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Bird Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Bird Family Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$680k
Granted FY2024still arriving
4
Grants FY2024still arriving
2
States reached
$500k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2019 to 2024.

Science & Tech$1.3MCivil Rights$750kPublic Benefit$300kHuman Services$199kEducation$125kHealth$100kArts & Culture$75kHousing & Shelter$75kOther$0
02FY2024 · 4 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • $10k–50k2 grants · $30k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $150k
  • $250k+1 grant · $500k
$150,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$15M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Botanical Research Institute of Texas$500,000
Fort Worth Country Day$150,000
Texas Christian University$20,000
Charlotte Hornets Foundation$10,000
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 (FY20–23, $124k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%Center for Transforming Lives: $15k → 11%CENTER FOR TRANSFORMING LIVES: $452 → 11%SafeHaven of Tarrant County: $15k → 11%Lena Pope: $48k → 11%Lena Pope: $45k → 11%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.

86%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$2.5M · 8 repeat orgs$421k to everyone else

8 repeat relationships: 4 still active in FY2024, 4 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

8
21

Total granted

$2.5M
$421k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+13%
+17%

Still filing today

88%
71%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 went to new ones.

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

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

’19’20’21’22’23’24
EducationHuman ServicesHealthYouth DevelopmentArts & CultureScience & TechOther
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

  • BR
    BOTANICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS INC
    3× · 2021–2024 · $1.3M · revenue +74%
  • AC
    ACH CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES
    2× · 2020–2022 · $50k · revenue +64%
  • TC
    TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
    2× · 2023–2024 · $40k · revenue +13%

Funded once

  • UG
    Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant Countygraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $75k · revenue +67%
  • MM
    M2G MHIgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $50k · revenue +27%
  • US
    UT SOUTHWESTERN HEALTH SYSTEMS
    one grant, 2020 · $50k · revenue -37%
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
Texas Wesleyan University

Texas wesleyan university, guided by its deep methodist heritage, provides transformational learning experiences and research opportunities to a diverse group of students to develop their full potential as individuals and as members of the…

Education
2
Fort Worth Cradle to Career

To bring collaborative, systemic change for students in order to improve overall quality of life and to position tarrant county as a leading producer of high-quality talent.

Youth Development
3
Children's Health System of Texas

With more than 1 million patient visits each year, Children's Health is North Texas' leading pediatric health system and among the largest in the nation. For more than a century, our mission has been clear: make life better for children.…

Health
4
Trinity School of Midland Texas

The mission of trinity school is to be a college preparatory community that provides a nurturing environment to enrich the mind, strengthen the body, enliven the soul, and inspire servant leadership.

Education
5
Communities in Schools of Central Texas

Communities in schools of central texas (cisct) ensures students have holistic support, removing academic and nonacademic barriers to their success in school.

Education
6
The University of TexasTexas a&M Investment Management Company

To generate superior long-term investment returns to support The University of Texas and Texas A&M University systems as they provide world-class teaching, push the boundaries of discovery, and achieve excellence in patient healthcare for…

Education
7
Trinity Charter School

The trinity charter schools system has 11 campuses in texas. all 11 campuses work with youth who have emotional difficulties, and need active engagement in planning and guiding their own academic careers through student led credit…

Education
8
Trinity University

Trinity university is an independent co-educational university whose mission is excellence in the interrelated areas of teaching, research and services.

Education
9
Texas Trees Foundation

The mission of texas trees foundation is to improve the health of cities and people through the transformative power of trees.

—
10
Colorado Christian Academy

Colorado christian academy provides an innovative christ-centered education that prioritizes academic achievements and individual development of the whole child. in relationship with parents, we will build healthy foundations that result…

Education
11
Austin Trinity School

Trinity episcopal school (trinity) is a not-for-profit independent school whose mission is to provide an enriched academic curriculum in a christian environment. trinity is not affiliated with or sponsored by any parish. we will nurture…

Education
12
Avance Inc

Avance creates pathways to economic mobility for predominately latino families through high quality, culturally responsive, two-generation programming that ensures school-readiness for young children and opportunities for parents to build…

Community Improvement
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Alliance for Children Inc; the most unlike its peers is Preserve International. 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

22 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. 22 of the 29 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)
2
Early backer (in before they grew)
22/22
Grantees still filing
15/22
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

BOTANICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS INC: $1,250,000 · Science & TechBOTANICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS INCALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN INC: $750,475 · Civil RightsALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN INCFort Worth Country Day: $300,000 · OtherFort Worth Country Da…Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County: $75,000 · OtherUnion Gospel Mission …ACH CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES: $50,202 · OtherACH CHILD AND FAMILY …Fort Worth Museum of Science and Hi: $25,000 · OtherCHILD CARE ASSOCIATES: $25,000 · OtherRIVERTREE ACADEMY: $25,000 · OtherOPERATION PROGRESS FORT WORTH: $25,000 · OtherCHARLOTTE HORNETS FOUNDATION INC: $20,000 · Other+7 more: $16,216 · OtherLENA POPE HOME INC: $93,368 · Human ServicesCENTER FOR TRANSFORMING LIVES: $15,452 · Human ServicesSAFEHAVEN OF TARRANT COUNTY: $15,000 · Human ServicesTEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY: $40,000 · EducationEDUCATIONAL FIRST STEPS: $25,000 · EducationFOUNDATION FOR THE YOUNG WOMENS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY: $25,000 · EducationCRISTO REY FORT WORTH CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL INC: $10,000 · EducationHUDSON LINK FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON INC: $5,000 · EducationM2G MHI: $50,000 · HealthUT SOUTHWESTERN HEALTH SYSTEMS: $50,000 · HealthFORT WORTH MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY: $40,000 · Arts & CultureAMON CARTER MUSEUM OF WESTERN ART: $10,000 · Arts & Culture
Science & Tech$1,250,000Civil Rights$750,475Other$561,418Human Services$123,820Education$105,000Health$100,000Arts & Culture$50,000

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 budgetBOTANICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS INC: $1,250,000 over 3y, 2.6% of budgetALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN INC: $750,475 over 2y, 5.2% of budgetLENA POPE HOME INC: $93,368 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetUnion Gospel Mission of Tarrant County: $75,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetACH CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES: $50,202 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetM2G MHI: $50,000 over 1y, 17% of budgetUT SOUTHWESTERN HEALTH SYSTEMS: $50,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetFORT WORTH MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY: $40,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetTEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY: $40,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetEDUCATIONAL FIRST STEPS: $25,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetRIVERTREE ACADEMY: $25,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetCHILD CARE ASSOCIATES: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFOUNDATION FOR THE YOUNG WOMENS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY: $25,000 over 1y, 5.5% of budgetOPERATION PROGRESS FORT WORTH: $25,000 over 1y, 11% of budgetCHARLOTTE HORNETS FOUNDATION INC: $20,000 over 2y, 1.5% of budgetCENTER FOR TRANSFORMING LIVES: $15,452 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetSAFEHAVEN OF TARRANT COUNTY: $15,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPRESERVE INTERNATIONAL: $15,000 over 1y, 19% of budgetCRISTO REY FORT WORTH CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetAMON CARTER MUSEUM OF WESTERN ART: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHUDSON LINK FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetDISPUTE RESOLUTION CENTER: $297 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.

Community Foundation …Thomas M Helen McKee …Sid W Richardson Foun…Bnsf Railway Foundati…Gregory a and Laura E…Paul E Andrews Jr Fou…R4 FoundationThe Morris FoundationCommunities Foundatio…Helen Irwin Littauer …Garvey Texas Foundati…Amon G Carter Foundat…
Community Foundation of North Texas (TaxTX30.8× affinity13 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Community Foundation of North Texas (Tax · Thomas M Helen McKee & John P Ryan Fo John P Ryan Foundation Inc · Sid W Richardson Foundation · Bnsf Railway Foundation · Gregory a and Laura E Bird Foundation · Paul E Andrews Jr Foundation · R4 Foundation · The Morris Foundation · Communities Foundation of Texas Inc · Helen Irwin Littauer Educational Trust · Garvey Texas Foundation Inc · Amon G Carter 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 Bird Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Bird Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%5%11%20%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
    5report 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 Bird Family Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Bird Family 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 29 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 Bird 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