The Joy Fund
The Joy Fund is a private foundation based in Boulder, Colorado. In 2025, it reported making 12 grants totaling $140,000 to charitable organizations working in areas that include democracy and press freedom, food access, basic needs, education, and land conservation.
The Joy Fund at a glance
In short: The Joy Fund gave $140K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), top state District of Columbia. 75% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $140,000
- +25.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- -25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,667
- +66.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $9,750
- Total assets
- $2,426,594
- +5.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 75% first-time grantees (9 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (31% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Joy Fund
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 743 Utica Avenue, Boulder, CO 80304-0765
Phone: (303) 818-0288
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Joy Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Democracy Forward Foundation ($23K). Together the top 10 received $133K.
Grant Size Distribution
46 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 46 grants of 46 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in several states. The largest reported shares went to DC (31%) and Colorado (29%), followed by Texas (14%), California (9%), and New York (9%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Joy Fund open to new grantees?
75%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 12 grantees (75%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $12K first-time, $8K repeat.
- 25% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 40% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 134% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $50K (2021) to $140K (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $140K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Democracy Forward Foundation Washington DC, DC | To protect the rights and institutions that make our nation's democracy strong by working through the legal system andadministrative processes to preserve the rule of law and hold government accountable, and to educate the public about those efforts | $23,000 |
| Boulder Food Rescue Boulder, CO | Food redistribution - rescue food that would otherwise go to waste and distribute it to low-income communities across boulder | $20,000 |
| Partnership with Native Americans Addison, TX | Food and water to support the long-term solutions for strong, self-sufficient native American communities | $20,000 |
| Protect Democracy Project Washington, DC | To prevent our democracy from declining into a more authoritarian form of government. We do this by working to strengthen the checks and balances that have held the executive branch accountable to the laws and longstanding practices that have protected our democracy through both democratic and republican administrations | $20,000 |
| Ouray Food Pantry Ridgway, CO | To provide ongoing food support to individuals and families in Ouray county who are struggling with difficult life circumstances | $12,500 |
| Maine Needs Portland, ME | We strive to help individuals and families in Maine meet their basic, material needs by providing donated clothing, hygiene products, household items, and other necessities. We focus our work on those starting life over from scratch: domestic abuse survivors, asylum seekers and those facing financial hardships. We partner with schools, caseworkers, nurses and nonprofits to provide these material resources | $12,000 |
| Camfed USA Foundation San Francisco, CA | Catalyze the power of the most vulnerable girls and young women to create the future they imagine for themselves, for their communities, and for africa | $7,500 |
| Give Directly Inc New York, NY | To reduce poverty by providing financial assistance directly to those in need | $7,500 |
| Community Partners for the Civics Center Los Angeles, CA | Civics center is a voter registration group focused on high school students. The organization encourages state and localgovernments, as well as schools and nonprofits, to ease voter registration access and promote youth voting | $5,000 |
| Freedom of the Press Foundation Brooklyn, NY | Mission is to protect, defend, and empower public-interest journalism in the 21st century | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Joy Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,426,594 | $290,079 | $162,744 | $140,000 | 12 | $142,368 | $127,902 | $106,153 |
| 2024 | $2,299,257 | $510,685 | $124,507 | $112,000 | 16 | $113,575 | $325,961 | $91,079 |
| 2023 | $1,913,080 | $48,879 | $88,951 | $73,000 | 5 | $76,284 | $20,824 | $86,004 |
| 2022 | $1,953,152 | $1,043,753 | $133,322 | $100,000 | 9 | $101,892 | $287,391 | $77,493 |
| 2021 | $1,042,764 | $1,094,314 | $51,586 | $50,000 | 4 | $50,000 | $682,820 | $9,967 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Joy Fund reported a distributable amount of $106K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose stated work spans several areas. For example, Democracy Forward Foundation says it works through legal and administrative processes to protect democratic rights and institutions and hold government accountable. Boulder Food Rescue describes its work as rescuing food that would otherwise go to waste and distributing it to low-income communities across Boulder. Partnership With Native Americans says it serves immediate needs and supports long-term solutions for strong, self-sufficient Native American communities.
Other grantees describe work in basic needs and services: Maine Needs provides donated necessities to people and families in Maine, while Sister Carmen Community Center assists residents of East Boulder County in need. Protect Democracy Project says it works to strengthen checks and balances and prevent democratic decline; Freedom of the Press Foundation describes work to protect and defend press freedom.
Grantmaking
In 2025, The Joy Fund reported 12 grants totaling $140,000. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $23,000, with a median grant of $9,750. Notable grants included $23,000 to Democracy Forward Foundation; $20,000 each to Boulder Food Rescue, Partnership With Native Americans, and Protect Democracy Project; and $12,500 to Ouray Food Pantry.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Amy J Divine as trustee.
The Joy Fund is led by Amy J. Divine, Trustee on every filing since 2021 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Amy J. Divine
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Joy Fund
How much does The Joy Fund give each year?
The Joy Fund gave $140K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $112K across 16 grants.
What is The Joy Fund's typical grant size?
The Joy Fund's median grant in 2025 was $9,750, and its average grant was $11,667, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Joy Fund that year got $13K on average.
Where does The Joy Fund give grants?
The Joy Fund's top state is District of Columbia, with 31% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Colorado (29%) and Texas (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Ridgway, CO (2 grants).
Does The Joy Fund give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on The Joy Fund's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Joy Fund's largest grantees?
The Joy Fund's largest 2025 grantees include Democracy Forward Foundation ($23,000), Boulder Food Rescue ($20,000) and Partnership with Native Americans ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Joy Fund?
The Joy Fund reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $142K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $106K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Joy Fund fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations whose stated work spans several areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Joy Fund?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Joy Fund's EIN?
The Joy Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-2886210. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does The Joy Fund accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 26, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work The Joy Fund funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Joy Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Joy Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-joy-fund-morg_bb4f94f67a1746dd81989f004514606b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_862886210_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Joy Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-joy-fund-morg_bb4f94f67a1746dd81989f004514606b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Joy Fund's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Joy Fund down — hundreds of funders to go?