Skip to content
Chesbro Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Chesbro 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.

$101k
Granted FY2025still arriving
3
Grants FY2025still arriving
3
States reached
$50k
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.

Animals$229kEducation$117kInternational$63kArts & Culture$10kCivil Rights$9kCrime & Legal$3kSocial Science$3kRecreation & Sports$2kOther$0
02FY2025 · 3 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • $10k–50k2 grants · $51k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $50k
$30,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$1.5M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SPECIAL OPERATIONS WARRIOR FOUNDATION$50,000
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK$30,000
CONSERVATION FORCE$21,000
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:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY17–25) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 87% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%HOOVER INSTITUTION ON WAR REVOLUTION AND PEACE: $3k → 8%WILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK: $30k → 10%SPIRIT OF AMERICA: $3k → 14%SARATOGA WAR HORSE FOUNDATION: $1k → 7%EMPOWERS AFRICA: $15k → 17%FRIENDS OF KENYA WILDLIFE: $5k → 15%BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA: $1k → 13%US SPORTSMEN'S ALLIANCE FOUNDATION: $1k → 15%NRA FOUNDATION: $2k → 6%SPIRIT OF AMERICA: $3k → 7%CONSERVATION FORCE: $21k → 15%HOOVER INSTITUTION: $3k → 8%WILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK: $25k → 10%SPIRIT OF AMERICA: $3k → 14%SARATOGA WAR HORSE FOUNDATION: $1k → 7%EMPOWERS AFRICA: $15k → 17%FRIENDS OF KENYA WILDLIFE: $5k → 15%BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA: $1k → 13%US SPORTSMEN'S ALLIANCE FOUNDATION: $1k → 15%NRA FOUNDATION: $1k → 6%Spirit of America: $3k → 7%CONSERVATION FORCE: $21k → 15%HOOVER INSTITUTION ON WAR REVOLUTION AND PEACE: $3k → 8%WILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK: $20k → 10%SPIRIT OF AMERICA: $2k → 14%EMPOWERS AFRICA: $14k → 17%FRIENDS OF KENYA WILDLIFE: $4k → 15%SPIRIT OF AMERICA: $3k → 7%Conservation Force: $16k → 15%HOOVER INSTITUTION ON WAR REVOLUTION AND PEACE: $3k → 8%WILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK: $20k → 10%SPIRIT OF AMERICA: $2k → 14%SPIRIT OF AMERICA: $3k → 7%CONSERVATION FORCE: $5k → 15%HOOVER INSTITUTION: $3k → 8%WILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK: $15k → 10%Stand Together: $3k → 7%CONSERVATION FORCE: $5k → 15%Hoover Institution on War Revolution and Peace: $3k → 8%Wildlife Conservation Network: $15k → 10%STAND TOGETHER: $2k → 7%HOOVER INSTITUTION: $2k → 8%WILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK: $15k → 10%STAND TOGETHER: $2k → 7%HOOVER INSTITUTION: $2k → 8%WILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK: $4k → 10%STAND TOGETHER: $2k → 7%WILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK: $3k → 10%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
OR
OH
CA
CO
VA
LA
GA
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.

97%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$419k · 12 repeat orgs$11k to everyone else

12 repeat relationships: 3 still active in FY2025, 9 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

12
3

Total granted

$419k
$11k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+125%
+248%

Still filing today

75%
67%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 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
AnimalsInternationalCrime & LegalYouth DevelopmentPublic BenefitEnvironmentOther
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

  • WC
    WILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK INC
    9× · 2017–2025 · $147k · revenue +302%
  • SO
    SPECIAL OPERATIONS WARRIOR FOUNDATION
    3× · 2023–2025 · $100k · revenue +221%
  • EA
    EMPOWERS AFRICA INC
    3× · 2020–2022 · $44k · revenue +250%

Funded once

  • OR
    OUR RESCUE
    one grant, 2023 · $10k · revenue -30%
  • RR
    RIDER RELIEF FUND
    one grant, 2017 · $500
  • CW
    CALIFORNIA WATERFOWL ASSOCIATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $500 · revenue +248%
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
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

To sustain, restore, and enhance the nation's fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats.

Animals
2
Wildearth Guardians

Wildearth guardians works to protect and restore the wildlife, wild places, wild rivers, and health of the american west.

Unclassified
3
National Association of Clean Water Agencies

Nacwa is the national voice of public clean water utilities, shaping water policy, convening a vibrant peer network, and empowering water leaders.

—
4
Conservation Farms & Ranches

Preserving and enhancing the habitat of wildlife, such as sandhill cranes, waterfowl, raptors, which habitat expenses are supported by agricultural activities.

Housing & Shelter
5
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
6
Wetlands America Trust Inc

Wetlands america trust, inc. is a nonprofit organization formed in 1985 to expand ducks unlimited, inc's mission to provide leadership in the protection of the natural balance of wetlands ecosystems ensuring the future viability of…

Environment
7
The Wildlife Society

The wildlife society's mission is to inspire, empower, and enable wildlife professionals to sustain wildlife populations and habitats through science-based management and conservation.

Animals
8
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.

—
9
American Ornithological Society

See schedule othe american ornithological society (aos) is an international membership organization that connects ornithologists, science, and bird conservation by supporting science that advances the understanding and conservation of…

Science & Tech
10
Wildlife Conservation Global Inc

Wildlife conservation global, inc. operates the okapi conservation project (ocp) which works in the democratic republic of the congo with the institute in congo for the conservation of nature (iccn) and local communities throughout the…

Animals
11
American Foreign Service Association

American foreign service association (afsa) is both the principal advocate for the long-term institutional wellbeing of the professional career foreign service and responsible for safeguarding the interest of afsa members. (continued on…

—
12
Rainforest Trust

Rainforest trust saves endangered wildlife and protects our planet by creating rainforest reserves through partnerships, community engagement, and donor support.

International
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Special Operations Warrior Foundation; the most unlike its peers is California Waterfowl Association. 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

12 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. 12 of the 16 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.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
12/12
Grantees still filing
8/12
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK INC: $146,500 · AnimalsWILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK INCCONSERVATION FORCE INC: $68,250 · AnimalsCONSERVATION FORCE INC+1 more: $2,000 · AnimalsSPECIAL OPERATIONS WARRIOR FOUNDATION: $100,000 · EducationSPECIAL OPERATIONS WARRIOR F…THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY: $9,000 · EducationTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE…EMPOWERS AFRICA INC: $44,000 · InternationalEMPOWERS AFRICA …Spirit of America Worldwide: $18,500 · InternationalSpirit of Americ…FRIENDS OF KENYA WILDLIFE: $14,000 · OtherFRIENDS O…Hoover Institution on War Revolution and Peace: $10,000 · OtherHoover In…Stand Together: $8,500 · OtherStand Tog…SARATOGA WARHORSE FOUNDATION INC: $2,000 · OtherSARATOGA …+2 more: $1,000 · OtherOUR RESCUE: $10,000 · Arts & CultureNRA FOUNDATION INC: $3,000 · Crime & LegalBOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA: $2,000 · Youth Development
Animals$216,750Education$109,000International$62,500Other$35,500Arts & Culture$10,000Crime & Legal$3,000Youth Development$2,000

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 budgetWILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK INC: $146,500 over 9y, 0.1% of budgetSPECIAL OPERATIONS WARRIOR FOUNDATION: $100,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetCONSERVATION FORCE INC: $68,250 over 5y, 1.0% of budgetEMPOWERS AFRICA INC: $44,000 over 3y, 0.9% of budgetSpirit of America Worldwide: $18,500 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetOUR RESCUE: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY: $9,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetNRA FOUNDATION INC: $3,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetBOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSARATOGA WARHORSE FOUNDATION INC: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTHE UNITED STATES SPORTSMEN'S ALLIANCE FOUNDATION INC: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCALIFORNIA WATERFOWL ASSOCIATION: $500 over 1y, 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.

National Philanthropi…Vanguard Charitable E…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
National Philanthropic TrustPA9.7× affinity4 shared granteesties to 4 of 4Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: National Philanthropic Trust · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Donor Advised Charitable Giving 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 Chesbro Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Chesbro Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%8%15%22%30%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–30%
    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 Chesbro Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Chesbro 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 16 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

    Play a game based on Chesbro’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