NY | PREGNANCY CARE AND COUNSELING | $222,129 |
| AMERICAN HUMANE SOCIETY WASHINGTON, DC | RESCUES, CARES FOR AND PROTECTS ANIMALS IN NEED | $40,000 |
| ANACOSTIA RIVER CHURCH WASHINGTON, DC | RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL | $14,000 |
| ARMENIAN CHURCH OF THE MARTYRS WORCESTER, MA | RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL | $14,000 |
| BENGALI EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION MINISTRY LOMA LINDA, CA | RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL | $54,500 |
| CAMP HARBOR VIEW FOUNDATION BOSTON, MA | CHILDREN'S CAMP | $50,000 |
| BLUE PEARL WALTHAM, MA | ANIMAL HOSPITAL | $94,819 |
| CHOICES PREGNANCY GLENDALE, AZ | WOMEN'S HEALTH | $30,000 |
| CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP AT BRIDGEWATER BRIDGEWATER, MA | RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL EDUCATION | $14,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is connected to the prominent Gerry family through trustee Martha Rice Gerry Townley. Martha F. Gerry (1918–2007), the mother of Martha Rice Gerry Townley, was a renowned thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder recognized as an Exemplar of Racing by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Martha F. Gerry was among the first women admitted to The Jockey Club in 1983.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARTHA R GERRY TOWNLEY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| F BRADFORD TOWNLEY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARK A NOWAK | TRUSTEE | 10 | — |
Contact Information
- Address: McCarter English, 265 Franklin Street, Boston, MA 02110
- Phone: 617-733-1353
- Email: Not publicly available
- Website: None publicly available
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Josetta Fund fund?
The Josetta Fund supports a diverse range of causes including: • Religious and spiritual initiatives • Education and religious/spiritual education programs • Animal care and rescue • Libraries and literacy programs • Food banks and hunger relief • Pregnancy counseling services • Women's organizations
How do I apply for a grant from The Josetta Fund?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Grant range: $2,500 to $800,000 • Median grant: $30,000 • Average grant: $63,000–$65,000 • Annual giving: $4.8–$5.1 million • Typical number of grants: 75–81 annually **Application Process:** The Josetta Fund does not accept unsolicited grant applications. The foundation selects beneficiary organizations through trustee discretion on an invitation-only basis. **Recent Grant Examples (2024):** • Samaritan's Purse: $325,000 • Miracle German Shepherd Dog Rescue of Main…
Where does The Josetta Fund make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts, Maine, and New York, though grants have been made across 26 states.
What size grants does The Josetta Fund award?
In 2024, The Josetta Fund awarded 81 grants totaling $5.1M — an average of about $63K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Josetta Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Josetta Fund reported a distributable amount of $1.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Josetta Fund's EIN?
The Josetta Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3340006. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Josetta Fund'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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