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Fairfax Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Fairfax Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$1.2M
Granted FY2025still arriving
26
Grants FY2025still arriving
6
States reached
$175k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0195% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2018 to 2024.

Education$1.7MYouth Development$800kRecreation & Sports$783kEnvironment$371kHealth$305kHousing & Shelter$285kArts & Culture$133kReligion$119kOther$0
02FY2025 · 26 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k1 grant · $2k
  • $10k–50k15 grants · $333k
  • $50k–250k10 grants · $845k
$34,700
Median grant
6
States reached
$1.5M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE SOCIETY OF AMERICA$175,000
TREES WATER & PEOPLE$170,000
RISE AGAINST SUICIDE$100,000
FRIENDS OF COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS OF CANADA$100,000
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS$50,000
ROCKY MOUNTAIN EQUALITY CENTER$50,000
AMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE FUND$50,000
THE KIVA CENTER$50,000
BOULDER FOOD RESCUE$50,000
UNCF$50,000
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO INC$40,000
LAKE VIEW CEMETERY FOUNDATION$40,000
JSFA$34,700
PRINCESS MARGARET CANCER FOUNDATION$30,000
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF CLEVELAND$30,000
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 (FY20–24, $64k) land where the poverty rate runs at 15%, 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%WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT: $5k → 14%CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT: $1k → 26%GOD'S VAST RESOURCES: $50k → 15%WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT: $3k → 14%THE GATHERING PLACE: $3k → 17%GATHERING PLACE: $3k → 17%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
OH
PA
CA
CO
KY
VA
AZ
TN
DC
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 grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

62%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$3.9M · 26 repeat orgs$2.3M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +23% since the first grant, against 0% for those funded once.

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

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

26
43

Total granted

$3.9M
$1.8M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+23%
0%

Still filing today

65%
56%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 54% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $538k went to new ones.

50%100%’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
HealthEducationArts & CultureEnvironmentHuman ServicesInternationalOther
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

  • UC
    URBAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL
    7× · 2018–2024 · $824k · revenue +164%
  • HB
    HATHAWAY BROWN SCHOOL
    7× · 2018–2024 · $815k · revenue +1%
  • TW
    TREES WATER AND PEOPLE
    8× · 2018–2025 · $478k · revenue +149%

Funded once

  • US
    UNIVERSITY SCHOOL
    one grant, 2024 · $750k · revenue -13%
  • OF
    Our Family Services Inc
    one grant, 2024 · $250k · revenue +24%
  • E
    EMERGE
    one grant, 2024 · $200k
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
University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

University of the sciences prepares students to become leaders, innovators, and skilled practitioners in the sciences, the health professions, and related disciplines. we deliver excellence in teaching, research, and service through a safe…

—
2
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
3
Manhattanville University

To educate students to be ethical and socially responsible leaders in a global community.

Education
4
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
5
University Hospital & Clinics Inc

The organization provides medical care to improve, maintain, and restore the health of the people in the communities we serve.

Health
6
Union Health System

To serve our communities by provding innovative and compassionate healthcare.

Health
7
Wilson College

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

Education
8
University Associates in Obstetrics and Gynecology University Faculty Pract ice Corporation

Provide clinical instruction to and supervision of medical school students, interns and residents and, incident thereto, rendering professional services.

Health
9
Global Cleveland

Global cleveland is dedicated to growing northeast ohio's economy by welcoming and connecting international people to opportunities and fostering a more inviting community for those seeking a place to call home.

Human Services
10
Golden Gate University

Golden gate university prepares individuals to lead and serve by providing high quality, practice-based educational programs in law, taxation, business and related professions - as a nonprofit institution - in an innovative and challenging…

Education
11
Neurology Associates of Stony Brook University Faculty Practice Corp

Provide clinical instruction to and supervision of medical school students, interns and residents and, incident thereto, rendering professional services.

Health
12
University Family Physicians Inc

Engage actively and continuously in medical research, education and training in the practice of medicine in conjunction with the department of family medicine of the indiana university school of medicine and indiana university…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Urban Community School; the most unlike its peers is Grasp 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

49 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. 49 of the 82 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.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
4
Early backer (in before they grew)
48/49
Grantees still filing
23/49
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

URBAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL: $824,000 · OtherURBAN COMMUNITY SCHOOLOur Family Services Inc: $250,000 · OtherOur Family Services IncHUNTINGTON'S DISEASE SOCIETY OF AMERICA INC: $225,000 · OtherHUNTINGTON'S DISEASE SOCIETY OF AMERICA INCEMERGE: $200,000 · OtherEMERGEFRIENDS OF COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS OF CANADA: $100,000 · Other+51 more: $979,747 · Other+51 moreHATHAWAY BROWN SCHOOL: $815,000 · EducationHATHAWAY BROWN SCHOOLUNIVERSITY SCHOOL: $750,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY SCHOOL+4 more: $110,000 · Education+4 moreURBAN SQUASH CLEVELAND: $782,500 · Recreation & SportsURBAN SQUASH C…TREES WATER AND PEOPLE: $477,581 · EnvironmentTREES WATER…THE KIVA CENTER: $100,000 · EnvironmentTHE KIVA CE…The Pachamama Alliance: $50,000 · EnvironmentThe Pachama…+1 more: $1,000 · EnvironmentRise Against Suicide: $100,000 · HealthPARKINSON'S FOUNDATION INC: $50,000 · HealthPLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER OHIO: $40,000 · HealthST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $38,521 · HealthGRIEF SUPPORT NETWORK: $25,000 · HealthTHE MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON'S RESEARCH: $11,000 · Health+1 more: $2,000 · HealthMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $107,500 · InternationalHUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC: $60,000 · InternationalWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $10,000 · InternationalLAKEVIEW CEMETERY FOUNDATION: $80,000 · Arts & CultureCLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART: $43,500 · Arts & CultureColonial Williamsburg Foundation: $10,000 · Arts & Culture+2 more: $4,500 · Arts & Culture
Other$2,578,747Education$1,675,000Recreation & Sports$782,500Environment$628,581Health$266,521International$177,500Arts & Culture$138,000

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 budgetURBAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL: $824,000 over 7y, 3.8% of budgetHATHAWAY BROWN SCHOOL: $815,000 over 7y, 1.9% of budgetURBAN SQUASH CLEVELAND: $782,500 over 6y, 65% of budgetUNIVERSITY SCHOOL: $750,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetTREES WATER AND PEOPLE: $477,581 over 8y, 8.5% of budgetOur Family Services Inc: $250,000 over 1y, 4.8% of budgetHUNTINGTON'S DISEASE SOCIETY OF AMERICA INC: $225,000 over 2y, 1.6% of budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $107,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS OF CANADA: $100,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetTHE KIVA CENTER: $100,000 over 2y, 14% of budgetRise Against Suicide: $100,000 over 1y, 11% of budgetLAKEVIEW CEMETERY FOUNDATION: $80,000 over 2y, 1.9% of budgetHUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC: $60,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetGODS VAST RESOURCES: $50,000 over 1y, 22% of budgetPARKINSON'S FOUNDATION INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetAMERICAN INDIAN COLLEGE FUND: $50,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetUNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Pachamama Alliance: $50,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetJEWISH FAMILY SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF CLEVELAND OHIO: $50,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART: $43,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetPLANNED PARENTHOOD OF GREATER OHIO: $40,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $38,521 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetGRIEF SUPPORT NETWORK: $25,000 over 4y, 13% of budgetVive: $15,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR INC: $15,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGREATER CLEVELAND FOOD BANK INC: $13,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON'S RESEARCH: $11,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetJUDSON FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetFORT COLLINS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetLUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF COLORADO: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPROVIDENCE HOUSE INC: $8,500 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetWOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT INC: $7,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE LYCEUM: $5,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetGRASP Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 1.8% of budgetFRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY OF STEUBENVILLE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE GATHERING PLACE: $5,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetZELIE'S HOME: $3,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetThe Musical Arts Association: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCATO INSTITUTE: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCATHOLIC PSYCHOTHERAPY ASSOCIATION INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetCLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBIRTHRIGHT GEAUGA INC: $2,000 over 1y, 1.7% of budgetFOUNDATION FOR GEAUGA PARKS: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetCLEVELAND ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT INC: $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.

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.

Colorado Gives Founda…Fred a Lennon Charita…National Philanthropi…Vanguard Charitable E…American Endowment Fo…Natl Christian Charit…Donor Advised Charita…American Online Givin…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Colorado Gives FoundationCO14× affinity5 shared granteesties to 8 of 9Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Colorado Gives Foundation · Fred a Lennon Charitable Trust · National Philanthropic Trust · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · American Endowment Foundation · Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · 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 Fairfax Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Fairfax Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%5%19%42%75%funder's share of their income ↑0%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →median 0%
  • Wounded Warrior Project Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
11report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–75%
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.
05Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Fairfax Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Fairfax Foundation 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 82 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 Fairfax’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