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Frederick O Watson Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Frederick O Watson Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$5k
Granted FY2025still arriving
1
Grants FY2025still arriving
1
States reached
$5k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0193% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Philanthropy$485kHealth$113kHuman Services$101kFood & Nutrition$67kEnvironment$45kCivil Rights$40kReligion$24kAnimals$20kOther$0
02FY2025 · 1 grant

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$5,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$1.6M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SHEPHERD'S HOUSE$5,000
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 (FY17–22, $86k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 91% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%Native Governance Center: $5k → 14%Olympic Peninsula YMCA: $30k → 12%Education for Liberation Network: $8k → 4%Olympic Peninsula YMCA: $20k → 12%Olympic Peninsula YMCA: $15k → 12%Olympic Peninsula YMCA: $5k → 12%Olympic Peninsula YMCA: $3k → 12%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

WA
MN
NY
MA
OR
OH
NJ
CT
CA
MD
NC
DC
GA
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.

54%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$269k · 12 repeat orgs$226k to everyone else

12 repeat relationships: 1 still active in FY2025, 11 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

12
31

Total granted

$269k
$226k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+39%
+40%

Still filing today

67%
52%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 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
Human ServicesInternationalHealthCivil RightsFood & NutritionHousing & ShelterOther
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

  • OP
    OLYMPIC PENINSULA YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSN
    5× · 2017–2021 · $73k · revenue +121%
  • TG
    THE GIVING PLATE
    2× · 2020–2021 · $22k · revenue +19%
  • VH
    VOLUNTEER HOSPICE OF CLALLAM COUNTY
    4× · 2017–2021 · $21k · revenue +39%

Funded once

  • FC
    Fidelity Charital
    one grant, 2022 · $87k
  • PT
    Peninsula Trails Coalitiongraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $10k · revenue +47%
  • FB
    FOOD BANK FOR MONTEREY COUNTY
    one grant, 2020 · $10k · revenue +8%
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
Sacramento Region Community Foundation

The Sacramento Region Community Foundation leads, serves, and inspires enduring philanthropy for a just and vibrant Sacramento region.

Philanthropy
2
Oregon Agricultural Trust

Oregon agricultural trust partners with farmers and ranchers to protect agricultural lands for the benefit of oregons economy, communities, and landscapes.

Environment
3
Great Plains Food Bank

End hunger together.

Food & Nutrition
4
Minnesota Council on Foundations

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

—
5
Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and North Idaho

To provide exceptional reproductive and complementary health care services, honest education, and advocacy for all.

Health
6
The Climate Center

The Climate Center is a climate and energy policy nonprofit working to rapidly reduce climate pollution at scale, starting in California.

Education
7
Great Peninsula Conservancy

Preserve in perpetuity the natural habitats, rural landscapes, and open spaces of the great peninsula of washington's puget sound.

Environment
8
Fsc I&P

Fsc i&p promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests. this mission aligns with the forest stewardship council (fsc), its network of offices, and other organizations.…

Philanthropy
9
Senior Life Resources Northwest

To preserve and enhance the quality of life at home, with dignity and care.

Human Services
10
United Food Bank

United Food Bank unites communities to alleviate hunger.

Food & Nutrition
11
American Flood Coalition Inc

To drive transformational adaptation to protect communities across the country from higher seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding.

Environment
12
Community Foundation Santa Cruz County

To promote philanthropy to make santa cruz county a better place to live, now and in the future.we bring together people, ideas, and resources to inspire philanthropy and accomplish great things.

Philanthropy
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Minneapolis Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Around the Bend Farms 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

28 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. 28 of the 47 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)
8
Early backer (in before they grew)
28/28
Grantees still filing
25/28
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Innovia Foundation: $235,000 · PhilanthropyInnovia FoundationTHE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION: $235,000 · PhilanthropyTHE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION+2 more: $15,000 · PhilanthropyFidelity Charital: $87,000 · OtherFidelity CharitalFood Bank of Montery Co: $30,000 · OtherFood Bank of Montery CoSPCA for Montery Co: $15,000 · OtherSoka Gakkai Int'l USA: $12,500 · OtherCentral Maryland YMCA: $10,000 · OtherPeninsula Trails Coalition: $10,000 · OtherFOOD BANK FOR MONTEREY COUNTY: $10,000 · OtherBoys & Girls Club Olympic Peninsula: $10,000 · OtherSHEPHERD'S HOUSE MINISTRIES: $10,000 · Other+24 more: $97,500 · Other+24 moreOLYMPIC PENINSULA YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSN: $73,000 · Human ServicesOLYMPIC P…EDUCATION FOR LIBERATION NETWORK: $7,500 · Human ServicesEDUCATION…NATIVE GOVERNANCE CENTER: $5,000 · Human ServicesNATIVE GO…NORTH OLYMPIC LAND TRUST: $45,000 · EnvironmentCampaign For Southern Equality: $20,000 · Civil RightsNAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUC FUND INC: $5,000 · Civil RightsVOLUNTEER HOSPICE OF CLALLAM COUNTY: $21,000 · HealthPLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC: $2,500 · HealthTHE GIVING PLATE: $22,000 · Food & NutritionAround The Bend Farms Inc: $1,000 · Food & Nutrition
Philanthropy$485,000Other$292,000Human Services$85,500Environment$45,000Civil Rights$25,000Health$23,500Food & Nutrition$23,000

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 budgetInnovia Foundation: $235,000 over 5y, 0.7% of budgetTHE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION: $235,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetOLYMPIC PENINSULA YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSN: $73,000 over 5y, 0.9% of budgetNORTH OLYMPIC LAND TRUST: $45,000 over 3y, 2.8% of budgetTHE GIVING PLATE: $22,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetVOLUNTEER HOSPICE OF CLALLAM COUNTY: $21,000 over 4y, 0.7% of budgetCampaign For Southern Equality: $20,000 over 3y, 1.5% of budgetPeninsula Trails Coalition: $10,000 over 1y, 3.2% of budgetFOOD BANK FOR MONTEREY COUNTY: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MONTEREY COUNTY: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSHEPHERD'S HOUSE MINISTRIES: $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetBETHLEHEM INN: $8,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetEDUCATION FOR LIBERATION NETWORK: $7,500 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetTHE RED SOX FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPeace Development Fund: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGirls Incorporated of the Central Coast: $5,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetVENTANA WILDLIFE SOCIETY: $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetALIGHT: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUC FUND INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNATIVE GOVERNANCE CENTER: $5,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetSHAREBABY INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetLawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOOPERATIVE FOR ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF EVERYWHERE INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSave The Children Federation Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTALLER SALUD INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetOREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAround The Bend Farms Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.4% 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.

Seattle FoundationThe Oregon Community …Maybelle Clark Macdon…South Dakota Communit…The Autzen FoundationM J Murdock Charitabl…First Interstate Banc…Gs Donor Advised Phil…Morgan Stanley Global…Vanguard Charitable E…Paypal Charitable Giv…American Online Givin…
Seattle FoundationWA14.2× affinity5 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Seattle Foundation · The Oregon Community Foundation · Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund · South Dakota Community Foundation · The Autzen Foundation · M J Murdock Charitable Trust · First Interstate BancSystem Foundation Inc · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Paypal Charitable Giving Fund · American Online Giving 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 Frederick O Watson Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Frederick O Watson Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 40%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 2%
  • Save the Children Federation Inc: 30% of income from government
  • The Red Sox Foundation Inc: 2% of income from government
  • Oregon Public Broadcasting: 1% of income from government
  • Bethlehem Inn: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
4get no government money at all
8report 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 47 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

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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