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Bright Funds Foundation at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Public charity

Bright Funds Foundation

BRIGHT FUNDS FOUNDATION exists to empower people to be meaningful, effective, and engaged philanthropists.

$59M
Granted FY2021
1,690
Grants FY2021
—
States reached
$1.0M
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 2021.

International$18MHealth$13MEducation$12MFood & Nutrition$8.9MHuman Services$7.5MReligion$6.4MPublic Safety & Disaster$4.8MPhilanthropy$3.3MOther$0
02FY2021 · 1690 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 1,690 grants below total $38,186,512, the rows itemized in this filing. The $58,973,615 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $20,787,103 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2021

  • Under $10k906 grants · $6.2M
  • $10k–50k657 grants · $14M
  • $50k–250k112 grants · $12M
  • $250k+15 grants · $6.8M
$9,300
Median grant
—
States reached
$11M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SECOND HARVEST OF SILICON VALLEY$1,035,067
ISLAMIC RELIEF USA$713,242
ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL$687,454
SEWA INTERNATIONAL INC$608,801
AMERICAN RED CROSS$455,079
CARE$430,031
FEEDING AMERICA$404,283
DIRECT RELIEF$390,759
BAPS CHARITIES INC$351,185
EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE$309,022
ASSOCIATION FOR INDIAS DEVELOPMENT INC$292,305
THE LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY$288,325
AMERICARES$274,604
FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL & EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA INC$266,398
AMERICAN INDIA FOUNDATION$263,990
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 (FY17–19, $7.0M) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 67% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%WOUNDED WARRIORS FAMILY SUPPORT INC: $38k → 12%CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF FT WORTH INC: $49k → 11%HELPING HAND FOR RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT INC: $144k → 8%COVENANT HOUSE MISSOURI: $31k → 21%THE PARENT PROJECT FOR MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY RESEARCH INC: $43k → 12%THE CITIZENS FOUNDATION USA: $29k → 14%BAPS CHARITIES INC: $237k → 8%PRATHAM USA: $72k → 16%HELPING HAND FOR RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT INC: $120k → 8%RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF DURHAM & WAKE: $33k → 11%DUNWOODY BAPTIST CHURCH: $28k → 14%RISING ABOVE THE STORMS: $24k → 9%THE PARENT PROJECT FOR MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY RESEARCH INC: $27k → 7%BAPS CHARITIES INC: $198k → 8%NATURE CONSERVANCY INC: $51k → 7%COVENANT HOUSE FLORIDA INC: $49k → 13%HELPING HAND FOR RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT INC: $94k → 8%COVENANT HOUSE ILLINOIS INC: $53k → 14%BAPS CHARITIES INC: $123k → 8%AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS: $1.8M → 14%COVENANT HOUSE CALIFORNIA: $122k → 14%AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS: $800k → 14%COVENANT HOUSE CALIFORNIA: $70k → 14%AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS: $445k → 14%COVENANT HOUSE CALIFORNIA: $29k → 14%WORLD FOOD PROGRAM USA: $79k → 14%SEWA INTERNATIONAL INC: $27k → 16%RALEIGH RESCUE MISSION INC: $43k → 8%SEWA INTERNATIONAL INC: $31k → 16%RALEIGH RESCUE MISSION INCORPORATED: $40k → 8%COVENANT HOUSE ILLINOIS INC: $46k → 14%SEWA INTERNATIONAL INC: $23k → 16%YMCA OF THE TRIANGLE AREA: $43k → 8%MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF GREATER BAY AREA: $39k → 10%MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF GREATER BAY AREA: $23k → 10%GIVEDIRECTLY INC: $39k → 17%CHARITY WATER: $75k → 17%CHARITY WATER: $60k → 17%UNDER 21: $44k → 17%COVENANT HOUSE NEW YORK: $32k → 17%VIETNAM HEALTH EDUCATION & LITERATURE PROJECTS: $170k → 8%RAHIMA INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION: $148k → 8%VIETNAM HEALTH EDUCATION & LITERATURE PROJECTS: $118k → 8%RAHIMA INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION: $96k → 8%RAHIMA INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION: $77k → 8%SHREEMAY COMMUNITY SERVICES INC: $37k → 8%SACRED HEART COMMUNITY SERVICE: $52k → 8%SACRED HEART COMMUNITY SERVICE: $28k → 8%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

ME
VT
NH
WA
ID
MT
ND
MN
IL
WI
MI
NY
MA
OR
NV
WY
SD
IA
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
UT
CO
NE
MO
KY
VA
MD
AZ
NM
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
DC
HI
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
TX
FL
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.

83%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$70M · 916 repeat orgs$14M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +56% since the first grant, against +39% for those funded once.

916 repeat relationships: 728 still active in FY2021, 188 since wound down; 672 grantees were first funded in FY2021 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

916
353

Total granted

$70M
$4.8M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+56%
+39%

Still filing today

84%
69%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2021, 74% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $9.3M went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’21
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’21
EducationHuman ServicesHealthInternationalFood & NutritionAnimalsOther
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

  • AN
    American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches
    4× · 2017–2021 · $3.5M · revenue +46%
  • SH
    SECOND HARVEST OF SILICON VALLEY
    4× · 2017–2021 · $2.2M · revenue +138%
  • TF
    THE FOUNDATION THE WORLD INC
    2× · 2018–2019 · $1.9M · revenue +84% · 90% of their budget

Funded once

  • CB
    CHINESE BIBLE CHURCH OF GREATER BOSTON
    one grant, 2019 · $166k
  • MG
    MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM INCORPORATED
    one grant, 2019 · $152k
  • BP
    BAO PHUOC BUDDHIST CHURCH
    one grant, 2019 · $151k · revenue +13%
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
United Food Bank

Uniting communities to alleviate hunger.

Food & Nutrition
2
Global Fund for Children

To advance the rights and opportunities of children and youth worldwide.

Arts & Culture
3
Ucsf Foundation Investment Company

the organization provides professional investment management services for endowed gifts and financial assets entrusted to the UCSF Foundation.

Education
4
Silicon Schools Fund Inc

Support the launch of excellent new schools and innovative practices that improve education.

Education
5
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International

A people-centered approach to the conservation of gorillas and their habitats in Africa

—
6
Pathfinder International

Pathfinder builds lasting and trusted local partnerships to strengthen health systems, forging resilient pathways to sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.

International
7
Witness Inc

Witness helps people use video and technology to protect and defend human rights. the organization operates globally. witness' global team designs solutions, provides guidance, and co-develops strategies that enable human rights defenders…

International
8
Fajr Scientific

To deliver life-saving medical, humanitarian, and educational support to vulnerable populations around the world.

Science & Tech
9
Actionaid Usa

Actionaid is an international network building a just, equitable, and sustainable world in solidarity with communities on the frontlines of poverty and injustice.

Social Science
10
Marin Humane Society

Improving the lives of animals and people through advocacy, education, and support.

Animals
11
Allosource

Allosource responsibly processes and distributes human donated tissue that enhances and saves lives.

Health
12
International Aids Vaccine

Translate scientific discoveries into affordable, globally accessible public health solutions

International
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Food for the Poor Inc; the most unlike its peers is George Eastman Museum. 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

1648 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2026.

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 2026, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 1648 of the 2,000 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.

24
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
370
Early backer (in before they grew)
1607/1648
Grantees still filing
1239/1648
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $3,451,005 · Human ServicesAmerican National Red…BAPS CHARITIES INC: $908,695 · Human ServicesBAPS CHARITIES INCSewa International Inc: $690,029 · Human ServicesSewa International In…HELPING HAND FOR RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT INC: $584,524 · Human ServicesHELPING HAND FOR RELI…Vietnam Health Education & Literature Projects: $526,720 · Human ServicesVietnam Health Educat…RAHIMA INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION: $497,601 · Human ServicesCOVENANT HOUSE CALIFORNIA: $337,048 · Human Services+19 more: $2,685,516 · Human Services+19 moreISLAMIC RELIEF USA: $1,731,934 · InternationalISLAMIC RELIEF USADIRECT RELIEF: $757,123 · InternationalDIRECT RELIEFUNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF: $577,424 · InternationalUNITED STATES FUND F…COOPERATIVE FOR ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF EVERYWHERE INC: $557,969 · InternationalCOOPERATIVE FOR ASSI…Save The Children Federation Inc: $479,952 · InternationalAMERICARES FOUNDATION INC: $446,956 · InternationalASSOCIATION FOR INDIAS DEVELOPMENT INC: $437,467 · InternationalSAI GLOBAL MISSION: $429,012 · InternationalInternational Rescue Committee INC: $361,342 · InternationalMercy Corps: $327,131 · International+22 more: $3,120,700 · International+22 moreTHE FOUNDATION THE WORLD INC: $1,880,760 · OtherTHE FOUNDATION THE WORLD INCAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC: $510,256 · Other+76 more: $12,742,354 · Other+76 moreST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $1,544,324 · HealthST JUDE CHILDREN'…BLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $967,001 · HealthBLOOD CANCER UNIT…SANKARA EYE FOUNDATION USA: $593,820 · HealthSANKARA EYE FOUND…AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC: $528,293 · HealthAMERICAN CANCER S…ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC: $465,539 · HealthALZHEIMER'S DISEA…PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC: $323,874 · HealthBREAKTHROUGH T1D: $299,765 · HealthAmerican Heart Association Inc: $267,469 · Health+18 more: $2,705,976 · Health+18 moreSECOND HARVEST OF SILICON VALLEY: $2,214,098 · Food & NutritionSECOND HA…FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL & EASTERN NC INC: $849,638 · Food & NutritionFOOD BANK…AKSHAYA PATRA FOUNDATION (USA): $520,543 · Food & NutritionAKSHAYA P…Feeding America: $455,854 · Food & NutritionFeeding A…REDWOOD EMPIRE FOOD BANK: $250,908 · Food & NutritionREDWOOD E…+1 more: $117,908 · Food & NutritionJUMPSTART FOR YOUNG CHILDREN INC: $303,337 · EducationMassachusetts Institute of Technology: $223,376 · EducationWIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION INC: $220,014 · EducationAUSTIN PEACE ACADEMY: $191,444 · EducationPALO ALTO PARTNERS IN EDUCATION: $191,158 · EducationNEW LEADERS INC: $188,382 · EducationSamye Memorial Intl Buddhism Foundation: $183,585 · EducationBULLIS-PURISSIMA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOUNDATION: $169,759 · EducationPresident and Fellows of Harvard College: $161,089 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF HARTFORD: $158,693 · EducationMAGDALEN COLLEGE: $144,329 · EducationGENESYS WORKS: $142,608 · EducationYEAR UP INC: $139,225 · EducationTHE HARKER SCHOOL: $131,032 · EducationYale University: $128,970 · EducationBowdoin College: $120,600 · Education+6 more: $630,291 · EducationHIDAYA FOUNDATION: $359,962 · PhilanthropyDONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING INC: $355,194 · PhilanthropyPRATHAM USA: $192,167 · PhilanthropyTIDES FOUNDATION: $128,222 · PhilanthropyTHE CLEAR FUND: $124,768 · PhilanthropyLOS ALTOS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION: $124,664 · PhilanthropyCombined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston Inc: $122,108 · PhilanthropySAN CARLOS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION: $115,051 · PhilanthropyMARINE TOYS FOR TOTS FOUNDATION: $107,107 · PhilanthropyST BALDRICK'S FOUNDATION INC: $97,919 · Philanthropy
Human Services$9,681,138International$9,227,010Other$15,133,370Health$7,696,061Food & Nutrition$4,408,949Education$3,427,892Philanthropy$1,727,162

Showing the 200 largest grantees by grant value.

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $3,451,005 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetSECOND HARVEST OF SILICON VALLEY: $2,214,098 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetTHE FOUNDATION THE WORLD INC: $1,880,760 over 2y, 90% of budgetISLAMIC RELIEF USA: $1,731,934 over 4y, 0.5% of budgetST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $1,544,324 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $967,001 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetBAPS CHARITIES INC: $908,695 over 4y, 3.8% of budgetFOOD BANK OF CENTRAL & EASTERN NC INC: $849,638 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetDIRECT RELIEF: $757,123 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetSewa International Inc: $690,029 over 4y, 1.3% of budgetSANKARA EYE FOUNDATION USA: $593,820 over 4y, 3.1% of budgetHELPING HAND FOR RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT INC: $584,524 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetUNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF: $577,424 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetCOOPERATIVE FOR ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF EVERYWHERE INC: $557,969 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetAMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC: $528,293 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetVietnam Health Education & Literature Projects: $526,720 over 4y, 9.6% of budgetAKSHAYA PATRA FOUNDATION (USA): $520,543 over 4y, 1.9% of budgetAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC: $510,256 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetRAHIMA INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION: $497,601 over 4y, 5.3% of budgetSave The Children Federation Inc: $479,952 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC: $465,539 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetFIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND: $458,608 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetFeeding America: $455,854 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICARES FOUNDATION INC: $446,956 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetASSOCIATION FOR INDIAS DEVELOPMENT INC: $437,467 over 2y, 7.7% of budgetEQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE: $434,949 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetSAI GLOBAL MISSION: $429,012 over 4y, 10% of budgetSOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER INC: $381,615 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetInternational Rescue Committee INC: $361,342 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetHIDAYA FOUNDATION: $359,962 over 3y, 1.3% of budgetDONOR ADVISED CHARITABLE GIVING INC: $355,194 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetCOVENANT HOUSE CALIFORNIA: $337,048 over 4y, 0.7% of budgetMercy Corps: $327,131 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetPLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC: $323,874 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetJUMPSTART FOR YOUNG CHILDREN INC: $303,337 over 4y, 1.4% of budgetBREAKTHROUGH T1D: $299,765 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetGREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK INC: $298,136 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetALAMEDA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK: $286,925 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetTHE AMERICAN INDIA FOUNDATION: $274,249 over 3y, 2.5% of budgetCENTER FOR DISASTER PHILANTHROPY INC: $270,231 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetAmerican Heart Association Inc: $267,469 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCHARITY GLOBAL INC: $265,986 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHE FAMILY GIVING TREE: $262,703 over 3y, 1.8% of budgetGIVEDIRECTLY INC: $257,958 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetREDWOOD EMPIRE FOOD BANK: $250,908 over 4y, 0.5% of budgetWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $247,937 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetElectronic Frontier Foundation Inc: $239,926 over 4y, 1.0% of budgetDana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc: $234,074 over 4y, 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 Intuit FoundationThe Sobrato Family Fo…Kla FoundationLos Altos Mountain Vi…San Jose Mercury News…Agilent Technologies …Charity Bridge FundAmerican Muslim Commu…Destination Home SV c…The Health TrustMentor Graphics Found…Rotary Club of San Jo…
The Intuit FoundationCA59× affinity144 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Intuit Foundation · The Sobrato Family Foundation · Kla Foundation · Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation · San Jose Mercury News Wish Book Fund Inc · Agilent Technologies Foundation · Charity Bridge Fund · American Muslim Community Foundation · Destination Home SV co Silicon Valley Community Foundation · The Health Trust · Mentor Graphics Foundation · Rotary Club of San Jose 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 Bright Funds Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Bright Funds Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 170%5%19%42%75%funder's share of their income ↑0%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →median 7%
  • Mercy Corps: 47% of income from government
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 35% of income from government
  • Save the Children Federation Inc: 30% of income from government
  • Greater Boston Food Bank Inc: 22% of income from government
  • Franklin Performing Arts Company Inc: 20% of income from government
  • Trustees of Boston University: 12% of income from government
  • Yale University: 12% of income from government
  • Pine Street Inn Inc: 11% of income from government
  • City Year Inc: 11% of income from government
  • Children's Hospital Corporation: 10% of income from government
  • President and Fellows of Harvard College: 7% of income from government
  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc: 7% of income from government
  • The Center for Independent Documentary Inc: 6% of income from government
  • Cradles to Crayons Inc: 2% of income from government
  • Appalachian Mountain Club: 1% of income from government
  • University of Hartford: 1% of income from government
  • Covenant House Florida Inc: 1% of income from government
  • Year Up Inc: 0% of income from government
  • Americares Foundation Inc: 0% of income from government
  • Partners in Health a Nonprofit Corporation: 0% of income from government
  • Pan-Massachusetts Challenge Inc: 0% of income from government
  • Wounded Warrior Project Inc: 0% of income from government
  • Oxfam-America Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
17get no government money at all
30report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–75%
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 Bright Funds Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Bright Funds 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 2000 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 e-file return for fiscal year 2021, released 2021. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2024) is on record and reports $21M of grant expense, but none of it to a named recipient. On a Form 990 that can mean grants abroad, filed by region only (Schedule F), grants under $5,000, which are not itemized, or a schedule referenced as an attachment the e-file does not carry. The figures above are therefore from FY2021, the most recent year this funder named its grantees.

Source object · view filing

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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