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High Meadows Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

High Meadows 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.

$4.9M
Granted FY2025still arriving
12
Grants FY2025still arriving
7
States reached
$998k
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, FY2020 to 2025.

Environment$33MEducation$13MSocial Science$3.8MHuman Services$2.9MInternational$2.8MPhilanthropy$1.6MFood & Nutrition$1.2MYouth Development$520kOther$0
02FY2025 · 12 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • $50k–250k4 grants · $403k
  • $250k+8 grants · $4.4M
$400,000
Median grant
7
States reached
$3.5M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY$998,260
CLIMATE CENTRAL INC$750,000
CAF AMERICA$750,000
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL$500,000
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND$500,000
TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY$400,000
LET'S GROW KIDS$300,000
THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY$250,000
WEST HARLEM ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION$102,500
TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY$100,000
PRIME COALITION INC$100,000
EVERGREEN CLIMATE INNOVATIONS$100,000
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, $550k) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 9% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%EDUCARE DC: $50k → 14%PRIME COALITION INC: $100k → 8%PRIME COALITION INC: $100k → 8%PRIME COALITION INC: $100k → 8%PRIME COALITION INC: $100k → 8%PRIME COALITION INC: $100k → 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

VT
WA
MT
IL
NY
MA
OR
PA
NJ
CA
CO
VA
DC
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.

99%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$55M · 23 repeat orgs$690k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +15% since the first grant, against +11% for those funded once.

23 repeat relationships: 9 still active in FY2025, 14 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

23
8

Total granted

$55M
$690k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+15%
+11%

Still filing today

91%
88%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 went to new ones.

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

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

’20’21’22’23’24’25
EnvironmentEducationFood & NutritionCommunity ImprovementYouth DevelopmentHuman ServicesOther
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

  • ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCORPORATED
    6× · 2020–2025 · $16M · revenue +121%
  • CC
    CLIMATE CENTRAL INC
    5× · 2021–2025 · $2.5M · revenue +200%
  • TH
    THE HILL SCHOOL
    4× · 2020–2023 · $1.0M · revenue +17%

Funded once

  • TY
    THE YEARS PROJECT INC
    one grant, 2021 · $250k · revenue +7%
  • AA
    ADVENTURERS AND SCIENTISTS FOR CONSERVATION
    one grant, 2021 · $100k · revenue +11%
  • FOODCORPS INC
    one grant, 2020 · $100k · revenue +11%
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
Fielding Graduate University

We provide exemplary interdisciplinary programs for a community of scholar-practitioners within a distributed learning model grounded in student-driven inquiry and leading to enhanced knowledge.

—
2
Boston Architectural College

The bac is committed to provide excellence in design education grounded in practice and accessible to diverse communities.

—
3
Environmental Investigation Agency

To establish and promote programs to protect the global climate, forests, wildlife and the natural environment, through research, advocacy, and investigation.

International
4
Furman University

The primary mission of furman as a liberal arts institution is to provide a distinctive education in fine arts, humanities, social sciences, mathematics and the sciences, as well as selected professional disciplines.

Education
5
Foreign Policy Research Institute

The foreign policy research institute (frpi) is dedicated to producing the highest quality scholarship and nonpartisan policy analysis focused on crucial foreign policy and national security challenges facing the united states. we educate…

International
6
CarbonPlan

Improving the transparency and scientific integrity of climate solutions through open data and tools.

Environment
7
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The mission of mit is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.

Education
8
World Resources Institute

Wri is committed to creating change that improves people's lives and ensures the natural world can thrive. (see schedule o)wri's bold vision requires a formula for success we call "count it. change it. scale it.":- count it: our work is…

International
9
President and Trustees of Bates College

Bates is a college of the liberal arts and sciences, and is a coeducational, nonsectarian, residential college with special commitments to academic rigor, and to assuring in all of its efforts the dignity of each individual, and access to…

Education
10
The Common Application Inc

The common application is a not-for-profit membership organization of over 1,100 colleges and universities across the globe committed to access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process. every year, over 1.5 million students…

Education
11
Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research

Foundation for food and agriculture research connects funders, researchers and farmers through public-private partnerships to support audacious research addressing the biggest food and agriculture challenges.

Food & Nutrition
12
United States Naval Institute

Provide an independent forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to global security.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Prime Coalition Inc; the most unlike its peers is Educare Dc. 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, 2017–2026.

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. 32 of the 35 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.

2
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
4
Early backer (in before they grew)
32/32
Grantees still filing
19/32
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY: $17,921,485 · OtherTRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITYHIGH MEADOWS GRADUATE SCHOOL OF TEACHING AND LEARNING INC: $3,000,000 · OtherHIGH MEADOWS GRADUATE SCHOOL OF TEACHING AND LEARN…HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL: $2,250,000 · OtherHARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL+15 more: $3,420,000 · Other+15 moreENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCORPORATED: $15,500,000 · EnvironmentENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCORPOR…THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY: $1,745,000 · EnvironmentTHE WILDERNESS SOCIETYWest Harlem Environmental Action Inc: $752,500 · Environment+4 more: $1,050,000 · Environment+4 moreCHARITIES AID FOUNDATION AMERICA: $2,750,000 · PhilanthropyTHE VERMONT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $1,590,485 · PhilanthropyHIGH MEADOWS INSTITUTE INC: $3,750,000 · EmploymentCLIMATE CENTRAL INC: $2,500,000 · Science & TechTHE HILL SCHOOL: $1,000,000 · EducationNorth Bennet Street School: $900,000 · EducationTeach for America Inc: $400,000 · EducationPresident and Fellows of Harvard College: $100,000 · EducationLET'S GROW KIDS INC: $1,500,000 · Youth Development+1 more: $20,000 · Youth Development
Other$26,591,485Environment$19,047,500Philanthropy$4,340,485Employment$3,750,000Science & Tech$2,500,000Education$2,400,000Youth Development$1,520,000

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 budgetENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCORPORATED: $15,500,000 over 6y, 1.5% of budgetHIGH MEADOWS INSTITUTE INC: $3,750,000 over 5y, 100% of budgetHIGH MEADOWS GRADUATE SCHOOL OF TEACHING AND LEARNING INC: $3,000,000 over 3y, 56% of budgetCHARITIES AID FOUNDATION AMERICA: $2,750,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetCLIMATE CENTRAL INC: $2,500,000 over 5y, 6.9% of budgetTHE WILDERNESS SOCIETY: $1,745,000 over 5y, 1.2% of budgetTHE VERMONT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $1,590,485 over 3y, 1.5% of budgetLET'S GROW KIDS INC: $1,500,000 over 5y, 11% of budgetTHE HILL SCHOOL: $1,000,000 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetNorth Bennet Street School: $900,000 over 3y, 4.3% of budgetThe Food Project Inc: $775,000 over 3y, 8.5% of budgetWest Harlem Environmental Action Inc: $752,500 over 6y, 2.4% of budgetEVERGREEN CLIMATE INNOVATIONS: $500,000 over 5y, 5.2% of budgetPRIME COALITION INC: $500,000 over 5y, 1.0% of budgetINSTITUTE FOR CITIZENS AND SCHOLARS: $500,000 over 2y, 5.3% of budgetTeach for America Inc: $400,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTELLURIDE FOUNDATION: $325,000 over 2y, 2.6% of budgetAH HAA SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS: $250,000 over 2y, 8.5% of budgetTRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY: $250,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE YEARS PROJECT INC: $250,000 over 1y, 18% of budgetRETREAT FARM LTD: $225,000 over 2y, 6.3% of budgetGrist Magazine Inc: $200,000 over 2y, 2.9% of budgetGrace Cottage Foundation: $150,000 over 2y, 5.6% of budgetADVENTURERS AND SCIENTISTS FOR CONSERVATION: $100,000 over 1y, 5.6% of budgetFOODCORPS INC: $100,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetPresident and Fellows of Harvard College: $100,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetEMERALD NECKLACE CONSERVANCY INC: $75,000 over 2y, 1.8% of budgetCOMMONWEALTH KITCHEN INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetFOUNDATION FOR STUDENT COMMUNICATIONINC: $50,000 over 2y, 4.0% of budgetEDUCARE DC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetFOUNDATION FOR TEACHING ECONOMICS: $20,000 over 1y, 7.9% of budgetTHE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES: $20,000 over 1y, 0.3% 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.

Combined Jewish Phila…Boston Foundation IncThe William & Flora H…Gs Donor Advised Phil…Vanguard Charitable E…National Philanthropi…Silicon Valley Commun…American Endowment Fo…Jpmorgan Chase Founda…Donor Advised Charita…Morgan Stanley Global…Fidelity Investments …
Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston IncMA33× affinity14 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston Inc · Boston Foundation Inc · The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · National Philanthropic Trust · Silicon Valley Community Foundation · American Endowment Foundation · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable 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 High Meadows Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from High Meadows Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 50%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 9%
  • Retreat Farm Ltd: 25% of income from government
  • Foodcorps Inc: 21% of income from government
  • Trustees of Boston University: 12% of income from government
  • Commonwealth Kitchen Inc: 9% of income from government
  • President and Fellows of Harvard College: 7% of income from government
  • Emerald Necklace Conservancy Inc: 0% of income from government
  • The Vermont Community Foundation: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
5get no government money at all
8report 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 High Meadows Foundation?

Find your warmest path to High Meadows 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 35 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

Play a game based on High Meadows’ 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