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German American Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

German American 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.

$38k
Granted FY2025still arriving
8
Grants FY2025still arriving
1
States reached
$5k
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, FY2017 to 2025.

Health$49kCrime & Legal$30kHuman Services$28kFood & Nutrition$28kYouth Development$20kAnimals$20kPhilanthropy$20kRecreation & Sports$14kOther$0
02FY2025 · 8 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$4,730
Median grant
1
States reached
$37k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
DUBOIS COUNTY 4H COUNCIL$4,731
OPERATION MIND BODY AND SOUL CORP$4,731
SOUTHERN INDIANA RESOURCE SOLUTIONS INC$4,730
CELESTINE PARK$4,730
DUBOIS COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY$4,730
HEALING HEARTS AND HOOVES$4,730
DUBOIS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION$4,730
INDIANA SPECIAL OLYMPICS INC$4,730
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 (FY18–24, $12k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 13%. 40% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants spread fairly evenly across need levels.

area typical 13%BORROWED HEARTS FOUNDATION: $5k → 15%DISTRICT OF JASPER OF THE SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DEPAUL INC: $5k → 8%Christian Minstries of Huntingburg Inc: $3k → 8%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.

37%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$86k · 11 repeat orgs$145k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +65% since the first grant, against +7% for those funded once.

11 repeat relationships: 2 still active in FY2025, 9 since wound down; 5 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

11
42

Total granted

$86k
$122k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+65%
+7%

Still filing today

73%
43%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 29% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $24k 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
HealthHuman ServicesPublic Safety & DisasterFood & NutritionRecreation & SportsEducationOther
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

  • DC
    DUBOIS COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY
    3× · 2017–2025 · $15k · revenue +192%
  • CF
    Community Food Bank
    3× · 2018–2021 · $12k · revenue +23%
  • CC
    CRISIS CONNECTION INC
    2× · 2018–2021 · $10k · revenue +29%

Funded once

  • MT
    MARINE TOYS FOR TOTS FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2020 · $5k
  • FR
    FREEDOM REINS THERAPEUTIC RIDING CE
    one grant, 2020 · $5k · revenue +10%
  • MF
    Mentors for Youth
    one grant, 2022 · $5k
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
Dunbar Volunteer Fire Department

Community and area fire protection, render assistance at accident sites and ambulance calls. provide building space for community activities.

Public Safety & Disaster
2
Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department Inc

Provide volunteer fire protection to the cummunity of dunkirk, indiana.

Public Safety & Disaster
3
Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Dept & Rescue Squad

Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service Protect Property and Save Lives

Public Safety & Disaster
4
Duboistown Fire Department

Fire, rescue and ems services

Public Safety & Disaster
5
German Township Volunteer Fire Dept

To provide fire protection and rescue services to the residences and business in german township, bartholomew county, indiana

Public Safety & Disaster
6
Dubois Area Food Pantry Inc

Food and nonfood assistance to individuals

—
7
Derrick City Volunteer Fire Department Inc

Too provide high quality emergency services 24/7.

—
8
Hope Volunteer Fire Department Inc

Provide volunteer fire and ems services to property owners in the hope, in and surrounding area

Health
9
Duncannon Fire Company No 1 Inc

Provide Fire Prevention & Protection Services

—
10
East Sullivan County Volunteer Fire Dept Inc

Volunteer fire department

Public Safety & Disaster
11
Dupont-Lancaster Twp Volunteer Fire Dept Inc

Fire fighting and first responder services for surrounding community.

—
12
Westville Community Volunteer Fire Department Inc

Providing fire protection to the citizens of new durham township, jackson township, and town of westville, located in laporte/porter counties, indiana. also promotion of fire prevention and safety.

Public Safety & Disaster
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Dubois Volunteer Fire Depart Inc; the most unlike its peers is Locking Arms for Suicide Awareness 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

31 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. 31 of the 59 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)
7
Early backer (in before they grew)
30/31
Grantees still filing
19/31
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

COMMUNITY CHEW INC: $11,338 · OtherCOMMUNITY CHEW INCBROTHERS FOR VETERANS INC: $10,474 · OtherBROTHERS FOR VETERANS INCCRISIS CONNECTION INC: $10,078 · OtherCRISIS CONNECTION INCMENTORS FOR YOUTH OF DUBOIS COUNTY: $9,911 · OtherMENTORS FOR YOUTH OF DUBOIS COUNTYMARINE TOYS FOR TOTS FOUNDATION: $5,261 · OtherMentors for Youth: $5,214 · OtherSurvivors of Suicide: $5,214 · Other+39 more: $95,511 · Other+39 moreDUBOIS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $20,022 · PhilanthropyDUBOIS CO…FREEDOM REINS THERAPEUTIC RIDING CE: $5,260 · HealthDUBOIS COUNTY LEUKEMIA ASSOC INC: $5,000 · HealthMATRIX LIFELINE OF DUBOIS COUNTY INC: $4,912 · HealthDOVE RECOVERY HOUSE FOR WOMEN INC: $4,624 · HealthCommunity Food Bank: $11,578 · Food & NutritionBACKPACK BUDDIES OF INDIANA INC: $4,624 · Food & NutritionDUBOIS COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY: $14,891 · AnimalsINDIANA SPECIAL OLYMPICS INC: $9,730 · Recreation & SportsCELESTINE PARK INC: $4,730 · Recreation & SportsBorrowed Hearts Foundation Inc: $5,000 · Human ServicesDISTRICT OF JASPER OF THE SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DEPAUL INC: $4,912 · Human ServicesCHRISTIAN MINISTRIES OF H'BURG INC: $2,500 · Human Services
Other$153,001Philanthropy$20,022Health$19,796Food & Nutrition$16,202Animals$14,891Recreation & Sports$14,460Human Services$12,412

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

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetDUBOIS COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $20,022 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetDUBOIS COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY: $14,891 over 3y, 2.4% of budgetCommunity Food Bank: $11,578 over 3y, 3.2% of budgetCRISIS CONNECTION INC: $10,078 over 2y, 0.9% of budgetMENTORS FOR YOUTH OF DUBOIS COUNTY: $9,911 over 2y, 3.6% of budgetINDIANA SPECIAL OLYMPICS INC: $9,730 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetFREEDOM REINS THERAPEUTIC RIDING CE: $5,260 over 1y, 6.7% of budgetHABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF DUBOIS COUNTY INC: $5,078 over 1y, 1.8% of budgetDUBOIS-PIKE-WARRICK EOC INC D/B/A TRI-CAP: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBorrowed Hearts Foundation Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 3.2% of budgetMATRIX LIFELINE OF DUBOIS COUNTY INC: $4,912 over 1y, 2.0% of budgetDISTRICT OF JASPER OF THE SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DEPAUL INC: $4,912 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetSouthwest Indiana Child Advocacy Center Coalition: $4,912 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetLOCKING ARMS FOR SUICIDE AWARENESS INC: $4,911 over 1y, 29% of budgetHONOR FLIGHT OF SOUTHERN INDIANA INC: $4,911 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetVINCENNES UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC: $4,911 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetDUBOIS COUNTY 4-H COUNCIL INC: $4,731 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetCELESTINE PARK INC: $4,730 over 1y, 5.1% of budgetSOUTHERN INDIANA RESOURCE SOLUTIONS INC: $4,730 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDOVE RECOVERY HOUSE FOR WOMEN INC: $4,624 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetBIRDSEYE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT: $2,504 over 2y, 2.7% of budgetCHRISTIAN MINISTRIES OF H'BURG INC: $2,500 over 1y, 2.8% of budgetHUNTINGBURG VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT INC: $2,015 over 2y, 11% of budgetST ANTHONY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INC: $1,950 over 2y, 1.3% of budgetDUBOIS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPART INC: $1,200 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetSCHNELLVILLE FIRE FIGHTING CORP: $750 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetHUNTINGBURG ELEMENTARY PTO: $584 over 1y, 4.5% 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.

Dubois County Communi…Tc Energy FoundationThomas L Habig Founda…The Smithville Charit…Community Foundation …Jjc Charitable TrustC A Stenftenagel Fami…Thomas W Seger and Cy…TLGC FoundationThe Kimball Internati…Welborn Baptist Found…Lilly Endowment Inc
Dubois County Community FoundationIN36.7× affinity15 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Dubois County Community Foundation · Tc Energy Foundation · Thomas L Habig Foundation Inc · The Smithville Charitable Foundation Inc · Community Foundation Alliance Inc · Jjc Charitable Trust · C A Stenftenagel Family Foundation · Thomas W Seger and Cynthia J Seger Family Foundation Inc · TLGC Foundation · The Kimball International - Habig Foundation Inc · Welborn Baptist Foundation Inc · Lilly Endowment 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 German American Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from German American Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%2%8%17%30%funder's share of their income ↑0%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    10report 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 German American Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to German American 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 59 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 German American’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