Joyful Heart Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
OUR MISSION IS TO TRANSFORM SOCIETY'S RESPONSE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND CHILD ABUSE, SUPPORT SURVIVORS' HEALING, AND END THIS VIOLENCE FOREVER.
- Income
- $4.7 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 36.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 96%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $240,995, cfo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 90% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 36.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 57% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 135% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2518 of 18 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $865,974 spent. IN 2024, JOYFUL HEART LAUNCHED THE IMAGE-BASED ABUSE POLICY INITIATIVE THAT SEEKS TO USE LEGISLATIVE TOOLS, AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS AND ADVOCACY TO ESTABLISH A FRAMEWORK FOR ADDRESSING ONLINE EXPLOITATION AND SUPPORTING THOSE AFFECTED. THE INITIATIVE OPERATES ON THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE THAT EVERYONE DESERVES AUTONOMY OVER THEIR BODY AND IMAGE AS ONE OF THE LEADING ORGANIZATIONS ON POLICY REFORM AGAINST IMAGE-BASED ABUSE (IBA), JOYFUL HEART CONVENED REGULAR MEETINGS WITH TWO STAKEHOLDER GROUPS ONE FOR FEDERAL POLICY AND ONE FOR STATE TO SHARE INFORMATION AND WORK COLLECTIVELY TO DEVELOP POLICIES PROTECTING SURVIVORS. IN ADDITION, STAFF MONITORED RELEVANT POLICY PROGRESS AND DISTRIBUTED LEGISLATIVE UPDATES TO ADVOCATES IN THE FIELD. IN 2024, 44 IBA BILLS PASSED IN 30 STATES. IN ADDITION TO THE STATE-LEVEL BILLS, JOYFUL HEART ADVOCATED FOR MULTIPLE BILLS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, INCLUDING THE SHIELD ACT, THE DEFIANCE ACT, THE TAKE IT DOWN ACT, AND THE PREVENTING DEEPFAKES OF INTIMATE IMAGES ACT.IN ADDITION, AS PART OF OUR FLAGSHIP POLICY PROGRAM, THE END THE BACKLOG CAMPAIGN, JOYFUL HEART HELPED PASS NINE BILLS RELATED TO RAPE KIT REFORM IN EIGHT STATES. MOST NOTABLY, NEW JERSEY ENACTED A BILL GRANTING SURVIVORS THE RIGHT TO KNOW THE STATUS AND LOCATION OF THEIR KIT AND PENNSYLVANIA PASSED A TRACKING BILL FOUR YEARS IN THE MAKING, JOINING THE LIST OF FULL REFORM STATES. IN ADDITION TO OUR RAPE KIT BACKLOG WORK, WE ADVOCATED FOR MULTIPLE BILLS RESULTING IN SEVEN STATES EITHER EXTENDING OR ELIMINATING STATUTES OF LIMITATIONS IN SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES, AND FIVE STATES IMPROVING ACCESS TO VICTIM COMPENSATION.AS PART OF JOYFUL HEART'S EFFORTS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT POLICY ISSUES, WE ORGANIZED A VIRTUAL SUMMIT ON IBA, SPOKE AT A PANEL AT THE UN CSW, PARTICIPATED IN THE VAWA 30TH YEAR CELEBRATION EVENTS IN DC; ORGANIZED A SUMMIT ON DRUG FACILITATED SEXUAL ASSAULT FOR MANHATTAN-BASED CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS, PRESENTED OUR WORK AND EXPERTISE TO A VARIETY OF GROUPS; SPOKE AT THE NYC SEXUAL VIOLENCE RESPONSE CONFERENCE, AND CO-ORGANIZED A SURVIVORS' CONVENING ON IBA.
- $325,858 spent. IN 2024, THE JOYFUL HEART FOUNDATION REIMAGINED THE HEAL THE HEALERS PROGRAM. NOW THE HEAL THE HEALERS FUND GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT TO PROFESSIONALS WORKING DIRECTLY WITH SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT AND CHILD ABUSE WHO ARE GRAPPLING WITH THE EFFECTS OF SECONDARY TRAUMA. THE GRANT SELECTION PROCESS INCLUDED THE EXPERTS FROM JOYFUL HEART'S NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION WHO ASSISTED IN REVIEWING APPLICATIONS. IN ITS INAUGURAL YEAR OF GRANTMAKING, JOYFUL HEART DISTRIBUTED 28 GRANTS THAT PROVIDED FRONTLINE STAFF WORKING WITH SURVIVORS OF ABUSE WITH RESOURCES AIMED AT ADDRESSING THEIR SECONDARY TRAUMA SUCH AS: EQUINE THERAPY, TEAM BUILDING EXERCISES, WORKPLACE IMPROVEMENTS, AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE PRACTICES AND EQUIPMENT.
- $258,876 spent. IN 2024, JOYFUL HEART LAUNCHED AND REVISED AWARENESS AND COMMUNITY BUILDING PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE JOYFUL HEART VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB, THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION, AND THE JOYFUL HEART COMMITTEES. THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, JOYFUL HEART OFFERED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER IN CONVERSATIONS THAT CHANNEL HOPE AND A DRIVE FOR CHANGE INTO ACTION AND TRANSFORMATION. STAFF ORGANIZED AND FACILITATED THREE VIRTUAL BOOK CLUBS, THREE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION MEETINGS INCLUDING ONE IN PERSON AND 12 COMMITTEE MEETINGS INCLUDING ONE IN-PERSON EVENT AT THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY COMMITTEE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since October 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.