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Golf Course Superintendents Association of America at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Public charity

Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

Gcsaa is dedicated to serving its members, advancing their profession and improving communities through the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf.

$396k
Granted FY2024still arriving
7
Grants FY2024still arriving
6
States reached
$100k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
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.

Recreation & Sports$1.5MYouth Development$258kEducation$208kEnvironment$170kHealth$86kPublic Safety & Disaster$40kCommunity Improvement$11k
02FY2024 · 7 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 7 grants below total $366,925, the rows itemized in this filing. The $395,760 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $28,835 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2024

  • $10k–50k3 grants · $45k
  • $50k–250k4 grants · $322k
$60,000
Median grant
6
States reached
$23M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
GCSAA FOUNDATION$100,000
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY$82,479
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY$79,448
WORLD GOLF FOUNDATION$60,000
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY$19,998
WEE ONE FOUNDATION$15,000
GCSAA FOUNDATION$10,000
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.

show:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY17–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 60% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%ARIZONA ALLIANCE FOR GOLF: $10k → 11%PHILADELPHIA ASSOCIATION OF GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS: $13k → 7%PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY: $32k → 16%CALIFORNIA TURFGRASS & LANDSCAPE FOUNDATION: $30k → 14%TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY: $20k → 17%TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY: $82k → 22%NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY: $13k → 23%UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS: $38k → 14%WORLD GOLF FOUNDATION: $85k → 6%MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY: $20k → 16%AUBURN UNIVERSITY: $20k → 15%GCSAA FOUNDATION: $100k → 15%KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY: $16k → 20%UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN: $50k → 10%OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY: $50k → 18%UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT: $30k → 11%E4E RELIEF CO FOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS: $20k → 10%PURDUE UNIVERSITY: $26k → 19%WEE ONE FOUNDATION: $15k → 14%RUTGERS UNIVERSITY: $58k → 8%VIRGINIA GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION: $11k → 6%VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE: $30k → 21%SOUTHERN NEVADA GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION: $15k → 13%UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: $13k → 11%TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY AGRI LIFE RESEARCH: $30k → 22%WORLD GOLF FOUNDATION: $85k → 6%AUBURN UNIVERSITY: $12k → 15%ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE FOR GOLF: $60k → 15%OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY: $30k → 18%WEE ONE FOUNDATION: $15k → 14%RUTGERS UNIVERSITY: $50k → 8%VIRGINIA TECH: $13k → 21%WORLD GOLF FOUNDATION: $85k → 6%GCSAA FOUNDATION: $50k → 15%OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY: $30k → 18%WEE ONE FOUNDATION: $15k → 14%RUTGERS UNIVERSITY: $79k → 8%WORLD GOLF FOUNDATION: $68k → 6%ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE FOR GOLF: $50k → 15%OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY: $20k → 18%WEE ONE FOUNDATION: $15k → 14%RUTGERS UNIVERSITY: $60k → 8%WORLD GOLF FOUNDATION: $60k → 6%GCSAA FOUNDATION: $50k → 15%WEE ONE FOUNDATION: $14k → 14%WORLD GOLF FOUNDATION: $60k → 6%ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTE FOR GOLF: $20k → 15%WEE ONE FOUNDATION: $12k → 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.

Which US states its grants reach

ME
WA
MT
ND
IL
WI
MI
OR
NV
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
CA
UT
CO
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
AZ
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
HI
OK
AL
GA
TX
FL
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.

70%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.6M · 12 repeat orgs$689k to everyone else

12 repeat relationships: 4 still active in FY2024, 8 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

12
37

Total granted

$1.6M
$587k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+15%
+31%

Still filing today

50%
59%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 72% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $102k 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
EducationRecreation & SportsHealthCommunity ImprovementOther
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

  • GF
    GCSAA FOUNDATION
    6× · 2017–2024 · $360k · revenue +9%
  • Oregon State University Foundation
    3× · 2019–2022 · $110k · revenue +38%
  • WO
    WEE ONE FOUNDATION INC
    6× · 2019–2024 · $86k · revenue +52%

Funded once

  • TU
    THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
    one grant, 2023 · $96k
  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOUNDATION INCgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $38k · revenue +98%
  • PS
    PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
    one grant, 2022 · $32k
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
South Carolina Golf Association

To preserve, promote, and serve the game of golf

—
2
International Association of Golf Administrators Inc

The association has been formed and exists for the purpose of promoting and conserving the best interests and the true spirit of the game of golf as embodied in its ancient and honorable traditions.

—
3
Golf Writers Association of America

To represent the interests of its members in obtaining news in the world of golf and improving their working conditions.

—
4
Florida Golf Course Superintendents Inc

The purpose of the association shall be to promote turf management as it pertains to the golf course superintendent and to unify the golf course superintendents of the state of Florida

—
5
Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents As

The carolinas gcsa is committed to providing its members the opportunity to excel professionally and enhance the game of golf through responsible turfgrass management.

Environment
6
Georgia State Golf Association

Promotion of game/rules of golf throughout the state of georgia

Recreation & Sports
7
Southern Nevada Golf Association

To support and promote the game of golf in southern nevada, our mission is to grow participation, provide excellent service, and demonstrate passion in the game of golf while upholding the integrity and traditions of the game.

—
8
Golf Association of Philadelphia Foundation
Recreation & Sports
9
Florida Golf Course Superintendents

The purpose of this association shall be to promote turf management as it pertains to the golf course superintendent.

—
10
Cactus & Pine Golf Course Superintendents Association

The organization is dedicated to enhancing the professional recognition of its members through education, leadership, collaboration, government relations and environmental stewardship.

Community Improvement
11
Arkansas State Golf Association

Support and promotion of amature golf

—
12
Carolinas Golf Association

The cga is a non-profit service organization that was formed in 1909 to conduct championships and tournaments for amateur golfers in north and south carolina, administer the usga handicap system in the carolinas, and support its membership…

Recreation & Sports
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey; the most unlike its peers is Oregon State University Foundation. 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

30 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. 30 of the 52 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)
29/30
Grantees still filing
23/30
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

RUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITY: $247,794 · OtherRUTGERS THE STATE UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA: $149,459 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF FLORIDATHE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE: $95,716 · OtherTHE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEETEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY: $82,479 · OtherTEXAS A&M UNIVERSITYUniversity of Wisconsin Madison: $60,000 · OtherVIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE & STATE UNIVERSITY: $43,390 · Other+36 more: $526,345 · Other+36 moreGCSAA FOUNDATION: $359,616 · EducationGCSAA FOUNDATIONOregon State University Foundation: $110,000 · EducationOregon State University Fo…UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOUNDATION INC: $37,700 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOU…SOUTH NEVADA GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT ASSOC: $23,000 · Education+1 more: $7,500 · EducationWORLD GOLF FOUNDATION INC: $442,500 · Recreation & SportsWORLD GOLF FOUNDATION …+1 more: $10,000 · Recreation & SportsWEE ONE FOUNDATION INC: $86,000 · HealthFOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS: $20,000 · PhilanthropyVIRGINIA GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION: $11,000 · Community Improvement
Other$1,205,183Education$537,816Recreation & Sports$452,500Health$86,000Philanthropy$20,000Community Improvement$11,000

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 budgetWORLD GOLF FOUNDATION INC: $442,500 over 6y, 0.5% of budgetGCSAA FOUNDATION: $359,616 over 6y, 5.9% of budgetOregon State University Foundation: $110,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetWEE ONE FOUNDATION INC: $86,000 over 6y, 7.5% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOUNDATION INC: $37,700 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHEART OF AMERICA GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION: $20,000 over 2y, 9.1% of budgetPhiladelphia Asc of Golf Course Superintendents: $13,000 over 1y, 7.5% of budgetVIRGINIA GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION: $11,000 over 1y, 3.4% of budgetIDAHO GCSA: $11,000 over 1y, 12% of budgetNORTH CENTRAL TURF GRASS ASSOC: $10,000 over 1y, 16% of budgetROCKY MTN GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION: $10,000 over 1y, 5.8% of budgetARIZONA ALLIANCE FOR GOLF: $10,000 over 1y, 4.8% of budgetOREGON GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOC: $10,000 over 1y, 7.2% of budgetEastern Shore Association of Golf Course Superintendents Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 8.1% of budgetGOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY: $10,000 over 1y, 3.5% of budgetGeorgia Golf Course Superintendents Association: $10,000 over 1y, 2.2% of budgetMaine Golf Course Superintendents Association: $10,000 over 1y, 19% of budgetWESTERN WASHINGTON GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION: $10,000 over 1y, 4.1% of budgetBOCA GROVE GOLF & TENNIS CLUB INC: $7,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCLEARVIEW LEGACY FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION PRESERVATION & RESEARCH: $7,500 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetNATIONAL GOLF COURSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION: $7,500 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetPEAKS & PRAIRIES GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOC: $7,500 over 1y, 5.1% of budgetMICHIGAN GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION: $6,500 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetCALIFORNIA GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION: $5,500 over 1y, 6.8% 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 set of overlaps that mostly run through this funder rather than between each other.

United States Golf As…
United States Golf AssociationNJ15.6× affinity5 shared granteesties to 0 of 0Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: United States Golf Association

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 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 40%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%1%3%4%5%share of the org’s income from government →median 0%
  • Oregon State University Foundation: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
4get no government money at all
2report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–5%
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 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America?

Find your warmest path to Golf Course Superintendents Association of America 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 52 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 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Golf Course Superintendents Association of America’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