Joel Dean Foundation
Preselected recipients only
Joel Dean Foundation is a private foundation in Bethesda, Maryland. In tax year 2025 it gave $539,000 in 81 grants; the typical grant was $2,000 and the largest $112,000. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.
- Grants paid, 2025$539,000
- Number of grants81
- Typical grant$2,000
- Largest grant$112,000
- Assets$12.8 million
- New grantees28%
Giving in 2025 was up from $462,000 the year before.
28% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $471,000 | 64 | $10.1 million |
| 2024 | $462,000 | 72 | $11.6 million |
| 2025 | $539,000 | 81 | $12.8 million |
How to apply
Joel Dean Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
What Joel Dean Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 19 states, the most to California.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 14 | $164,000 |
| New York | 13 | $99,250 |
| Maryland | 3 | $73,500 |
| Kentucky | 1 | $52,000 |
| Maine | 10 | $29,000 |
| District of Columbia | 6 | $24,500 |
| Massachusetts | 6 | $16,500 |
| Texas | 10 | $15,500 |
| Ohio | 2 | $14,050 |
| Virginia | 2 | $10,000 |
Grants paid in 2025
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Opera San Jose | Program support | $112,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Endowment | $71,000 |
| Berea College | Endowment | $52,000 |
| Columbia University | Dean biological sciences fund | $27,000 |
| Friends and Benefactors of Marymount International School of Paris | Digital lab equipment, computer technology, software and aps | $26,500 |
| American Civil Liberties Union Foundation | Program support | $12,500 |
| Camp Joy Foundation | Program support | $11,050 |
| Institute of Contemporary Art | Program support | $10,000 |
| Whitman College | Program support | $9,000 |
| Against Malaria Foundation | Program support | $7,500 |
| Disability Rights Education Defense Fund | Program support | $7,500 |
| Humane Society of the United States | Program support | $7,500 |
| Friends of Acadia | Program support | $7,000 |
| Hastings-On-Hudson Union Free School District | Program support | $6,500 |
| Montalvo Arts Center | Program support | $6,000 |
| Waynflete School | Program support | $6,000 |
| Capital Area Food Bank | Program support | $5,000 |
| Christ House | Program support | $5,000 |
| Classical KDFC | Program support | $5,000 |
| Columbia University | Program support | $5,000 |
| Freedom Reads | Program support | $5,000 |
| Ink People Centers for Arts and Culture | Program support | $5,000 |
| Kqed Public Radio | Program support | $5,000 |
| National Alliance on Mental Illness | Program support | $5,000 |
| Propublica | Program support | $5,000 |
| San Jose Museum of Art | Program support | $5,000 |
| Student Conservation Association | Program support | $5,000 |
| The Black Fairy Godmother Foundation | Program support | $5,000 |
| The Medical Letter | Program support | $5,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy | Program support | $5,000 |
| Wamu 885 FM | Program support | $5,000 |
| City Lights Theater Company | Program support | $4,000 |
| YMCA of Silicon Valley | Program support | $4,000 |
| Columbia College | Program support | $3,000 |
| Harvey Mudd College | Program support | $3,000 |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | Program support | $3,000 |
| Oberlin College | Endowment | $3,000 |
| Hastings Historical Society | Program support | $2,400 |
| Hastings-On-Hudson Village | Program support | $2,350 |
| Appalachian Mountain Club | Program support | $2,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Jurrien Dean
- Gillian Dean
- Joel Dean Jr
Questions people ask
Does Joel Dean Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does Joel Dean Foundation give?
$539,000 in tax year 2025, across 81 grants, with a typical grant of $2,000.
Who runs Joel Dean Foundation?
Its 2025 filing lists Jurrien Dean (Pres., Treas.), Gillian Dean (V. Pres.,dir.) and Joel Dean Jr (V. Pres.,dir.).
What does Joel Dean Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, arts and culture and science and research.