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Gordon C Willis Charitable Trust at a glance

· Private foundation

Gordon C Willis Charitable Trust

Its FY2023 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$2k
Granted FY2022
1
Grants FY2022
1
States reached
$2k
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 2022.

Civil Rights$115kHealth$97kReligion$95kArts & Culture$52kEducation$44kHousing & Shelter$10kEnvironment$5kFood & Nutrition$4kOther$0
02FY2022 · 1 grant

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$2,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$7k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
ST GEORGES EPISCOPAL CHURCH$2,000
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 (FY17–22) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 59% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%WALDORF SCHOOL OF CAPE COD: $2k → 8%FREDERICKSBURG-ESTE ASSOCIATION: $5k → 6%RICHMOND JUSTICE LEAGUE: $55k → 7%FRIENDS OF GREENFIELD PRESTON PLANT: $5k → 7%WVTF PUBLIC RADIO: $5k → 8%NATIONAL MS SOCIETY: $2k → 9%FERRUM COLLEGE: $2k → 13%MASONIC THEATRE PRESERVATION FOUNDA: $10k → 14%FREDERICKSBURG COUNSELING SERVICES: $15k → 15%GRANDIN THEATRE FOUNDATION: $10k → 20%HAMPDEN SYDNEY COLLEGE: $5k → 20%BRAIN INJURY RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT C: $5k → 21%FREDERICKSBURG-ESTE ASSOCIATION: $2k → 6%RICHMOND JUSTICE LEAGUE: $50k → 7%WVTF PUBLIC RADIO: $5k → 8%FERRUM COLLEGE: $2k → 13%FREDERICKSBURG COUNSELING SERVICES: $5k → 15%ROANOKE BALLET THEATRE: $5k → 20%HAMPDEN SYDNEY COLLEGE: $5k → 20%RICHMOND JUSTICE LEAGUE: $10k → 7%I CAN SHINE INC: $2k → 8%FERRUM COLLEGE: $2k → 13%ST GEORGES EPISCOPAL CHURCH: $2k → 15%GRANDIN THEATRE FOUNDATION: $2k → 20%HAMPDEN SYDNEY COLLEGE: $2k → 20%ROANOKE AREA BRAIN INJURY CONNECTIO: $5k → 8%WHITEROCK BAPTIST CHURCH: $5k → 13%PLANNED PARENTHOOD HEALTH SYSTEMS I: $20k → 20%VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTATION: $10k → 20%RENOVATION ALLIANCE: $2k → 20%HOLLINS UNIVERSITY: $5k → 8%PLANNED PARENTHOOD HEALTH SYSTEMS I: $10k → 20%HOLLINS UNIVERSITY: $5k → 8%MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF ROANOKE VA: $5k → 20%HOLLINS UNIVERSITY: $2k → 8%GRANDIN THEATRE FOUNDATION: $2k → 20%NORTHCROSS SCHOOL: $10k → 8%PLANNED PARENTHOOD HEALTH SYSTEMS I: $10k → 20%AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY: $5k → 8%PLANNED PARENTHOOD HEALTH SYSTEMS I: $10k → 20%ROANOKE RESCUE MISSION: $3k → 20%ROANOKE RESCUE MISSION: $3k → 20%ROANOKE RESCUE MISSION: $2k → 20%CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH: $45k → 20%CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH: $20k → 20%CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH: $17k → 20%BETHANY HALL: $5k → 20%CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH: $5k → 20%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.

77%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$342k · 11 repeat orgs$101k to everyone else

11 repeat relationships: 0 still active in FY2022, 11 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2022 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

11
33

Total granted

$342k
$99k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

-12%
+41%

Still filing today

36%
42%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2022, 0% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $2k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22
Arts & CultureEducationHealthHousing & ShelterAnimalsOther
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

  • RJ
    RICHMOND JUSTICE LEAGUE
    3× · 2017–2019 · $115k
  • CE
    CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
    4× · 2017–2021 · $87k
  • PP
    PLANNED PARENTHOOD HEALTH SYSTEMS I
    4× · 2017–2020 · $50k

Funded once

  • MT
    MASONIC THEATRE PRESERVATION FOUNDATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $10k · revenue +106%
  • NC
    North Cross Schoolgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $10k · revenue +61%
  • VM
    VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTAION INCgraduated
    one grant, 2018 · $10k · revenue +30%
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
Vcu Investment Management Company

To provide investment and investment management and related services to the rector and the board of visitors of virginia commonwealth university (vcu), and/or to the private and independent foundations and other entities affiliated with…

Education
2
Roanoke College

Roanoke College develops students as whole persons and prepares them for responsible lives of learning, service, and leadership by promoting their intellectual, ethical, spiritual and personal growth.

Education
3
The Richmond Symphony

The richmond symphony performs, teaches and champions music to inspire and unite our communities.

Arts & Culture
4
Virginia Maryland and Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives

Trade association for electric cooperatives

—
5
University of Virginia Investment Management Company

The university of virginia investment management company (uvimco) is organized to invest funds on behalf of the rector and visitors of the university of virginia (the university or uva) and university-associated organizations (uaos).

Education
6
Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation

The mission of vt-arc is to extend the impact of the virginia tech research and innovation enterprise, delivering superior analytic and technology solutions to government and non-government customers.

Science & Tech
7
Virginia Association of Museums

The virginia association of museums is a statewide network serving the museum community. the association's mission statement is "the virginia association of museums helps our museum community succeed".

Arts & Culture
8
Virginia Wesleyan University

Virginia wesleyan university is a fully accredited liberal arts, united-methodist related institution founded in 1961.

—
9
Barton College

Founded in 1902, barton college is a four-year, private, liberal arts college located in wilson, n.c. the barton experience focuses on academic excellence within a wide range of professional and liberal arts programs leading to…

Education
10
University of Virginia Foundation

To provide administrative services to university of virginia (university) entities, university associated organizations, or other entities involved in activities which support the university. to engage in matters pertaining to real…

Education
11
Mcv Associated Physicians

The mission of the organization is to provide physicians and other healthcare professionals to support the needs of the community, as well as the academic mission of the vcu school of medicine.

Health
12
Richmond Shakespeare Fka Quill Theatre

We produce vital works of classical and contemporary theatre, with Shakespeare as our foundation. We approach this work boldly with a resolve to ignite spirits, educate minds and defy expectation.

Arts & Culture
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Us Naval Academy Foundation Inc; the most unlike its peers is Renovation Alliance 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

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 45 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)
4
Early backer (in before they grew)
18/19
Grantees still filing
11/19
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

RICHMOND JUSTICE LEAGUE: $115,000 · OtherRICHMOND JUSTICE LEAGUECHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH: $87,000 · OtherCHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHPLANNED PARENTHOOD HEALTH SYSTEMS I: $50,000 · OtherPLANNED PARENTHOOD HEALTH SYSTEMS IFREDERICKSBURG COUNSELING SERVICES INC: $20,000 · OtherFREDERICKSBURG COUNSELING SERVICES INC+25 more: $78,000 · Other+25 moreGRANDIN THEATRE FOUNDATION INC: $15,000 · Arts & CultureGRANDIN TH…MASONIC THEATRE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION: $10,000 · Arts & CultureMASONIC TH…VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTAION INC: $10,000 · Arts & CultureVIRGINIA M…ROANOKE BALLET THEATRE INC: $5,000 · Arts & CultureROANOKE BA…+2 more: $2,000 · Arts & CultureHOLLINS UNIVERSITY CORPORATION: $12,000 · EducationHOLLINS UN…HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE: $12,000 · EducationHAMPDEN-SY…North Cross School: $10,000 · EducationNorth Cros…FERRUM COLLEGE: $6,000 · EducationFERRUM COL…+1 more: $1,000 · EducationAMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC: $5,000 · HealthCarilion Clinic Foundation: $1,000 · HealthMARCH OF DIMES INC: $1,000 · HealthRenovation Alliance Inc: $2,000 · Housing & ShelterVIRGINIA HUNTERS WHO CARE INC: $1,000 · Animals
Other$350,000Arts & Culture$42,000Education$41,000Health$7,000Housing & Shelter$2,000Animals$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$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetFREDERICKSBURG COUNSELING SERVICES INC: $20,000 over 2y, 3.6% of budgetGRANDIN THEATRE FOUNDATION INC: $15,000 over 4y, 1.1% of budgetHOLLINS UNIVERSITY CORPORATION: $12,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetHAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE: $12,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetMASONIC THEATRE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 2.9% of budgetNorth Cross School: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetVIRGINIA MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTAION INC: $10,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetFERRUM COLLEGE: $6,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAPPLE RIDGE FARM INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetBRADLEY FREE CLINIC OF ROANOKE VALLEY INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetVIRGINIA HUNTERS WHO CARE INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetROANOKE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCarilion Clinic Foundation: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetOPERA ROANOKE: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetUS NAVAL ACADEMY FOUNDATION INC: $1,000 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.

  • Who funds FREDERICKSBURG COUNSELING SERVICES INC ↗
  • Who funds GRANDIN THEATRE FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds HOLLINS UNIVERSITY CORPORATION ↗
  • Who funds HAMPDEN-SYDNEY COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds MASONIC THEATRE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds North Cross School ↗
  • Who funds VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF TRANSPORTAION INC ↗
  • Who funds FERRUM COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC ↗
  • Who funds ROANOKE BALLET THEATRE INC ↗
  • Who funds Renovation Alliance Inc ↗
  • Who funds APPLE RIDGE FARM INC ↗
  • Who funds BRADLEY FREE CLINIC OF ROANOKE VALLEY INC ↗
  • Who funds VIRGINIA HUNTERS WHO CARE INC ↗
  • Who funds ROANOKE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ↗
  • Who funds Carilion Clinic Foundation ↗
  • Who funds MARCH OF DIMES 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.

Community Foundation …Cartledge Charitable …Evelyn F James Founda…The Ceres Foundation …Ge Aerospace Foundati…Muse Family Foundatio…The Newbern FoundationThe Beirne Carter Fou…Mw Armistead III Fami…Sam & Marion Golden H…Logan III Charitable …Edgar a Thurman Fdn C…
Community Foundation Serving Western VirginiaVA30.3× affinity12 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Community Foundation Serving Western Virginia · Cartledge Charitable Foundation Inc · Evelyn F James Foundation · The Ceres Foundation Inc · Ge Aerospace Foundation · Muse Family Foundation Co Elizabeth Muse · The Newbern Foundation · The Beirne Carter Foundation · Mw Armistead III Family Foundation · Sam & Marion Golden Helping Hand Foundation · Logan III Charitable Fund 610001380 · Edgar a Thurman Fdn Children Nect

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 Gordon C Willis Charitable Trust funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Gordon C Willis Charitable Trust. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%23%45%68%90%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    12report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–90%
    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 45 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 2022, released 2022. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2023) is on record but names no grant recipient in the published copy, so the figures above are from FY2022, the most recent year this funder’s grantee list reached the public record.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Gordon C Willis’ 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