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Cleo Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Cleo Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$179k
Granted FY2024still arriving
11
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$30k
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, FY2017 to 2024.

Youth Development$402kHealth$298kEnvironment$264kEducation$113kArts & Culture$45kCrime & Legal$40kPhilanthropy$39kFood & Nutrition$24kOther$0
02FY2024 · 11 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$15,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$3.2M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Ventana Wilderness Alliance$30,000
Ct Apptd Spec Advocates of MonTEREY$25,000
Community Partnership for Youth$20,000
Palenke Arts$15,000
Olinga Learning$15,000
ANDERSON VALLEY EDUCATION FNDN$15,000
Epicenter of Monterey$15,000
O'Neill Sea Odyssey$13,500
JACOBS HEART CHILDRENS CANCER SUPPO$10,000
BIG SUR LAND TRUST$10,000
COASTAL KIDS HOME CARE$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 (FY18–24, $100k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%Olinga Learning: $15k → 12%Olinga Learning: $10k → 12%Olinga Learning: $10k → 12%Olinga Learning: $10k → 12%Community Partnership for Youth: $20k → 12%Community Partnership for Youth: $20k → 12%Community Partnership for Youth: $15k → 12%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.

86%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.1M · 20 repeat orgs$171k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +68% since the first grant, against +58% for those funded once.

20 repeat relationships: 11 still active in FY2024, 9 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

20
13

Total granted

$1.1M
$171k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+68%
+58%

Still filing today

75%
69%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 went to new ones.

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

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Youth DevelopmentEnvironmentHealthPhilanthropyHuman ServicesRecreation & SportsOther
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

  • VW
    VENTANA WILDERNESS ALLIANCE
    7× · 2018–2024 · $145k · revenue +30%
  • CP
    COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR YOUTH
    7× · 2018–2024 · $135k · revenue +30%
  • TE
    THE EPICENTER OF MONTEREY
    7× · 2018–2024 · $91k · revenue +81%

Funded once

  • CF
    Community Foundation for Monterey C
    one grant, 2020 · $25k
  • FC
    FUTURE CITIZENS FOUNDATION DBA THE FIRST TEE OF MONTEREY COUNTYgraduated
    one grant, 2018 · $21k · revenue +83%
  • MH
    MONTAGE HEALTH FOUNDATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2018 · $20k · revenue +58%
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 Coastkeeper dba California Coastkeeper Alliance

California Coastkeeper Alliance unites Waterkeeper programs statewide to fight for swimmable, fishable, and drinkable waters for all Californians.

Environment
2
Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy

CAUSE's mission is to build grassroots power to realize social, economic and environmental justice for the people of the Central Coast Region through policy research, leadership development, organizing and advocacy.

Community Improvement
3
Redwood Coast Land Conservancy

To conserve lands for recreational, educational, ecological, agricultural, scenic & open space opportunities. We develop & maintain public access ways & trails to the ocean, rivers & other natural or scenic features along coastal Mendocino…

Environment
4
The Climate Center

The Climate Center is a climate and energy policy nonprofit working to rapidly reduce climate pollution at scale, starting in California.

Education
5
Chile-California Council

The Chile-California Council is a San Francisco-based nonprofit dedicated to developing and promoting joint endeavors and cooperative relations between Chile and California, as well as individuals, legal entities and other institutions in…

International
6
Coastwalk

To ensure the right of the public to access and respectfully enjoy the California Coast. To work for the completion of the California Coastal Trail and to educate the public about the coast and ocean resources.

—
7
Monterey Bay Economic Partnership Inc

To improve the economic health and quality of life in the monterey bay region.

Community Improvement
8
Conservation Corps North Bay Inc

To develop youth and conserve natural resources for a resilient, sustainable, and equitable community.

Employment
9
California Farmland Trust

The mission of the California Farmland Trust is to help farmers protect the best farmland in the world.

Environment
10
Girls Incorporated of the Central Coast

To inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold and to respect themselves and the world around them.Girls Incorporated of the Central Coast offers a constellation of programs that deliver innovative, multi-faceted activities designed to…

Youth Development
11
The California Center for Civic Participation

To educate california youth about the operations of local, state, and federal government.

Public Benefit
12
Coastal Quest

Coastal Quest (the Organization) is a nonprofit organization working collaboratively with partners to build resilient coastal communities in California. Our Mission is to accelerate solutions, building resilient coastal communities for…

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Community Foundation of Mendocino County; the most unlike its peers is Palenke Arts. 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

26 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. 26 of the 34 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)
8
Early backer (in before they grew)
25/26
Grantees still filing
23/26
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Ct Apptd Spec Advocates of MonTEREY: $75,000 · OtherCt Apptd Spec Advocates of Mon…JACOBS HEART CHILDRENS CANCER SUPPO: $62,500 · OtherJACOBS HEART CHILDRENS CANCER …Central Coast VNA Hospice: $30,000 · OtherCentral Coast VNA HospiceCommunity Foundation for Monterey C: $25,000 · OtherCommunity Foundation for Monte…Court Appointed Special Advocates o: $20,000 · OtherCourt Appointed Special Advoca…MENDOCINO WOODLANDS CAMP ASSOCIATION: $22,000 · OtherMENDOCINO WOODLANDS CAMP ASSOC…FUTURE CITIZENS FOUNDATION DBA THE FIRST TEE OF MONTEREY COUNTY: $20,500 · OtherFUTURE CITIZENS FOUNDATION DBA…REDWOOD EMPIRE FOOD BANK: $15,000 · Other+8 more: $74,000 · Other+8 moreVENTANA WILDERNESS ALLIANCE: $145,000 · EnvironmentVENTANA WILDERNESS A…Big Sur Land Trust: $70,000 · EnvironmentBig Sur Land TrustONeill Sea Odyssey: $23,500 · EnvironmentONeill Sea OdysseyTHE EPICENTER OF MONTEREY: $90,500 · Youth DevelopmentTHE EPICENTER OF MON…RANCHO CIELO INC: $55,000 · Youth DevelopmentRANCHO CIELO INCBOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF UKIAH: $40,000 · Youth DevelopmentBOYS AND GIRLS CLUB …DIGITAL NEST INC: $36,000 · Youth DevelopmentDIGITAL NEST INCMEARTH: $15,500 · Youth DevelopmentMEARTHCOMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR YOUTH: $135,000 · Human ServicesCOMMUNITY PARTN…OLINGA LEARNING: $45,000 · Human ServicesOLINGA LEARNINGAnderson Valley Education Foundation: $77,500 · PhilanthropyAnderson Va…COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MENDOCINO COUNTY: $37,500 · PhilanthropyCOMMUNITY F…Action Council of Monterey County Inc: $10,000 · PhilanthropyAction Coun…+1 more: $1,500 · PhilanthropyCOASTAL KIDS HOME CARE: $60,000 · HealthCOASTAL KI…George Mark Childrens Fund: $40,000 · HealthGeorge Mar…MONTAGE HEALTH FOUNDATION: $20,000 · HealthMONTAGE HE…Palenke Arts: $45,000 · Arts & Culture
Other$344,000Environment$238,500Youth Development$237,000Human Services$180,000Philanthropy$126,500Health$120,000Arts & Culture$45,000

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 budgetVENTANA WILDERNESS ALLIANCE: $145,000 over 7y, 4.0% of budgetCOMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP FOR YOUTH: $135,000 over 7y, 3.7% of budgetTHE EPICENTER OF MONTEREY: $90,500 over 7y, 2.5% of budgetAnderson Valley Education Foundation: $77,500 over 6y, 17% of budgetBig Sur Land Trust: $70,000 over 7y, 0.4% of budgetCOASTAL KIDS HOME CARE: $60,000 over 4y, 1.6% of budgetRANCHO CIELO INC: $55,000 over 3y, 0.5% of budgetOLINGA LEARNING: $45,000 over 4y, 3.4% of budgetPalenke Arts: $45,000 over 4y, 4.5% of budgetBOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF UKIAH: $40,000 over 3y, 4.3% of budgetGeorge Mark Childrens Fund: $40,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MENDOCINO COUNTY: $37,500 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetDIGITAL NEST INC: $36,000 over 2y, 1.0% of budgetONeill Sea Odyssey: $23,500 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetMENDOCINO WOODLANDS CAMP ASSOCIATION: $22,000 over 2y, 5.4% of budgetFUTURE CITIZENS FOUNDATION DBA THE FIRST TEE OF MONTEREY COUNTY: $20,500 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetMONTAGE HEALTH FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMEARTH: $15,500 over 1y, 2.7% of budgetREDWOOD EMPIRE FOOD BANK: $15,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCENTER FOR COMMUNITY ADVOCACY: $10,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetAction Council of Monterey County Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPARTNERS FOR PEACE: $10,000 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetCHRONICLE SEASON OF SHARING FUND: $9,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCHARTWELL SCHOOL: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCANDID: $1,500 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.

Nancy Buck Ransom Fou…Monterey Peninsula Fo…Pebble Beach Company …The David and Lucile …The Joseph and Vera L…Community Foundation …East Bay Community Fo…Barnet Segal Charitab…The James Irvine Foun…George and Ruth Bradf…Latino Community Foun…Silicon Valley Commun…
Nancy Buck Ransom FoundationCA36.9× affinity15 shared granteesties to 10 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation · Monterey Peninsula Foundation · Pebble Beach Company Foundation · The David and Lucile Packard Foundation · The Joseph and Vera Long Foundation · Community Foundation Santa Cruz County · East Bay Community Foundation · Barnet Segal Charitable Trust · The James Irvine Foundation · George and Ruth Bradford Foundation · Latino Community Foundation · Silicon Valley Community 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 Cleo Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Cleo Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%5%11%20%funder's share of their income ↑0%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    8report 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.

    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 34 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 Cleo’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