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GE McDonald Foundation at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Private foundation

GE McDonald Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$172k
Granted FY2025still arriving
16
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$80k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0198% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2019 to 2025.

Human Services$636kEducation$198kHousing & Shelter$100kHealth$69kAnimals$64kYouth Development$43kArts & Culture$25kCommunity Improvement$19kOther$0
02FY2025 · 16 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k10 grants · $27k
  • $10k–50k5 grants · $65k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $80k
$7,099
Median grant
2
States reached
$906k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption$80,110
MSU Billings Foundation$25,187
Alberta Bair Theater$10,000
Zoo Montana$10,000
Billings Family YMCA$10,000
Rocky Mountain College$10,000
Community Leadership and Development Inc$7,500
Boys & Girls Club$7,099
Billings Catholic Schools Foundation$3,250
Billings Rotary Foundation$3,150
Eagle Mount Billings$2,500
Billings Public Library Foundation$1,500
Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter$1,000
Keestone Communication$500
Billings Clinic Foundation$100
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 (FY19–25, $82k) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%Billings Family YMCA: $10k → 9%Billings Family YMCA: $10k → 9%Billings Family YMCA: $10k → 9%Billings Family YMCA: $10k → 9%Billings Family YMCA: $8k → 9%Billings Family YMCA: $8k → 9%Community Leadership and Development Inc: $8k → 9%Billings Family YMCA: $5k → 9%Community Leadership and Development Inc: $3k → 9%Community Leadership and Development Inc: $3k → 9%Community Leadership and Development Inc: $3k → 9%Community Leadership and Development Inc: $3k → 9%Eagle Mount Billings: $3k → 9%Eagle Mount Billings: $2k → 9%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.

96%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.1M · 20 repeat orgs$44k to everyone else

20 repeat relationships: 15 still active in FY2025, 5 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

20
8

Total granted

$1.1M
$44k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+31%
+147%

Still filing today

85%
25%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $50 went to new ones.

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

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

’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Human ServicesEducationAnimalsPhilanthropyArts & CultureHealthOther
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

  • DT
    DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION
    7× · 2019–2025 · $543k · revenue +104%
  • RM
    ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE
    7× · 2019–2025 · $103k · revenue +31%
  • BF
    BILLINGS FAMILY YMCA INC
    7× · 2019–2025 · $60k · revenue +8%

Funded once

  • RF
    RIMROCK FOUNDATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $25k · revenue +37%
  • BP
    Billings Public Library
    one grant, 2019 · $10k
  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2021 · $4k
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
Billings Clinic

Billings clinic's mission is quality, compassionate cre for all, with a vision of reimagining health care through connection, service and innovation.

Health
2
Big Sky Youth Education Foundation

Ensuring that christian education can thrive in montana by supporting billings christian school and montana bible college

Philanthropy
3
South Central Montana Regional Mental Health Center

The region iii mental health center is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to the establishment, development and maintenance of high quality mental health and chemical dependency care in south central montana.

—
4
Billings Chamber of Commerce

Our mission is to develop a strong business climate and vibrant economy by serving the community in a leadership role therapy enhancing the quality of life.

—
5
Catholic Social Services of Montana

Based on our commitment to catholic social teaching, catholic social services of montana provides for works of advocacy, compassion, pastoral outreach, education and social justice.

—
6
Regional West Health Services

Health care services for the people of western nebraska and eastern wyoming.

Health
7
Empower Mt

Empowermt creates a more just and inclusive society by developing youth and adult leaders who work to end mistreatment, correct systemic inequities, and strengthen communities. empowermt envisions a montana where each person is respected…

Human Services
8
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Western Montana

Keeping families with a sick child/children close to the care and resources they need, when it matters the most.

Health
9
Scenic Montana Trails
—
10
Butte Emergency Food Bank

Provide food for individuals in need

—
11
Sweet Medical Center

Empowering people to live healthy lives.

—
12
Yellowstone Behavioral Health

Provide quality mental health services to residents of park county

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Billings Rotary Foundation Inc; the most unlike its peers is Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. 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

19 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. 19 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)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
19/19
Grantees still filing
14/19
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION: $543,387 · OtherDAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTIONMONTANA RESCUE MISSION: $100,000 · OtherMONTANA RESCUE MISSIONMSU Billings Foundation: $58,187 · OtherMSU Billings FoundationBILLINGS CLINIC FOUNDATION: $30,700 · OtherBoys & Girls Club: $28,804 · Other+11 more: $84,680 · Other+11 moreBILLINGS FAMILY YMCA INC: $60,000 · Human ServicesBILLINGS FA…FAMILY SERVICE: $33,062 · Human ServicesFAMILY SERV…COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT INC: $17,500 · Human ServicesCOMMUNITY L…EAGLE MOUNT BILLINGS: $4,500 · Human ServicesROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE: $102,550 · EducationROCKY MOUN…BILLINGS CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION: $9,600 · EducationBILLINGS C…+1 more: $1,000 · EducationZooMontana Inc: $62,000 · Animals+1 more: $2,000 · AnimalsALBERTA BAIR THEATER CORPORATION: $25,100 · Arts & CultureBILLINGS ROTARY FOUNDATION INC: $7,730 · PhilanthropyEagle Mount: $2,500 · PhilanthropyRONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF EASTERN MONTANA: $1,000 · Health
Other$845,758Human Services$115,062Education$113,150Animals$64,000Arts & Culture$25,100Philanthropy$10,230Health$1,000

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

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetDAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION: $543,387 over 7y, 0.4% of budgetROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE: $102,550 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetMONTANA RESCUE MISSION: $100,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetZooMontana Inc: $62,000 over 5y, 0.9% of budgetBILLINGS FAMILY YMCA INC: $60,000 over 7y, 0.2% of budgetFAMILY SERVICE: $33,062 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetBILLINGS CLINIC FOUNDATION: $30,700 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetALBERTA BAIR THEATER CORPORATION: $25,100 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetRIMROCK FOUNDATION: $25,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetBILLINGS PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION INC: $17,500 over 5y, 1.1% of budgetCOMMUNITY LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT INC: $17,500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetST VINCENT HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION INC: $10,900 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetBILLINGS CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION: $9,600 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetBILLINGS ROTARY FOUNDATION INC: $7,730 over 3y, 4.2% of budgetEAGLE MOUNT BILLINGS: $4,500 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetEagle Mount: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetYELLOWSTONE VALLEY ANIMAL SHELTER: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetRONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF EASTERN MONTANA: $1,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetKEESTONE COMMUNICATION INC: $1,000 over 2y, 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.

  • Who funds DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION ↗
  • Who funds ROCKY MOUNTAIN COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds MONTANA RESCUE MISSION ↗
  • Who funds ZooMontana Inc ↗
  • Who funds BILLINGS FAMILY YMCA INC ↗
  • Who funds FAMILY SERVICE ↗
  • Who funds BILLINGS CLINIC FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds ALBERTA BAIR THEATER CORPORATION ↗
  • Who funds RIMROCK FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds BILLINGS PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT INC ↗
  • Who funds ST VINCENT HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds BILLINGS CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds BILLINGS ROTARY FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds EAGLE MOUNT BILLINGS ↗
  • Who funds Eagle Mount ↗
  • Who funds YELLOWSTONE VALLEY ANIMAL SHELTER ↗
  • Who funds RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF EASTERN MONTANA ↗
  • Who funds KEESTONE COMMUNICATION INC ↗

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.

First Interstate Banc…Montana Community Fou…Charles M Bair Family…Donald & Carol Robert…The Mary Alice Fortin…Scl Health - MontanaDennis & Phyllis Wash…Billings Community Fo…Dan & Jeanne Scott Fa…Sample Foundation IncOtto Bremer TrustFirst Interstate Bank…
First Interstate BancSystem Foundation IncMT36× affinity16 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: First Interstate BancSystem Foundation Inc · Montana Community Foundation Inc · Charles M Bair Family Trust · Donald & Carol Roberts Foundation in Memory of Virginia K Weston Inc · The Mary Alice Fortin Foundation · Scl Health - Montana · Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation · Billings Community Foundation · Dan & Jeanne Scott Family Foundation · Sample Foundation Inc · Otto Bremer Trust · First Interstate Bank Centennial Youth 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 GE McDonald Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from GE McDonald Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%6%13%19%25%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get 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 · 0–25%
    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 GE McDonald Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to GE McDonald 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 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 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on GE McDonald’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