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Burnham Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Burnham 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.

$2.3M
Granted FY2024still arriving
45
Grants FY2024still arriving
8
States reached
$200k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2018 to 2024.

Philanthropy$9.0MEducation$896kEnvironment$688kArts & Culture$533kRecreation & Sports$200kHousing & Shelter$199kPublic Benefit$109kFood & Nutrition$65kOther$0
02FY2024 · 45 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k1 grant · $8k
  • $10k–50k27 grants · $676k
  • $50k–250k17 grants · $1.6M
$29,662
Median grant
8
States reached
$75M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
NEW CITY PARKS INC$200,000
BILLION OYSTER PROJECT$155,499
LIGHTHOUSE WORKS INC$155,499
LIGHTHOUSE WORKS INC$120,804
ARCHITECTURAL LEAGUE OF NEW YORK$100,907
TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND$100,000
WALSH PARK BENEVOLENT CORPORATION$100,000
TEACHING MATTERS INC$98,996
NEW STORY INC$98,697
TEACHING LAB$98,697
EARTHJUSTICE$74,154
FREE AND FAIR LITIGATION GROUP INC$73,931
NATURAL AREAS CONSERVANCY INC$60,402
CAMBIAR EDUCATION$50,000
AMERICAN ACADEMY IN ROME$50,000
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 (FY23–24, $144k) 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%FARMLINK PROJECT: $25k → 14%NEW STORY INC: $99k → 13%FARMLINK PROJECT: $20k → 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

NY
MA
OH
PA
CT
RI
CA
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.

43%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.2M · 12 repeat orgs$1.6M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +21% since the first grant, against +14% for those funded once.

12 repeat relationships: 12 still active in FY2024, 0 since wound down; 29 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

12
4

Total granted

$1.2M
$136k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+21%
+14%

Still filing today

100%
75%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 34% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $1.5M went to new ones.

50%100%’18’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

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

’18’23’24
EducationEnvironmentArts & CultureHuman ServicesPublic BenefitPhilanthropyOther
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

  • TL
    THE LIGHTHOUSE WORKS INC
    2× · 2023–2024 · $357k · revenue +1% · 26% of their budget
  • BO
    BILLION OYSTER PROJECT INC
    2× · 2023–2024 · $228k · revenue +55%
  • NV
    NEW VISIONS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS INC
    2× · 2023–2024 · $150k · revenue +34%

Funded once

  • OS
    OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE INC
    one grant, 2023 · $101k · revenue +17%
  • WF
    WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION INC
    one grant, 2023 · $21k · revenue +14%
  • NY
    NEW YORK MUSIC FESTIVAL
    one grant, 2018 · $10k
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
Open Markets Institute

The open markets institute works to help people relearn how to use competition policy to build stronger democracies, more just and equitable societies, more innovative and sustainable economies, and a more secure and peaceful world.

Education
2
New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund

See schedule onylcvef's mission is to educate, engage and empower new yorkers to be effective advocates on behalf of the environment from clean energy and funding for parks, to solid waste and green buildings. first, we educate new yorkers…

Environment
3
New York League of Conservation Voters

See schedule onylcv is a non-partisan policy making and political action organization that works to make environmental protection a top priority with elected officials, decision-makers and the voters by evaluating incumbent performance and…

—
4
United States Naval Institute

Provide an independent forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to global security.

—
5
Environmental Investigation Agency

To establish and promote programs to protect the global climate, forests, wildlife and the natural environment, through research, advocacy, and investigation.

International
6
City Report Inc

CITY REPORT, INC. serves the people of New York through independent journalism that answers their information needs and holds the powerful to account.

Arts & Culture
7
Open New York Education Inc

Open new york education, inc. supports public education, awareness, and engagement around housing issues to help build a movement for a more abundant and inclusive new york.

Housing & Shelter
8
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Advance science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all. the world's largest multidisciplinary scientific society and a leading publisher of cutting-edge research through its science family of journals,…

Science & Tech
9
New York School of Interior Design

New york school of interior design provides the most innovative, immersive, and transformative interior design education in the world, demonstrating the impact of professionally designed interiors on the health, happiness, and well-being…

Education
10
New York Landmarks Conservancy Inc

The conservancy preserves and revitalizes new york's architecture. by doing so, it contributes to new york's economy, tourism and quality of life.

—
11
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research

The american enterprise institute is a community of scholars and supporters committed to expanding liberty, increasing individual opportunity, and strengthening free enterprise. aei pursues these ideals through independent thinking and the…

Social Science
12
New York Restoration Project

New york restoration project ("nyrp") believes that nature is a fundamental right of every new yorker. nyrp works collaboratively with residents in communities across the five boroughs to renovate gardens, restore parks, plant trees,…

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is New Visions for Public Schools Inc; the most unlike its peers is Walsh Park Benevolent Corporation. 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

47 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. 47 of the 49 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)
0
Early backer (in before they grew)
47/47
Grantees still filing
23/47
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND: $8,087,290 · Community ImprovementFIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND+1 more: $24,842 · Community ImprovementBILLION OYSTER PROJECT INC: $228,318 · EducationBILLION O…NEW VISIONS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS INC: $150,000 · EducationNEW VISIO…DYSLEXIA ALLIANCE FOR BLACK CHILDREN: $111,558 · EducationDYSLEXIA …TEACHING MATTERS INC: $98,996 · EducationTEACHING …TEACHING LAB: $98,697 · EducationTEACHING …LITERACY INC: $85,942 · EducationLITERACY …ACADEMY IN MANAYUNK: $50,000 · EducationCAMBIAR EDUCATION: $50,000 · EducationEL EDUCATION INC: $45,343 · Education+4 more: $80,343 · Education+4 moreVANGUARD CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT PROGRAM: $863,750 · Philanthropy+3 more: $74,526 · PhilanthropyTHE ARCHITECTURAL LEAGUE OF NEW YORK: $110,907 · OtherTRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND: $100,000 · OtherWALSH PARK BENEVOLENT CORPORATION: $100,000 · OtherFREE AND FAIR LITIGATION GROUP INC: $73,931 · OtherElectronic Frontier Foundation Inc: $49,533 · OtherTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $42,500 · OtherNEW STORY INC: $98,697 · OtherFARMLINK PROJECT: $44,841 · OtherFIGHT FOR THE FUTURE EDUCATION FUND: $35,000 · OtherAMERICAN ACADEMY IN ROME: $50,000 · OtherAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC: $49,533 · Other+3 more: $55,011 · OtherOPEN SPACE INSTITUTE INC: $100,929 · EnvironmentEARTHJUSTICE: $74,154 · EnvironmentNATURAL AREAS CONSERVANCY INC: $60,402 · EnvironmentENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES NY INC: $45,343 · EnvironmentNewtown Creek Alliance Incorporated: $30,000 · EnvironmentOPEN SPACE INSTITUTE LAND TRUST INC: $25,227 · EnvironmentCARY INSTITUTE OF ECOSYSTEM STUDIES INC: $24,842 · EnvironmentSAVE THE SOUND: $20,022 · EnvironmentSure We Can Inc: $20,000 · EnvironmentRIVERKEEPER INC: $16,157 · EnvironmentTHE LIGHTHOUSE WORKS INC: $357,185 · Arts & CultureHenry L Ferguson Museum: $25,000 · Arts & CultureTHE LITTLE ORCHESTRA SOCIETYORPHEON INC: $15,000 · Arts & Culture+2 more: $14,500 · Arts & CultureNEW CITY PARKS INC: $200,000 · Recreation & Sports
Community Improvement$8,112,132Education$999,197Philanthropy$938,276Other$809,953Environment$417,076Arts & Culture$411,685Recreation & Sports$200,000

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 budgetFIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND: $8,087,290 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetTHE LIGHTHOUSE WORKS INC: $357,185 over 2y, 26% of budgetBILLION OYSTER PROJECT INC: $228,318 over 2y, 2.8% of budgetNEW CITY PARKS INC: $200,000 over 1y, 6.1% of budgetNEW VISIONS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS INC: $150,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetDYSLEXIA ALLIANCE FOR BLACK CHILDREN: $111,558 over 2y, 17% of budgetTHE ARCHITECTURAL LEAGUE OF NEW YORK: $110,907 over 2y, 3.7% of budgetOPEN SPACE INSTITUTE INC: $100,929 over 1y, 1.7% of budgetWALSH PARK BENEVOLENT CORPORATION: $100,000 over 1y, 12% of budgetTEACHING MATTERS INC: $98,996 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetTEACHING LAB: $98,697 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetNEW STORY INC: $98,697 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetLITERACY INC: $85,942 over 2y, 1.2% of budgetEARTHJUSTICE: $74,154 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFREE AND FAIR LITIGATION GROUP INC: $73,931 over 1y, 3.3% of budgetNATURAL AREAS CONSERVANCY INC: $60,402 over 1y, 2.1% of budgetAMERICAN ACADEMY IN ROME: $50,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetACADEMY IN MANAYUNK: $50,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCAMBIAR EDUCATION: $50,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC: $49,533 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetElectronic Frontier Foundation Inc: $49,533 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES NY INC: $45,343 over 2y, 0.9% of budgetEL EDUCATION INC: $45,343 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetFARMLINK PROJECT: $44,841 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $42,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFIGHT FOR THE FUTURE EDUCATION FUND: $35,000 over 1y, 1.8% of budgetNewtown Creek Alliance Incorporated: $30,000 over 2y, 2.8% of budgetWIKIMEDIA ENDOWMENT: $29,662 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetOPEN SPACE INSTITUTE LAND TRUST INC: $25,227 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHenry L Ferguson Museum: $25,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetLEARNING THROUGH AN EXPANDED ARTS PROGRAM INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetTHE FUND FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFFWD: $24,842 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCARY INSTITUTE OF ECOSYSTEM STUDIES INC: $24,842 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetECHOING GREEN INC: $24,842 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNEW PROFIT INC: $24,842 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION INC: $20,501 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSAVE THE SOUND: $20,022 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetTHE NEW YORK COMMUNITY TRUST: $20,022 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGLYNWOOD CENTER INC: $20,011 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetSure We Can Inc: $20,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetRIVERKEEPER INC: $16,157 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetTHE LITTLE ORCHESTRA SOCIETYORPHEON INC: $15,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetThe New York Public Library Astor Lenox and Tilden Foundations: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CHINATI FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetMUSIC FORWARD: $4,500 over 1y, 0.3% 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 New York Communit…Jewish Communal FundRobin Hood FoundationLily Auchincloss Foun…The Goldman Sachs Cha…The Hyde and Watson F…Pinkerton FoundationNew Venture FundThe Jm Kaplan Fund IncCommunity Foundation …Gates FoundationThe William & Flora H…
The New York Community TrustNY23.7× affinity10 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The New York Community Trust · Jewish Communal Fund · Robin Hood Foundation · Lily Auchincloss Foundation Inc · The Goldman Sachs Charitable Gift Fund · The Hyde and Watson Foundation · Pinkerton Foundation · New Venture Fund · The Jm Kaplan Fund Inc · Community Foundation of New Jersey · Gates Foundation · The William & Flora Hewlett 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 Burnham Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Burnham Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 30%2%8%17%30%funder's share of their income ↑0%23%45%68%90%share of the org’s income from government →median 37%
  • Save the Sound: 37% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
3get no government money at all
12report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–90%
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.

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 49 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 Burnham 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