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Herman & Faye Sarkowsky Charitable Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Herman & Faye Sarkowsky Charitable 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.

$505k
Granted FY2024still arriving
10
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$333k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0194% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2024.

Arts & Culture$4.6MHuman Services$1.4MReligion$1.0MPhilanthropy$493kEducation$228kHealth$68kCommunity Improvement$28kYouth Development$10kOther$0
02FY2024 · 10 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k4 grants · $15k
  • $10k–50k3 grants · $57k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $101k
  • $250k+1 grant · $333k
$17,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$275k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SEATTLE ART MUSEUM$332,685
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE SEATTLE$50,539
SEATTLE ART MUSEUM$50,000
JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER SEATTLE$25,000
ARTS FUND$17,000
SEATTLE REP THEATRE$15,000
TEENTIX$5,000
KAVANA COOPERATIVE$5,000
THE 5TH AVENUE THEATER$5,000
TEMPLE DE HIRSCH SINAI$250
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 (FY20–24, $1.3M) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 3% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE SEATTLE: $1.2M → 9%JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF THE DESERT: $35k → 11%JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE SEATTLE: $51k → 9%JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES: $50k → 9%JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES: $50k → 9%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.

89%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$6.9M · 21 repeat orgs$812k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +40% since the first grant, against +28% for those funded once.

21 repeat relationships: 7 still active in FY2024, 14 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

21
22

Total granted

$6.9M
$797k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+40%
+28%

Still filing today

67%
68%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 97% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $15k went to new ones.

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

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

’20’21’22’23’24
Arts & CultureHealthHuman ServicesEducationEmploymentReligionOther
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

  • JF
    JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE
    4× · 2020–2024 · $1.3M · revenue +97%
  • PS
    PALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM
    2× · 2020–2021 · $787k · revenue +23%
  • WS
    WASHINGTON STATE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIE
    4× · 2020–2023 · $255k · revenue +44%

Funded once

  • SC
    SEATTLE COLLEGES
    one grant, 2022 · $203k
  • UW
    UNITED WAY OF KING COUNTY
    one grant, 2022 · $200k · revenue -47%
  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2020 · $153k
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
Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice Northwest

The jewish coalition builds a jewish voice in the pacific northwest advancing immigrant justice and domestic policy, following the leadership of impacted community.

Human Services
2
Siff

Siff is a seattle-based 501(c)(3) arts nonprofit dedicated to the creation of vibrant experiences and spaces that champion film discovery and arts education.

Youth Development
3
Community Credit Lab

To support equitable access to economic opportunities for immigrants, refugees, low-income, marginalized, and underserved communities in king county and the united states.

Human Services
4
King County Sexual Assault Resource Center

KCSARC is the largest and most comprehensive non-profit provider of sexual assault services in King County and Washington State. Our vision is a community free of sexual violence. Our mission is to: give voice to victims, their families,…

—
5
Seattle Jobs Initiative

Seattle jobs initiative (sji) creates opportunities for people to support themselves and their families through living-wage careers.

Employment
6
Seattle Architectural Foundation

The Seattle Architecture Foundation connects people to the architecture, design, and history of Seattle. We believe the more you engage with design, the more you feel connected to your changing city. As a volunteer driven organization, we…

Arts & Culture
7
Friends of Kexp

Kexp's mission is to enrich your life by championing music and discovery.

Youth Development
8
Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance

Neighborhood farmers market alliance's mission is to strengthen and support washington's small farms and farming families by providing effective direct sales sites and broadening access to seattle shoppers.

Community Improvement
9
The Humane Society for Seattleking County

Seattle humane promotes the human-animal bond by saving and serving pets in need, regardless of age, ability, circumstance or geography.

Animals
10
Jewish Mothers of Metropolitan Seattle
Religion
11
Disability Rights Washington

Disability rights washington's mission is to advance the dignity, equality, and self determination of people with disabilities. we work to pursue justice on matters related to human and legal rights.

Human Services
12
Northwest Film Forum

Northwest Film Forum incites public dialogue and creative action through collective cinematic experiences. A nonprofit film and arts center located in Seattle, Northwest Film Forum presents hundreds of films, festivals, community events,…

Arts & Culture
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Northwest Harvest Emm; the most unlike its peers is Teentix. 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

32 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. 32 of the 47 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)
32/32
Grantees still filing
25/32
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

SEATTLE ART MUSEUM: $2,757,106 · Arts & CultureSEATTLE ART MUSEUMPALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM: $787,388 · Arts & CulturePALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM+5 more: $246,300 · Arts & Culture+5 moreTEMPLE DE HIRSCH SINAI: $994,104 · OtherTEMPLE DE HIRSCH SINAITHE 5TH AVENUE THEATER: $477,291 · OtherTHE 5TH AVENUE THEATERWASHINGTON STATE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIE: $255,000 · OtherWASHINGTON STATE JEWISH HISTORIC…SEATTLE COLLEGES: $202,837 · OtherSEATTLE COLLEGESIndividual grant recipient: $152,600 · OtherIndividual grant recipient+25 more: $197,912 · Other+25 moreJEWISH FAMILY SERVICE: $1,302,015 · Human ServicesJEWISH FAMILY SERV…+1 more: $35,000 · Human ServicesJEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER SEATTLE: $280,622 · PhilanthropyUNITED WAY OF KING COUNTY: $200,083 · Philanthropy+2 more: $12,500 · PhilanthropyKAVANA THE KAVANA COOPERATIVE: $50,915 · ReligionCollege Success Foundation: $12,500 · EducationTHE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE OF WASHINGTON: $10,000 · EducationSECOND CHANCE RANCH: $10,000 · Animals
Arts & Culture$3,790,794Other$2,279,744Human Services$1,337,015Philanthropy$493,205Religion$50,915Education$22,500Animals$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 budgetSEATTLE ART MUSEUM: $2,757,106 over 5y, 3.7% of budgetJEWISH FAMILY SERVICE: $1,302,015 over 4y, 9.0% of budgetPALM SPRINGS ART MUSEUM: $787,388 over 2y, 8.6% of budgetJEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER SEATTLE: $280,622 over 5y, 1.2% of budgetWASHINGTON STATE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIE: $255,000 over 4y, 17% of budgetUNITED WAY OF KING COUNTY: $200,083 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetSEATTLE REPERTORY THEATRE: $85,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetARTSFUND: $81,000 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetKAVANA THE KAVANA COOPERATIVE: $50,915 over 1y, 5.4% of budgetCONNECTICUT PUBLIC BROADCASTING INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetJEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF THE DESERT: $35,000 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetTEENTIX: $30,000 over 5y, 4.0% of budgetHolocaust Center For Humanity: $21,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetCollege Success Foundation: $12,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWASHINGTON WOMEN'S FOUNDATION: $12,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetTHE FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE OF WASHINGTON: $10,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetSECOND CHANCE RANCH: $10,000 over 1y, 3.9% of budgetNORTHWEST KIDNEY CENTERS: $4,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetPIKE PLACE MARKET FOUNDATION: $2,250 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetFARESTART: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNORTHWEST HARVEST EMM: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFOOD LIFELINE: $700 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetJVS SOCAL: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetONE FAMILY FUND: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Inc: $500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCANCER LIFELINE: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDESERT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD JUSTICE PROJECT: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMEALS ON WHEELS INC: $400 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCASCADE PUBLIC MEDIA: $300 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Heart Association Inc: $250 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMEDIC ONE FOUNDATION: $100 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.

Seattle FoundationJewish Federation of …United Way of King Co…Loeb Charitable Found…Moccasin Lake Foundat…The Norcliffe Foundat…Morgan Stanley Global…Pruzan FoundationAlhadeff Family Chari…Feinberg FoundationPuget Sound Energy Fo…American Gift Fund
Seattle FoundationWA29.2× affinity13 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Seattle Foundation · Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle · United Way of King County · Loeb Charitable Foundation · Moccasin Lake Foundation · The Norcliffe Foundation · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Pruzan Foundation · Alhadeff Family Charitable Foundation · Feinberg Foundation · Puget Sound Energy Foundation · American Gift Fund

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 Herman & Faye Sarkowsky Charitable Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Herman & Faye Sarkowsky Charitable Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%1%5%11%20%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 3%
  • Connecticut Public Broadcasting Inc: 3% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
1get no government money at all
9report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
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 Herman & Faye Sarkowsky Charitable Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Herman & Faye Sarkowsky Charitable 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 47 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 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Herman & Faye Sarkowsky’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