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Black Dog Foundation Inc at a glance

· Private foundation

Black Dog 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.

$1k
Granted FY2024still arriving
3
Grants FY2024still arriving
2
States reached
$500
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, FY2017 to 2024.

Environment$5kHealth$3kPublic Safety & Disaster$3kPhilanthropy$2kAnimals$2kCivil Rights$1kHousing & Shelter$1kInternational$1kOther$0
02FY2024 · 3 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$500
Median grant
2
States reached
$35k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
MILE HIGH LAB MISSION$500
FRIENDS OF THE LOWER BLUE RIVER$500
SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION$75
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 (FY17–17, $2k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $2k → 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

VT
NY
MA
IN
OH
PA
CA
CO
MD
DC
GA
TX
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.

23%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$4k · 5 repeat orgs$14k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +32% since the first grant, against +18% for those funded once.

5 repeat relationships: 1 still active in FY2024, 4 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

5
20

Total granted

$4k
$13k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+32%
+18%

Still filing today

80%
65%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 47% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $575 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
AnimalsEnvironmentEducationHealthInternationalHuman ServicesOther
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

  • NB
    NATIONAL BRAIN TUMOR SOCIETY INC
    3× · 2018–2020 · $2k · revenue +32%
  • FO
    Friends of the Lower Blue River
    2× · 2019–2024 · $1k · revenue +378%
  • BC
    BICYCLE COLORADO
    3× · 2019–2021 · $850 · revenue +3%

Funded once

  • AN
    American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branchesgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $2k · revenue +46%
  • FO
    FRIENDS OF THE EARTHgraduated
    one grant, 2019 · $2k · revenue +89%
  • HF
    HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL
    one grant, 2019 · $1k
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
Colorado Water Trust

To restore water to colorado's rivers.

Environment
2
American Flood Coalition Inc

To drive transformational adaptation to protect communities across the country from higher seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding.

Environment
3
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

To sustain, restore, and enhance the nation's fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats.

Animals
4
Cdp North America Inc

Cdp north america, inc. 's ("cdp-na") vision for the future is a thriving economy that works for people and planet in the long term. we focus investors and companies on taking urgent action to build a truly sustainable economy by measuring…

Environment
5
Colorado Museum of Natural History

Be a catalyst! Ignite our community's passion for nature and science.

Arts & Culture
6
The Union of Concerned Scientists Inc

The union of concerned scientists puts rigorous, independent science into action, developing solutions and advocating for a healthy, safe, and just future.

International
7
Rainforest Trust

Rainforest trust saves endangered wildlife and protects our planet by creating rainforest reserves through partnerships, community engagement, and donor support.

International
8
Colorado Headwaters Land Trust

To conserve and steward the open lands and natural character of the headwaters of the colorado river in partnership with the local community.

—
9
Npr Foundation

The npr foundation ("foundation") is organized and operated exclusively for the benefit of its sole supported organization, national public radio, inc. ("npr inc."). the foundation supports npr inc. through various activities such as…

—
10
The Water Research Foundation

The purpose of the water research foundation (wrf) is a definitive research organization to advance the science of all things water to better meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. to engage exclusively in…

Environment
11
Colorado Legal Services

To provide meaningful access to high quality, civil legal services in the pursuit of justice for as many low income persons and members of vulnerable populations throughout colorado as possible.

Crime & Legal
12
Western Conservation Foundation

Building leaders to protect the west's land, air, and water.

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Colorado Gives Foundation; the most unlike its peers is The Epworth Foundation. 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

23 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. 23 of the 30 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)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
21/23
Grantees still filing
15/23
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

NATIONAL BRAIN TUMOR SOCIETY INC: $1,715 · OtherNATIONAL BRAIN TUMOR SOCIETY INCHABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL: $1,000 · OtherHABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONALEARTHWORKS: $1,000 · OtherEARTHWORKSAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION ACLU: $1,000 · OtherAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION ACLUMILE HIGH LAB MISSION: $500 · OtherMILE HIGH LAB MISSIONNATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION: $500 · OtherNATIONAL PARK FOUNDATIONCONTINENTAL DIVIDE LAND TRUST: $500 · OtherCONTINENTAL DIVIDE LAND TRUSTDEATH RIDE TOUR INC: $300 · OtherCYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION: $550 · OtherCYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATIONCOMMUNITY FIRST SOLUTIONS: $500 · OtherCOMMUNITY FIRST SOLUTIONSFOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES: $500 · OtherFOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES+5 more: $352 · OtherFriends of the Lower Blue River: $1,000 · EducationFriends of th…BICYCLE COLORADO: $850 · EducationBICYCLE COLOR…The Epworth Foundation: $500 · EducationThe Epworth F…FRIENDS OF THE EARTH: $2,000 · EnvironmentFRIENDS OF T…COLORADO OPEN LANDS: $154 · EnvironmentCOLORADO OPE…SIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION: $75 · EnvironmentAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $2,000 · Human ServicesAmerican Na…GLOBALGIVING FOUNDATION INC: $1,000 · InternationalWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $500 · InternationalCOLORADO GIVES FOUNDATION: $1,000 · PhilanthropyGREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $500 · PhilanthropyANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE: $500 · AnimalsTHE MAXFUND INC: $500 · AnimalsHOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY: $500 · Animals
Other$8,417Education$2,350Environment$2,229Human Services$2,000International$1,500Philanthropy$1,500Animals$1,500

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 budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE EARTH: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNATIONAL BRAIN TUMOR SOCIETY INC: $1,715 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetFriends of the Lower Blue River: $1,000 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetGLOBALGIVING FOUNDATION INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOLORADO GIVES FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBICYCLE COLORADO: $850 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION: $550 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE MAXFUND INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOMMUNITY FIRST SOLUTIONS: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCONTINENTAL DIVIDE LAND TRUST: $500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHOUSTON HUMANE SOCIETY: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDEATH RIDE TOUR INC: $300 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCOLORADO OPEN LANDS: $154 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION: $75 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNETWORK FOR GOOD: $52 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE KELLY S BRUSH FOUNDATION INC: $50 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 set of overlaps that mostly run through this funder rather than between each other.

Amazonsmile Foundation
Amazonsmile FoundationWA2.7× affinity5 shared granteesties to 0 of 0Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Amazonsmile 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 Black Dog Foundation Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Black Dog Foundation Inc. 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 →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    2get no government money at all
    4report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely 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 Black Dog Foundation Inc?

    Find your warmest path to Black Dog 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 30 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 but names no grant recipient in the published copy, so the figures above are from FY2024, the most recent year this funder’s grantee list reached the public record.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Black Dog’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
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    $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