The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc
The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Princeton, New Jersey. In 2024, it reported giving $25,000 in grants to 20 preselected charitable organizations.
The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc gave $25K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $1K), top state New York. 30% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $25,000
- +11.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +25.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,250
- -11.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $395,508
- -2.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (6 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (42% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 18 East Shore Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540
Phone: (609) 303-0146
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Bard College ($2K). Together the top 10 received $17K.
Grant Size Distribution
72 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 72 grants of 72 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in New York (42%), New Jersey (28%), Pennsylvania (8%), Nebraska (8%), and California (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 20 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 65% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 138% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 128% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $11K (2021) to $25K (2024). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $25K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bard College Annandaleonhudson, NY | To Their General Fund | $2,000 |
| The Watershed Institute Pennington, NJ | To Their General Fund | $2,000 |
| The World Theatre Kearney, NE | To Their General Fund | $2,000 |
| Salmagundi Club New York, NY | To Their General Fund | $2,000 |
| Lockport Public Library Lockport, NY | To Their General Fund | $2,000 |
| New Literary Project Oakland, CA | To Their General Fund | $2,000 |
| Flabush Cats Inc Brooklyn, NY | To Their General Fund | $2,000 |
| American Humanist Society Washington, DC | To Their General Fund | $1,000 |
| American Philosophical Association Philadelphia, PA | To Their General Fund | $1,000 |
| Centurion Ministries Princeton, NJ | To Their General Fund | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $395,508 | $17,379 | $25,430 | $25,000 | 20 | $25,000 | $16,854 | $19,562 |
| 2023 | $403,559 | $10,253 | $29,196 | $22,500 | 16 | $22,500 | $10,223 | $20,084 |
| 2022 | $422,502 | $14,744 | $23,380 | $17,500 | 14 | $17,500 | $2,984 | $20,830 |
| 2021 | $431,138 | $17,512 | $16,108 | $10,500 | 11 | $10,500 | $6,404 | $20,920 |
| 2020 | $429,734 | $213,706 | $18,242 | $14,000 | 11 | — | $5,227 | $11,558 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $20K for 2024 — 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 2024 grantees include organizations with varied missions. For example, New Literary Project says it invests in students, teachers, readers, and authors and equips writers across generations. The Watershed Institute says it works to protect and restore water and the natural environment in central New Jersey through conservation, advocacy, science, and education. Save a Friend to Homeless Animals describes its work as protecting homeless companion animals through rescue, shelter, health and welfare services, spay/neuter, adoptions, and fostering.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 20 grants totaling $25,000. Grants ranged from $500 to $2,000, with a median grant of $1,000. The largest listed awards were $2,000 each to Bard College, The Watershed Institute, The World Theatre, Salmagundi Club, Lockport Public Library, New Literary Project, and Flabush Cats Inc. Other listed grants included $1,000 to the American Humanist Society, the American Philosophical Association, Centurion Ministries, Pushcart Prize Fellowships, and Save a Friend to Homeless Animals.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Joyce C. Smith as president, secretary, and treasurer. It lists Richard Levao, Gregory Johnson, Arthur Vanderbilt, and Barry Qualls as trustees.
The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc is led by Joyce C. Smith, President, Sectry & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joyce C. Smith
President, Sectry & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Arthur Vanderbilt
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barry Qualls
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gregory Johnson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Levao
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc
How much does The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc give each year?
The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc gave $25K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $23K across 16 grants.
What is The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,250, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc that year got $1K on average.
Where does The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc give grants?
The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc's top state is New York, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New Jersey (28%) and Pennsylvania (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Princeton, NJ (3 grants), Pennington, NJ (2 grants), New York, NY (2 grants) and Philadelphia, PA (2 grants).
Does The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Bard College ($2,000), The Watershed Institute ($2,000) and The World Theatre ($2,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc?
The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc reported $396K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $25K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $20K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grantees include organizations with varied missions. For example, New Literary Project says it invests in students, teachers, readers, and authors and equips writers across generations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc?
The foundation 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 Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3770822. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in New Jersey
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Princeton Area Community Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The foundation supports nonprofits and community programs in areas such as basic needs, education, health, housing, arts, and the environment, with competitive grants focused on under-resourced communities and women and girls. Its 2024 grants had a median of $15,000, and its discretionary grantmaking primarily serves Mercer County and nearby parts of New Jersey and eastern Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The profile describes competitive programs but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$279.6M
Grants
515
Total Given
$31.3M
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
The Ford Foundation funds organizations and initiatives working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work on civic engagement, civil rights, climate justice, disability rights, and technology and society. In 2024, its grants ranged from $45 to $15 million, with a median of $100,000, supporting work in the U.S. and internationally. It says most grants are identified by the foundation and it does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone; limited opportunities may be offered separately.
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Princeton, NJ
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funds efforts to improve health and health equity in the United States, including systems change addressing structural barriers to health. In 2024, its grants ranged from $125 to $12.15 million, with a median of $40,000. It typically funds through targeted programs and partnerships; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$13.4B
Grants
3,093
Total Given
$622.6M
Community Foundation of New Jersey
Morristown, NJ
The Community Foundation of New Jersey supports a broad range of causes, including arts, education, health, human services, and the environment, through donor-directed and other charitable funds. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of $19,759, with awards ranging widely; its current health grant opportunity serves Morris and Somerset counties. Eligible New Jersey nonprofits may apply to specific grant opportunities, subject to each opportunity’s guidelines.
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
1,321
Total Given
$93.8M
Crane Fund for Widows and Children
Englewood Cliffs, NJ
The Crane Fund for Widows and Children supports charitable organizations, including those working in healthcare and social services, children’s services, recreation, and basic needs, with grants across multiple states. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,000 to $45,000, with a median of $4,500; it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.6M
Grants
985
Total Given
$4.5M
More similar funders
More Funders in New Jersey
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc'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 Joyce Carol Oates Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?