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Freston Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Freston 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.

$233k
Granted FY2025still arriving
12
Grants FY2025still arriving
5
States reached
$50k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0191% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Public Benefit$750kInternational$401kEnvironment$122kEducation$113kArts & Culture$90kHealth$66kPhilanthropy$30kPublic Safety & Disaster$15kOther$0
02FY2025 · 12 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k6 grants · $18k
  • $10k–50k3 grants · $65k
  • $50k–250k3 grants · $150k
$20,000
Median grant
5
States reached
$312k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
NEW AMERICA$50,000
YOUNG EISNER SCHOLARS$50,000
THE ONE CAMPAIN$50,000
BEYOND TYPE 1$25,000
THE NATURE CONSERVACY$20,000
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS$20,000
TURQUOISE MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION$5,000
Individual grant recipient$5,000
DUNELM USA$2,500
SANTA BARBARA BUCKET BRIGADE$2,500
SEASAME WORKSHOP$2,500
SAG HARBOR FIRE DEPARTMENT$400
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 (FY21–25, $110k) 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%YOUNG EISNER SCHOLARS: $55k → 14%YOUNG EISNER SCHOLARS: $50k → 14%YOUNG EISNER SCHOLARS: $5k → 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.
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.

95%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.5M · 12 repeat orgs$70k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +8% since the first grant, against 0% for those funded once.

12 repeat relationships: 8 still active in FY2025, 4 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

12
8

Total granted

$1.5M
$43k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+8%
0%

Still filing today

92%
75%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 87% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $28k 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
Arts & CulturePhilanthropyInternationalHealthPublic Safety & DisasterHuman ServicesOther
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

  • MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC
    4× · 2020–2025 · $100k · revenue +39%
  • TM
    TURQUOISE MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION
    3× · 2020–2025 · $45k · revenue +35%
  • RH
    ROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION
    3× · 2021–2023 · $30k · revenue +29%

Funded once

  • MK
    Melanoma Know More
    one grant, 2022 · $15k · revenue +14%
  • CN
    CRAIG NEWMARK GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AT CUNY
    one grant, 2022 · $10k
  • TK
    THE KRISTEN ANN CARR FUND
    one grant, 2022 · $6k · revenue -52%
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
World Wildlife Fund Inc

Wwf's mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on earth. (continued on schedule o)

Environment
2
The Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Fdn Group

Susan g. komen 's mission is to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities & investing in breakthrough research to prevent & cure breast cancer.

—
3
Conservation International Foundation

Ci works to spotlight and secure the critical benefits that nature provides to humanity.

Environment
4
National Geographic Society

To increase and diffuse geographic knowledge in the broadest sense, using the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of the world.

Education
5
World Monuments Fund Inc

Wmf is the leading independent organization devoted to safeguarding the world's most treasured places to enrich people's lives and build mutual understanding across cultures and communities. the organization is headquartered in new york…

Arts & Culture
6
One Earth Philanthropy

One Earth's mission is to empower everyone, everywhere, with the knowledge, inspiration, and opportunity to heal the Earth and reclaim our future.

Environment
7
Ocean Conservancy

Ocean conservancy unites science, people, and policy to protect our ocean, today and for generations to come.

Environment
8
Oceana Inc

To advocate for policy changes by governments and corporations in order to preserve ocean life and return the oceans to their former abundance.

Environment
9
Project Drawdown

Project drawdown's mission is to drive meaningful climate action by advancing science-based solutions and strategies. project drawdown's work is focused on three pillars: science - advancing science-based climate solutions and strategies;…

Education
10
The Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Inc

Susan g. komen has an unmatched, comprehensive 360-degree approach to fighting breast cancer across all fronts and supporting millions of people in the u.s. and in countries worldwide. we advocate for policies to protect patients, drive…

Health
11
Nia Tero Foundation

Nia tero works alongside indigenous peoples to secure their guardianship of vital ecosystems. indigenous peoples are guardians of earth.(see schedule o)

Environment
12
Actionaid Usa

Actionaid is an international network building a just, equitable, and sustainable world in solidarity with communities on the frontlines of poverty and injustice. actionaid usa is the u.s. branch of actionaid international, which works in…

Social Science
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Every Mother Counts; the most unlike its peers is American Museum of Natural History. 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

20 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. 20 of the 24 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)
2
Early backer (in before they grew)
20/20
Grantees still filing
9/20
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

NEW AMERICA FOUNDATION: $750,000 · OtherNEW AMERICA FOUNDATIONThe ONE Campaign: $300,000 · OtherThe ONE CampaignTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $120,000 · OtherTHE NATURE CONSERVANCYIndividual grant recipient: $50,000 · Other+3 more: $13,000 · OtherMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $100,000 · InternationalMEDECINS S…TURQUOISE MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION (US): $45,000 · InternationalTURQUOISE …+1 more: $500 · InternationalYoung Eisner Scholars: $110,000 · Human ServicesBEYOND TYPE 1: $25,000 · HealthEVERY MOTHER COUNTS: $20,000 · HealthMelanoma Know More: $15,000 · HealthROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION: $30,000 · PhilanthropyTHE KRISTEN ANN CARR FUND: $6,000 · PhilanthropyTHE SAM CULLEN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION: $2,500 · PhilanthropyAmerican Museum of Natural History: $17,500 · Arts & CultureSESAME WORKSHOP: $12,500 · Arts & CultureSAG HARBOR PARTNERSHIP INC: $5,000 · Arts & CultureTHE WALDEN WOODS PROJECT: $1,750 · Arts & CultureSanta Barbara Bucket Brigade: $15,010 · Public Safety & Disaster+1 more: $400 · Public Safety & DisasterZARIF DESIGN CORPORATION: $3,000 · Community Improvement
Other$1,233,000International$145,500Human Services$110,000Health$60,000Philanthropy$38,500Arts & Culture$36,750Public Safety & Disaster$15,410Community Improvement$3,000

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 budgetNEW AMERICA FOUNDATION: $750,000 over 4y, 1.0% of budgetThe ONE Campaign: $300,000 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $120,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetYoung Eisner Scholars: $110,000 over 3y, 2.8% of budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $100,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetTURQUOISE MOUNTAIN FOUNDATION (US): $45,000 over 3y, 2.6% of budgetROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION: $30,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetEVERY MOTHER COUNTS: $20,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetAmerican Museum of Natural History: $17,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetSanta Barbara Bucket Brigade: $15,010 over 3y, 1.6% of budgetMelanoma Know More: $15,000 over 1y, 8.7% of budgetSESAME WORKSHOP: $12,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE KRISTEN ANN CARR FUND: $6,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetSAG HARBOR PARTNERSHIP INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetZARIF DESIGN CORPORATION: $3,000 over 1y, 3.2% of budgetTHE SAM CULLEN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION: $2,500 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetTHE WALDEN WOODS PROJECT: $1,750 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetWomen for Afghan Women Inc: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSAG HARBOR FIRE DEPARTMENT INC: $400 over 1y, 0.1% 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.

Gs Donor Advised Phil…The Goldman Sachs Cha…Morgan Stanley Global…National Philanthropi…The Bank of America C…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …American Online Givin…Amazonsmile Foundation
Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management IncNY13.8× affinity6 shared granteesties to 8 of 8Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · The Goldman Sachs Charitable Gift Fund · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · National Philanthropic Trust · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · 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 Freston Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Freston Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%6%13%19%25%share of the org’s income from government →median 6%
  • The Walden Woods Project: 6% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
1report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–25%
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 Freston Family Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Freston 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 24 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 Freston 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