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Catto Shaw Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Catto Shaw 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.

$1.1M
Granted FY2024still arriving
12
Grants FY2024still arriving
6
States reached
$279k
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$1.4MArts & Culture$1.2MSocial Science$969kEducation$853kAnimals$178kPhilanthropy$107kInternational$94kCommunity Improvement$25kOther$0
02FY2024 · 12 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • $10k–50k4 grants · $65k
  • $50k–250k7 grants · $722k
  • $250k+1 grant · $279k
$100,000
Median grant
6
States reached
$24M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES$278,500
THE ARTS CAMPUS AT WILLITS$172,361
VALLEY SETTLEMENT$100,000
MANU$100,000
ASCEND AT THE ASPEN INSTITUTE$100,000
ASPEN WORDS$100,000
CREATIVE CAPITAL FOUNDATION$75,000
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SACRAMENTO$75,000
CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL$25,000
ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL AND SCHOOL$15,000
THE SHALOM FOUNDATION$15,000
DSA FRIENDS FOUNDATION$10,000
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 (FY20–24, $366k) land where the poverty rate runs at 17%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 99% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%CREATIVE CAPITAL FOUNDATION: $150k → 17%CREATIVE CAPITAL: $97k → 17%CREATIVE CAPITAL FOUNDATION: $75k → 17%CREATIVE CAPITAL FOUNDATION: $25k → 17%CREATIVE CAPITAL FOUNDATION: $15k → 17%RESPONSE: $3k → 6%RESPONSE: $3k → 6%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
WA
MN
NY
MA
CA
CO
VA
TN
DC
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.

91%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$4.3M · 28 repeat orgs$449k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +39% since the first grant, against +18% for those funded once.

28 repeat relationships: 10 still active in FY2024, 18 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

28
21

Total granted

$4.3M
$359k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+39%
+18%

Still filing today

86%
62%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 92% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $90k went to new ones.

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

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

’17’20’21’22’23’24
Arts & CultureEnvironmentEducationHuman ServicesInternationalAnimalsOther
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

  • AC
    ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
    6× · 2017–2024 · $973k · revenue +134%
  • THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC
    6× · 2017–2024 · $490k · revenue +243%
  • CC
    CREATIVE CAPITAL FOUNDATION
    5× · 2020–2024 · $361k · revenue +3%

Funded once

  • CV
    CREATIVE VISIONS
    one grant, 2022 · $125k
  • AT
    ASCEND THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
    one grant, 2020 · $75k
  • CP
    CAPITAL PUBLIC RADIO FDBA KXPR/KXJZ INC
    one grant, 2023 · $30k · revenue -27%
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
Amazon Conservation Association

Amazon conservation unites science, people, and innovation to protect the amazon - the greatest wild forest on earth. as guardians of the most iconic forest on the planet, we bring together the power of the latest science and technology…

Environment
2
Colorado Museum of Natural History

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

Arts & Culture
3
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
4
Rogue Climate

Rogue Climate's mission is to empower Southern Oregon communities most impacted by climate change including low-income, rural, youth, seniors & communities of color, to win climate justice by organizing for clean energy, sustainable jobs &…

Education
5
Aquarium of the Pacific Corporation

The aquarium of the pacific's mission is to instill a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the pacific ocean, its inhabitants, and ecosystems.

Animals
6
Eastern National

Eastern national promotes the public's understanding and support of america's national parks and other public trust partners by providing quality educational experiences, products and services.

Recreation & Sports
7
Cascade Climate Inc

To accelerate progress in interventions that harness Earths natural systems to stabilize the climate.

Environment
8
American Flood Coalition Inc

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

Environment
9
Ecology Project International

Ecology project international's mission is to inspire youth with nature and empower them with science, fostering tomorrow's leaders. we envision a diverse movement building communities that cherish and restore the ecosystems that sustain…

Environment
10
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
11
Wild Rockies Field Institute Inc

To broaden the nature of a liberal arts education; teach critical thinking about social & environmental issues; foster understanding of & respect for natural & human communities; & cultivate a sense of place that encourages personal,…

Education
12
Conservation X Labs Inc

To improve the efficacy, speed, cost, sustainability, and scaling of conservation solutions through harnessing exponential technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship to prevent human-induced extinction.

Animals
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Conservation Colorado Education Fund; the most unlike its peers is Manu. 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

40 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. 40 of the 53 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)
11
Early backer (in before they grew)
40/40
Grantees still filing
27/40
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: $972,793 · EnvironmentASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIE…CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION: $325,500 · EnvironmentCONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATIONMANU: $175,000 · EnvironmentMANU+6 more: $112,200 · Environment+6 moreASCEND AT THE ASPEN INSTITUTE: $404,400 · OtherASCEND AT THE ASPEN INS…CREATIVE VISIONS: $125,014 · OtherCREATIVE VISIONSTHE ASPEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL INC: $102,500 · OtherTHE ASPEN COUNTRY DAY S…CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SACRAMENTO: $75,000 · OtherCALIFORNIA STATE UNIVER…ASCEND THE ASPEN INSTITUTE: $75,000 · OtherASCEND THE ASPEN INSTIT…DSA FRIENDS FOUNDATION: $40,000 · Other+19 more: $171,964 · Other+19 moreTHE ARTS CAMPUS AT WILLITS: $462,961 · Arts & CultureTHE ARTS CAMPUS…The Art Base: $100,000 · Arts & CultureThe Art BaseCAPITAL PUBLIC RADIO FDBA KXPR/KXJZ INC: $30,000 · Arts & CultureANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER: $24,500 · Arts & Culture+5 more: $44,800 · Arts & Culture+5 moreVALLEY SETTLEMENT: $336,000 · EducationVALLEY SETTLEM…CATE SCHOOL: $175,000 · EducationCATE SCHOOLEnglish in Action: $120,000 · EducationEnglish in Act…+1 more: $2,500 · EducationTHE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC: $489,500 · Social ScienceTHE ASPEN I…CREATIVE CAPITAL FOUNDATION: $361,360 · Human ServicesCREATIVE C…THE SHALOM FOUNDATION: $90,000 · Human ServicesTHE SHALOM…+2 more: $10,000 · Human ServicesManaus: $25,000 · Community Improvement
Environment$1,585,493Other$993,878Arts & Culture$662,261Education$633,500Social Science$489,500Human Services$461,360Community Improvement$25,000

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 budgetASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES: $972,793 over 6y, 5.2% of budgetTHE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC: $489,500 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetTHE ARTS CAMPUS AT WILLITS: $462,961 over 5y, 7.7% of budgetCREATIVE CAPITAL FOUNDATION: $361,360 over 5y, 1.9% of budgetVALLEY SETTLEMENT: $336,000 over 6y, 3.2% of budgetCONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION: $325,500 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetCATE SCHOOL: $175,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetMANU: $175,000 over 2y, 45% of budgetEnglish in Action: $120,000 over 4y, 2.5% of budgetTHE ASPEN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL INC: $102,500 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetThe Art Base: $100,000 over 4y, 5.3% of budgetTHE SHALOM FOUNDATION: $90,000 over 6y, 2.8% of budgetNEW VENTURE FUND: $51,200 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCAPITAL PUBLIC RADIO FDBA KXPR/KXJZ INC: $30,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetINDEPENDENCE PASS FOUNDATION: $27,500 over 4y, 2.8% of budgetPROTECT OUR WINTERS: $25,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetManaus: $25,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetCONSERVATION COLORADO EDUCATION FUND: $25,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER: $24,500 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetAspen Journalism: $15,500 over 2y, 3.8% of budgetMUSIC ASSOCIATES OF ASPEN INC: $15,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetASPEN EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $14,500 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetFRACTURED ATLAS INC: $11,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetLIFT UP: $10,000 over 1y, 2.8% of budgetLawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetEarth Island Institute Inc: $5,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetResponse - Help for Survivors of Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault: $5,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetTIDES FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOBALT FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGrist Magazine Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetADVOCATE SAFEHOUSE PROJECT: $5,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetGLOBALGIVING FOUNDATION INC: $3,964 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWilliams College: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetACCESS AFTERSCHOOL: $2,500 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE ASPEN ANIMAL SHELTER: $1,500 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetXERCES SOCIETY INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE SECRET CITY INC: $800 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetQuahog Bay Conservation: $500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetA Way Out Inc: $500 over 2y, 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.

Aspen Community Found…Colorado Gives Founda…Alpenglow FoundationRose Community Founda…The Colorado Health F…Dornick Foundation IncThe Thrift ShopAspen Business Center…Brady FoundationThe Swaha FoundationThe Austin Memorial F…Castaways Foundation
Aspen Community FoundationCO38.1× affinity16 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Aspen Community Foundation · Colorado Gives Foundation · Alpenglow Foundation · Rose Community Foundation · The Colorado Health Foundation · Dornick Foundation Inc · The Thrift Shop · Aspen Business Center Foundation · Brady Foundation · The Swaha Foundation · The Austin Memorial Foundation · Castaways 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 Catto Shaw Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Catto Shaw Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%3%13%28%50%funder's share of their income ↑0%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from government →median 22%
  • Xerces Society Inc: 22% of income from government
  • Williams College: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
15report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–50%
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 Catto Shaw Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Catto Shaw 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 53 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 Catto Shaw’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