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Ascena Foundation at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Private foundation

Ascena Foundation

Its FY2020 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$239k
Granted FY2020
16
Grants FY2020
10
States reached
$100k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0197% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2020.

Education$1.2MHealth$207kInternational$202kEmployment$56kHuman Services$39kPublic Safety & Disaster$30kYouth Development$29kFood & Nutrition$28kOther$0
02FY2020 · 16 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2020

  • Under $10k10 grants · $20k
  • $10k–50k5 grants · $119k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $100k
$4,500
Median grant
10
States reached
$0
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Leap Year$100,000
Individual grant recipient$27,000
Homeless Children's Playtime Project$25,000
Calmer Choice$25,000
Generation Hope$25,000
GirlTrek Inc$16,700
Women's Forum Inc$5,000
American Red Cross$4,500
Individual grant recipient$3,500
Embassy Life Services$1,000
Pink Lemonade Project$1,000
The Simpson Shelter$1,000
Free The Captives$1,000
Feed My Starving Children$1,000
Hudson River Community Sailing$1,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–20, $86k) land where the poverty rate runs at 13%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 98% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%Center For Safety And Change Inc: $425 → 14%Free The Captives: $1k → 9%Homeless Children's Playtime Project: $25k → 14%Family Development Center Inc: $1k → 11%Pink Lemonade Project: $1k → 9%Urban League of Essex County: $1k → 16%Appetite For Change: $25k → 11%Damiano Center: $1k → 15%Delivering Good: $5k → 17%American Red Cross: $22k → 14%American Red Cross: $4k → 14%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

WA
MN
IL
MI
NY
MA
IA
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
CA
CO
MO
KY
WV
VA
DE
TN
NC
SC
DC
AL
GA
TX
FL
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

17%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$299k · 7 repeat orgs$1.5M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +46% since the first grant, against +32% for those funded once.

7 repeat relationships: 4 still active in FY2020, 3 since wound down; 12 grantees were first funded in FY2020 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

7
57

Total granted

$299k
$1.3M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+46%
+32%

Still filing today

100%
67%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2020, 20% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $192k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’19’20
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’19’20
Human ServicesEducationHealthInternationalRecreation & SportsAnimalsOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • GH
    GENERATION HOPE
    2× · 2019–2020 · $100k · revenue +452%
  • GI
    GIRLTREK INCORPORATED
    2× · 2017–2020 · $94k · revenue +353%
  • AN
    American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches
    3× · 2017–2020 · $30k · revenue +46%

Funded once

  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2019 · $630k
  • IS
    INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP AND TUITION SERVICES INC
    one grant, 2017 · $239k
  • A
    ASHOKA
    one grant, 2019 · $200k · revenue -29%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
The Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Fdn Group

Susan g. komen 's mission is to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities & investing in breakthrough research to prevent & cure breast cancer.

—
2
The Population Council Inc

We generate ideas, produce evidence, and design solutions to improve the lives of underserved populations around the world. we take a multidisciplinary, intergenerational, life-cycle approach that contributes to (see schedule o)four global…

International
3
The Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Inc

Susan g. komen has an unmatched, comprehensive 360-degree approach to fighting breast cancer across all fronts and supporting millions of people in the u.s. and in countries worldwide. we advocate for policies to protect patients, drive…

Health
4
Management Sciences for Health Inc

(msh) saves lives and improves the health of the world's poorest (see schedule o) and most vulnerable people by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health.

International
5
New York Genome Center Inc

Operate a state-of-the-art, world-class genomic research center that creates and uses advanced genomics to understand the genetic basis of disease. for more information, see schedule o.

Health
6
Project Drawdown

Project drawdown's mission is to drive meaningful climate action by advancing science-based solutions and strategies. project drawdown's work is focused on three pillars: science - advancing science-based climate solutions and strategies;…

Education
7
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute

Sanford burnham prebys medical discovery institute's mission is to advance the biomedical sciences by cultivating the next generation of scientific leaders, providing meaningful opportunities for researchers of all backgrounds to learn,…

Health
8
New York University

Nyu is a private university with approximately 60,000 matriculating students in 20 schools and institutes. nyu's primary missions are education, research and scholarship, and patient care.

Education
9
Target Als Foundation Inc

Our mission is to break down barriers to als research to find effective treatments. by uniting academia, the pharma and biotech industry, government, venture capital, related nonprofits, and the als community, we aim to overcome the…

Education
10
American Institute for Cancer Research

Aicr champions the latest and most authoritative scientific research from around the world on cancer prevention and survival through diet, weight and physical activity, so that we can help people make informed lifestyle choices to reduce…

Health
11
Food Allergy Science Initiative Inc

To accelerate the development of breakthrough discoveries that will transform the lives of people living with food allergies.

—
12
Critical Path Institute

The critical path institute is a catalyst in the development of new approaches that advance medical innovation and regulatory science. this is achieved by leading teams that share data, knowledge and expertise resulting in sound, consensus…

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Feed My Starving Children Inc; the most unlike its peers is Global Unites. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

54 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 54 of the 77 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
14
Early backer (in before they grew)
52/54
Grantees still filing
36/54
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Individual grant recipient: $629,960 · OtherIndividual grant recipientINTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP AND TUITION SERVICES INC: $238,500 · OtherINTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP AND TUITION SERVICES INC+37 more: $118,145 · Other+37 moreLEAP YEAR INC: $100,000 · EducationLEAP YEAR INCGENERATION HOPE: $100,000 · EducationGENERATION HOPEGIRLTREK INCORPORATED: $94,200 · EducationGIRLTREK INCORPORATEDPowherful Foundation Inc: $52,500 · EducationPowherful Foundation IncHOME WORKS - THVP: $25,000 · EducationHOME WORKS - THVPFound in Translation Inc: $25,000 · EducationFound in Translation IncTRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA: $20,000 · Education+3 more: $6,140 · EducationASHOKA: $200,000 · InternationalASHOKADRESS FOR SUCCESS WORLDWIDE: $20,000 · InternationalDRESS FOR SUCC…+3 more: $3,450 · InternationalAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $30,300 · Human ServicesHOMELESS CHILDREN'S PLAYTIME PROJECT: $25,000 · Human ServicesAPPETITE FOR CHANGE INC: $25,000 · Human ServicesDELIVERING GOOD INC: $5,000 · Human Services+7 more: $6,425 · Human ServicesCALMER CHOICE INC: $25,000 · Health+8 more: $1,525 · HealthTHE SUMMER LEARNING COLLABORATIVE INC: $25,000 · Recreation & SportsHUDSON RIVER COMMUNITY SAILING INC: $1,500 · Recreation & SportsTHE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC: $25,000 · Public Safety & Disaster
Other$986,605Education$422,840International$223,450Human Services$91,725Health$26,525Recreation & Sports$26,500Public Safety & Disaster$25,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetASHOKA: $200,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetGENERATION HOPE: $100,000 over 2y, 4.6% of budgetGIRLTREK INCORPORATED: $94,200 over 2y, 5.8% of budgetPowherful Foundation Inc: $52,500 over 2y, 6.0% of budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $30,300 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCALMER CHOICE INC: $25,000 over 1y, 3.1% of budgetHOMELESS CHILDREN'S PLAYTIME PROJECT: $25,000 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetHOME WORKS - THVP: $25,000 over 1y, 4.4% of budgetTHE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAPPETITE FOR CHANGE INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetTHE BIG BAM FOUNDATION INC DBA BREAST TREATMENT TASK FORCE: $25,000 over 1y, 11% of budgetFound in Translation Inc: $25,000 over 1y, 6.0% of budgetDRESS FOR SUCCESS WORLDWIDE: $20,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA: $20,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetWOMEN'S FORUM OF NEW YORK INC: $15,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetWOMEN'S FORUM INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetDELIVERING GOOD INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICARES FOUNDATION INC: $1,950 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHUDSON RIVER COMMUNITY SAILING INC: $1,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCHURCHES UNITED IN MINISTRY: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDRESS FOR SUCCESS RIVER CITIES INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetThe Houston Food Bank: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCHILDREN'S FRESH AIR HOME INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetDAMIANO OF DULUTH INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFEED MY STARVING CHILDREN INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPINK LEMONADE PROJECT: $1,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetFREE THE CAPTIVES: $1,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetSANCTUARY FOR FAMILIES INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFOOD FOR THE POOR INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCENTER FOR SAFETY & CHANGE INC: $425 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $350 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION INC: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCREATIVE MINISTRIES INC: $250 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetCOASTAL ANIMAL RESCUE: $200 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMATTOON COMMUNITY FOOD CENTER: $200 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetDONORSCHOOSEORG: $165 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc: $150 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Heart Association Inc: $25 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetKHAN ACADEMY INC: $25 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHumane World for Animals Inc: $25 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC: $25 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $25 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Td Charitable Foundat…The Ford FoundationMightycause Charitabl…The Blackbaud Giving …Verizon FoundationJpmorgan Chase Founda…Renaissance Charitabl…Network for GoodNational Philanthropi…Vanguard Charitable E…American Online Givin…Morgan Stanley Global…
Td Charitable FoundationME11.9× affinity4 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Td Charitable Foundation · The Ford Foundation · Mightycause Charitable Foundation · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Verizon Foundation · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc · Network for Good · National Philanthropic Trust · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Ascena Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Ascena Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%15%30%45%60%share of the org’s income from government →median 7%
  • The Summer Learning Collaborative Inc: 54% of income from government
  • Urban League of Essex County: 20% of income from government
  • Calmer Choice Inc: 14% of income from government
  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc: 7% of income from government
  • Crystal Theatre Inc: 3% of income from government
  • Americares Foundation Inc: 0% of income from government
  • Food for the Poor Inc: 0% of income from government
  • Shriners Hospitals for Children: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
2get no government money at all
5report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
1rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–60%
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
05Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Ascena Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Ascena Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 77 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2020, released 2020. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Ascena’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home