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Cunniff Family Fund at a glance

· Private foundation

Cunniff Family Fund

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.

$100k
Granted FY2023
3
Grants FY2023
2
States reached
$50k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0198% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2019 to 2023.

Philanthropy$350kArts & Culture$102kRecreation & Sports$95kEnvironment$63kHealth$51kEducation$37kInternational$3kHuman Services$2kOther$0
02FY2023 · 3 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2023

  • $10k–50k2 grants · $50k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $50k
$30,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$0
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SEA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION$50,000
COLGATE UNIVERSITY RT AND M CUNNIFF ENDOWMENT$30,000
CAUMSETT FOUNDATION$20,000
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 (FY21–21, $500) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 6%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 6%Boys Town: $500 → 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.

Which US states its grants reach

MI
NY
MA
CT
NE
VA
MD
OK
GA
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.

83%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$578k · 9 repeat orgs$122k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +24% since the first grant, against +10% for those funded once.

9 repeat relationships: 1 still active in FY2023, 8 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2023 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

9
17

Total granted

$578k
$42k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+24%
+10%

Still filing today

89%
53%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2023, 20% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $80k went to new ones.

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

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

’19’20’21’22’23
Arts & CultureEnvironmentHealthEducationInternationalYouth 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

  • HM
    HECKSCHER MUSEUM
    4× · 2019–2022 · $95k · revenue +52%
  • CF
    CAUMSETT FOUNDATION INC
    5× · 2019–2023 · $94k · revenue +64%
  • TN
    THE NORTH SHORE LAND ALLIANCE INC
    4× · 2019–2022 · $13k · revenue +18%

Funded once

  • NH
    NORTHWELL HEALTH FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2021 · $30k · revenue -12%
  • AC
    American Cancer Society
    one grant, 2021 · $2k
  • TT
    THE TOWNWIDE FUND OF HUNTINGTON INC
    one grant, 2021 · $1k · revenue -31%
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
Montauk Historical Society

The purpose of the montauk historical society is to collect, restore, preserve and display historically significant buildings, objects and writings and to preserve and share the history and cultures of montauk and the east end for this and…

Arts & Culture
2
Norwalk Seaport Association Inc

The norwalk seaport association, inc. offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the norwalk islands. the sheffield island lighthouse and the light keeper's cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue which…

Arts & Culture
3
Harvard Club of Ny Historical Foundation
Environment
4
Long Island Community Hospital At Nyu Langone Health

The goals and objectives of the corporation are as follows:(a) to operate and maintain a nonsectarian, general hospital at one or more locations for the furnishing of inpatient, ambulatory, restorative, preventative and emergency medical…

—
5
American Museum of Natural History

The museum's mission statement is: "to discover, interpret, and disseminate - through scientific research and education - knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe."

Arts & Culture
6
Brookhaven Health Care Services Corp

The goals and objectives of the foundation are as follows:to support the mission and charitable purposes of nyulhs, nyu langone hospitals ("nyulh"), lich and the medical schools owned and operated by new york university (collectively, "nyu…

Health
7
The Long Island Museum of American Art History & Carriages

The long island museum is dedicated to inspiring people of all ages with an understanding and enjoyment of american art, history and carriages as expressed through the heritage of long island and its diverse communities.

Arts & Culture
8
North Shore Historical Museum Inc

Housing and exhibition of long island new york north shore historical significance

Arts & Culture
9
Seton Hall University

Seton hall university is a catholic institution of higher education

—
10
Governors Island Corporation

The governors island corporation, doing business as the trust for governors island, is the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization created by the city of new york and charged with the planning, redevelopment and ongoing operations of 150…

Animals
11
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.

—
12
North Shore University Hospital

North shore university hospital is part of northwell health ("northwell"), which strives to improve the health of the communities it serves and is committed to providing the highest quality clinical care; educating the current and future…

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union; the most unlike its peers is Glenada Casino Foundation Inc. 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

19 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. 19 of the 29 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)
2
Early backer (in before they grew)
19/19
Grantees still filing
14/19
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Cunniff-Dixon Foundation: $350,000 · OtherCunniff-Dixon FoundationSEA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION INC: $50,000 · OtherSEA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION INCCOLGATE UNIVERSITY RT AND M CUNNIFF ENDOWMENT: $30,000 · OtherCOLGATE UNIVERSITY RT AND M CUNNIFF ENDOWMENT+12 more: $12,500 · OtherCAUMSETT FOUNDATION INC: $93,500 · EnvironmentCAUMSETT FOUNDATI…THE NORTH SHORE LAND ALLIANCE INC: $13,000 · EnvironmentTHE NORTH SHORE L…HECKSCHER MUSEUM: $94,500 · Arts & CultureHECKSCHER MUSEUMSOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LONG ISLAND ANTIQUITIES: $6,000 · Arts & CultureSOCIETY FOR THE …+4 more: $2,200 · Arts & CultureNORTHWELL HEALTH FOUNDATION: $30,000 · HealthVISITING NURSE SERVICE AND HOSPICE OF SUFFOLK FOUNDATION INC: $13,000 · HealthHILLSDALE COLLEGE: $5,000 · EducationCOLD SPRING HARBOR VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY LIBRARY INC: $1,000 · EducationSave The Children Federation Inc: $3,000 · InternationalBOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA: $1,000 · Youth Development
Other$442,500Environment$106,500Arts & Culture$102,700Health$43,000Education$6,000International$3,000Youth Development$1,000

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 budgetHECKSCHER MUSEUM: $94,500 over 4y, 2.2% of budgetCAUMSETT FOUNDATION INC: $93,500 over 5y, 2.9% of budgetSEA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetNORTHWELL HEALTH FOUNDATION: $30,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE NORTH SHORE LAND ALLIANCE INC: $13,000 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetVISITING NURSE SERVICE AND HOSPICE OF SUFFOLK FOUNDATION INC: $13,000 over 3y, 5.5% of budgetSOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF LONG ISLAND ANTIQUITIES: $6,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetHILLSDALE COLLEGE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE SOCIETY OF ST JOHNLAND: $4,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetSave The Children Federation Inc: $3,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE TOWNWIDE FUND OF HUNTINGTON INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetBOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGLENADA CASINO FOUNDATION INC: $1,000 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetTHE MOUNT VERNON LADIES' ASSOCIATION OF THE UNION: $800 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetFather Flanagan's Boys' Home: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE COLD SPRING HARBOR FIRE HOUSE MUSEUM: $500 over 1y, 1.8% of budgetColonial Williamsburg Foundation: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNATIONAL MARINE LIFE CENTER INC: $400 over 1y, 0.1% 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.

Ann Eden Woodward Fou…Jefferson Family Char…Robert David Lion Gar…American Endowment Fo…The Bank of America C…Vanguard Charitable E…Fidelity Investments …Donor Advised Charita…Amazonsmile Foundation
Ann Eden Woodward FoundationNY13.6× affinity4 shared granteesties to 8 of 8Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Ann Eden Woodward Foundation · Jefferson Family Charitable Foundation · Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation Inc · American Endowment Foundation · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · 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 Cunniff Family Fund funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Cunniff Family Fund. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24
no gov · 00%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →median 16%
  • Save the Children Federation Inc: 30% of income from government
  • National Marine Life Center Inc: 16% of income from government
  • Sea Education Association Inc: 12% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
4report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–40%
typical government reliance, FY20–24
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 29 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 2023, released 2023. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2024) is on record and reports no grant expense, so the figures above are from FY2023, the most recent year this funder made grants.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Cunniff Family’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