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Democratizing Philanthropy Project at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Public charity

Democratizing Philanthropy Project

DEMOCRATIZING PHILANTHROPY PROJECT gives organizations addressing the systemic issues facing our nation the ability to build a powerful, lasting revenue stream and network of engaged activists and donors they can rely on.

$83k
Granted FY2024still arriving
4
Grants FY2024still arriving
4
States reached
$32k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its fieldRead
04Through 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, FY2023 to 2024.

Arts & Culture$299kCivil Rights$201kPublic Benefit$193kEmployment$60kEducation$55kPhilanthropy$55kCommunity Improvement$34kCrime & Legal$20kOther$0
02FY2024 · 4 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$20,000
Median grant
4
States reached
$574k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
PRISM REPORTS INC$31,915
GRASSROOTS ANALYTICS LLC$20,000
CIVIC SHOUT LLC$20,000
TEDESCO & AFFILIATE LLC$11,250
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 (FY23–23, $30k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 67% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%ACTIVATE 48 EDUCATION FUND: $20k → 11%SOMOS FAMILIA: $10k → 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

MN
NY
OH
CA
VA
MD
DE
AZ
NC
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 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
Jobs with Justice San Francisco

A long-term, strategic alliance of labor, community, faith-based, and student organizations working together to build greater economic power for workers and community members through employee rights at work and access to good jobs,…

Employment
2
Jobs With Justice Education Fund

The organization serves as a coalition of labor organizations, community groups, faith-based organizations, and student groups dedicated to protecting the rights of working people. To this end, the corporation shall engage in organizing…

—
3
Fuerza LaboralPower of Workers

Fuerza Laboral is a workers' rights center whose mission is to shift the balance of power in our economy in favor of workers by educating, training, and organizing workers to become community leaders; taking direct action to recover unpaid…

Education
4
Philadelphia Area Jobs With Justice

Building support for the rights of working people through coalitions of labor and community and through public education.

Employment
5
National Legal Advocacy Network Dba Glow

The National Legal Advocacy Network d/b/a Grassroots Law & Organizing for Workers is a legal non-profit organization dedicated to using legal strategies as a tool to build power for marginalized workers and create systemic change through…

Crime & Legal
6
Fund for Justice

Fund for Justice is a nationally connected social impact research and advocacy organization that works to achieve fundamental, systemic reform by addressing policies and practicies that prevent individuals from reaching their full…

Crime & Legal
7
Southern Coalition for Social Justice

Southern coalition for social justice partners with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities across the south to defend and advance their political, social, and economic rights. through an intersectional and…

Crime & Legal
8
United States Federation for Worker Cooperation

To build a thriving ecosystem for worker-owned and controlled businesses - and their cooperative leaders - to power movements for racial justice and economic democracy.

Employment
9
American Civil Liberties Union of Texas Inc

The ACLU of Texas works with communities, at the State Capitol, and in the courts to protect and advance civil rights and civil liberties for every Texan, no exceptions.

—
10
Aclu Foundation of Texas Inc

The ACLU Foundation of Texas is the unyielding guardian and promoter of freedom, justice, equality and dignity of all people, particularly for those who are still fighting to secure the full exercise of their civil rights and liberties.…

Civil Rights
11
Fair Work Center

We are workers, united across different industries to improve our working conditions and our lives. We come together as working people to build power through education, organizing, and enforcement. We work to raise and uphold standards in…

Employment
12
United for a Fair Economy Inc

See Form 990, Part I, Line 1, Description of Organization Mission

Social Science
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is National Domestic Workers Alliance Inc; the most unlike its peers is Fair Shot Texas. 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

30 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. 30 of the 33 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)
4
Early backer (in before they grew)
30/30
Grantees still filing
15/30
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

PRISM REPORTS INC: $298,665 · EducationPRISM REPORTS INCWORKERS DEFENSE PROJECT: $35,000 · EducationWORKERS DEFENSE PROJECTVIRGINIA NEW MAJORITY EDUCATION FUND: $28,114 · EducationVIRGINIA NEW MAJORITY EDUCATION FUNDWE ARE DOWN HOME: $20,000 · EducationUnited for Respect Education Fund: $20,000 · Education+1 more: $10,000 · EducationFLORIDA RISING TOGETHER INC: $33,972 · Civil RightsFLORIDA RISING TOG…NEW GEORGIA PROJECT INC: $30,000 · Civil RightsNEW GEORGIA PROJEC…ARIZONA CENTER FOR EMPOWERMENT: $20,000 · Civil RightsARIZONA CENTER FOR…National Domestic Workers Alliance Inc: $20,000 · Civil RightsNational Domestic …MORE PERFECT UNION FOUNDATION: $20,000 · Civil RightsMORE PERFECT UNION…ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH ORGANIZING: $10,000 · Civil RightsALLIANCE FOR YOUTH…BVM CAPACITY BUILDING INSTITUTE INC: $10,000 · Civil RightsBVM CAPACITY BUILD…TEXAS FREEDOM NETWORK EDUCATION FUND: $10,000 · Civil RightsTEXAS FREEDOM NETW…PICO California: $24,475 · Public BenefitPICO Califor…STATE DEMOCRACY PROJECT: $20,000 · Public BenefitSTATE DEMOCR…THE OHIO ORGANIZING COLLABORATIVE: $20,000 · Public BenefitTHE OHIO ORG…NEO Philanthropy Inc: $20,000 · Public BenefitNEO Philanth…FAIR SHOT TEXAS: $20,000 · Public BenefitFAIR SHOT TE…CASA INC: $30,000 · OtherCASA INCGRASSROOTS ANALYTICS LLC: $20,000 · OtherGRASSROOTS ANALYTIC…RESTAURANT OPPORTUNITIES CENTERS UNITED INC: $20,000 · OtherRESTAURANT OPPORTUN…CIVIC SHOUT LLC: $20,000 · OtherCIVIC SHOUT LLCTEDESCO & AFFILIATE LLC: $11,250 · OtherTEDESCO & AFFILIATE…TEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT EDUCATION FUND: $22,891 · OtherTEXAS ORGANIZING PR…Jobs with Justice Education Fund: $20,000 · OtherJobs with Justice E…ISAIAH: $20,000 · OtherISAIAHMake the Road New York: $27,500 · Crime & LegalRESTORING JUSTICE: $20,000 · Crime & LegalACTIVATE 48 EDUCATION FUND: $20,000 · Human ServicesCAROLINA FEDERATION FUND: $10,000 · Human ServicesSomos Familia: $10,000 · Human ServicesTIDES FOUNDATION: $35,000 · Philanthropy
Education$411,779Civil Rights$153,972Public Benefit$104,475Other$164,141Crime & Legal$47,500Human Services$40,000Philanthropy$35,000

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 budgetPRISM REPORTS INC: $298,665 over 2y, 15% of budgetTIDES FOUNDATION: $35,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWORKERS DEFENSE PROJECT: $35,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetFLORIDA RISING TOGETHER INC: $33,972 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetCASA INC: $30,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNEW GEORGIA PROJECT INC: $30,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetVIRGINIA NEW MAJORITY EDUCATION FUND: $28,114 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetMake the Road New York: $27,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPICO California: $24,475 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetTEXAS ORGANIZING PROJECT EDUCATION FUND: $22,891 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetWE ARE DOWN HOME: $20,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetACTIVATE 48 EDUCATION FUND: $20,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetARIZONA CENTER FOR EMPOWERMENT: $20,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetRESTAURANT OPPORTUNITIES CENTERS UNITED INC: $20,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetJobs with Justice Education Fund: $20,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetNational Domestic Workers Alliance Inc: $20,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSTATE DEMOCRACY PROJECT: $20,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetISAIAH: $20,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetMORE PERFECT UNION FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetTHE OHIO ORGANIZING COLLABORATIVE: $20,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetNEO Philanthropy Inc: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFAIR SHOT TEXAS: $20,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetUnited for Respect Education Fund: $20,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetRESTORING JUSTICE: $20,000 over 1y, 3.3% of budgetALLIANCE FOR YOUTH ORGANIZING: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetRED WINE & BLUE EDUCATION FUND: $10,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetBVM CAPACITY BUILDING INSTITUTE INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCAROLINA FEDERATION FUND: $10,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetSomos Familia: $10,000 over 1y, 3.8% of budgetTEXAS FREEDOM NETWORK EDUCATION FUND: $10,000 over 1y, 0.2% 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.

Amalgamated Charitabl…The Ford FoundationWindward FundNEO Philanthropy IncTides FoundationSolidago FoundationNew Venture FundHopewell FundImpactassetsincWay to RiseWellspring Philanthro…Rockefeller Philanthr…
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation IncDC36.9× affinity17 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc · The Ford Foundation · Windward Fund · NEO Philanthropy Inc · Tides Foundation · Solidago Foundation · New Venture Fund · Hopewell Fund · Impactassetsinc · Way to Rise · Wellspring Philanthropic Fund Inc · Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc

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 Democratizing Philanthropy Project funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Democratizing Philanthropy Project. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%1%5%11%20%funder's share of their income ↑0%5%10%15%20%share of the org’s income from government →median 8%
  • Casa Inc: 8% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
1get no government money at all
1report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–20%
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.
04Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Democratizing Philanthropy Project?

Find your warmest path to Democratizing Philanthropy Project 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 33 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 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 Democratizing Philanthropy Project’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