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Gem Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Gem 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.

$150k
Granted FY2024still arriving
2
Grants FY2024still arriving
2
States reached
$100k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0194% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Human Services$230kHousing & Shelter$200kInternational$176kCrime & Legal$31kEducation$8kPhilanthropy$8kScience & Tech$8kEnvironment$1kOther$0
02FY2024 · 2 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$100,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$3.1M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SAMARITAN CAPITAL FOUNDATION$100,000
PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS (PANA)$50,000
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.

US giving: 85% of grant dollars ($579k). The need read here covers only this US portion; the 15% that went abroad ($100k) is mapped below.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY19–24, $130k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, 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%YOUTH ON THEIR OWN: $250 → 15%PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS (PANA): $50k → 11%PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS (PANA): $25k → 11%PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS (PANA): $25k → 11%PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS (PANA): $25k → 11%PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS (PANA): $3k → 11%PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS (PANA): $3k → 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.

Beyond the US: 15% of all-years giving ($100k)

1 country, by the recipient’s country on the filing.

grant dollars sentlessmore
Canada$100k · 1 grant
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. International giving is mapped by the recipient’s country from the same 990 filings; comparable need data isn’t available at that grain.
04

Where the work is directed

The same grants placed two ways: where each recipient sits, and where its stated purpose sends the money.

About 100% of Gem Foundation’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address. By recipient address, 26% of the giving stays in CA; by stated purpose, 0%.

Gem Foundationlessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address
How this is measured
Recipient view: each grant at its grantee’s ZIP, mapped to a county. Directed view: each grant at the county its stated purpose names, falling back to the recipient’s county when the purpose names no place; US grants only. A county shows only if it carries the top 95% of that view’s dollars. Purposes are read from the funder’s own 990 grant descriptions.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

77%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$520k · 7 repeat orgs$153k to everyone else

7 repeat relationships: 2 still active in FY2024, 5 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

7
12

Total granted

$520k
$153k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+49%
+119%

Still filing today

100%
33%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 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
Human ServicesPhilanthropyEducationInternationalRecreation & SportsFood & NutritionOther
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

  • SC
    SAMARITAN CAPITAL FOUNDATION
    2× · 2023–2024 · $200k · revenue +25% · 44% of their budget
  • PF
    PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS
    6× · 2019–2024 · $130k · revenue +122%
  • AF
    ACUMEN FUND INC
    3× · 2020–2022 · $125k · revenue +61%

Funded once

  • SF
    SAMARITAN FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2022 · $100k
  • AF
    ACUMEN FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2023 · $25k
  • P
    PCI
    one grant, 2018 · $11k
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
Policy & Innovation Center

The policy & innovation center's (pic) mission is to unlock the region's potential by cultivating and building partnerships. our niche is to address intractable issues that can only be solved with cross-sector, multi-jurisdictional…

Philanthropy
2
The San Diego Foundation

The san diego foundation inspires enduring philanthropy and enables community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region.

Philanthropy
3
La Jolla Institute for Immunology

At la jolla institute for immunology, our scientists focus on understanding how the immune system works in order to promote human health and prevent disease. our discoveries apply to many diseases, ranging from diabetes to heart disease,…

—
4
California Institute for BioMedical Research

Our mission is to build a unique institute that bridges basic research and drug discovery, and that attracts the best and brightest scientists, physicians and students to work together synergistically to find cures for neglected human…

—
5
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
6
Climate Catalyst Inc

Climate catalyst sparks collective action to tackle the biggest climate challenges we face today: cutting emissions in heavy industries.

Environment
7
Pasadena Bio Collaborative Incubator

Pasadena bio collaborative incubator is a nonprofit organization focused on economic development and job creation in southern california. we encourage the growth of an innovative biotechnology industry by providing educational/training…

Science & Tech
8
California Immigrant Policy Center

The california immigrant policy center upholds the humanity of immigrant communities in california by transforming systems to achieve racial, social, and economic justice.

Civil Rights
9
Inclusive Development International

Inclusive Development International supports communities around the world to defend their rights and resources in the face of harmful corporate activities and internationally financed development projects, and we advocate for a more just…

International
10
Public Advocates Inc

For more than five decades, public advocates has challenged the systemic causes of poverty and racial discrimination by strengthening community voices in public policy and achieving tangible legal victories advancing education, housing,…

—
11
Accion International

Our mission is to create a fair and inclusive economy where underserved people have quality financial choices and opportunities to improve their economic well-being. we find and help build innovative companies with the potential to reach…

International
12
Latino Leadership Institute

By 2050, Latinos will comprise nearly 30 of the US population. Today and in the future, the demographic destiny of the U.S will be characterized by the growing Latino population. In fact, Latinos have an impact in all aspects of life. We…

Arts & Culture
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans; the most unlike its peers is Samaritan Capital Foundation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
05the grantee network

12 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. 12 of the 20 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.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
12/12
Grantees still filing
10/12
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

SAMARITAN CAPITAL FOUNDATION: $200,000 · OtherSAMARITAN CAPITAL FOUNDATIONSAMARITAN FOUNDATION: $100,000 · OtherSAMARITAN FOUNDATIONACUMEN FOUNDATION: $25,000 · OtherACUMEN FOUNDATION+7 more: $25,500 · Other+7 morePARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS: $130,000 · Human ServicesPARTNERSHIP FOR THE A…+1 more: $250 · Human ServicesACUMEN FUND INC: $125,000 · InternationalACUMEN FUND INCSHOULDER TO SHOULDER: $50,000 · Food & NutritionOCEAN DISCOVERY INSTITUTE: $7,500 · EducationBARRIO LOGAN COLLEGE INSTITUTE: $5,200 · EducationTHE CHILDRENS INITIATIVE INC: $5,425 · PhilanthropyCatalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties: $2,275 · PhilanthropyTHE TAHIRIH JUSTICE CENTER: $1,500 · Civil RightsGLACIER NATIONAL PARK CONSERVANCY: $1,000 · Recreation & Sports
Other$350,500Human Services$130,250International$125,000Food & Nutrition$50,000Education$12,700Philanthropy$7,700Civil Rights$1,500Recreation & Sports$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 budgetSAMARITAN CAPITAL FOUNDATION: $200,000 over 2y, 44% of budgetPARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS: $130,000 over 6y, 2.3% of budgetACUMEN FUND INC: $125,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetSHOULDER TO SHOULDER: $50,000 over 2y, 5.0% of budgetOCEAN DISCOVERY INSTITUTE: $7,500 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetTHE CHILDRENS INITIATIVE INC: $5,425 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetBARRIO LOGAN COLLEGE INSTITUTE: $5,200 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetCatalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties: $2,275 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE TAHIRIH JUSTICE CENTER: $1,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGLACIER NATIONAL PARK CONSERVANCY: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetYOUTH ON THEIR OWN: $250 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.

Walter J & Betty C Za…The Parker FoundationPrice Philanthropies …The Conrad Prebys Fou…The California Endowm…Sempra FoundationDavid C Copley Founda…The Satterberg Founda…Mufg Union Bank Found…Rancho Santa Fe Found…Jewish Community Foun…The California Wellne…
Walter J & Betty C Zable FoundationCA15.7× affinity5 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation · The Parker Foundation · Price Philanthropies Foundation · The Conrad Prebys Foundation · The California Endowment · Sempra Foundation · David C Copley Foundation · The Satterberg Foundation Inc · Mufg Union Bank Foundation Ag · Rancho Santa Fe Foundation · Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego · The California Wellness 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 Gem Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Gem Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%3%13%28%50%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
    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
    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 20 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.

    Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2025) is on record and reports no grant expense, so the figures above are from FY2024, the most recent year this funder made grants.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Gem’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