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Fierce Advocacy Fund Inc at a glance

· Private foundation

Fierce Advocacy Fund Inc

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.

$67k
Granted FY2024still arriving
9
Grants FY2024still arriving
6
States reached
$20k
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, FY2017 to 2024.

Arts & Culture$304kHealth$191kCrime & Legal$180kInternational$103kYouth Development$85kPhilanthropy$64kEducation$41kCommunity Improvement$22kOther$0
02FY2024 · 9 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k6 grants · $23k
  • $10k–50k3 grants · $44k
$5,000
Median grant
6
States reached
$670k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
PRISON POLICY INITIATIVE INC$20,000
PLANNED PARENTHOOD GULF COAST$14,000
WOMENS DONORS NETWORK$10,000
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF JAMAICA INC$7,500
ABORTION LIBERATION FUND OF PA$5,000
LOUISIANA ABORTION FUND$5,000
THE WILMA THEATER$3,000
MATERNITY CARE COALITION$1,615
Individual grant recipient$500
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 (FY17–24, $140k) land where the poverty rate runs at 22%, against an area that typically sits at 14%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 14%The First 72: $20k → 23%WOMEN'S MEDICAL FUND: $60k → 22%Women's Medical Fund: $20k → 22%Women's Medical Fund: $15k → 22%WOMEN'S MEDICAL FUND: $10k → 22%ABORTION LIBERATION FUND OF PA: $10k → 22%ABORTION LIBERATION FUND OF PA: $5k → 22%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

NY
MA
PA
CA
AZ
DC
LA
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.

80%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$793k · 12 repeat orgs$193k to everyone else

12 repeat relationships: 7 still active in FY2024, 5 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

12
13

Total granted

$793k
$185k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+17%
+42%

Still filing today

92%
54%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 88% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $8k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Arts & CultureHealthHuman ServicesInternationalCivil RightsPhilanthropyOther
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

  • PP
    Prison Policy Initiative
    6× · 2017–2024 · $145k · revenue +303%
  • ABORTION LIBERATION FUND OF PA
    6× · 2017–2024 · $120k · revenue +755%
  • DRIVE CHANGE INC
    2× · 2018–2021 · $85k · revenue +362%

Funded once

  • PM
    PHILADELPHIA MUSICAL ARTS
    one grant, 2018 · $35k
  • PHILADELPHIA MURAL ARTS ADVOCATES INCgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $25k · revenue +86%
  • JE
    Jamaica Enironment Trust
    one grant, 2018 · $22k
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
Women's Law Project

Women's law project creates a more just and equitable society by advancing the rights and status of all women throughout their lives. to this end, we engage in high-impact litigation, advocacy, and education. the core values of women's law…

Civil Rights
2
Philadelphia Health Partnership
Health
3
Guttmacher Institute Inc

The institute is a leading research and policy organization committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights in the united states and globally.

—
4
Accessmatters

Accessmatters' mission is to protect, expand, and enhance access to sexual and reproductive health care and information for all people. accessmatters fulfills its mission by providing services and information directly to people, by…

Health
5
Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation

Pidc plans and implements economic development initiatives (see schedule o) which enhance the competitive environment, generate jobs and produce higher tax ratables throughout philadelphia.

Community Improvement
6
Amistad Law Project

Amistad law project's mission is to fight for the human rights of people in our community by providing free and low-cost legal services to philadelphians and those incarcerated in pennsylvania's prisons. additionally, we advocate for laws…

Crime & Legal
7
Children First Pa

Summary

Human Services
8
The Population Council Inc

We generate ideas, produce evidence, and design solutions to improve the lives of underserved populations around the world. we take a multidisciplinary, intergenerational, life-cycle approach that contributes to (see schedule o)four global…

International
9
Free Press Action Fund

Free press action fund fights for your rights to connect and communicate. we fight to save the free and open internet, curb runaway media consolidation, protect press freedom, and promote digital civil rights. we believe that change…

Civil Rights
10
The Women and Girls Foundation of Southwest Pennsylvania

The Women and Girls Foundation (WGF) is a non-profit organization based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania engaged in statewide programming and policy work. The mission of WGF is to achieve equality for women and girls, now and for generations to…

Civil Rights
11
Power to Decide

Power to decide envisions a world where everyone - no matter who they are or where they live - has control over their bodies and can decide if, when, and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child. its mission is to advance…

Human Services
12
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau

The philadelphia convention & visitors bureau (phlcvb) is the official tourism promotion agency for the city of philadelphia globally, and the sales and marketing agency for the pennsylvania convention center (pcc). phlcvb markets…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc; the most unlike its peers is Video Veracity 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

21 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. 21 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)
4
Early backer (in before they grew)
21/21
Grantees still filing
16/21
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Mural Arts Advocates: $120,122 · OtherMural Arts AdvocatesPHILADELPHIA MUSICAL ARTS: $35,248 · OtherPHILADELPHIA MUSICAL ARTSJamaica Enironment Trust: $21,500 · OtherJamaica Enironment TrustThe TTEES of the Univ of Pennsylvania: $20,000 · OtherThe TTEES of the Univ of PennsylvaniaPlanned Parenthood Gulf Coast Inc: $24,000 · OtherPlanned Parenthood Gulf Coast IncMaternity Care Coalition: $21,615 · OtherMaternity Care CoalitionPLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC: $15,000 · OtherTRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA: $20,000 · OtherTRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLV…LOUISIANA ABORTION FUND: $15,000 · Other+7 more: $48,500 · Other+7 morePrison Policy Initiative: $145,000 · Civil RightsPrison Policy In…ABORTION LIBERATION FUND OF PA: $120,000 · Human ServicesABORTION LIBERA…The First 72: $20,000 · Human ServicesThe First 72BALLETX: $65,000 · Arts & CultureBALLETXTHE WILMA THEATER: $33,000 · Arts & CultureTHE WILMA THEAT…PHILADELPHIA MURAL ARTS ADVOCATES INC: $25,000 · Arts & CulturePHILADELPHIA MU…VIDEO VERACITY INC: $10,000 · Arts & CultureVIDEO VERACITY …NEW ORLEANS MUSICIANS ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION: $5,000 · Arts & CultureSEEDS OF PEACE INC: $95,000 · InternationalSEEDS OF PE…American Friends of Jamaica Inc: $7,500 · InternationalAmerican Fr…DRIVE CHANGE INC: $85,000 · EmploymentDRIVE CHA…WOMEN DONORS NETWORK: $54,000 · PhilanthropyTHE PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION: $10,000 · Philanthropy
Other$340,985Civil Rights$145,000Human Services$140,000Arts & Culture$138,000International$102,500Employment$85,000Philanthropy$64,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetPrison Policy Initiative: $145,000 over 6y, 4.3% of budgetABORTION LIBERATION FUND OF PA: $120,000 over 6y, 12% of budgetSEEDS OF PEACE INC: $95,000 over 4y, 1.2% of budgetDRIVE CHANGE INC: $85,000 over 2y, 11% of budgetBALLETX: $65,000 over 3y, 1.2% of budgetWOMEN DONORS NETWORK: $54,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetTHE WILMA THEATER: $33,000 over 3y, 0.5% of budgetPHILADELPHIA MURAL ARTS ADVOCATES INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetPlanned Parenthood Gulf Coast Inc: $24,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetMaternity Care Coalition: $21,615 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetThe First 72: $20,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetTRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLOUISIANA ABORTION FUND: $15,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetPLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC: $15,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetFREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION: $11,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetVIDEO VERACITY INC: $10,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetTHE PHILADELPHIA FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Friends of Jamaica Inc: $7,500 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetNEW ORLEANS MUSICIANS ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetFLORENCE IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE RIGHTS PROJECT INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHEIGHTS PHILADELPHIA: $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.

Silicon Valley Commun…The Greater New Orlea…Rockefeller Philanthr…The San Francisco Fou…ImpactassetsincNational Philanthropi…Vanguard Charitable E…American Online Givin…Morgan Stanley Global…The Bank of America C…Paypal Charitable Giv…Donor Advised Charita…
Silicon Valley Community FoundationCA15.2× affinity6 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Silicon Valley Community Foundation · The Greater New Orleans Foundation · Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc · The San Francisco Foundation · Impactassetsinc · National Philanthropic Trust · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Paypal Charitable Giving Fund · 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 Fierce Advocacy Fund Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Fierce Advocacy Fund Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%1%4%8%15%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 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 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Fierce Advocacy’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