Joy In Blue Foundation

## Approach Strategy

The Joy in Blue Foundation operates exclusively on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited proposals. This means traditional application strategies do not apply. Instead, organizations seeking support should pursue relationship-based engagement:

1. Understand the Family Connection. The foundation is a Rathmann family vehicle. Laura Jean Rathmann (daughter of Amgen co-founder George Rathmann) and her husband Richard serve as president and treasurer. Their daughter Kaeli is a board director. Grantmaking reflects family interests in civil justice, education, science, animal welfare, and civic engagement.

2. Leverage Shared Networks. The Rathmanns also run the Rathmann Family Foundation ($33M+), which funds in Minneapolis-St. Paul, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Seattle. Organizations connected to these ecosystems or to University of Minnesota, Boston College, or public media networks may have a natural entry point.

3. Align with Demonstrated Priorities. Recent grants cluster around bail reform and legal aid (Bail Project, Boston College legal programs), science and technology recognition (National Science and Technology Medals Foundation), food security (Feeding America), disability inclusion (Athletes Serving Athletes), and civic leadership (Obama Foundation). Organizations working in these spaces are most likely to receive invitations.

4. Build Visibility in Minnesota. Despite the Arizona mailing address, many grantees are Minnesota-based, including Minnesota Public Radio and University of Minnesota Foundation. This suggests strong Minnesota ties for the family.

5. Start Small. Grants range from $1,500 to $100,000 with a median of $30,000. An initial relationship-building grant may be on the smaller end before growing over time.

## Funding Patterns

Financial Trajectory (2019-2024)

The Joy in Blue Foundation has grown steadily since its 2019 founding, with total assets rising from $22.6M to $27.9M. Charitable disbursements have nearly tripled from $444K (2019) to $1.21M (2024), and the number of grantee organizations has increased from an estimated 10-15 to 31 in 2024.

Revenue Model: The foundation generates income primarily through investment returns — 57.6% from sales of assets and 38.8% from dividends in 2024. It receives no external contributions, operating as a fully endowed family foundation.

Disbursement Trends: - 2019: $444,117 (startup year, partial) - 2020: $999,170 - 2021: $1,072,192 - 2022: $1,235,083 - 2023: $1,238,377 - 2024: $1,214,481

Disbursements have plateaued around $1.2M annually since 2022, suggesting the foundation has reached its steady-state giving level — approximately 4.3% of assets, consistent with the IRS minimum distribution requirement for private foundations.

Grant Size Distribution: Grants range from $1,500 to $100,000 with a median of $30,000. The top grants ($75K-$100K) go to flagship priorities like legal aid, science policy, and bail reform. Mid-range grants ($30K-$50K) support community organizations, while smaller grants ($1,500-$25K) suggest exploratory or one-time support.

Focus Area Allocation: Grants emphasize operating support rather than project-specific funding. The primary focus areas are civil justice/legal aid, education and science, community services, public media, and civic leadership. Animal welfare and environmental conservation appear in the stated mission but are less prominent in recent 990-PF filings.

Seasonality: As an invitation-only funder with no public application cycle, the foundation likely makes grant decisions on a rolling basis aligned with board meetings.

## Peer Comparison

The Joy in Blue Foundation sits among mid-size private family foundations with diversified social-impact portfolios. Below is a comparison with similar foundations:

Key Observations:

• The Joy in Blue Foundation gives at a higher rate relative to assets (~4.3%) compared to many larger foundations that hover near the 5% minimum, reflecting genuine engagement rather than minimum compliance.
• Its sister entity, the Rathmann Family Foundation, is slightly larger and focuses on different geographies (Pacific Northwest, Philadelphia, Twin Cities) but shares leadership and some thematic overlap in science and education.
• Among invitation-only funders in this asset range, Joy in Blue is distinctive for its breadth — spanning civil justice, food security, disability inclusion, and civic leadership rather than concentrating on a single cause.
• The foundation's $30K median grant is typical for this asset class; larger foundations like Nina Mason Pulliam and Park Foundation make substantially larger individual grants but serve different scales of organization.

## Recent Activity

2024 Grantmaking (Most Recent Filing)

The foundation made 31 grants totaling $1.21M in charitable disbursements, the largest number of grantee organizations in its history. Notable 2024 grants include:

• Boston College Trustees — $100,000 (legal aid programs)
• National Science and Technology Medals Foundation — $100,000
• Bail Project Inc — $100,000 (bail reform and pretrial justice)
• Obama Foundation — $90,000 (civic leadership development)
• Athletes Serving Athletes — $75,000 (disability inclusion in sports)
• Minnesota Public Radio — $66,000
• University of Minnesota Foundation — $53,000
• Multiple Minnesota-based nonprofits at $30,000-$50,000 each

Financial Health: Total assets grew from $25.98M (2023) to $27.95M (2024), a 7.6% increase driven by investment gains. The foundation carries zero liabilities and operates debt-free.

Staffing: Executive Director Suzanne Busta received $149,314 in compensation in 2024. The trustees (Laura Jean Rathmann, Richard G Rathmann) receive no compensation, and board member Kaeli J Rathmann was added as a director, signaling generational continuity.

Trends to Watch: - The addition of Kaeli Rathmann to the board suggests the foundation is planning for long-term family governance. - Civil justice and bail reform have become an increasingly prominent focus, with the Bail Project receiving $100K — one of the largest individual grants. - The foundation's asset base is growing faster than its giving, which could signal increased disbursements in coming years.

## Application Tips

Since Joy in Blue Foundation is invitation-only, there is no formal application process. However, organizations aligned with its mission can take these steps to increase visibility:

Do: - Research the Rathmann family's broader philanthropic interests across both the Joy in Blue Foundation and Rathmann Family Foundation - Build relationships through shared grantee networks — organizations already funded (Bail Project, Feeding America, Athletes Serving Athletes) may provide warm introductions - Attend events hosted by grantee organizations where foundation leadership may be present - Demonstrate strong alignment with one of the foundation's core pillars: civil justice, education/science, community services, or civic engagement - If based in Minnesota, leverage local nonprofit networks — the foundation has strong Twin Cities ties despite its Arizona address - Start with a modest ask; the median grant is $30,000 and first-time grants may be smaller

Don't: - Submit unsolicited proposals — the foundation explicitly states it does not accept them - Cold-call or cold-email requesting funding - Assume the Arizona address means Arizona-focused giving; the portfolio is national with Minnesota emphasis - Overlook the Amgen/biotech connection — organizations with science and technology angles may resonate with the family's background

Contact Information: - Phone: 952-988-5945 (Minnesota area code, consistent with family ties) - Address: 5115 N Dysart Rd Ste 202 PMB 601, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 - Website: https://www.joyinbluefoundation.org/