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· Private foundation

Guess Family 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.

$65k
Granted FY2025still arriving
28
Grants FY2025still arriving
8
States reached
$10k
Largest
01What it funds
0190% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2019 to 2025.

Health$48kEnvironment$36kHousing & Shelter$23kInternational$23kFood & Nutrition$22kReligion$21kHuman Services$14kEducation$11kOther$0
02FY2025 · 28 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k27 grants · $55k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $10k
$2,000
Median grant
8
States reached
$1.2M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
THE CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD$10,000
ST JOHN IN THE WILDERNESS$5,000
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FREE AND CHARITABLE CLINICS$3,000
ST JUDE HOSPITAL$3,000
SAMARITAN HOUSE$3,000
KIM HEALTH CENTER$3,000
TAHOE FUND$2,000
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS$2,000
BREAD AND BROTH$2,000
Individual grant recipient$2,000
FOOD BANK OF CENTRALEASTERN NC$2,000
MERCY SHIPS$2,000
OCEAN'S DEFENDER'S ALLIANCE$2,000
ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION$2,000
THE SALVATION ARMY$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:

Its human-services grants (FY21–25, $18k) land where the poverty rate runs at 8%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 6% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%SELFLESS LOVE FOUNDATION: $1k → 11%URBAN MINISTRIES OF WAKE COUNTY: $3k → 8%STEPUP MINISTRY: $3k → 8%HILLTOP HOME: $3k → 8%HILLTOP HOME: $2k → 8%HILLTOP HOME: $2k → 8%HILLTOP HOME: $2k → 8%CENTER FOR VOLUNTEER CAREGIVING: $2k → 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.

Which US states its grants reach

IL
NY
NV
CA
VA
TN
NC
DC
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.

68%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$201k · 22 repeat orgs$94k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +10% since the first grant, against 0% for those funded once.

22 repeat relationships: 14 still active in FY2025, 8 since wound down; 14 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

22
27

Total granted

$201k
$57k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+10%
0%

Still filing today

59%
67%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 43% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $37k went to new ones.

50%100%’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
HealthHuman ServicesInternationalEnvironmentHousing & ShelterFood & 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

  • OD
    OCEAN DEFENDERS ALLIANCE
    4× · 2022–2025 · $9k · revenue +38%
  • HH
    HILLTOP HOME INC
    4× · 2021–2025 · $9k · revenue +6%
  • OC
    OCEAN CONSERVANCY
    3× · 2019–2021 · $9k · revenue +58%

Funded once

  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2024 · $8k
  • T2
    TURN 2 U INC dba THE LAST MILE
    one grant, 2021 · $4k · revenue +16%
  • SM
    STEPUP MINISTRYgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $3k · revenue +51%
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
Waterorg

Water.org's goal is to bring safe water and sanitation to the world through access to small, affordable loans.

International
2
Project Drawdown

Project drawdown's mission is to drive meaningful climate action by advancing science-based solutions and strategies. project drawdown's work is focused on three pillars: science - advancing science-based climate solutions and strategies;…

Education
3
Friends of the Earth

Friends of the earth strives for a more healthy and just world by defendng the environment and human health while advancing social and economic justice by conducting research and education, transforming the economy so it protects the…

Environment
4
Medical Teams International

Medical teams international is a christian humanitarian relief agency focused on providing life-saving medical care for people in crisis.

International
5
Conservation International Foundation

Ci works to spotlight and secure the critical benefits that nature provides to humanity.

Environment
6
Aerial Recovery

Aerial recovery's mission is to save lives and stop evil. through the creation and deployment of humanitarian special operators, aerial recovery brings together selected veterans, first responders, and mission-qualified civilians who,…

—
7
Bloodwater Mission Inc

Bloodwater mission, inc. (the organization) is a not-for-profit organization registered in nashville, tennessee that operates an international nonprofit that partners with african community-driven organizations to end water and hiv/aids…

Religion
8
Project Hope - the People-to-People Health Foundation Inc

To conduct and support programs and activities aimed at solving some of the world's greatest public health challenges, with a specific focus on enabling health workers to have the greatest possible impact on the health of the people they…

International
9
Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States Inc

The fsmb serves as the voice for state medical boards, supporting them through education, assessment, research and advocacy while providing services and initiatives that promote patient safety, quality health care and regulatory best…

Health
10
Actionaid Usa

Actionaid is an international network building a just, equitable, and sustainable world in solidarity with communities on the frontlines of poverty and injustice. actionaid usa is the u.s. branch of actionaid international, which works in…

Social Science
11
Global Partners in Care

The organization's mission is to build partnerships to enhance compassionate care globally. we are dedicated to improving access to hospice and palliative care worldwide.

International
12
United Way Worldwide

To improve lives by mobilizing caring power of communities around the world to advance common good.

Philanthropy
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Make-a-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South Inc; the most unlike its peers is League to Save Lake Tahoe. 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

41 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. 41 of the 63 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)
7
Early backer (in before they grew)
41/41
Grantees still filing
21/41
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Individual grant recipient: $61,100 · OtherIndividual grant recipientST JUDE HOSPITAL: $17,000 · OtherST JUDE HOSPITALPLM FAMILIES TOGETHER INC: $11,000 · OtherPLM FAMILIES TOGETHER INCST JOHN IN THE WILDERNESS: $10,500 · OtherST JOHN IN THE WILDERNESSCHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD INC: $10,000 · OtherFOOD BANK OF CENTRALEASTERN NC: $9,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $8,000 · Other+28 more: $62,712 · Other+28 moreOCEAN DEFENDERS ALLIANCE: $9,000 · EnvironmentOCEAN CONSERVANCY: $9,000 · EnvironmentTAHOE FUND: $2,000 · EnvironmentWine to Water: $1,000 · EnvironmentWORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC: $1,000 · EnvironmentHILLTOP HOME INC: $9,000 · Human ServicesSTEPUP MINISTRY: $3,000 · Human ServicesURBAN MINISTRIES OF WAKE COUNTY INC: $3,000 · Human ServicesTHE RALEIGH RESCUE MISSION INC: $2,500 · Human ServicesTHE CENTER FOR VOLUNTEER CAREGIVING: $2,000 · Human ServicesSELFLESS LOVE FOUNDATION INC: $1,000 · Human ServicesRAINFOREST TRUST: $12,000 · InternationalGOOD360: $3,000 · InternationalMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $2,000 · InternationalMercy Ships International: $2,000 · InternationalMercury One Inc: $1,000 · InternationalGIFT OF LIFE INTERNATIONAL INC: $4,000 · HealthALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC: $4,000 · HealthFree Medical Clinic of America: $3,000 · HealthALLIANCE MEDICAL MINISTRY INC: $3,000 · HealthAmerican Heart Association Inc: $2,000 · HealthBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $1,100 · HealthMAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF THE MID-SOUTH INC: $1,000 · Health+1 more: $40 · HealthSTEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION: $8,000 · EducationTHE CORRAL RIDING ACADEMY: $7,104 · EducationSAMARITAN'S PURSE: $8,000 · ReligionLEAGUE TO SAVE LAKE TAHOE: $2,000 · Religion
Other$189,312Environment$22,000Human Services$20,500International$20,000Health$18,140Education$15,104Religion$10,000

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 budgetRAINFOREST TRUST: $12,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetPLM FAMILIES TOGETHER INC: $11,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetOCEAN DEFENDERS ALLIANCE: $9,000 over 4y, 0.6% of budgetHILLTOP HOME INC: $9,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetOCEAN CONSERVANCY: $9,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetSAMARITAN'S PURSE: $8,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetSTEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION: $8,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CORRAL RIDING ACADEMY: $7,104 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetGIFT OF LIFE INTERNATIONAL INC: $4,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTURN 2 U INC dba THE LAST MILE: $4,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC: $4,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSamaritan House Inc: $3,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetGOOD360: $3,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSTEPUP MINISTRY: $3,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetURBAN MINISTRIES OF WAKE COUNTY INC: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFAMILY PROMISE OF WAKE COUNTY INC: $3,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetALLIANCE MEDICAL MINISTRY INC: $3,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION CENTER INC: $3,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE DANIEL CENTER FOR MATH & SCIENCE INC: $3,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetFOOD BANK OF CENTRAL & EASTERN NC INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetStandUp for Kids: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE RALEIGH RESCUE MISSION INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Heart Association Inc: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMEALS ON WHEELS OF WAKE COUNTY INC: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMercy Ships International: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CENTER FOR VOLUNTEER CAREGIVING: $2,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetTAHOE FUND: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $1,100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSELFLESS LOVE FOUNDATION INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF THE MID-SOUTH INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMercury One Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CARYING PLACE INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWine to Water: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetA PLACE AT THE TABLE: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetARTHRITIS FOUNDATION INC: $40 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.

Duke Energy FoundationNC28.8× affinity16 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Duke Energy Foundation · Triangle Community Foundation Inc · North Carolina Community Foundation · United Way of the Greater Triangle Inc · The Leon Levine Foundation · Mistler Charitable Trust · Duke University Health System Inc · John William Pope Foundation · Bell Schaefer Family Foundation · W Trent Ragland Jr Foundation · John Rex Endowment · T Rowe Price Program for Charitable Giving 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 Guess Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Guess Family Foundation. 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%6%13%19%25%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    13report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–25%
    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 63 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

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