The Joyce Foundation is a private, nonpartisan philanthropy that invests in public policies and strategies to advance racial equity and economic mobility for the next generation in the Great Lakes region.
Focus Areas
Arts & CultureVoting rights & electionsRedistricting & census data accuracyEducation policy / Postsecondary successClimate & Great Lakes / Drinking waterGun violence prevention & justice reformJournalism / Local & public-policy reporting
Who They Fund
students and learners (education-focused populations)low-income or economically disadvantaged individuals/communitiescommunities affected by gun violencejustice-involved individuals and populations impacted by the criminal legal system
About Joyce Foundation
A defining feature of The Joyce Foundation’s recent grantmaking is its repeated support for Chicago Public Media and the Chicago Sun-Times, including $1,000,000 grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That pattern sits alongside a broader portfolio built around public policy, research, and institutional support in the Great Lakes region. The foundation funds education and economic mobility, journalism, democracy, gun violence prevention and justice reform, environment, and arts and culture, often through mission fund support and program-specific grants.
Its recent awards show both scale and consistency. Joyce has made large commitments to policy and media organizations such as Urban Institute, Protect Democracy Project, and Civic News Company, while also backing Chicago-based groups including IFF, Advance Illinois, Elevate Energy, and Project Unloaded. The foundation’s work connects policy analysis, advocacy, implementation, and local reporting with regional issues that affect students, communities, and public institutions. Across its portfolio, the emphasis is on strengthening systems rather than short-term service delivery.
What Joyce Foundation Funds
In education and economic mobility, The Joyce Foundation has backed policy and research organizations with sizable grants, including $935,000 to Education First Consulting LLC for education and economic mobility and $600,000 to The Aspen Institute Inc for the same area. It also gave $485,000 to The Institute for College Access and Success Inc.
In journalism, the foundation supports independent local and public-interest reporting. Recent grants include $525,000 to Civic News Company and $500,000 to Crain's Chicago Business, reflecting support for news organizations tied to the Great Lakes region and Chicago.
Its environment portfolio includes policy and energy work as well as conservation. Recent grants include $600,000 to Minnesota Department of Commerce - Energy & Utilities, $576,000 to National Parks Conservation Association, and $500,000 to Elevate Energy. In gun violence prevention and justice reform, it awarded $472,440 to Project Unloaded Inc.
How Joyce Foundation Gives
The Joyce Foundation’s typical grant size is $50,000 at the 25th percentile, $100,000 at the median, and $150,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include several six- and seven-figure grants, indicating a mix of mid-sized program grants and larger mission-fund commitments.
The foundation is a regular funder and operates as a DAF classification regular funder. Its recent grant record shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including Chicago Public Media and IFF, which points to recurring relationships rather than one-off gifts. It funds organizations, not individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. Some programs accept unsolicited applications, while others, such as the Joyce Awards and the Lend a Hand Fund, do not.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$49.9M
Total Assets
$1.3B
Total Revenue
$85.8M
Total Expenses
$67.3M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $50K and $150K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$50K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$150K
Geographic Reach
National33 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Julia Morita
President/Director (As of 10/1/24)
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Where Joyce Foundation Funds
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Joyce Foundation.
Rank
Country
Grants
Total
Share
1
United StatesDomestic
1,433
$164.5M
99.9%
2
Canada
2
Deep Analysis
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Grantmaking is national, but the strongest concentration is in Illinois, which accounts for 37% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. Chicago appears frequently among recent recipients, including Chicago Public Media, IFF, Advance Illinois, Elevate Energy, Project Unloaded Inc, and Crain's Chicago Business. Beyond Illinois, recent grants also went to organizations in Washington, DC, New York, Minneapolis, Seattle, Oakland, and St Paul. Recipient-country data is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with only 2 grants to Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joyce Foundation
What are The Joyce Foundation’s main focus areas?
The foundation supports arts and culture, voting rights and elections, redistricting and census data accuracy, education policy and postsecondary success, climate and Great Lakes drinking water, gun violence prevention and justice reform, and journalism. Its program descriptions emphasize policy, research, advocacy, implementation, and support for local and community institutions.
How large are The Joyce Foundation’s grants?
Its typical grant size is $50,000 at the 25th percentile, $100,000 at the median, and $150,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger commitments, such as $1,000,000 grants and other six-figure awards.
Does The Joyce Foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Some programs do. The Education & Economic Mobility Program, Culture Program, Journalism Program, Gun Violence Prevention & Justice Reform Program, Democracy Program, College & Career Readiness, and Creative Organizations & Creative Individuals all accept unsolicited applications, while the Joyce Awards and Lend a Hand Fund do not.
Where does The Joyce Foundation give most often?
Its grantmaking is national, but Illinois is the top state by grant count, with 37% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Chicago is a frequent recipient city across several program areas, including media, education, arts, environment, and gun violence prevention.
Does The Joyce Foundation support recurring grantees?
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including Chicago Public Media and IFF, both of which received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Accepts unsolicited proposals
Latest 990 Filing
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
$1K
0.1%
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Joyce Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: $25K – $250K
Democracy Program
Voting rights and electionsElection administrationFair representation+5 more
Who can apply: Projects must align with the Democracy Program's focus on voting rights and elections, fair representation, or census data accuracy. Most grants are for one or two years; general operating requests are considered case by case. Joyce does not fund lobbying.
Deadline: Grant inquiries are accepted online throughout the year. Proposal deadlines listed for 2026 are April 1, August 3, and December 1; LOIs should be submitted six to eight weeks before the applicable proposal deadline.
Investigative journalismNonprofit journalismLocal and community news+4 more
Who can apply: Supports mostly nonprofit journalism organizations producing high-quality, investigative, nonpartisan coverage related to Joyce program areas in the Great Lakes region. National media may be supported selectively. General operating support is limited; documentary filmmaking and general journalism education are not supported.
Deadline: Grant inquiries are accepted online throughout the year. Proposal deadlines listed for 2026 are April 1, August 3, and December 1; LOIs should be submitted six to eight weeks before the applicable proposal deadline.
Climate solutionsCarbon-free electricityEnergy efficiency+7 more
Who can apply: Projects must fit the Environment Program's Climate Solutions or Great Lakes & Drinking Water strategies. Work in Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota receives the most climate support; water work is concentrated in Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Joyce generally does not fund physical infrastructure, environmental education, local cleanup, basic scientific research, or direct service. It is not currently accepting unsolicited requests for equitable deep-decarbonization policy innovation.
Deadline: Grant inquiries are accepted online throughout the year. Proposal deadlines listed for 2026 are April 1, August 3, and December 1; LOIs should be submitted six to eight weeks before the applicable proposal deadline.
Arts & CultureOrganizational sustainabilityArtist fellowships+2 more
Who can apply: Organizations that present robust professional seasons, pursue strategic organizational growth, are grounded in voices of historically underrepresented artists and communities; individual artists (particularly early and mid-career artists from underrepresented communities) for fellowships/residencies/awards. Specific eligibility details not provided on scraped pages.
Racial equityEconomic mobilityPublic policy+7 more
Who can apply: Applicants generally must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charities. Joyce typically does not fund capital proposals, endowment campaigns, direct service programs, commercial ventures, religious activities, or scholarships. Lobbying activities cannot be funded.
Deadline: Proposal deadlines are April 1, August 3, and December 1, 2026. Board decisions are generally made in July, November, and April respectively. Grant inquiries are accepted online throughout the year.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
