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Foster Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Foster 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.

$105k
Granted FY2025still arriving
14
Grants FY2025still arriving
9
States reached
$20k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0199% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2025.

Animals$494kHealth$76kPublic Safety & Disaster$29kEnvironment$20kRecreation & Sports$9kHuman Services$8kOther$0
02FY2025 · 14 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k9 grants · $35k
  • $10k–50k5 grants · $71k
$7,000
Median grant
9
States reached
$1.8M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY$20,000
THE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST USA INC$15,000
ANIMAL CANCER FOUNDATION$14,000
ATLANTIC WHITE SHARK CONSERVANCY$11,500
MORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION$10,000
BAT WORLD SANCTUARY$7,500
RETURN TO FREEDOM INC (WILD HORSE CONSERVATION)$7,000
BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY$5,000
RISING STARR HORSE RESCUE$4,000
STANFORD FIRE COMPANY NO 1 INC$4,000
Individual grant recipient$2,318
ENGLISH COCKER SPANIEL CLUB OF AMERICA$2,000
MARINE MAMMAL ALLIANCE NANTUCKET$1,500
INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR ANIMAL WELFARE$1,500
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 (FY20–24, $8k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, 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%SIERRA DELTA INC: $3k → 9%FIDELCO GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION INC: $5k → 11%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

ME
NH
WA
MT
WI
NY
MA
OH
NJ
CT
CA
UT
CO
TN
NC
DC
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 grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

87%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$557k · 23 repeat orgs$81k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +34% since the first grant, against 0% for those funded once.

23 repeat relationships: 10 still active in FY2025, 13 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

23
13

Total granted

$557k
$71k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+34%
0%

Still filing today

83%
77%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 90% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $10k went to new ones.

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

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

’20’21’22’23’24’25
AnimalsEnvironmentHealthYouth DevelopmentHuman ServicesScience & TechOther
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

  • TE
    THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN TENNESSEE
    4× · 2022–2025 · $77k · revenue +104%
  • AC
    ANIMAL CANCER FOUNDATION
    6× · 2020–2025 · $71k · revenue +6%
  • TD
    THE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST USA INC
    5× · 2021–2025 · $52k · revenue +183%

Funded once

  • ND
    NATIONAL DISASTER SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2020 · $8k · revenue -10%
  • PC
    PANTHERA CORPORATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $8k · revenue +64%
  • UH
    US HORSE WELFARE ORGANIZATION INC
    one grant, 2020 · $7k
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
Global Animal Partnership
Animals
2
Wolfe Ranch Rescue
Animals
3
Forever Wild Wildlife Rescue
Animals
4
Wildlife Sos

Protecting india's precious wildlife from poaching, habitat loss, and human exploitation since 1995.

Animals
5
World Vets

To improve the health & well-being of animals through veterinary aid, response, training, research & local capacity building worldwide. We provide services to companion animals, horses, street dogs, livestock and marine animals including…

Animals
6
Rescue Life Inc

The mission of rescue life is to save the lives of wild, farm, and domestic animals which include horses, pigs, donkeys, llamas, zebras, alpacas,and dogs. the mission includes providing care, shelter, and adoption services. rescue life…

Animals
7
K9 Conservationists

K9 Conservationists mission is to advance wildlife research and habitat protection by pairing highly trained detection dog teams with scientists. We also provide educational materials and build inclusive collaborative communities.

Animals
8
Peace River Refuge & Ranch Inc

Forest Animal Rescue protects wildlife by preserving natural habitats for the safe release of rehabilitated animals and the rehabilitation and release of black bears.

Animals
9
Progressive Animal Welfare Society aka Paws

A champion for animals since 1967, PAWS is a nationally recognized leader - rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife, sheltering and adopting homeless cats and dogs, and educating people to make a better world for animals and people.

Animals
10
Starfish Animal Rescue
Animals
11
Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary Inc

We seek to end animal agriculture by rescuing farmed animals, giving them lifelong care and sanctuary, and educating about the harms of animal farming.

Animals
12
Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Inc

Dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of orphaned, injured and displaced wildlife. wildlife rescue rescues and cares for all wildlife, including native and nonnative species believing all animals are deserving of care,…

Animals
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Morris Animal Foundation; the most unlike its peers is 13 Hands Equine Rescue 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

33 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. 33 of the 40 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)
32/33
Grantees still filing
21/33
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN TENNESSEE: $77,000 · AnimalsTHE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN TENNESSEETHE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST USA INC: $52,000 · AnimalsTHE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST USA INCBAT WORLD SANCTUARY: $47,000 · AnimalsBAT WORLD SANCTUARYMORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION: $20,000 · AnimalsMountain Lion Foundation: $18,000 · AnimalsINTERNATIONAL SNOW LEOPARD TRUST: $18,000 · AnimalsPeaceful Valley Donkey Rescue Inc: $18,000 · Animals13 HANDS EQUINE RESCUE INC: $18,000 · AnimalsMarine Mammal Stranding Center: $17,101 · AnimalsBagaduce River Equine Rescue: $13,000 · Animals+12 more: $86,358 · Animals+12 moreELEPHANT SANCTUARY OF TN: $32,803 · OtherELEPHANT SANCTU…STANFORD FIRE COMPANY NO 1 INC: $21,000 · OtherSTANFORD FIRE C…RETURN TO FREEDOM INC (WILD HORSE CONSERVATION): $14,000 · OtherRETURN TO FREED…US HORSE WELFARE ORGANIZATION INC: $6,649 · OtherUS HORSE WELFAR…AMERICAN WIREHAIRED POINTING GRIFFON FOUNDATION: $6,000 · OtherAMERICAN WIREHA…DOGS FOR DIABETICS ICN: $5,000 · OtherDOGS FOR DIABET…+1 more: $2,318 · OtherANIMAL CANCER FOUNDATION: $71,000 · HealthANIMAL CANCER …NATIONAL DISASTER SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION: $8,000 · HealthNATIONAL DISAS…Working Dogs For Conservation Found: $5,000 · HealthWorking Dogs F…ATLANTIC WHITE SHARK CONSERVANCY INC: $42,000 · Science & TechPollinator Partnership: $10,000 · EnvironmentWORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC: $5,000 · EnvironmentOCEANA INC: $5,000 · EnvironmentDRESSAGE 4 KIDS INC: $9,000 · Youth DevelopmentWarrior Dog Foundation: $3,271 · Youth DevelopmentFIDELCO GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 · Human ServicesSIERRA DELTA INC: $3,000 · Human Services
Animals$384,459Other$87,770Health$84,000Science & Tech$42,000Environment$20,000Youth Development$12,271Human Services$8,000

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 budgetTHE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN TENNESSEE: $77,000 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetANIMAL CANCER FOUNDATION: $71,000 over 6y, 4.4% of budgetTHE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST USA INC: $52,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetBAT WORLD SANCTUARY: $47,000 over 6y, 1.2% of budgetATLANTIC WHITE SHARK CONSERVANCY INC: $42,000 over 5y, 0.7% of budgetMORRIS ANIMAL FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetMountain Lion Foundation: $18,000 over 3y, 1.2% of budgetINTERNATIONAL SNOW LEOPARD TRUST: $18,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetPeaceful Valley Donkey Rescue Inc: $18,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budget13 HANDS EQUINE RESCUE INC: $18,000 over 3y, 0.6% of budgetMarine Mammal Stranding Center: $17,101 over 3y, 0.9% of budgetBagaduce River Equine Rescue: $13,000 over 2y, 10% of budgetROSEMARY FARM SANCTUARY INC: $12,000 over 2y, 1.0% of budgetBella Run Equine: $12,000 over 2y, 3.9% of budgetK9S FOR WARRIORS INC: $11,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetPOLAR BEARS INTERNATIONAL: $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetPollinator Partnership: $10,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetDRESSAGE 4 KIDS INC: $9,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetNATIONAL DISASTER SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION: $8,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPANTHERA CORPORATION: $8,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetRISING STARR HORSE RESCUE CORP: $7,358 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetENGLISH COCKER SPANIEL CLUB OF AMERICA INC: $7,000 over 2y, 1.3% of budgetPRIDEROCK WILDLIFE REFUGE: $6,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetWORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLIVE AND LET LIVE FARM INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetFIDELCO GUIDE DOG FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWorking Dogs For Conservation Found: $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetOCEANA INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWarrior Dog Foundation: $3,271 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetSIERRA DELTA INC: $3,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetINTERNATIONAL FUND FOR ANIMAL WELFARE INC: $1,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMarine Mammal Alliance Nantucket: $1,500 over 1y, 1.1% 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.

The Pfizer Foundation…Network for GoodVerizon FoundationThe Ayco Charitable F…Ge Aerospace Foundati…Paypal Charitable Giv…The Bank of America C…National Philanthropi…Jpmorgan Chase Founda…American Online Givin…Vanguard Charitable E…American Endowment Fo…
The Pfizer Foundation IncNY13.5× affinity9 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Pfizer Foundation Inc · Network for Good · Verizon Foundation · The Ayco Charitable Foundation · Ge Aerospace Foundation · Paypal Charitable Giving Fund · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · National Philanthropic Trust · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · American Endowment 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 Foster Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Foster Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 40%1%4%8%15%funder's share of their income ↑0%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from government →median 5%
  • Marine Mammal Stranding Center: 10% of income from government
  • Atlantic White Shark Conservancy Inc: 5% of income from government
  • K9S for Warriors Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
4get no government money at all
3report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–50%
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 Foster Family Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Foster Family 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 40 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 Foster 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