The Shemesh Joester Foundation
The Shemesh Joester Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its filings report grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in human services, humanitarian response, health, environmental law, and other areas.
The Shemesh Joester Foundation at a glance
In short: The Shemesh Joester Foundation gave $102K across 52 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in New York. 52% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $101,991
- -3.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 52
- +136.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,961
- -59.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $250
- Total assets
- $296,469
- -55.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 52% first-time grantees (27 of 52, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (88% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Shemesh Joester Foundation
- 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: 166 Bank Street Suite Ph A, New York, NY 10014
Phone: (212) 683-5150
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Shemesh Joester Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Door ($49K). Together the top 10 received $89K.
Grant Size Distribution
144 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 143 grants of 144 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 88% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 5% to recipients in DC, 2% to recipients in Georgia, and 1% each to recipients in Massachusetts and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 52 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Shemesh Joester Foundation open to new grantees?
52%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 27 of 52 grantees (52%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $343; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $250 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 31% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 38% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 132% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $39K (2023) to $106K (2024). In 2025 it made 52 grants totaling $102K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Door New York, NY | Carry Out Tax Exempt Purpose | $49,408 |
| Friends Without Borders New York, NY | Carry Out Tax Exempt Purpose | $17,658 |
| Delivering Good New York, NY | Carry Out Tax Exempt Purpose | $10,498 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | Carry Out Tax Exempt Purpose | $2,500 |
| Adventures For The Mind Foundation Inc Washington, DC | Carry Out Tax Exempt Purpose | $2,450 |
| Arthritis Foundation Atlanta, GA | Carry Out Tax Exempt Purpose | $1,840 |
| World Central Kitchen Washington, DC | Carry Out Tax Exempt Purpose | $1,500 |
| The Filmmakers New York, NY | Carry Out Tax Exempt Purpose | $1,287 |
| UNICEF USA New York, NY | Carry Out Tax Exempt Purpose | $1,250 |
| Artists Fellowship New York, NY | Carry Out Tax Exempt Purpose | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Shemesh Joester Foundation?
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 | $296,469 | $496,662 | $102,017 | $101,991 | 52 | $101,991 | $198,443 | $77,492 |
| 2024 | $666,774 | $339,672 | $106,166 | $105,601 | 22 | $105,601 | $34,743 | $56,632 |
| 2023 | $416,736 | $249,272 | $39,842 | $39,442 | 23 | $39,442 | $729 | $30,372 |
| 2022 | $207,307 | $465 | $76,169 | $73,960 | 27 | $73,960 | — | $14,013 |
| 2021 | $281,222 | $20,743 | $47,998 | $43,145 | 20 | $43,145 | $15,890 | $28,800 |
| 2020 | $308,476 | $292,962 | $45,236 | $44,586 | 28 | — | $225,795 | $8,226 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Shemesh Joester Foundation reported a distributable amount of $77K 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 foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants include organizations whose stated missions cover a range of activities. Delivering Good says it works with partners to match people facing hardship and disaster with essential items and services. World Central Kitchen describes its work as providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. The Arthritis Foundation says it pursues a cure for arthritis and provides resources, science, advocacy, and community connections. Earthjustice describes itself as an environmental law organization working to protect health and wildlife, advance clean energy, and combat climate change.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 52 grants totaling $101,991. Grants ranged from $15 to $49,408, with a median of $250. Its largest grants were $49,408 to The Door, $17,658 to Friends Without Borders, and $10,498 to Delivering Good. Other notable grants included $2,500 to Doctors Without Borders, $2,450 to Adventures For The Mind Foundation Inc, and $1,840 to the Arthritis Foundation. The stated purpose for the largest listed grants was “CARRY OUT TAX EXEMPT PURPOSE.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Debra Joester as president, Stephen Joester as treasurer, and Ely Shemesh as director.
The Shemesh Joester Foundation is led by Debra Joester, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Debra Joester
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
ely shemesh
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
stephen joester
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Shemesh Joester Foundation
How much does The Shemesh Joester Foundation give each year?
The Shemesh Joester Foundation gave $102K across 52 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $106K across 22 grants.
What is The Shemesh Joester Foundation's typical grant size?
The Shemesh Joester Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $250, and its average grant was $1,961, across 52 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Shemesh Joester Foundation that year got $343 on average.
Where does The Shemesh Joester Foundation give grants?
The Shemesh Joester Foundation gives mostly in New York: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (17 grants), Washington, NY (4 grants), Washington, DC (3 grants) and Arlington, NY (2 grants).
Who are The Shemesh Joester Foundation's largest grantees?
The Shemesh Joester Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Door ($49,408), Friends Without Borders ($17,658) and Delivering Good ($10,498), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Shemesh Joester Foundation?
The Shemesh Joester Foundation reported $296K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $102K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $77K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Shemesh Joester Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants include organizations whose stated missions cover a range of activities. Delivering Good says it works with partners to match people facing hardship and disaster with essential items and services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Shemesh Joester Foundation?
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 Shemesh Joester Foundation's EIN?
The Shemesh Joester Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5917028. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Shemesh Joester Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 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 2020 (received by the IRS May 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 25, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 25, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Shemesh Joester Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-shemesh-joester-foundation-morg_3eefb4ffd2a049539d14f13ccac19709
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_205917028_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Shemesh Joester Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-shemesh-joester-foundation-morg_3eefb4ffd2a049539d14f13ccac19709},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Shemesh Joester Foundation'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.
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