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Dennis Ming-Hong Chen Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Dennis Ming-Hong Chen 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.

$27k
Granted FY2025still arriving
18
Grants FY2025still arriving
8
States reached
$12k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0199% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Religion$93kHealth$38kEducation$22kYouth Development$7kArts & Culture$4kEnvironment$4kRecreation & Sports$3kInternational$3kOther$0
02FY2025 · 18 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k17 grants · $16k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $12k
$600
Median grant
8
States reached
$854k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
TEXAS BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION INC$11,800
GENERATION SERVE$5,579
EANES SCHOOL$1,936
IRONMAN FOUNDATION$1,762
TAIWANESE HERITAGE SOCIETY OF HOUSTON$1,000
WATERORG$600
HOUSTON FOOD BANK$600
Sjgren's Foundation$600
Alzheimer's Association$600
ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL$500
BUDDHIST GLOBAL RELIEF$400
Individual grant recipient$300
Harris County Public Library - Spring Branch Memorial Library$300
AMERICAN BODHI CENTER INC$300
DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION$300
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 (FY20–20, $209) land where the poverty rate runs at 16%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%KIDS MEALS: $209 → 16%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

IL
NY
MA
CA
VA
DE
TN
DC
OK
MS
TX
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.

90%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$185k · 26 repeat orgs$21k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +43% since the first grant, against +33% for those funded once.

26 repeat relationships: 16 still active in FY2025, 10 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

26
38

Total granted

$185k
$19k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+43%
+33%

Still filing today

65%
50%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 92% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $2k 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
HealthEducationInternationalArts & CulturePhilanthropyReligionOther
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

  • GS
    GENERATION SERVE
    4× · 2022–2025 · $13k · revenue +9%
  • AA
    ASIAN AMERICAN HEALTH COALITION OF THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA
    3× · 2019–2022 · $11k · revenue +69%
  • COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS
    3× · 2021–2023 · $4k · revenue +148%

Funded once

  • BB
    BARBARA BUSH HOUSTON LITERACY FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2019 · $2k · revenue +23%
  • UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2021 · $2k · revenue -21%
  • AH
    American Heart Association Incgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $2k · revenue +25%
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
Houston Botanic Garden

To enrich life through discovery, education, and the conservation of plants and the natural environment.

Environment
2
Memorial Hermann Medical Group

Memorial hermann health system is a nonprofit, values-driven, community-owned health system dedicated to improving health. our vision is to create healthier communities, now and for generations to come. our values are community,…

Health
3
Mhs Physicians of Texas

Memorial hermann health system is a nonprofit, values-driven, community-owned health system dedicated to improving health. our vision is to create healthier communities, now and for generations to come. our values are community,…

Health
4
Trees for Houston

Plant, protect and promote trees all over the greater Houston area.

—
5
The Methodist Hospital Foundation

Mission: this organization is part of the methodist hospital, doing business as houston methodist hospital, whose mission is: to provide high quality, cost-effective health care that delivers the best value to the people we serve in a…

Health
6
John P McGovern Museum of Health & Medical Science

The Health Museum is an innovative science center that provides an interactive and entertaining experience for all ages, promotes understanding and appreciation of the human body, mind, and spirit, and inspires a lifelong commitment to…

Arts & Culture
7
Texas Children's

To create a healthier future for children and women throughout our global community by leading in patient care, education, and research.

Health
8
Houston Academy of Medicine

The mission of the Houston Academy of Medicine is to support the community service, education, scientific, and charitable programs for physicians, their patients, and the community at large in Harris County.

Education
9
The University of TexasTexas a&M Investment Management Company

To generate superior long-term investment returns to support The University of Texas and Texas A&M University systems as they provide world-class teaching, push the boundaries of discovery, and achieve excellence in patient healthcare for…

Education
10
Texas Children's Hospital

Texas children's hospital, headquartered in houston, texas, is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to create a healthier future for children and women throughout our global community by leading in patient care, education and…

Health
11
Texas Children's Global

To lead efforts that advance healthcare equity through innovative collaboration in care, education, and research globally.

Education
12
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The mission of mit is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Memorial Hermann Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Comp-U-Dopt 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

40 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. 40 of the 68 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)
7
Early backer (in before they grew)
40/40
Grantees still filing
32/40
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

TEXAS BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION INC: $48,980 · OtherTEXAS BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION INCEANES SCHOOL: $13,291 · OtherEANES SCHOOLMD Anderson Cancer Center: $12,000 · OtherMD Anderson Cancer Center+36 more: $24,905 · Other+36 moreAMERICAN BODHI CENTER INC: $55,900 · ReligionAMERICAN BODHI CENTER INC+1 more: $550 · ReligionASIAN AMERICAN HEALTH COALITION OF THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA: $11,000 · HealthASIAN AMERI…ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC: $3,200 · HealthALZHEIMER'S…SJOGREN'S FOUNDATION INC: $3,200 · HealthSJOGREN'S F…American Heart Association Inc: $1,500 · HealthAmerican He…Memorial Hermann Foundation: $1,000 · Health+3 more: $1,500 · Health+3 moreGENERATION SERVE: $12,674 · EducationGENERATION …COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS: $3,875 · EducationCOMMUNITIES…UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION: $2,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY …COMP-U-DOPT INC: $1,000 · Education+3 more: $1,600 · Education+3 moreBARBARA BUSH HOUSTON LITERACY FOUNDATION: $2,000 · PhilanthropyAMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC: $2,000 · PhilanthropyTHE IRONMAN FOUNDATION INC: $1,762 · Philanthropy+1 more: $125 · PhilanthropyBUDDHIST GLOBAL RELIEF A NJ NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $2,000 · InternationalAmigos de las Americas: $500 · InternationalUNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF: $500 · InternationalWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $500 · InternationalTAIWANESE HERITAGE SOCIETY OF HOUSTON: $1,500 · Arts & CultureHouston Museum of Natural Science: $275 · Arts & CultureTHE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON: $200 · Arts & CultureCHILDREN'S MUSEUM INC: $90 · Arts & Culture
Other$99,176Religion$56,450Health$21,400Education$21,149Philanthropy$5,887International$3,500Arts & Culture$2,065

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 budgetAMERICAN BODHI CENTER INC: $55,900 over 6y, 5.3% of budgetGENERATION SERVE: $12,674 over 4y, 0.7% of budgetASIAN AMERICAN HEALTH COALITION OF THE GREATER HOUSTON AREA: $11,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCOMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS: $3,875 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC: $3,200 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetSJOGREN'S FOUNDATION INC: $3,200 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetThe Houston Food Bank: $2,700 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetBARBARA BUSH HOUSTON LITERACY FOUNDATION: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetAMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetBUDDHIST GLOBAL RELIEF A NJ NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $2,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Heart Association Inc: $1,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTAIWANESE HERITAGE SOCIETY OF HOUSTON: $1,500 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetTHE DOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION: $1,300 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetAUSTIN PARKS FOUNDATION: $1,300 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCOMP-U-DOPT INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDISCOVER FITNESS FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetMemorial Hermann Foundation: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFOUNDATION FOR THE HOMELESS INC: $750 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSTAR OF HOPE MISSION: $750 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetUniversity of San Francisco: $700 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetSt Stephen's Episcopal School: $700 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetThe Trail Conservancy: $600 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCENTRAL TEXAS VIPASSANA ASSOCIATION INC: $550 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetGREENPEACE INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAmigos de las Americas: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLEGACY COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetEASTER SEALS OF GREATER HOUSTON INC: $500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHouston Museum of Natural Science: $275 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHermann Park Conservancy: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetKIDS' MEALS INC: $209 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON: $200 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHouston Zoo Inc: $159 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN MACULAR DEGENERATION GOEHRING: $125 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCHILDREN'S MUSEUM INC: $90 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.

Shell USA Company Fou…Houston Endowment IncThe Blackbaud Giving …Ting Tsung & Wei Fong…Greater Houston Commu…Austin Community Foun…United Way WorldwideMorgan Stanley Global…Silicon Valley Commun…The Pfizer Foundation…Vanguard Charitable E…Renaissance Charitabl…
Shell USA Company FoundationTX25.5× affinity13 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Shell USA Company Foundation · Houston Endowment Inc · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Ting Tsung & Wei Fong Chao Foundation · Greater Houston Community Foundation · Austin Community Foundation Inc · United Way Worldwide · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Silicon Valley Community Foundation · The Pfizer Foundation Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Renaissance Charitable Foundation 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 Dennis Ming-Hong Chen Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Dennis Ming-Hong Chen Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    2get no government money at all
    9report 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, FY20–25
    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 68 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 Dennis Ming-Hong Chen’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