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THE JOY BUS
PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 463188719 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE K36 · Food, Agriculture & Nutrition · Medium ($1M-$10M) · thejoybusdiner.com
revenue
$2.4M
expenses
$1.3M
net assets
$1.6M
employees
34
volunteers
2,300
program ratio
77%
mission · from form 990

THE MISSION IS TO RELIEVE THE DAILY STRUGGLES OF HOMEBOUND CANCER PATIENTS WITH A FRESH CHEF-INSPIRED MEAL AND A FRIENDLY FACE. OUR VISION IS TO ELEVATE THE LIVELIHOOD OF OUR PATRONS WITH THE JOY OF CULINARY SUSTENANCE.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Joy Bus is a nonprofit organization that provides medically tailored meals and companionship to homebound cancer patients. Operating in Phoenix, AZ, the organization also runs a diner where all proceeds support its meal delivery program. They are expanding their facilities to include an organic food pantry, a culinary training program, and a teaching kitchen.

named programs · 5 · from sources

what they call their work

Culinary Program
Offers training, certification, and job placement to young adults affected by cancer who are interested in culinary arts.
Meal/Visit Program
Delivers fresh, healthy, medically tailored meals to homebound cancer patients, accompanied by a friendly visit from volunteers.
Organic Food Pantry
Provides free organic food to all cancer patients in Maricopa County, paired with a meal planning service.
Teaching Kitchen
Provides education on nutritious food preparation, especially as it relates to cancer and general physical health, for cancer patients, caretakers, and medical students.
The Joy Bus Diner
A 100% nonprofit restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, with all proceeds supporting The Joy Bus's mission.
activities · 8 groups

what they do

  • Professional Development & Certification Programs 6 activities
    • Culinary Program for Young Adults
      Will offer a culinary program providing training, certification, and job placement for young adults affected by cancer who are interested in culinary careers.
    • Culinary Training Program
      Will offer a culinary program providing training, certification, and job placement for young adults affected by cancer who are interested in culinary careers.
    • Culinary Training Program
      Will offer a culinary program providing training, certification, and job placement for young adults affected by cancer who are interested in culinary careers.
    • Culinary Training and Job Placement Program
      Will offer a culinary program providing training, certification, and job placement for young adults affected by cancer who are interested in culinary careers.
    • Culinary Training and Job Placement Program
      Will offer a culinary program providing training, certification, and job placement for young adults affected by cancer who are interested in culinary careers.
    • Culinary training and job placement program
      Will offer a culinary program that provides training, certification, and job placement for young adults affected by cancer who are interested in pursuing culinary careers.
  • Facility and Donation Support Operations 5 activities
    • Meal Delivery and Volunteer Programs
      Operates volunteer programs in meal delivery, diner operations, produce and citrus pick-up, event support, and fundraising to support its mission.
    • Volunteer Program Management
      Operates volunteer programs across various areas including meal delivery, diner operations (front and back of house), produce and citrus pick-up, event support, and fundraising.
    • Volunteer Program Management
      Operates volunteer programs across various areas including meal delivery, diner operations (front and back of house), produce and citrus pick-up, event support, and fundraising.
    • Volunteer Program Management
      Operates volunteer programs across various areas including meal delivery, diner operations (front and back of house), produce and citrus pick-up, event support, and fundraising.
    • Volunteer engagement program
      Operates volunteer programs supporting meal delivery, diner operations (front and back of house), produce and citrus pick-up, event support, and fundraising activities.
  • Student Competitions in Technical Arts 5 activities
    • Meal Delivery for Cancer Patients
      Delivers fresh and healthy meals to people with cancer, aiming to increase its meal/visit program to 2,500 home visits per week by 2026.
    • Meal Delivery for Cancer Patients
      Delivers fresh and healthy meals to people with cancer, with a goal to increase to 2,500 home visits per week by 2026.
    • Meal Delivery for Cancer Patients
      Delivers fresh and healthy meals to people with cancer, with a goal to increase to 2,500 home visits per week by 2026.
    • Meal Delivery for Cancer Patients
      Delivers fresh and healthy meals to people with cancer, with a goal to increase to 2,500 home visits per week by 2026.
    • Meal delivery for cancer patients
      Delivers fresh and healthy meals directly to people with cancer as part of a home visit program, aiming to scale to 2,500 visits per week by 2026.
  • Specialized Educational Resource Provision 5 activities
    • Teaching Kitchen Establishment
      Will establish a teaching kitchen for cancer patients, caretakers, medical students, and others to learn about preparing nutritious food related to cancer and general health.
    • Teaching Kitchen for Nutrition Education
      Will establish a teaching kitchen for cancer patients, caretakers, medical students, and others to learn about preparing nutritious food related to cancer and general health.
    • Teaching Kitchen for Nutrition Education
      Will establish a teaching kitchen for cancer patients, caretakers, medical students, and others to learn about preparing nutritious food related to cancer and general health.
    • Teaching Kitchen for Nutrition Education
      Will establish a teaching kitchen for cancer patients, caretakers, medical students, and others to learn about preparing nutritious food related to cancer and general health.
    • Teaching kitchen for cancer-related nutrition education
      Will establish a teaching kitchen where cancer patients, caregivers, medical students, and others can learn to prepare nutritious food relevant to cancer care and general health.
  • Documentary Film Production for Social Awareness 2 activities
    • Film collaboration for public awareness
      Collaborated on "Meals That Matter," a 22-minute documentary selected as an Official Selection of the 2026 Phoenix Film Festival, to raise awareness about food and health in cancer care.
    • Meals That Matter Documentary
      Collaborated on "Meals That Matter," a 22-minute documentary that was an Official Selection of the 2026 Phoenix Film Festival.
  • Residential Facility Expansion & Renovation 1 activity
    • Facility expansion for program growth
      Secured a 4,000 square foot site to support expansion of programs and services.
  • Youth Food Drive Coordination 1 activity
    • Fundraising campaign for organizational growth
      Launched the $5.4 million "More Than a Meal Campaign" in partnership with community leaders to support program expansion.
  • Uncategorized 10 activities
    • Operation of The Joy Bus Diner
      Operates The Joy Bus Diner, a 100% nonprofit restaurant in Phoenix, serving breakfast and lunch Thursday-Sunday from 7am-2pm, with all proceeds supporting the organization's mission.
    • Operation of The Joy Bus Diner
      Operates The Joy Bus Diner, a 100% nonprofit restaurant in Phoenix, serving breakfast and lunch Thursday-Sunday from 7am-2pm, with all proceeds supporting the organization's mission.
    • Operation of The Joy Bus Diner
      Operates a nonprofit restaurant in Phoenix, AZ, serving breakfast and lunch Thursday through Sunday from 7am to 2pm, with all proceeds supporting the organization's mission.
    • Operation of The Joy Bus Diner
      Operates The Joy Bus Diner, a 100% nonprofit restaurant in Phoenix, serving breakfast and lunch Thursday-Sunday from 7am-2pm, with all proceeds supporting the organization's mission.
    • Organic Food Pantry and Meal Planning Service
      Will operate an organic food pantry, free of charge, for cancer patients in Maricopa County, paired with a meal planning service.
    • Organic Food Pantry and Meal Planning Service
      Will operate an organic food pantry, free of charge, for cancer patients in Maricopa County, paired with a meal planning service.
    • Organic Food Pantry and Meal Planning Service
      Will operate an organic food pantry, free of charge, for cancer patients in Maricopa County, paired with a meal planning service.
    • Organic Food Pantry for Cancer Patients
      Will operate an organic food pantry, free of charge, for cancer patients in Maricopa County, paired with a meal planning service.
    • Organic food pantry for cancer patients
      Will operate a free organic food pantry for cancer patients in Maricopa County, paired with a meal planning service to support nutritional needs.
    • The Joy Bus Diner
      Operates The Joy Bus Diner, a 100% nonprofit restaurant in Phoenix, serving breakfast and lunch Thursday-Sunday, with all proceeds supporting the organization's mission.
financials · form 990 · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$2.42M
Contributions & grants$2.09M86%
Program service revenue$304K13%
Investment income$3K0%
Other revenue$26K
expenses
Total expenses$1.33M
Program expenses77%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$521K
Grants paid out$166K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$3.25M
Cash$1.49M
Investments$109K
Liabilities$1.60M
Net assets$1.65M
Liquid reserves14.4 mo
2 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue +328.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
JENNIFER CARAWAY DESAYE CEO FOUNDER 40 $84K
board members · 12
  • AMANDA HENLEY — SECRETARY
  • AMY HALL — DIRECTOR
  • BRUCE ST JAMES — DIRECTOR
  • BUTCH RAPHAEL — DIRECTOR
  • CHRIS KMETTY — DIRECTOR
  • CLINT WOODS — DIRECTOR
  • DANIEL RUBIN ND — VICE PRESIDENT
  • GREGORY COLE — PRESIDENT
  • JUDI GOLDFADER — DIRECTOR
  • KELLY MALLISON — TREASURER
  • LEE EISINBERG — DIRECTOR
  • REBECCA AILES-FINE — DIRECTOR
relationships · 16

who they work with

  • Arizona Diamondbacks Funder — Acknowledged donor to the More Than a Meal Campaign.
  • BHHS Legacy Foundation Funder — Acknowledged donor to the More Than a Meal Campaign.
  • BetterImpact Partner — Platform used to manage volunteer opportunities and engagement
  • G4 Builders Funder — Acknowledged donor to the More Than a Meal Campaign.
  • Goodmans Funder — Acknowledged donor to the More Than a Meal Campaign.
  • HKS Funder — Acknowledged donor to the More Than a Meal Campaign.
  • Hensley Beverage Company Funder — Acknowledged donor to the More Than a Meal Campaign.
  • Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust Funder — Acknowledged donor to the More Than a Meal Campaign.
  • Phoenix Film Festival Partner — Selected "Meals That Matter" documentary as an Official Selection.
  • Spreading Sunshine Funder — Acknowledged donor to the More Than a Meal Campaign.
  • Stjepan Alaupovic (Clear Online Video) Partner — Collaborated on the "Meals That Matter" documentary.
  • T.W. Lewis Foundation Funder — Acknowledged donor to the More Than a Meal Campaign.
  • The Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation Funder — Acknowledged donor to the More Than a Meal Campaign.
  • The Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust Funder — Acknowledged donor to the More Than a Meal Campaign.
  • Thunderbirds Charities Funder — Acknowledged donor to the More Than a Meal Campaign.
  • Wildflower Funder — Acknowledged donor to the More Than a Meal Campaign.