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Barlow Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Barlow Family Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$500k
Granted FY2024still arriving
7
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$190k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0199% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Animals$1.5MArts & Culture$1.2MEducation$900kPhilanthropy$608kHuman Services$260kCommunity Improvement$220kEnvironment$110kInternational$40kOther$0
02FY2024 · 7 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k1 grant · $5k
  • $10k–50k2 grants · $55k
  • $50k–250k4 grants · $440k
$50,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$8.1M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
CALIFORNIA TROUT$190,000
SONOMA COUNTY VINTNERS FOUNDATION$100,000
WILD AFRICA FUND$100,000
PLEDGE TO HUMANITY$50,000
GATEWAY PUBLIC SCHOOLS$30,000
JOYBOUND PEOPLE & PETS - FKA TONY LA RUSSA'S ANIMAL RESCUE FOUNDATION$25,000
CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CA - AKA OAKLAND ZOO$5,000
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 (FY17–24, $295k) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 7%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 7%JF KAPNEK CHARITABLE TRUST: $10k → 9%JF KAPNEK CHARITABLE TRUST: $10k → 9%J F KAPNICK CHARITABLE TRUST: $10k → 9%JF KAPNEK CHARITABLE TRUST: $10k → 9%LAS TRAMPAS SCHOOL INCORPORATED: $5k → 9%Pledge to Humanity: $100k → 9%PLEDGE TO HUMANITY: $50k → 9%Pledge to Humanity: $10k → 9%MONUMENT CRISIS CENTER: $25k → 9%PLEDGE TO HUMANITY: $25k → 9%PLEDGE TO HUMANITY: $15k → 9%PLEDGE TO HUMANITY: $15k → 9%PLEDGE TO HUMANITY: $5k → 9%PLEDGE TO HUMANITY: $5k → 9%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.
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.
04

Where the work is directed

The same grants placed two ways: where each recipient sits, and where its stated purpose sends the money.

About 12% of Barlow Family Foundation’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address. By recipient address, 91% of the giving stays in CA; by stated purpose, 81%.

Barlow Family Foundationlessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address
How this is measured
Recipient view: each grant at its grantee’s ZIP, mapped to a county. Directed view: each grant at the county its stated purpose names, falling back to the recipient’s county when the purpose names no place; US grants only. A county shows only if it carries the top 95% of that view’s dollars. Purposes are read from the funder’s own 990 grant descriptions.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

82%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$3.6M · 19 repeat orgs$819k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +42% since the first grant, against +42% for those funded once.

19 repeat relationships: 4 still active in FY2024, 15 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

19
16

Total granted

$3.6M
$689k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+42%
+42%

Still filing today

95%
44%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 74% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $130k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
EducationAnimalsHuman ServicesArts & CultureCommunity ImprovementFood & NutritionOther
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

  • CT
    CALIFORNIA TROUT INC
    8× · 2017–2024 · $1.0M · revenue +396%
  • TN
    The National Film Preserve Ltd
    2× · 2020–2021 · $1.0M · revenue +336%
  • WI
    WILDAID INC
    4× · 2020–2023 · $265k · revenue +31%

Funded once

  • KA
    KELLY AND CARRIE BARLOW DONOR ADVISED FUND
    one grant, 2020 · $115k
  • TN
    The Northern Trust Charitable Givin
    one grant, 2022 · $100k
  • TP
    THE POSSE FOUNDATION INCgraduated
    one grant, 2019 · $100k · revenue +42%
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 Uc Davis Foundation

The mission of the uc davis foundation is to secure, steward and manage private gifts for uc davis.

Education
2
Association of California School Administrators

The association serves its members by creating resources that enable california school administrators to develop and apply creative leadership and management skills and in turn, improve the educational process for all students.

—
3
California Agricultural Leadership Found

To enhance the long-term viability of california agriculture through leadership development, which in turn benefits the people and communities that agriculture serves. we grow leaders who make a difference.

Food & Nutrition
4
Kqed Inc

See schedule okqed serves the people of northern california with a community-supported alternative to commercial media, providing the knowledge needed to make informed decisions; convening community dialogue; bringing the arts to everyone;…

Arts & Culture
5
California Dental Association

The california dental association is committed to the success of our members in service to their patients and the public.

Community Improvement
6
California Dental Association Foundation

The foundation's mission is to improve the oral health of all californians by supporting the dental profession and its efforts to meet community needs.

Science & Tech
7
Golden Gate University

Golden gate university prepares individuals to lead and serve by providing high quality, practice-based educational programs in law, taxation, business and related professions - as a nonprofit institution - in an innovative and challenging…

Education
8
Uc Riverside Foundation

To support educational, research and public functions and programs of the riverside campus of the university of california.

Education
9
Community Foundation Santa Cruz County

To promote philanthropy to make santa cruz county a better place to live, now and in the future.we bring together people, ideas, and resources to inspire philanthropy and accomplish great things.

Philanthropy
10
Uc Santa Barbara Foundation

The uc santa barbara foundation actively works to further the goals of the university of california, santa barbara. the foundation seeks to maintain and nurture the university's quality and distinction. on behalf of the campus, the…

Education
11
California College of the Arts

California college of the arts educates students to shape culture and society through the practice and critical study of art, architecture, design, and writing. benefitting from its san francisco bay area location, the college prepares…

Education
12
Pitzer College

Pitzer College produces engaged socially responsible citizens of the world through an academically rigorous, interdisciplinary liberal arts education emphasizing social justice, intercultural understanding and environmental sensitivity.…

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Basic Fund; the most unlike its peers is The National Film Preserve Ltd. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
05the grantee network

31 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. 31 of the 42 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.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
7
Early backer (in before they grew)
31/31
Grantees still filing
25/31
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

CALIFORNIA TROUT INC: $1,020,250 · AnimalsCALIFORNIA TROUT INCWILDAID INC: $265,000 · AnimalsWILDAID INCWILD AFRICA: $100,000 · AnimalsWILD AFRICA+3 more: $72,500 · AnimalsThe National Film Preserve Ltd: $1,010,000 · Arts & CultureThe National Film Preserve…GREATER WASHINGTON EDUCATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION INC: $100,000 · Arts & CultureGREATER WASHINGTON EDUCATI…+1 more: $10,000 · Arts & CultureDUKE UNIVERSITY: $200,000 · EducationDUKE UNIVERSITYLafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation: $195,000 · EducationLafayette Library …GATEWAY PUBLIC SCHOOLS: $120,000 · EducationGATEWAY PUBLIC SCH…THE POSSE FOUNDATION INC: $100,000 · EducationTHE POSSE FOUNDATI…CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY: $75,000 · EducationCHAPMAN UNIVERSITYTHE BASIC FUND: $50,000 · EducationTHE BASIC FUND+4 more: $50,000 · Education+4 moreKELLY AND CARRIE BARLOW DONOR ADVISED FUND: $114,700 · OtherKELLY AND CA…The Northern Trust Charitable Givin: $100,000 · OtherThe Northern…Lafayette Library Learning Center F: $100,000 · OtherLafayette Li…Animal Rescue Foundation: $83,000 · OtherAnimal Rescu…GIVERGY - WILDAID: $50,000 · OtherGIVERGY - WI…Park Theatre Trust: $50,000 · OtherPark Theatre…+7 more: $41,400 · Other+7 moreDONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING INC: $268,250 · PhilanthropyDONOR ADV…SONOMA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $50,000 · PhilanthropySONOMA CO…COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE NAPA VALLEY: $50,000 · PhilanthropyCOMMUNITY…NORTH VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $25,000 · PhilanthropyNORTH VAL…Pledge to Humanity: $225,050 · Human ServicesTHE JF KAPNEK CHARITABLE TRUST: $40,000 · Human ServicesMONUMENT CRISIS CENTER: $25,000 · Human Services+1 more: $5,000 · Human ServicesSONOMA COUNTY VINTNERS FOUNDATION: $220,000 · Community ImprovementProject Open Hand: $10,000 · Food & Nutrition
Animals$1,457,750Arts & Culture$1,120,000Education$790,000Other$539,100Philanthropy$393,250Human Services$295,050Community Improvement$220,000Food & Nutrition$10,000

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 budgetCALIFORNIA TROUT INC: $1,020,250 over 8y, 3.2% of budgetThe National Film Preserve Ltd: $1,010,000 over 2y, 6.6% of budgetDONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING INC: $268,250 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetWILDAID INC: $265,000 over 4y, 1.3% of budgetPledge to Humanity: $225,050 over 8y, 73% of budgetSONOMA COUNTY VINTNERS FOUNDATION: $220,000 over 4y, 7.4% of budgetDUKE UNIVERSITY: $200,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetLafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation: $195,000 over 5y, 4.7% of budgetGATEWAY PUBLIC SCHOOLS: $120,000 over 7y, 0.2% of budgetTHE POSSE FOUNDATION INC: $100,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetGREATER WASHINGTON EDUCATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION INC: $100,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWILD AFRICA: $100,000 over 1y, 4.0% of budgetCHAPMAN UNIVERSITY: $75,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetSONOMA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE NAPA VALLEY: $50,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetTHE BASIC FUND: $50,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetCONSERVATION SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA: $45,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHE JF KAPNEK CHARITABLE TRUST: $40,000 over 4y, 2.6% of budgetMONUMENT CRISIS CENTER: $25,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetJoybound People and Pets FKA Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation: $25,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetMoraga Education Foundation: $20,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetENVISION EDUCATION INC: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetKIPP BAY AREA SCHOOLS: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLINDSAY WILDLIFE MUSEUM: $10,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetLafayette Partners in Education: $10,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetProject Open Hand: $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCOME TO BELIEVE FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetTelluride Historical Museum Inc: $5,000 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetLas Trampas School Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetJameson Animal Rescue Ranch: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% 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.

Marin Community Found…Jewish Community Fede…Silicon Valley Commun…The San Francisco Fou…Gs Donor Advised Phil…National Philanthropi…Morgan Stanley Global…United Way of the Bay…Hamel Family Foundati…McLIN FAMILY FOUNDATI…Oshay Family Foundati…American Endowment Fo…
Marin Community FoundationCA22.1× affinity9 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Marin Community Foundation · Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco the Peninsula Marin & Sonoma · Silicon Valley Community Foundation · The San Francisco Foundation · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · National Philanthropic Trust · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · United Way of the Bay Area · Hamel Family Foundation Inc · McLIN FAMILY FOUNDATION · Oshay Family Foundation · American Endowment Foundation

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 Barlow Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Barlow Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%5%19%42%75%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    10report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    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.

    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 42 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 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Barlow Family’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