The Jem Project
The JEM Project is a California-based private grantmaking foundation whose website describes its four program areas (child welfare, animal welfare, women’s empowerment, environmental sustainability) and provides grant guidelines and contact details. The site lists a San Diego address and contact email and links to Guidestar, matching public 990-PF filings for EIN 84-3344588.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
An established nonprofit with programs in child welfare, animal welfare, women’s empowerment, youth development, or environmental sustainability—preferably with a California connection and an existing relationship or referral into the foundation’s network.
Good Fit
- • Program alignment with one of the foundation’s stated focus areas (child welfare, animal welfare, women’s empowerment, environmental sustainability).
- • Operational presence or demonstrated impact in California, especially San Diego County.
- • An existing relationship, prior collaboration, or introduction from a returning grantee or contact.
- • Capacity to manage mid-sized grants (typical awards range from a few thousand up to several hundred thousand).
- • Willingness to accept unrestricted or general operating support and to participate in matching or campaign-based grants.
Geography
The foundation is based in San Diego and heavily focused on California (about 59% of 2024 dollars and 58% of grants), but it funds organizations across roughly 15 states in the latest year, indicating state-level concentration with national reach.
Recipient Variety
The observed portfolio is broad: dozens to over a hundred distinct recipients each year (162 in 2022, 81 in 2023, 64 in 2024) across multiple mission areas, so institutional variety is high despite some dollar concentration among top grantees.
New Applicants
The foundation’s website and application guidance state an invitation-only process and that unsolicited inquiries will not be answered; while new grantees do appear each year (18 new in 2024), there is no public application route for unfamiliar applicants.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
