The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation
The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation, commonly known as the Jim Joseph Foundation, is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. Established in 2006, it supports Jewish education for young people in the United States, with a mission to foster compelling, effective Jewish learning experiences for young Jews.
The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation at a glance
In short: The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation gave $63.0M across 264 grants in 2024 (avg $239K), mostly in New York. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $63,019,624
- +2.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 264
- -4.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $238,711
- +6.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $49,000
- Total assets
- $1,513,966,691
- +4.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (28 of 138, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (53% 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 Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The Foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website says Deliberate grants are by invitation only and require a current 501(c)(3) determination letter or otherwise valid tax-exempt status. The process generally includes an invited grant request, professional review and ongoing dialogue, a proposal with a narrative, full budget, specific funding request, and supporting documents, followed by Board review. The website says it is unlikely to support individual schools, camps, congregations, or youth groups except in remarkable cases involving programs of a unique nature.
- Contact
Mailing address: 343 Sansome Street 550, San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: (415) 658-8730
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life ($5.1M across 6 grants). Together the top 10 received $33.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,327 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 736 grants of 1,327 (55%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website says it funds initiatives for young people and families in the United States, including organizations that send U.S. youth to Israel and other settings of Jewish significance for educational experiences. It says it does not fund directly outside the United States unless an organization has a U.S. 501(c)(3) and its program directly benefits U.S. Jewish youth or educators.
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in New York (53%), Washington, DC (16%), and California (12%), followed by North Carolina (5%) and Massachusetts (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 264 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 28 of 138 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $52K; repeat grants $560K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $112K repeat.
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+10%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $50.8M (2020) to $63.0M (2024). In 2024 it made 264 grants totaling $63.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Birthright Israel Foundation New York, NY | General Operating Support | $4,000,000 |
| Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $4,000,000 |
| Bnai Brith Youth Organization Inc Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $3,000,000 |
| Foundation for Jewish Camp Inc New York, NY | General Operating Support | $3,000,000 |
| Moishe House Charlotte, NC | General Operating Support | $2,875,000 |
| The Shalom Hartman Institute of North America New York, NY | General Operating Support | $2,500,000 |
| Board of Jewish Education Inc New York, NY | General Operating Support | $2,000,000 |
| Upstart Bay Area Oakland, CA | General Operating Support | $2,000,000 |
| Jewish Community Centers Association of North America New York, NY | Elevated | $1,750,000 |
| Prizmah Center for Jewish Day Schools Inc New York, NY | General Operating Support | $1,500,000 |
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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 | $1,513,966,691 | $76,428,949 | $74,486,530 | $63,019,624 | 264 | $82,019,133 | $120,134,785 | $82,949,636 |
| 2023 | $1,445,120,697 | $16,494,286 | $52,003,735 | $61,580,095 | 275 | $79,184,839 | $72,906,404 | $80,087,970 |
| 2022 | $1,335,087,353 | $14,791,553 | $91,332,491 | $51,231,751 | 243 | $67,943,461 | $20,291,929 | $79,713,054 |
| 2021 | $1,592,283,787 | $39,921,005 | $80,137,818 | $57,118,438 | 253 | $70,705,521 | $135,280,877 | $83,553,589 |
| 2020 | $1,462,122,744 | $13,663,407 | $37,121,676 | $50,828,877 | 292 | — | $108,748,287 | $70,672,661 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation reported a distributable amount of $82.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to foster compelling, effective Jewish learning experiences for young Jews. Its website describes two complementary strategies: Deliberate grants support established organizations and initiatives with proven models for Jewish learning and talent development; Emergent work explores new ideas and opportunities for Jewish life. The Foundation’s 2024 filing describes Common Era as the platform for its Emergent Strategy, reporting that it launched 18 research and experimentation projects and incubated 17 initiatives that year.
The 2024 grants show support for a range of Jewish educational and community organizations. For example, Birthright Israel Foundation describes its work as raising funds for educational trips to Israel for young Jewish adults; BBYO describes itself as a pluralistic teen movement focused on meaningful Jewish experiences and leadership development; and Foundation for Jewish Camp describes Jewish summer camp as a source of community, identity, and leadership development. Other 2024 grantees include organizations whose stated missions include educator and institutional support, Jewish day-school networks, community innovation, and strengthening Jewish community centers. These descriptions reflect the grantees’ own missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 264 grants totaling $63,019,624. Grant amounts ranged from $1,800 to $4,000,000, with a median of $49,000. The largest awards included $4,000,000 each to Birthright Israel Foundation and Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life; $3,000,000 each to B’nai B’rith Youth Organization and Foundation for Jewish Camp; and $2,875,000 to Moishe House. These grants were listed as general operating support.
The Foundation also reported grants of $2,500,000 to the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America, $2,000,000 each to Board of Jewish Education and Upstart Bay Area, $1,750,000 to Jewish Community Centers Association of North America, and $1,500,000 to Prizmah Center for Jewish Day Schools.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David Agger as chair and director; Shira Goodman as vice chair, secretary, and director; and Jeffrey Schoenfeld as treasurer and director. Other directors listed are Dvora Joseph Davey, Ariela Ruth Dubler, Joshua Foer, Matthew Goldberg, Joshua Joseph, Laura Lauder, and Rachel Levin. Dubler and Goldberg are listed as directors as of September 2024.
The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation is led by Barry Finestone, President & CEO on every filing since 2020; all 15 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Barry Finestone
President & CEO
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$679K (2020) → $815K (2024)
Dawne Bear Novicoff
COO, Acting President & CEO
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$389K (2024)
David Agger
Chair & Director
Vice Chair & Director → Chair & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$26K (2020) → $27K (2024)
Dvora Joseph Davey
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$26K (2020) → $27K (2024)
Jeffrey Solomon
Vice Chair & Director
Secretary & Director → Vice Chair & Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$26K (2020) → $14K (2024)
Joshua Foer
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$26K (2020) → $27K (2024)
Joshua Joseph
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$26K (2020) → $27K (2024)
Laura Lauder
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$26K (2020) → $27K (2024)
Rachel Levin
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$26K (2020) → $27K (2024)
Jeffrey Schoenfeld
Treasurer & Director
Director → Treasurer & Director, 2023
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
$27K (2022) → $27K (2024)
Michael Shimansky
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
$20K (2022) → $27K (2024)
Shira Goodman
Vice Chair, Secretary & Director
Director → Secretary & Director, 2023
Secretary & Director → Vice Chair, Secretary & Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
$27K (2022) → $27K (2024)
Ariela Ruth Dubler
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
$14K (2024)
Matthew Goldberg
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
$14K (2024)
David Carroll
CFO
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$230K (2022) → $423K (2024)
Former officers (4)
- Former: Alisa Robbins Doctoroff (2020–2023) — Assistant Secretary & Director
- Former: Daniel Safier (2020–2022) — Treasurer & Director
- Former: Mary P. Seabury (2020–2022) — CFO
- Former: Tiffany Harris (2020) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $815K, to Barry Finestone (President/CEO). 15 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation
How much does The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation give each year?
The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation gave $63.0M across 264 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $61.6M across 275 grants.
What is The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation's typical grant size?
The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $49,000, and its average grant was $238,711, across 264 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation that year got $52K on average.
Where does The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation give grants?
The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation gives mostly in New York: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (16%) and California (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (97 grants), San Francisco, CA (23 grants), Washington, DC (19 grants) and Berkeley, CA (10 grants).
Does The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 33% of The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (86 of 264) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Jewish Teen Education and Engagement Initiative" (5 grants), "Israel Emergency Support" (3 grants) and "Eden Village West" (3 grants).
Who are The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation's largest grantees?
The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Hillel the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life ($5,125,000 across 6 grants), Birthright Israel Foundation ($4,699,886 across 6 grants) and Foundation for Jewish Camp Inc ($3,500,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation?
The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation reported $1.5B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $82.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $82.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to foster compelling, effective Jewish learning experiences for young Jews. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation?
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 Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation's EIN?
The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-1114104. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-shimon-ben-joseph-foundation-morg_2f0abff2a3d54d7b8acbe05c89df2c84
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_331114104_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Shimon Ben Joseph Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-shimon-ben-joseph-foundation-morg_2f0abff2a3d54d7b8acbe05c89df2c84},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Shimon Ben Joseph 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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