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Bob and Susan Wilson Foundation at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Private foundation

Bob and Susan Wilson 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.

$503k
Granted FY2024still arriving
23
Grants FY2024still arriving
9
States reached
$260k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its fieldRead
04Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01FY2024 · 23 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k8 grants · $32k
  • $10k–50k13 grants · $160k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $51k
  • $250k+1 grant · $260k
$10,000
Median grant
9
States reached
$11M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY$260,000
GRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN STEWARDSHIP FOUNDATION$51,000
MEMPHIS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY$20,000
MULLINS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH$20,000
VETERAN AIRLIFT COMMAND$20,000
FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES$10,000
WEST CANCER FOUNDATION$10,000
FAYETTE COUNTY ANIMAL RESCUE$10,000
CALVARY RESCUE MISSION$10,000
ADPA FOUNDATION$10,000
UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS FOUNDATION$10,000
EAA AVIATION FOUNDATION INC$10,000
HUMANE SOCIETY OF MEMPHIS & SHELBY COUNTY$10,000
MID-SOUTH RAPTOR CENTER$10,000
LEES MCRAE COLLEGE$10,000
02The need
02

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 (FY24–24, $33k) land where the poverty rate runs at 13%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%VETERAN AIRLIFT COMMAND: $20k → 11%GRANDFATHER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $3k → 15%CALVARY RESCUE MISSION: $10k → 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.

Which US states its grants reach

MN
WI
CA
CO
MO
TN
NC
LA
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 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 University of Tennessee Foundation Inc

The foundation enriches the lives of the students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the university of tennessee through alumni engagement, financial stewardship and private gift support.

Education
2
Tennessee Museum of Aviation

The Tennessee Museum of Aviation is dedicated to the preservation of aviation history, the advancement of education, and the honoring of historical aviators.

Arts & Culture
3
University of Mississippi Foundation

The university of mississippi foundation is a nonprofit corporation chartered in 1973 by the state of mississippi to operate primarily for the benefit of the university of mississippi. the foundation is responsible for receiving,…

Education
4
Appalachian State University Foundation Inc

The appalachian state university foundation exists to support appalachian state university students, faculty, staff and community through the advancement of financial support, stewardship, growth of resources, and advocacy for the…

—
5
Furman University Foundation Inc

To operate as a nonprofit public benefit corporation to serve the needs and interests of furman university, an educational organization.

Education
6
The Land Trust for Tennessee Inc

To conserve the unique character of tennessee's natural and historic landscapes and sites for future generations.

Environment
7
The Letourneau University Foundation

Utilizing a professional, biblically informed approach we serve as a guide to carefully designed estate and legacy plans that in their conveyed charitable intent expressly benefit letourneau university in its work of raising up men and…

Education
8
Union University

Union university provides christ-centered education that promotes excellence and character development in service to church and society.

Education
9
The University of Virginia Medical School Foundation

The university of virginia medical alumni association and medical school foundation is dedicated to enhancing the experience of students, housestaff, alumni and faculty of the uva school of medicine by creating opportunities for mentoring,…

Education
10
University of Southern Mississippi Foundation

To build relationships with alumni and friends in order to secure private funds and other resources for the benefit of the university of southern mississippi (usm). the foundation receives, invests and distributes private gifts in support…

Education
11
Educational & Memorial Foundation of Tennessee Society of Cpas

To further the study, and/or teaching of accountancy and related fields through provision of educational opportunities to the cpa profession and providing scholarships for promising young accounting students.

Education
12
Vanderbilt University

See Disclosure Above.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Lsu in Shreveport Foundation Inc; the most unlike its peers is Ave Maria Foundation of Memphis Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
03the grantee network

18 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. 18 of the 23 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)
18/18
Grantees still filing
9/18
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Southern Methodist University: $260,000 · EducationSouthern Methodist UniversityUNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS FOUNDATION: $10,000 · EducationLEES-MCRAE COLLEGE INC: $10,000 · Education+2 more: $6,000 · EducationMEMPHIS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF THE: $20,000 · OtherMEMPHIS THEOLOGIC…MULLINS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: $20,000 · OtherMULLINS UNITED ME…WEST CANCER FOUNDATION: $10,000 · OtherWEST CANCER FOUND…MID-SOUTH RAPTOR CENTER: $10,000 · OtherMID-SOUTH RAPTOR …ADPA FOUNDATION: $10,000 · OtherADPA FOUNDATIONTHE AVERY COUNTY FFA: $6,000 · OtherTHE AVERY COUNTY …TENNESSEE AVIATION HALL OF FAME IN: $2,800 · OtherGRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN STEWARDSHIP FOUNDATION INC: $51,000 · EnvironmentGRANDFATHER…VETERANS AIRLIFT COMMAND: $20,000 · Human ServicesCALVARY RESCUE MISSION: $10,000 · Human ServicesGrandfather Community Foundation Inc: $2,500 · Human ServicesHumane Society of Memphis & Shelby County: $10,000 · AnimalsFAYETTE COUNTY ANIMAL RESCUE: $10,000 · AnimalsEAA AVIATION FOUNDATION INC: $10,000 · Arts & CultureSAN DIEGO AIR & SPACE MUSEUM INC: $7,500 · Arts & CultureFELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES: $10,000 · Youth DevelopmentPINECREST CAMP AND RETREAT CENTER INC: $2,500 · Youth DevelopmentAVE MARIA FOUNDATION OF MEMPHIS INC: $5,000 · Philanthropy
Education$286,000Other$78,800Environment$51,000Human Services$32,500Animals$20,000Arts & Culture$17,500Youth Development$12,500Philanthropy$5,000

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 budgetSouthern Methodist University: $260,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGRANDFATHER MOUNTAIN STEWARDSHIP FOUNDATION INC: $51,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetVETERANS AIRLIFT COMMAND: $20,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetHumane Society of Memphis & Shelby County: $10,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFAYETTE COUNTY ANIMAL RESCUE: $10,000 over 1y, 3.9% of budgetWEST CANCER FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetCALVARY RESCUE MISSION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetLEES-MCRAE COLLEGE INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetEAA AVIATION FOUNDATION INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSAN DIEGO AIR & SPACE MUSEUM INC: $7,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCOLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAVE MARIA FOUNDATION OF MEMPHIS INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetTENNESSEE AVIATION HALL OF FAME IN: $2,800 over 1y, 6.4% of budgetGrandfather Community Foundation Inc: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPINECREST CAMP AND RETREAT CENTER INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetLSU IN SHREVEPORT FOUNDATION INC: $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.

The Robert a and Susa…Community Foundation …The Kemmons Wilson Fa…Enterprise Holdings F…Vanguard Charitable E…The Pfizer Foundation…American Endowment Fo…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
The Robert a and Susan C Wilson FoundationTN28.5× affinity11 shared granteesties to 9 of 9Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Robert a and Susan C Wilson Foundation · Community Foundation of Greater Memphis Inc · The Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation · Enterprise Holdings Foundation · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · The Pfizer Foundation Inc · American Endowment Foundation · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · 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 Bob and Susan Wilson Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Bob and Susan Wilson Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%4%8%11%15%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
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–15%
    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.
    04Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Bob and Susan Wilson Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Bob and Susan Wilson 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 23 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 Bob and Susan Wilson’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