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Golden Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Golden Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$41k
Granted FY2023
7
Grants FY2023
2
States reached
$15k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead

Read this first · the figures below need context

51% of Golden Foundation’s FY2024 grant dollars went to Spur Community Foundation Inc, not to grantees.

Its money now reaches organizations through that sponsor, which does not report who recommended each grant. FY2024 names 8 organizations directly, so a portfolio cannot be read from it. Everything below is therefore FY2023, the last year Golden Foundation named its own grantees at scale: 6 organizations, $41k. It is dated, not current.

Organizations named directly on the return

10
’17
10
’18
10
’19
8
’20
7
’21
6
’22
6
’23
8
’24

Amber years are those where most dollars went to a sponsor.

01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Philanthropy$723kHealth$269kAnimals$88kHuman Services$78kCivil Rights$55kRecreation & Sports$45kArts & Culture$42kReligion$39kOther$0
02FY2023 · 7 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2023

  • Under $10k5 grants · $16k
  • $10k–50k2 grants · $25k
$5,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$721k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
ST LUKE'S WOOD RIVER FOUNDATION$15,000
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BIGWOOD$10,000
SUN VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL$6,000
THE COMMUNITY SCHOOL$5,000
SAWTOOTH BOTANICAL GARDEN$4,000
PEO FOUNDATION$500
KETCHUM SUN VALLEY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT$500
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 (FY17–24, $80k) land where the poverty rate runs at 8%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 34% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%CHILDHELP: $2k → 11%HOPE FOR LIFE: $1k → 9%THE SENIOR CONNECTION: $2k → 7%SPUR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $50k → 7%ELDERHELP OF SAN DIEGO: $15k → 11%ELDERHELP OF SAN DIEGO: $10k → 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.

Which US states its grants reach

WA
ID
NY
OR
IA
CA
VA
AZ
TN
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.

39%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$553k · 18 repeat orgs$848k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +43% since the first grant, against +29% for those funded once.

18 repeat relationships: 6 still active in FY2023, 12 since wound down; 6 grantees were first funded in FY2023 (too recent to call). Read against FY2023, the last year this funder named its own grantees directly; its giving has since run through a sponsor, which reports no donor behind each grant.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

18
25

Total granted

$553k
$832k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+43%
+29%

Still filing today

78%
52%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 69% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $15k 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 ServicesHealthArts & CultureEducationAnimalsPhilanthropyOther
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

  • SL
    ST LUKE'S WOOD RIVER FOUNDATION INC
    2× · 2022–2023 · $90k · revenue +46%
  • SD
    SAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY AND SPCA
    4× · 2017–2020 · $75k · revenue +134%
  • FO
    FRIENDS OF VISTA HILL FOUNDATION
    4× · 2017–2020 · $55k · revenue +83%

Funded once

  • KF
    KELLEY FAMILY CHARITABLE FUND
    one grant, 2021 · $668k
  • JC
    JACOBS & CUSHMAN SAN DIEGO FOOD BANKgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $20k · revenue +35%
  • TC
    THE COMMUNITY LIBRARY
    one grant, 2021 · $20k
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
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
2
Sutter Bay Hospitals

MISSION STATEMENT: MISSION: CARING FOR OUR PATIENTS FIRST AND OUR PEOPLE ALWAYS. VISION: TO BE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE, INTEGRATED AND CONNECTED HEALTH SYSTEM FOR GETTING AND STAYING WELL. VALUES: EXCELLENCE - We deliver high-quality,…

Health
3
Scripps Health

Founded in 1924 by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps, Scripps Health is a $4.9 billion, private not-for-profit integrated health system in San Diego, Ca. (see Sch O)

Health
4
Sutter Bay Medical Foundation

Mission statement: mission: caring for our patients first and our people always. vision: to be the most comprehensive, integrated and connected health system for getting and staying well. values: excellence - we deliver high-quality,…

Health
5
Quail Botanical Gardens Foundation

The mission of san diego botanic garden: we garden to create, share, and apply plant wisdom in our world. the organization's diverse topography and wide variety of microclimates provides visitors with the varied sensations of strolling…

Environment
6
Feeding San Diego

On a mission to connect every person facing hunger with nutritious meals by maximizing food rescue. through direct service and community partnerships, feeding san diego provides more than 26 million meals each year to children, families,…

Food & Nutrition
7
City of Hope

City of Hope's mission is to make hope a reality for all touched by cancer and diabetes. PLEASE SEE SCHEDULE O FOR A CONTINUATION OF OUR MISSION

Health
8
Connect Foundation

Connect is an innovation instigator established to cultivate san diego's life science and tech communities. a trusted partner for more than 30 years, we propel our region's entrepreneurs as they create and scale their companies from…

Education
9
San Diego Opera Association

Mission: the mission of san diego opera is to deliver exceptional performances and exciting, accessible programs to diverse audiences, focusing on community partnerships, and the transformative and expressive power of the human voice. as…

Arts & Culture
10
Nature Collective

Nature collective's mission is to drive a passion for nature for all. we think inclusively and diversely when serving those devoid of nature those who remember nature and want to connect back to it and those who have an affinity with…

Environment
11
San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program Inc

The mission of san diego volunteer lawyer program, inc. is to provide equal access to the justice system by serving as a bridge between indigent and other disadvantaged people in san diego county and the volunteer lawyers who are willing…

Social Science
12
Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography

To promote, advance, and educate its members and the medical community in the science of diagnostic medical sonography.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Elderhelp of San Diego; the most unlike its peers is Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. 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

33 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. 33 of the 50 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)
32/33
Grantees still filing
25/33
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

KELLEY FAMILY CHARITABLE FUND: $667,975 · OtherKELLEY FAMILY CHARITABLE FUNDRADY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: $60,000 · OtherRADY CHILDREN'S HOSPITALPRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF THE BIG WOOD: $38,000 · Other+30 more: $287,526 · Other+30 moreST LUKE'S WOOD RIVER FOUNDATION INC: $90,000 · HealthST LUKE'S…ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $23,000 · HealthST JUDE C…SANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS MEDICAL DISCOVERY INSTITUTE: $10,000 · HealthSANFORD B…+1 more: $515 · HealthSPUR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC: $50,000 · Human ServicesELDERHELP OF SAN DIEGO: $25,000 · Human Services+3 more: $5,000 · Human ServicesSAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY AND SPCA: $75,000 · AnimalsSTELLA'S SHELTER FUND INC: $2,865 · AnimalsFRIENDS OF VISTA HILL FOUNDATION: $55,000 · Civil RightsSUN VALLEY SUMMER SYMPHONY INC: $23,050 · Arts & CultureBALLET SUN VALLEY INC: $6,620 · Arts & Culture+1 more: $1,000 · Arts & CultureBurn Institute: $25,000 · PhilanthropyMARINE TOYS FOR TOTS FOUNDATION: $5,000 · Philanthropy
Other$1,053,501Health$123,515Human Services$80,000Animals$77,865Civil Rights$55,000Arts & Culture$30,670Philanthropy$30,000

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 budgetST LUKE'S WOOD RIVER FOUNDATION INC: $90,000 over 2y, 1.6% of budgetSAN DIEGO HUMANE SOCIETY AND SPCA: $75,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetFRIENDS OF VISTA HILL FOUNDATION: $55,000 over 4y, 0.9% of budgetSPUR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetANGEL FACES: $35,000 over 3y, 6.4% of budgetPOINT LOMA ASSOCIATION %BRAD NELSON: $30,000 over 3y, 10% of budgetFOREVER BALBOA PARK: $29,000 over 3y, 0.7% of budgetBurn Institute: $25,000 over 3y, 0.8% of budgetELDERHELP OF SAN DIEGO: $25,000 over 2y, 1.0% of budgetSUN VALLEY SUMMER SYMPHONY INC: $23,050 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $23,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetSt Madeleine Sophies Center Inc: $20,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetJACOBS & CUSHMAN SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS MEDICAL DISCOVERY INSTITUTE: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSAWTOOTH BOTANICAL GARDEN: $8,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetSun Valley Community School Inc: $8,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetBALLET SUN VALLEY INC: $6,620 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetSpecial Olympics Oregon Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMARINE TOYS FOR TOTS FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSAN DIEGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetSAN DIEGO CENTER FOR THE BLIND: $5,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetWOOD RIVER LAND TRUST CO: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSUN VALLEY WRITERS' CONFERENCE INC: $4,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSTELLA'S SHELTER FUND INC: $2,865 over 1y, 4.7% of budgetCHILDHELP INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBLAINE COUNTY SENIORS COUNCIL INC THE SENIOR CONNECTION: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHOPE FOR LIFE: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetSAN DIEGO MUSEUM OF ART: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY: $515 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetPEO Foundation: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $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.

The San Diego Foundat…Rancho Santa Fe Found…Jewish Community Foun…Spur Community Founda…The Cushman FoundationThe Springcreek Found…Walter J & Betty C Za…David C Copley Founda…Price Philanthropies …Sempra FoundationThe Goldman Family Fo…Heller Foundation of …
The San Diego FoundationCA20.2× affinity8 shared granteesties to 10 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The San Diego Foundation · Rancho Santa Fe Foundation · Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego · Spur Community Foundation Inc · The Cushman Foundation · The Springcreek Foundation · Walter J & Betty C Zable Foundation · David C Copley Foundation · Price Philanthropies Foundation · Sempra Foundation · The Goldman Family Foundation Inc · Heller Foundation of San Diego

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 Golden Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Golden 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%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    7report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–75%
    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 Golden Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Golden 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 50 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 2023, released 2023. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Golden’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