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Bessent-Freeman Family Foundation Inc at a glance

· Private foundation

Bessent-Freeman Family Foundation Inc

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$158k
Granted FY2024still arriving
3
Grants FY2024still arriving
3
States reached
$100k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0195% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2024.

Human Services$1.3MEducation$632kReligion$195kHousing & Shelter$188kArts & Culture$145kSocial Science$100kHealth$80kCommunity Improvement$49kOther$0
02FY2024 · 3 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k1 grant · $8k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $150k
$50,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$49k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATION$100,000
HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE$50,000
ST JAMES PARISH CHURCH$7,500
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 (FY20–24, $1.3M) land where the poverty rate runs at 17%, against an area that typically sits at 13%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 13%CENTER FOR INDEPENDENCE OF THE DISABLED NY: $10k → 17%CENTER FOR INDEPENDENCE OF THE DISABLED NY: $5k → 17%HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE: $1.0M → 17%HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE: $150k → 17%HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE: $100k → 17%HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE: $50k → 17%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.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

80%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$2.2M · 12 repeat orgs$562k to everyone else

12 repeat relationships: 1 still active in FY2024, 11 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

12
23

Total granted

$2.2M
$454k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+31%
+36%

Still filing today

58%
74%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 32% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $108k went to new ones.

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

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

’20’21’22’23’24
EducationHuman ServicesRecreation & SportsPhilanthropyEnvironmentArts & CultureOther
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

  • TR
    THE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY
    3× · 2020–2022 · $250k · revenue +1%
  • FU
    Fordham University
    3× · 2020–2022 · $75k · revenue +31%
  • PF
    PORTER-GAUD FOUNDATION
    2× · 2020–2021 · $50k · revenue +309%

Funded once

  • TP
    The Preservation Society of Charleston Inc
    one grant, 2021 · $100k · revenue +22%
  • TS
    THE SPENCE SCHOOL
    one grant, 2020 · $75k · revenue -12%
  • FH
    FRENCH HUGENOT CHURCH
    one grant, 2020 · $65k
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 Trustees of Princeton University

Research, education and general - princeton university is a private not-for-profit, non-sectarian institution of higher learning with approximately 5,700 undergraduate and 3,300 graduate students. 2,500 students graduated in the 2024-2025…

Education
2
University of New Haven

The University of New Haven is a student-centered comprehensive university with an emphasis on excellence in liberal arts and professional education. Our mission is to prepare our students to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in a…

Education
3
Boston Architectural College

The bac is committed to provide excellence in design education grounded in practice and accessible to diverse communities.

—
4
Rhode Island School of Design

The mission of rhode island school of design, through its college and museum,is to educate its students and the public in the creation and (see schedule o)appreciation of works of art and design, to discover and transmit knowledge and to…

Education
5
Hampden-Sydney College

Since 1775, the mission of Hampden-Sydney College has been to form good men and good citizens in an atmosphere of sound learning.

Education
6
Furman University

The primary mission of furman as a liberal arts institution is to provide a distinctive education in fine arts, humanities, social sciences, mathematics and the sciences, as well as selected professional disciplines.

Education
7
Harvard Conservation Trust

To preserve the unique character and natural resources of harvard.

Environment
8
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science & Art

See schedule ovision: the cooper union for the advancement of science and art is dedicated to peter cooper's radical commitment to diversity and his founding vision that fair access to an inspiring free education and forums for courageous…

Education
9
Institute for Advanced Study - Louis Bamberger & Mrs Felix Fuld Foundation

The institute for advanced study (the institute) is one of the world's leading centers for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. see schedule o.

Science & Tech
10
Manhattanville University

To educate students to be ethical and socially responsible leaders in a global community.

Education
11
President and Fellows of Harvard College

Undergraduate, graduate, and professional education and research across a broad array of academic domains.

Education
12
American Academy of Sciences and Letters Inc

The American Academy of Sciences and Letters (AASL) promotes scholarship and honors outstanding achievement in the arts, sciences, and learned professions. It encourages the fruitful exchange of ideas within academia and society at large…

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Lyford Cay Foundation Inc; the most unlike its peers is Hebrew Orphan Society. 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

25 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. 25 of the 37 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)
9
Early backer (in before they grew)
25/25
Grantees still filing
18/25
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE INC: $1,300,000 · Human ServicesHARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE INC+1 more: $15,000 · Human ServicesMIDDLETON PLACE: $160,000 · OtherMIDDLETON PLACEFORDHAM PREPARATORY SCHOOL: $125,000 · OtherFORDHAM PREPARATORY SCHOOLFRENCH HUGUENOT CHURCH: $115,000 · OtherFRENCH HUGUENOT CHURCHThe Preservation Society of Charleston Inc: $100,000 · OtherThe Preservation Society of Charles…FRENCH HUGENOT CHURCH: $65,000 · OtherFRENCH HUGENOT CHURCHJUDITH PEABODY WELLNESS CENTER: $55,000 · OtherJUDITH PEABODY WELLNESS CENTERPORTER-GAUD FOUNDATION: $50,000 · OtherPORTER-GAUD FOUNDATIONDEVELOPMENT NOW INITIATIVES CORP: $48,772 · OtherDEVELOPMENT NOW INITIATIVES CORPIndividual grant recipient: $40,000 · Other+16 more: $123,500 · Other+16 moreTHE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY: $250,000 · EducationTHE ROCKEFELLER …Fordham University: $75,000 · EducationFordham Universi…THE SPENCE SCHOOL: $75,000 · EducationTHE SPENCE SCHOO…+1 more: $1,000 · EducationAMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATIONINC: $100,000 · Social ScienceBRITISH SCHOOLS & UNIVERSITIES FOUNDATION INC: $50,000 · InternationalKIDS ON POINT INC: $20,000 · Recreation & SportsSPECIAL OLYMPICS FLORIDA Inc: $1,000 · Recreation & SportsCharleston Literary Festival Inc: $15,000 · Arts & CultureAMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE LOUVRE INC: $5,000 · Arts & Culture
Human Services$1,315,000Other$882,272Education$401,000Social Science$100,000International$50,000Recreation & Sports$21,000Arts & Culture$20,000

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 budgetHARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE INC: $1,300,000 over 4y, 0.7% of budgetTHE ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY: $250,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetThe Preservation Society of Charleston Inc: $100,000 over 1y, 3.0% of budgetAMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION FOUNDATIONINC: $100,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetFordham University: $75,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE SPENCE SCHOOL: $75,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPORTER-GAUD FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 2y, 1.4% of budgetBRITISH SCHOOLS & UNIVERSITIES FOUNDATION INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetRICHARD HAMPTON JENRETTE FOUNDATION: $27,500 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetKIDS ON POINT INC: $20,000 over 1y, 3.7% of budgetCENTER FOR INDEPENDENCE OF THE DISABLED IN NEW YORK INC: $15,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCharleston Literary Festival Inc: $15,000 over 3y, 1.2% of budgetSouth Carolina Aquarium: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetLYFORD CAY FOUNDATION INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetUniversity of Michigan: $10,000 over 1y, 3.0% of budgetHISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBahamas National Trust Fund Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetSouth Carolina Coastal Conservation League Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetUNITED JEWISH APPEAL-FEDERATION OF JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF NEW YORK INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHEBREW ORPHAN SOCIETY: $5,000 over 1y, 31% of budgetAMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE LOUVRE INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCharleston Library Society: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBREVARD MUSIC CENTER INCORPORATED: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSPECIAL OLYMPICS FLORIDA Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE EPISCOPAL SCHOOL IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK: $1,000 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.

Guffey Family Foundat…Coastal Community Fou…Gaylord and Dorothy D…National Philanthropi…Foundation for the Ca…The Chicago Community…Almeida Family Founda…Hillenbrand Family Fo…Lenhardt FoundationWf FoundationRichard and Susan Lea…The Clyde and Summer …
Guffey Family FoundationNJ20× affinity7 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Guffey Family Foundation · Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina Inc · Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · Foundation for the Carolinas · The Chicago Community Trust · Almeida Family Foundation · Hillenbrand Family Foundation · Lenhardt Foundation · Wf Foundation · Richard and Susan Leadem Family · The Clyde and Summer Anderson 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 Bessent-Freeman Family Foundation Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Bessent-Freeman Family Foundation Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%3%10%23%40%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
    2get no government money at all
    8report 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.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Bessent-Freeman Family Foundation Inc?

    Find your warmest path to Bessent-Freeman Family Foundation Inc 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 37 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.

    Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2025) is on record and reports no grant expense, so the figures above are from FY2024, the most recent year this funder made grants.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Bessent-Freeman 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