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California Cotton Alliance at a glance

· Public charity

California Cotton Alliance

To support scientific research related to cotton and promote youth education for the cotton industry.

$552k
Granted FY2025still arriving
10
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$300k
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 2025.

Community Improvement$1.4MScience & Tech$1.1MFood & Nutrition$847kEducation$354kInternational$180kYouth Development$153kPublic Benefit$27k
02FY2025 · 10 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • $10k–50k8 grants · $191k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $51k
  • $250k+1 grant · $300k
$30,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$13M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
CALIFORNIA COTTON GINNERS &$300,000
CSU FRESNO$51,126
UC REGENTS$31,487
THE CALIFORNIA 4H FOUNDATION$30,000
CALIFORNIA FUTURE FARMERS$30,000
NUFFIELD INTERNATIONAL$25,000
CALIFORNIA FARMWORKER FOUNDATION$25,000
CALIFORNIA YOUTH AG EXPO$20,000
THE MADDY INSTITUTE$15,000
WEST HILLS COMMUNITY COLLEGE$14,500
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:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY17–25) land where the poverty rate runs at 16%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 86% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%NUFFIELD INTERNATIONAL: $25k → 10%UC REGENTS: $171k → 10%Cal Poly: $25k → 12%CALIFORNIA FUTURE FARMERS: $30k → 12%UC Regents: $192k → 16%FAMILY FARM ALLIANCE: $25k → 17%CALIFORNIA FARMWORKER FOUNDATION: $25k → 18%Family Farm Alliance: $20k → 19%MERCED COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $23k → 19%Cotton Council International: $75k → 14%FAMILY FARM ALLIANCE: $25k → 16%NUFFIELD INTERNATIONAL: $20k → 10%UC REGENTS: $76k → 10%Cal Poly: $25k → 12%CALIFORNIA FUTURE FARMERS: $30k → 12%UC Regents: $102k → 16%FAMILY FARM ALLIANCE: $25k → 17%COTTON COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL: $40k → 14%NUFFIELD INTERNATIONAL: $20k → 10%UC REGENTS: $52k → 10%CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIV: $15k → 12%CALIFORNIA FUTURE FARMERS: $25k → 12%UC REGENTS: $72k → 16%FAMILY FARM ALLIANCE: $25k → 17%CALIFORNIA COTTON GINNERS &: $300k → 19%UC REGENTS: $50k → 10%CALIFORNIA FUTURE FARMERS: $25k → 12%UC Davis: $65k → 16%California Cotton Ginners & Growers Association: $230k → 19%UC REGENTS: $39k → 10%CALIFORNIA FUTURE FARMERS: $25k → 12%UC Davis: $59k → 16%CALIFORNIA COTTON GINNERS &: $230k → 19%UC REGENTS: $31k → 10%CALIFORNIA FUTURE FARMERS: $15k → 12%UC DAVIS: $56k → 16%CALIFORNIA COTTON GINNERS &: $230k → 19%CALIFORNIA FUTURE FARMERS: $15k → 12%THE CALIFORNIA 4H FOUNDATION: $30k → 16%CALIFORNIA COTTON GINNERS &: $200k → 19%THE CALIFORNIA 4H FOUNDATION: $20k → 16%CALIFORNIA COTTON GINNERS &: $200k → 19%CALIFORNIA COTTON GINNERS &: $190k → 19%CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY: $126k → 19%CSU FRESNO: $77k → 19%Ag One Foundation-CSU Fresno: $27k → 19%CSU FRESNO: $51k → 19%Ag One Foundation-CSU Fresno: $27k → 19%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.

92%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$3.7M · 16 repeat orgs$325k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +65% since the first grant, against -4% for those funded once.

16 repeat relationships: 8 still active in FY2025, 8 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

16
5

Total granted

$3.7M
$285k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+65%
-4%

Still filing today

81%
60%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 93% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $40k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
EducationFood & NutritionYouth DevelopmentOther
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

  • CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY FRESNO FOUNDATION
    4× · 2019–2025 · $264k · revenue +65%
  • CA
    CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP FOUND
    6× · 2017–2023 · $235k · revenue +112%
  • CF
    CALIFORNIA FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA FOUNDATION
    7× · 2019–2025 · $165k · revenue +97%

Funded once

  • CC
    California Cotton Ginners & Growers Association
    one grant, 2017 · $230k
  • MC
    Merced College Foundation
    one grant, 2024 · $23k · revenue +21%
  • CP
    CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY
    one grant, 2020 · $15k
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
California Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom

To increase awareness and understanding of agriculture among california educators and students.

—
2
California Farm Bureau Scholarship Foundation

Promote ag education with university scholarships.

Education
3
The Agricultural Foundation of California State University Fresno

Agricultural education at california state university, fresno.

—
4
California State University Foundation

Established in 1962, the foundation is the central foundation for the california state university (csu) system and serves the office of the chancellor. the foundation exists to support excellence in teaching and learning, and to serve the…

Philanthropy
5
California Aggie Alumni Association

California aggie alumni association's (caaa) mission is to advance the interest and promote the welfare of the university and its alumni.

Education
6
California State University Alumni Association

Connect, engage and celebrate alumni, students and friends of sacramento state while building lifelong relationships that support the future of our university.

Education
7
Tulare County Farm Bureau Educational & Scholarship Fund Trust

Agriculture education and scholarships

Education
8
Alliance of Californias Farmers and Ranchers Community Fund

To engage in and support public education and research to protect and enhance Californias agricultural infrastructure and natural resources.

Food & Nutrition
9
Faculty Association of California Community Colleges Education Institute

The association was formed to do research and analyses and the dissemination of information to and the ongoing education and professional development of california community college faculty.

Education
10
Foundation of California State University Monterey Bay

To further the scientific, literary, educational and charitable purposes of california state university, monterey bay, including fundraising, development, endowment management, financial assistance, public relations and other support.

Education
11
Cal State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation

To actively promote, pursue and steward private support for the advancement of california state university, fullerton.

Philanthropy
12
Cal State University Fullerton Alumni Association

To build lifelong alumni relationships by contributing to a positive csuf image, promoting university and alumni accomplishments, providing a network of opportunities to alumni interaction, and developing economic and social benefits for…

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is California Future Farmers of America Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Education and Agriculture Together 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

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.

2
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
18/18
Grantees still filing
10/18
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

CALIFORNIA COTTON GINNERS AND GROWERS ASSOCIATION: $1,350,000 · OtherCALIFORNIA COTTON GINNERS AND GROWERS ASSOCIATIONUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS: $421,546 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVISREGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA: $419,357 · OtherREGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIACalifornia Cotton Ginners & Growers Association: $230,000 · OtherCalifornia Cotton Ginners & Growers AssociationCALIFORNIA FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA FOUNDATION: $165,000 · OtherCALIFORNIA FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA FOUNDATIONFAMILY FARM ALLIANCE: $120,000 · OtherCotton Council International: $115,000 · Other+4 more: $102,000 · OtherCALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY FRESNO FOUNDATION: $263,958 · EducationCALIFORNIA STATE U…THE UC DAVIS FOUNDATION: $123,500 · EducationTHE UC DAVIS FOUND…GOLD COUNTRY HERITAGE FOUNDATION: $75,000 · EducationGOLD COUNTRY HERIT…AG ONE: $68,000 · EducationAG ONECALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION: $50,000 · EducationCALIFORNIA POLYTEC…KENNETH L MADDY INSTITUTE: $27,000 · EducationCALIFORNIA FARMWORKER FOUNDATION: $25,000 · EducationMerced College Foundation: $22,500 · EducationCALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP FOUND: $235,000 · Food & NutritionEducation and Agriculture Together Foundation: $10,000 · Food & NutritionAGRICULTURE FUTURE OF AMERICA: $107,500 · Youth DevelopmentTHE CALIFORNIA 4-H FOUNDATION: $75,000 · Youth Development
Other$2,922,903Education$654,958Food & Nutrition$245,000Youth Development$182,500

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 budgetCALIFORNIA COTTON GINNERS AND GROWERS ASSOCIATION: $1,350,000 over 6y, 32% of budgetCALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY FRESNO FOUNDATION: $263,958 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetCALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL LEADERSHIP FOUND: $235,000 over 6y, 2.9% of budgetCALIFORNIA FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA FOUNDATION: $165,000 over 7y, 4.3% of budgetTHE UC DAVIS FOUNDATION: $123,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetFAMILY FARM ALLIANCE: $120,000 over 5y, 5.2% of budgetCotton Council International: $115,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetAGRICULTURE FUTURE OF AMERICA: $107,500 over 6y, 1.0% of budgetGOLD COUNTRY HERITAGE FOUNDATION: $75,000 over 4y, 41% of budgetTHE CALIFORNIA 4-H FOUNDATION: $75,000 over 4y, 2.3% of budgetAG ONE: $68,000 over 3y, 5.1% of budgetCALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetKENNETH L MADDY INSTITUTE: $27,000 over 2y, 3.9% of budgetCALIFORNIA FARMWORKER FOUNDATION: $25,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetMerced College Foundation: $22,500 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetWEST HILLS COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $14,500 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetAMERICAN COTTON SHIPPERS ASSOCIATION: $7,500 over 1y, 0.2% 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.

Kern Community Founda…American Online Givin…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Kern Community FoundationCA13.5× affinity4 shared granteesties to 3 of 3Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Kern Community Foundation · American Online Giving Foundation 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 California Cotton Alliance funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from California Cotton Alliance. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%3%13%28%50%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
    1get no government money at all
    2report 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 California Cotton Alliance?

    Find your warmest path to California Cotton Alliance 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 e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on California Cotton Alliance’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