The Foundation for a Just Society is a private grantmaking organization founded by Audrey Cappell, daughter of the late hedge-fund manager and left-of-center mega-donor James Simons. ¹ She started the Foundation in 2011, while her trust, the Audrey Simons Delaware Trust, funds much, if not all, of the foundation. The foundation provides grants to LGBT organizations and related interests with a focus on West Africa, Central America, Southeast Asia, and the southeast United States. ²

History

In 2011, Audrey Cappell, daughter of the late hedge-fund manager and left-of-center mega-donor James Simons, started the Foundation for a Just Society in New York City. The group is a private foundation that provides grants to left-of-center organizations to advance “LGBTQI” (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex) interests internationally. ³ The organization provides grants towards related interests with a focus on Central America, West Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and the southeast United States. ²

In 2017, Nicky McIntyre, a career operative in left-of-center philanthropy in the United States and Europe, was hired as Chief Executive Officer to run day-to-day operations. ⁴

By 2024, the group had added “pro-democracy” giving in the United States to its focus. “Defending democracy is at the foundation of what so many of our grantee partners do, even if their core work is not rooted in election cycles,” said McIntyre in an interview recorded by Inside Philanthropy. She added, “Our grantmaking and perspective on pro-democracy work is deeply intersectional.” She also claimed that several of the groups the Foundation supports “position themselves as doing work to advance democracy” and “support people in their communities to access the ballot and organize around issues that directly impact them.” ⁵  “Much of the work we are funding is community organizing and engagement because when people feel empowered, connected and civically invested, they are powerful change agents in their communities. This contributes to a healthier democracy and a better, more representative version of the U.S.” ⁵

Funding

Foundation for a Just Society makes 1, 2, and 3-year general operating grants in annual amounts from $25,000 to $500,000 to local, national, regional, and global organizations. Applications are accepted by invitation only. ⁶ Since its formation, the Organization has gifted $95,000,000 to over 75 organizations, purporting to focus on the advancement of women’s rights, specifically charities who focus on advancing the safety, security and acceptance of organizations globally which support LGBT interests. ⁷

The Foundation for a Just Society gives grants to many left-of-center organizations, including 9to5 Georgia, which seeks to turn out voters in historically underprivileged inner-city precincts, and the African Women’s Development Fund. The foundation also gives to Asia Catalyst, which claims to advance the right to healthcare for marginalized groups in Asia ⁸

In 2023, the foundation made $61,203,721 in grants to numerous groups in the United States and around the world. Grants of note included $1,355,000 to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors to support some of the group’s identity politics-related funds, such as the Freedom Fund at the Grantmakers for Girls of Color; $1,404,000 to the Proteus Fund for general support and to support the LGBT-sponsored Contigo Fund and the Third Wave Fund; $500,000 to Prospera: International Network of Women’s Funds; $192,088 to the North Star Fund; $200,000 to the Online News Association; $1,000,000 to the New Venture Fund, which is a part of the Arabella Advisors-run network of “dark money” groups that allow left-of-center donors to support activist groups nearly anonymously; $540,000 to Panorama Global; $800,000 to Mama Cash; $200,000 to the International Trans Fund; and $300,000 to the Groundswell Fund. Other groups that received smaller amounts of funding included the Democratic Socialists of America. ⁹

Financials

According to the Foundation for a Just Society’s 2023 tax returns, the group had a $10 million donation from the Audrey Simons Delaware Trust, and a total income of $23,356,523, $93,191,391 in expenses, and $1,168,148,990 in net assets. ⁹

In 2023, Nicky McIntyre made $527,572 in total compensation from the group. ⁹

The Audrey Simons Delaware Trust

Audrey Cappell is the daughter of James Simons, a hedge fund manager, mathematician, and Democratic political donor who died in 2024. Audrey, who is autistic, received her bachelor’s degree in English from Marymount Manhattan College. She uses The Audrey Simons Delaware Trust, of which she is the trustee, to fund left-of-center advocacy philanthropy through the Foundation for a Just Society. ¹

Leadership

Audrey Cappell, daughter of the late hedge-fund manager and left-of-center mega-donor James Simons, is the founder and president of the Foundation for a Just Society, funding the group from the Audrey Simons Delaware Trust. ⁹

Jessica Postrozny is the vice president of the group. She is an actress and filmmaker. ¹⁰

Kyla Barkin is the secretary/treasurer of the group. She is a professional dancer. ¹¹

Elizabeth Simons is also on the board of the group. She is Cappell’s half-sister and the president of the Heising-Simons Foundation. In September 2025, the California Globe reported that Simons supported a PAC supporting New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (D). ¹²

Nicky McIntyre is the CEO of the group. She previously worked as the executive director of Mama Cash, an international women’s fund. ¹³

1. Celeb Family. “James Simons Family Tree,” Accessed on March 16, 2019, https://www.celebfamily.com/entrepreneur/james-simons-family.html
2.  Foundation for a Just Society. “Grantmaking Strategies,” Accessed March 12, 2019, https://www.fjs.org/
3. Foundation for a Just Society. “Mission,” Accessed March 12, 2019, https://www.fjs.org/
4. Philanthropy New York. “Nicky McIntyre Begins Tenure as CEO of Foundation for a Just Society,” July 3, 2017, Accessed March 9, 2018, https://philanthropynewyork.org/news/nicky-mcintyre-begins-tenure-ceo-foundation-just-society
5. Henry, Sarah. “Foundation for a Just Society on Why Democracy Philanthropy Matters.” Inside Philanthropy, September 24, 2024. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/foundation-for-a-just-society-on-why-democracy-philanthropy-matters.
6. Global Philanthropy Party. ”Foundation for a Just Society,” Accessed March 19, 2019, https://globalphilanthropyproject.org/2016/03/14/international-lgbt-inclusive-funders-list/
7. Foundation for a Just Society. “History,” Accessed March 12, 2019, https://www.fjs.org/
8. Asia Catalyst. “About Us,” Accessed March 14, 2019, http://asiacatalyst.org/
9. “Foundation for a Just Society, Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed October 27, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/273345774/202443179349102599/full.
10. “Jessica Hawrys Postrozny.” Jessica Hawrys Postrozny – Executive Bio, Work History, and Contacts – Equilar ExecAtlas. Accessed October 27, 2025. https://people.equilar.com/bio/person/jessica-postrozny-foundation-for-a-just-society/44209207.
11. “Kyla Barkin.” Kyla Barkin – Executive Bio, Work History, and Contacts – Equilar ExecAtlas. Accessed October 27, 2025. https://people.equilar.com/bio/person/kyla-barkin-foundation-for-a-just-society/44208408.
12. Grimes, Katy. “Wealthy Radical Californians Funding Socialist Zohran Mamdani’s Campaign.” California Globe, September 15, 2025. https://californiaglobe.com/fl/wealthy-radical-californians-funding-socialist-zohran-mamdanis-campaign/.
13.  “Nicky McIntyre – CEO at Foundation for a Just Society .” LinkedIn. Accessed October 27, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickymcintyre/.