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· Private foundation

Ceres Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$593k
Granted FY2025still arriving
106
Grants FY2025still arriving
17
States reached
$30k
Largest
01What it funds
0196% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Education$1.1MHealth$605kArts & Culture$471kPublic Benefit$302kHuman Services$271kPhilanthropy$251kCivil Rights$184kEnvironment$168kOther$0
02FY2025 · 106 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k84 grants · $248k
  • $10k–50k22 grants · $345k
$4,000
Median grant
17
States reached
$5.7M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
DANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION$30,000
LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE$30,000
HILLSDALE COLLEGE$25,000
IJ INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE$25,000
FIRE FDN FOR INDIV RTS IN ED$25,000
CRC CAP RESEARCH CENTER$20,000
STEPPING STONES MONTESSORI$20,000
MPI MOVING PIX INSTITUTE$20,000
ORCHARD VILLAGE$15,000
DOOR COUNTY LAND TRUST$15,000
ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS$10,000
CAMP HIGHLANDS FOR BOYS FOUNDATION$10,000
CHARLEVOIX COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION$10,000
THE WHITTIER PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION$10,000
PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY$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 (FY17–25, $357k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 42% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants spread fairly evenly across need levels.

area typical 9%A PRECIOUS CHILD: $2k → 5%HOPE HOUSE OF COLORADO: $10k → 7%A PRECIOUS CHILD: $2k → 5%HOPE HOUSE OF COLORADO: $10k → 7%HOPE HOUSE OF COLORADO: $10k → 7%HOPE HOUSE OF COLORADO: $10k → 7%HOPE HOUSE OF COLORADO: $10k → 7%HOPE HOUSE OF COLORADO: $10k → 7%MOPS INTERNATIONAL: $6k → 12%HOPE HOUSE OF COLORADO: $4k → 7%TRI-LAKES CARES: $10k → 9%MOPS INTERNATIONAL: $5k → 12%TRI-LAKES CARES: $10k → 9%TRI-LAKES CARES: $8k → 9%TRI-LAKES CARES: $8k → 9%TRI-LAKES CARES: $7k → 9%TRI-LAKES CARES: $7k → 9%TRI-LAKES CARES: $4k → 9%TRI-LAKES CARES: $3k → 9%TRI-LAKES CARES: $2k → 9%FREEDOM SERVICE DOGS: $2k → 8%THE PLACE: $7k → 9%THE PLACE: $7k → 9%THE PLACE: $7k → 9%THE PLACE: $7k → 9%THE PLACE: $5k → 9%THE PLACE: $4k → 9%URBAN PEAK COLORADO SPRINGS: $2k → 9%THE PLACE: $2k → 9%SILVER KEY SENIOR SERVICES: $7k → 9%SILVER KEY SENIOR SERVICES: $7k → 9%SILVER KEY SENIOR SERVICES: $7k → 9%SILVER KEY SENIOR SERVICES: $5k → 9%SILVER KEY SENIOR SERVICES: $5k → 9%SILVER KEY SENIOR SERVICES: $2k → 9%NEW MOMS: $6k → 14%NEW MOMS: $4k → 14%ORCHARD VILLAGE: $15k → 14%ORCHARD VILLAGE: $15k → 14%ORCHARD VILLAGE: $15k → 14%ORCHARD VILLAGE: $15k → 14%ORCHARD VILLAGE: $10k → 14%ORCHARD VILLAGE: $10k → 14%ORCHARD VILLAGE: $7k → 14%ORCHARD VILLAGE: $7k → 14%ORCHARD VILLAGE: $6k → 14%YOUTH SERVICES OF GLENVIEW-NORTHBROOK: $2k → 14%NORTH SHORE SENIOR CENTER: $2k → 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

VT
IL
WI
MI
NY
MA
OR
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
CA
UT
CO
KY
VA
MD
DE
AZ
DC
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.

95%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$3.5M · 144 repeat orgs$171k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +39% since the first grant, against +29% for those funded once.

144 repeat relationships: 77 still active in FY2025, 67 since wound down; 17 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

144
51

Total granted

$3.5M
$132k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+39%
+29%

Still filing today

60%
39%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 92% 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
Human ServicesArts & CultureEducationHealthEnvironmentCivil RightsOther
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

  • DM
    DANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FUND
    9× · 2017–2025 · $154k · revenue +89%
  • IF
    INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE
    9× · 2017–2025 · $112k · revenue +57%
  • OV
    ORCHARD VILLAGE
    9× · 2017–2025 · $101k · revenue +125%

Funded once

  • F
    FIRE
    one grant, 2024 · $20k
  • MP
    MOVING PIX INSTITUTE
    one grant, 2024 · $18k
  • AU
    ALS UNITED GREATER CHICAGOgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $10k · revenue +29%
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 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.

—
2
The Water Research Foundation

The purpose of the water research foundation (wrf) is a definitive research organization to advance the science of all things water to better meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. to engage exclusively in…

Environment
3
Detroit Historical Society

The Detroit Historical Society tells Detroit's stories and why they matter through its exhibits, programs, outreach, and the preservation and dissemination of its artifacts and collections.

Arts & Culture
4
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
5
Npr Foundation

The npr foundation ("foundation") is organized and operated exclusively for the benefit of its sole supported organization, national public radio, inc. ("npr inc."). the foundation supports npr inc. through various activities such as…

—
6
Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States Inc

The fsmb serves as the voice for state medical boards, supporting them through education, assessment, research and advocacy while providing services and initiatives that promote patient safety, quality health care and regulatory best…

Health
7
Augustana College

Rooted in the liberal arts & sciences & lutheran expression of the christian faith, & is committed to offering a challenging education that develops qualities of mind, spirit, & body necessary for a rewarding life of leadership & service…

Education
8
Central Indiana Corporate Partnership Inc

Central indiana corporate partnership (cicp) is an alliance of indiana's business and research university leaders coming together to foster long-term prosperity for the region. cicp's mission is to transform the economy of indiana in order…

Community Improvement
9
Fielding Graduate University

We provide exemplary interdisciplinary programs for a community of scholar-practitioners within a distributed learning model grounded in student-driven inquiry and leading to enhanced knowledge.

—
10
American Gas Association

American gas association's (the association) mission is to develop and advocate for informed, innovative, and durable policy that fulfills our nation's energy needs, environmental aspirations and economic potential. we are committed to…

—
11
Foreign Policy Research Institute

The foreign policy research institute (frpi) is dedicated to producing the highest quality scholarship and nonpartisan policy analysis focused on crucial foreign policy and national security challenges facing the united states. we educate…

International
12
University Family Physicians Inc

Engage actively and continuously in medical research, education and training in the practice of medicine in conjunction with the department of family medicine of the indiana university school of medicine and indiana university…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is New Moms Inc; the most unlike its peers is Atl 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

127 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. 127 of the 217 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)
38
Early backer (in before they grew)
121/127
Grantees still filing
93/127
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

STEPPING STONES MONTESSORI: $233,000 · OtherSTEPPING STONES MONTESSORIDANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FUND: $153,500 · OtherDANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FUNDATL FOUNDATION: $92,000 · OtherMUNSON HEALTHCARE FOUNDATIONS: $85,000 · OtherTHE FEDERALIST SOCIETY FOR LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY STUDIES: $82,000 · OtherTHE PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY: $78,000 · Other+124 more: $1,462,384 · Other+124 moreHILLSDALE COLLEGE: $244,000 · EducationHILLSDALE COLLEG…WHITTIER PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION: $209,400 · EducationWHITTIER PUBLIC …INTERCOLLEGIATE STUDIES INSTITUTE INC: $37,500 · EducationINTERCOLLEGIATE …RANDOLPH COLLEGE INC: $36,000 · EducationRANDOLPH COLLEGE…CIRQUE LODGE FOUNDATION: $27,500 · Education+12 more: $76,000 · Education+12 moreORCHARD VILLAGE: $100,600 · Human ServicesORCHARD V…HOPE HOUSE OF COLORADO: $67,500 · Human ServicesHOPE HOUS…TRI-LAKES CARES: $59,500 · Human ServicesTRI-LAKES…The Place: $41,000 · Human ServicesThe PlaceSILVER KEY SENIOR SERVICES INC: $34,000 · Human ServicesSILVER KE…NORTH SHORE SENIOR CENTER: $14,000 · Human Services+14 more: $51,733 · Human Services+14 moreROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLIC MEDIA INC: $50,800 · Arts & CulturePUBLIC BROADCASTING OF COLORADO INC: $48,000 · Arts & CultureFIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: $42,300 · Arts & CultureRAVINIA FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION: $39,000 · Arts & CultureMOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE: $28,700 · Arts & CultureCHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA INC: $27,700 · Arts & CultureFITZGERALD GRIFFIN FOUNDATION: $16,500 · Arts & CultureGERMAN-AMERICAN SCHOOL ASSN: $10,000 · Arts & Culture+8 more: $34,506 · Arts & CultureLeadership Institute: $152,500 · Public BenefitTHE HEARTLAND INSTITUTE: $100,000 · Public Benefit+3 more: $11,500 · Public BenefitCharlevoix County Community Foundation: $104,433 · PhilanthropyCAPITAL RESEARCH CENTER: $81,000 · PhilanthropyHope For The Warriors: $29,000 · PhilanthropyNATIONAL CHARITY LEAGUE WHITTIER: $13,000 · Philanthropy+3 more: $11,000 · PhilanthropyINSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE: $112,000 · Civil RightsActon Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty: $52,500 · Civil RightsFOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EXPRESSION INC: $48,000 · Civil RightsGLSEN INC: $11,000 · Civil Rights+1 more: $2,000 · Civil Rights
Other$2,185,884Education$630,400Human Services$368,333Arts & Culture$297,506Public Benefit$264,000Philanthropy$238,433Civil Rights$225,500

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 budgetHILLSDALE COLLEGE: $244,000 over 9y, 0.1% of budgetWHITTIER PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION: $209,400 over 9y, 15% of budgetDANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FUND: $153,500 over 9y, 0.8% of budgetLeadership Institute: $152,500 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetINSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE: $112,000 over 9y, 0.1% of budgetCharlevoix County Community Foundation: $104,433 over 9y, 0.4% of budgetORCHARD VILLAGE: $100,600 over 9y, 0.1% of budgetTHE HEARTLAND INSTITUTE: $100,000 over 5y, 0.5% of budgetATL FOUNDATION: $92,000 over 9y, 29% of budgetMUNSON HEALTHCARE FOUNDATIONS: $85,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetTHE FEDERALIST SOCIETY FOR LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY STUDIES: $82,000 over 9y, 0.1% of budgetCAPITAL RESEARCH CENTER: $81,000 over 9y, 0.2% of budgetTHE PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY: $78,000 over 8y, 4.7% of budgetHOPE HOUSE OF COLORADO: $67,500 over 9y, 0.4% of budgetTRI-LAKES CARES: $59,500 over 9y, 0.4% of budgetTHE SIMON FOUNDATION: $57,000 over 8y, 59% of budgetCraig Hospital Foundation: $53,500 over 9y, 0.1% of budgetActon Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty: $52,500 over 9y, 0.1% of budgetROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLIC MEDIA INC: $50,800 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetClearwater Camp Foundation Inc: $49,000 over 9y, 1.7% of budgetPUBLIC BROADCASTING OF COLORADO INC: $48,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetFOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EXPRESSION INC: $48,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetDIRECT RELIEF: $45,500 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetFIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: $42,300 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetGrand Canyon River Guides Inc: $42,000 over 9y, 3.5% of budgetThe Place: $41,000 over 8y, 0.2% of budgetRAVINIA FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION: $39,000 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetINSIDE OUT YOUTH SERVICES: $38,000 over 7y, 0.4% of budgetINTERCOLLEGIATE STUDIES INSTITUTE INC: $37,500 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetThe Hap Foundation Inc (F/K/A Journeycare Foundation): $37,000 over 9y, 0.8% of budgetRANDOLPH COLLEGE INC: $36,000 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetDOOR COUNTY LAND TRUST INC: $35,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetLittle Traverse Conservancy Inc: $34,900 over 9y, 0.1% of budgetSILVER KEY SENIOR SERVICES INC: $34,000 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetHope For The Warriors: $29,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetMOVING PICTURE INSTITUTE: $28,700 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetCHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA INC: $27,700 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetCIRQUE LODGE FOUNDATION: $27,500 over 9y, 2.1% of budgetYOUTH & OPPORTUNITY UNITED INC: $27,000 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetPlanned Parenthood of Illinois: $23,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetOPEN BOOKS LTD: $19,500 over 7y, 0.2% of budgetANGELIC ORGANICS LEARNING CENTER INC: $18,434 over 7y, 0.2% of budgetFITZGERALD GRIFFIN FOUNDATION: $16,500 over 7y, 11% of budgetYELLOW DOG WATERSHED PRESERVE INC: $15,500 over 9y, 4.0% of budgetCHICAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: $15,000 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetHIGHER GROUND AT LAKE LOUISE: $14,500 over 5y, 0.5% of budgetTHE JOSSELYN CENTER NFP: $14,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetNORTH SHORE SENIOR CENTER: $14,000 over 9y, 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.

  • Who funds HILLSDALE COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds WHITTIER PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds DANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FUND ↗
  • Who funds Leadership Institute ↗
  • Who funds INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE ↗
  • Who funds Charlevoix County Community Foundation ↗
  • Who funds ORCHARD VILLAGE ↗
  • Who funds THE HEARTLAND INSTITUTE ↗
  • Who funds ATL FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds MUNSON HEALTHCARE FOUNDATIONS ↗
  • Who funds THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY FOR LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY STUDIES ↗
  • Who funds CAPITAL RESEARCH CENTER ↗
  • Who funds THE PHILADELPHIA SOCIETY ↗
  • Who funds HOPE HOUSE OF COLORADO ↗
  • Who funds TRI-LAKES CARES ↗
  • Who funds THE SIMON FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds Craig Hospital Foundation ↗
  • Who funds Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty ↗
  • Who funds ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLIC MEDIA INC ↗
  • Who funds Clearwater Camp Foundation Inc ↗
  • Who funds PUBLIC BROADCASTING OF COLORADO INC ↗
  • Who funds FOUNDATION FOR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND EXPRESSION INC ↗
  • Who funds DIRECT RELIEF ↗
  • Who funds FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ↗
  • Who funds Grand Canyon River Guides Inc ↗
  • Who funds The Place ↗
  • Who funds RAVINIA FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION ↗
  • Who funds INSIDE OUT YOUTH SERVICES ↗
  • Who funds INTERCOLLEGIATE STUDIES INSTITUTE INC ↗
  • Who funds The Hap Foundation Inc (F/K/A Journeycare Foundation) ↗
  • Who funds RANDOLPH COLLEGE INC ↗
  • Who funds DOOR COUNTY LAND TRUST INC ↗
  • Who funds Little Traverse Conservancy Inc ↗

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 Chicago Community TrustIL22.7× affinity21 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Chicago Community Trust · Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago · Oleson Foundation · The Anschutz Foundation · John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation · Charlevoix County Community Foundation · The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc · Dr Scholl Foundation · The Legett Foundation · Donors Trust Inc · El Pomar Foundation · Baxter International 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 Ceres Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Ceres Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 30%4%15%34%60%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 49%
  • Christopher Reeve Foundation: 49% of income from government
  • Sandy Hook Promise Foundation: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
3get no government money at all
27report 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 Ceres Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Ceres 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 217 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 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

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