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Elizabeth Hekman Gordon Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Elizabeth Hekman Gordon Family 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.

$853k
Granted FY2025still arriving
15
Grants FY2025still arriving
6
States reached
$500k
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 2025.

Education$1.8MPublic Safety & Disaster$762kReligion$369kHealth$210kEnvironment$205kArts & Culture$135kPhilanthropy$80kHuman Services$34kOther$0
02FY2025 · 15 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k8 grants · $31k
  • $10k–50k5 grants · $102k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $220k
  • $250k+1 grant · $500k
$5,100
Median grant
6
States reached
$4.7M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
CALVIN UNIVERSITY$500,000
AMERICAN RED CROSS$220,000
CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN$40,000
UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS AMERICAN FOUNDATION$25,000
ST CECILIA MUSIC CENTER$15,000
KENILWORTH UNION CHURCH$12,000
NEW LEAF RESOURCES$10,000
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS$5,100
THE JOSSELYN CENTER NFP$5,000
EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION$5,000
BRIGHT PROMISE FUND$5,000
ART IN ACTION$5,000
CHICAGO PARKS FOUNDATION$2,500
CHICAGO POLICE FOUNDATION$2,500
LYMPHOMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION$1,000
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 (FY17–25, $760k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $220k → 14%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $100k → 14%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $67k → 14%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $65k → 14%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $65k → 14%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $58k → 14%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $55k → 14%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $55k → 14%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $55k → 14%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $15k → 14%HOLLAND HOME FOUNDATION: $3k → 11%CHILDREN'S HOME AID: $3k → 14%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

ID
IL
WI
MI
NY
MA
OH
CA
DC
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.

96%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$3.5M · 28 repeat orgs$163k to everyone else

28 repeat relationships: 13 still active in FY2025, 15 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

28
30

Total granted

$3.5M
$155k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+16%
+32%

Still filing today

68%
37%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 99% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $8k 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
EducationHuman ServicesEnvironmentHealthArts & CultureYouth 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

  • CU
    CALVIN UNIVERSITY
    8× · 2017–2025 · $1.6M · revenue +6%
  • AN
    American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches
    9× · 2017–2025 · $755k · revenue +46%
  • CH
    CHICAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
    8× · 2017–2025 · $202k · revenue +37%

Funded once

  • CF
    COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF TETON VALLEY INC
    one grant, 2023 · $25k
  • BH
    BEACON HILL AT EASTGATE FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2017 · $25k
  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF ANDREWS FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2019 · $23k
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
Lake Forest Graduate School of Management

Lake Forest Graduate School of Management's mission is to bring the real world to business education and leadership development.

—
2
Saint Xavier University

Saint xavier university, a catholic institution inspired by the heritage of the sisters of mercy, educates persons to search for truth, think critically, communicate effectively and serve wisely and compassionately in support of human…

Education
3
Lake Forest College

Provide post-secondary education leading to a baccalaureate degree. Program service expenditures are made in conjunction with the operation of a liberal arts college spread over 107 acres with approximately 63 educational and support…

Education
4
Lake Forest Academy

Lake forest academy strives to embody in its practices - and to cultivate in its students -excellence of character, scholarship, citizenship, and responsibility.

Education
5
Central Indiana Corporate Partnership Inc

Central indiana corporate partnership (cicp) is an alliance of indiana's business and research university leaders coming together to foster long-term prosperity for the region. cicp's mission is to transform the economy of indiana in order…

Community Improvement
6
Minnesota Council on Foundations

MCF is a vibrant philanthropic community connecting, strengthening and mobilizing the power of philanthropy to advance prosperity and equity.

—
7
University of New Haven

The University of New Haven is a student-centered comprehensive university with an emphasis on excellence in liberal arts and professional education. Our mission is to prepare our students to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in a…

Education
8
The Northern Michigan University Foundation

The nmu foundation will establish and foster relationships to generate resources that benefit the strategic goals of northern michigan university.

Education
9
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.

—
10
University of Minnesota Foundation Investment Advisors

To provide the highest level of stewardship for university donors through professional management and oversight of the university of minnesota foundation's assets by creating a focused investment environment with clarity of purpose,…

Education
11
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

The Chicago School educates the next generation of change-makers in innovative theory and culturally competent practice to strengthen the integrated health of individuals, organizations, and communities.

Education
12
Wilson College

Wilson college empowers students to be confident and critical thinkers, creative visionaries, effective communicators, honorable leaders, and agents of justice.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Chicago Horticultural Society; the most unlike its peers is St Andrews Foundation. 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

31 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. 31 of the 60 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)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
31/31
Grantees still filing
23/31
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

CALVIN UNIVERSITY: $1,572,000 · EducationCALVIN UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS AMERICAN FOUNDATION INC: $150,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS AMERICAN FOUNDATION INC+1 more: $2,500 · EducationAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $754,500 · Human ServicesAmerican National Red C…+2 more: $5,000 · Human ServicesKENILWORTH UNION CHURCH: $256,000 · OtherKENILWORTH UNION CHURC…PARKVIEW CHRISTIAN CHURCH: $105,000 · OtherPARKVIEW CHRISTIAN CHU…FRIENDS OF PRENTICE: $45,000 · OtherFRIENDS OF PRENTICEFRIENDS OF PRENTICE - NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL: $36,000 · OtherCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF TETON VALLEY INC: $25,000 · OtherMICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY: $25,000 · OtherBEACON HILL AT EASTGATE FOUNDATION: $25,000 · Other+37 more: $214,950 · Other+37 moreCHICAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: $201,500 · Environment+2 more: $3,500 · EnvironmentNEW LEAF RESOURCES: $110,000 · HealthTHE JOSSELYN CENTER NFP: $7,500 · Health+1 more: $1,500 · HealthST CECILIA MUSIC CENTER: $102,500 · Arts & CultureWriters Theatre Inc: $8,000 · Arts & CultureART IN ACTION: $7,500 · Arts & CultureOPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL INC D/B/A OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL-US: $15,000 · International
Education$1,724,500Human Services$759,500Other$731,950Environment$205,000Health$119,000Arts & Culture$118,000International$15,000

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 budgetCALVIN UNIVERSITY: $1,572,000 over 8y, 0.3% of budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $754,500 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetCHICAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: $201,500 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS AMERICAN FOUNDATION INC: $150,000 over 5y, 0.9% of budgetNEW LEAF RESOURCES: $110,000 over 9y, 1.5% of budgetST CECILIA MUSIC CENTER: $102,500 over 7y, 1.7% of budgetFRIENDS OF PRENTICE: $45,000 over 2y, 5.3% of budgetOPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL INC D/B/A OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL-US: $15,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetEscape YFGK: $11,000 over 3y, 2.3% of budgetGOLDEN APPLE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING: $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetWriters Theatre Inc: $8,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHE HONOR FOUNDATION INC: $7,500 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHE JOSSELYN CENTER NFP: $7,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetART IN ACTION: $7,500 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetVOLUNTEER CENTER INC: $7,500 over 3y, 1.1% of budgetCOUNCIL OF MICHIGAN FOUNDATIONS: $7,050 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetCHICAGO POLICE FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetNorth Channel Community Rowing: $2,500 over 1y, 2.7% of budgetCHILDREN'S HOME & AID SOCIETY OF ILL: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTETON REGIONAL LAND TRUST INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetEVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMYRTLE HOUSE MINISTRIES: $2,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetLYMPHOMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION: $1,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetHOSPICE OF NORTH OTTAWA COMMUNITY INC: $1,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSARAH'S CIRCLE: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWEST MICHIGAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY INC DBA FREDERIK MEIJER GARDENS: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGirl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana: $1,000 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.

  • Who funds CALVIN UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches ↗
  • Who funds CHICAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ↗
  • Who funds UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS AMERICAN FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds NEW LEAF RESOURCES ↗
  • Who funds ST CECILIA MUSIC CENTER ↗
  • Who funds FRIENDS OF PRENTICE ↗
  • Who funds ST ANDREWS FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL INC D/B/A OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL-US ↗
  • Who funds Escape YFGK ↗
  • Who funds GOLDEN APPLE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING ↗
  • Who funds Writers Theatre Inc ↗
  • Who funds THE HONOR FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds THE JOSSELYN CENTER NFP ↗
  • Who funds ART IN ACTION ↗
  • Who funds VOLUNTEER CENTER INC ↗
  • Who funds COUNCIL OF MICHIGAN FOUNDATIONS ↗
  • Who funds Arnold Hall Inc ↗
  • Who funds CHICAGO POLICE FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds North Channel Community Rowing ↗
  • Who funds CHICAGO PARKS FOUNDATION ↗

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.

Raymond James Charita…The Chicago Community…American Endowment Fo…Gs Donor Advised Phil…Natl Christian Charit…Vanguard Charitable E…National Philanthropi…The Blackbaud Giving …Charities Aid Foundat…Network for GoodMorgan Stanley Global…Donor Advised Charita…
Raymond James Charitable Endowment FundFL10.6× affinity6 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund · The Chicago Community Trust · American Endowment Foundation · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · National Philanthropic Trust · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Charities Aid Foundation America · Network for Good · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving 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 Elizabeth Hekman Gordon Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Elizabeth Hekman Gordon Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    6report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    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 60 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 Elizabeth Hekman Gordon 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