The Joy Fund
The Joy Fund is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Boulder, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 12 grants totaling $140K. Net investment income was $128K.
Key facts about The Joy Fund
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.
- EIN
- 86-2886210
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $140,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- Average grant
- $11,667
- Median grant
- $9,750
- New grantees (estimate)
- 75% first-time grantees (9 of 12, 2025)
- Total assets
- $2,426,594
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (31% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.4M
+5.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$140K
+25.0% YoY
Grant Count
12
-25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$12K
+66.7% YoY
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.
Is The Joy Fund open to new grantees?
75%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 12 grantees (75%) were first-time recipients. 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.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 12 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
46 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
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 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,426,594 | $2,299,257 | $1,913,080 |
| Revenue | $290,079 | $510,685 | $48,879 |
| Expenses | $162,744 | $124,507 | $88,951 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $142,368 | $113,575 | $76,284 |
| Net Investment Income | $127,902 | $325,961 | $20,824 |
| Distributable Amount | $106,153 | $91,079 | $86,004 |
Data update history
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)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 30, 2026)
- 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
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
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 is The Joy Fund?
The Joy Fund is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Boulder, CO. It holds $2.4M in total assets as of 2025.
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.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Here's the math on researching The Joy Fund by hand.
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