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Higher Hopes Foundation Inc at a glance

· Private foundation

Higher Hopes Foundation Inc

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.

$123k
Granted FY2025still arriving
70
Grants FY2025still arriving
5
States reached
$17k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0190% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2024 to 2025.

Human Services$48kHealth$27kCivil Rights$20kCrime & Legal$19kAnimals$13kPublic Benefit$9kArts & Culture$6kReligion$6kOther$0
02FY2025 · 70 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k69 grants · $106k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $17k
$1,000
Median grant
5
States reached
$2k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
LAST PRISONER PROJECT$17,219
ANGELS OF HOPE$6,000
PAWS FOR HUMANITY$5,000
BLOOD CANCER FOUNDATION OF MICHIGAN$4,000
GREAT LAKES BAY PRIDE (BAY)$4,000
LADIES OF HOPE MINISTRIES$4,000
TURNING POINT$4,000
AUTOIMMUNE ASSOCIATION$4,000
HEADWATERS LAND CONSERVANCY$3,887
AFFIRMATIONS COMMUNITY CENTER$3,000
HARBOR COUNTRY MISSION$2,500
FRIENDS OF NEW BUFFALO TWP FIRE DEPARTMENT$2,500
Individual grant recipient$2,000
EVERY WOMAN'S PLACE$2,000
GRAND RAPIDS TRANS FOUNDATION$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 (FY24–25, $17k) land where the poverty rate runs at 13%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER OF NORTHERN MICHIGAN: $1k → 9%FATHER FRED FOUNDATION: $1k → 10%SYLVIA'S PLACE: $1k → 10%HARBOR COUNTRY MISSION: $3k → 15%SILVIA'S PLACE: $1k → 10%WISE: $1k → 20%EVERY WOMAN'S PLACE: $2k → 15%EVERY WOMAN'S PLACE: $2k → 15%ARBOR CIRCLE CORPORATION: $2k → 11%DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL ABUSE SERVICES: $1k → 13%SOWHOPE: $1k → 11%FASHION HAS HEART: $1k → 11%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.

21%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$39k · 12 repeat orgs$148k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +1% since the first grant, against 0% for those funded once.

12 repeat relationships: 12 still active in FY2025, 0 since wound down; 57 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

12
23

Total granted

$39k
$45k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+1%
0%

Still filing today

33%
30%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 16% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $103k went to new ones.

50%100%’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’24’25
Human ServicesHealthPublic BenefitCivil RightsCrime & LegalAnimalsOther
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

  • CL
    CHILDREN'S LEUKEMIA FOUNDATION OF MICHIGAN
    2× · 2024–2025 · $8k · revenue +1%
  • TP
    TURNING POINT INC
    2× · 2024–2025 · $7k · revenue +9%
  • JF
    JAEGER FOUNDATION
    2× · 2024–2025 · $3k · revenue +423%

Funded once

  • HN
    HOPE NETWORK
    one grant, 2024 · $11k
  • GL
    GREAT LAKES BAY PRIDE
    one grant, 2024 · $5k · revenue 0%
  • 9F
    92 FOR 22graduated
    one grant, 2024 · $4k · revenue +88%
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
Veterans in Crisis

Helping northern michigan veterans meet urgent needs. support local veteran organizations in their work with local veterans.

Public Benefit
2
Women's Center Inc

The women's center, inc. supports victims/survivors of domestic and sexual violence in alger and marquette counties through programs that protect, educate, advocate, counsel and empower (peace).

—
3
Michigan Veterans Foundations Inc

Provides at risk, and homeless veterans with temporary housing and supportive services, e.g., medical, vocational, psychological, and educational training to regain or improve their status in society.

—
4
Severe Weather Network Livingston County

The Severe Weather Network (SWN) partners with community organizations, agencies, and faith communities to provide emergency, overnight refuge during the winter months for people experiencing homelessness in Livingston County. SWN also…

—
5
Northwest Michigan Supportive Housing

To provide housing and case management services for the homeless and mentally ill within the community.

Human Services
6
Wings of Hope Hospice & Palliative Care Inc

Hospice care - wings of hope hospice and palliative care, inc. provides compassionate care in the later stages of life and support through the grief experience for individuals and families.

Human Services
7
Veterans of Foreign Wars Dept of Michigan Gus Karackson Post 2284

To support and assist VFW Members and local Veterans.

—
8
Macomb County Veterans Food Bank

The mission is to provide food to needy and/or homeless veterans of macomb county michigan

Food & Nutrition
9
Caring House Inc

To promote a violence free atmosphere from domestic and sexual violence in which survivors can recognize their options to have the opportunity to continue living violence free and regain their sense of self-worth; to educate and raise…

Human Services
10
Gw Homeless Services of Northern Michigan Inc

The mission of gw homeless services of northern michigan, inc is to provide safe, supportive shelter to individuals experiencing homelessness.the 2023 990 was for 10/1-12/31/23 due to an accounting period change.

Human Services
11
Our Hope Association

The Organization seeks to provide a rehabilitative program in a Grand Rapids, Michigan based residential environment for women with substance abuse problems.

—
12
Michigan Center of Accountability for Republicans

Social welfare and issue advocacy

Civil Rights
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Affirmations Community Center; the most unlike its peers is Wheels for Warriors. 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

45 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. 45 of the 93 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)
44/45
Grantees still filing
13/45
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

HOPE NETWORK: $11,030 · OtherHOPE NETWORKANGELS OF HOPE A FAMILY CANCER FOUNDATION: $6,000 · OtherANGELS OF HOPE A FAMILY CANCER FOUNDATIONPAWS FOR HUMANITY INC: $5,000 · OtherLADIES OF HOPE MINISTRIES: $4,000 · OtherGREAT LAKES BAY PRIDE (BAY): $4,000 · Other+57 more: $70,700 · Other+57 moreTURNING POINT INC: $7,000 · Human ServicesTURNING POINT …EVERY WOMAN'S PLACE INC: $4,000 · Human ServicesEVERY WOMAN'S …HARBOR COUNTRY MISSION: $2,500 · Human ServicesHARBOR COUNTRY…THE ARBOR CIRCLE CORPORATION: $2,000 · Human ServicesTHE ARBOR CIRC…SYLVIA'S PLACE: $2,000 · Human ServicesSYLVIA'S PLACEFATHER FRED FOUNDATION: $1,000 · Human ServicesSOWHOPE ORG: $1,000 · Human ServicesWOMENS INFORMATION SERVICES INC: $1,000 · Human ServicesFashion Has Heart: $1,000 · Human ServicesDOMESTIC AND SEXUAL ABUSE SERVICES: $1,000 · Human ServicesWomens Resource Center of Northern Michigan Inc: $1,000 · Human ServicesLAST PRISONER PROJECT: $17,219 · Crime & LegalLAST PRISO…WOMEN'S AID SERVICE INC: $1,000 · Crime & LegalWOMEN'S AI…CHILDREN'S LEUKEMIA FOUNDATION OF MICHIGAN: $8,000 · HealthCHILDREN'S…AMERICAN AUTOIMMUNE RELATED DISEASES ASSOCIATION: $4,000 · HealthAMERICAN A…RISE CORP: $1,000 · HealthRISE CORPBEAR RIVER PRIMARY CARE: $1,000 · HealthBEAR RIVER…Community Living Options: $1,000 · HealthCommunity …THURSTON WOODS VILLAGE INC: $1,000 · HealthTHURSTON W…AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION: $1,000 · HealthAMERICAN F…GRYPHON PLACE: $1,000 · HealthGRYPHON PL…92 FOR 22: $4,000 · Public BenefitJAEGER FOUNDATION: $3,000 · Public BenefitWest Michigan Veterans Ranch Inc: $3,000 · Public BenefitVETERANS HELPING VETERANS FOUNDATIO: $1,000 · Public BenefitVETERANS4USA INC: $1,000 · Public BenefitFISHER HOUSE MICHIGAN: $1,000 · Public BenefitGREAT LAKES BAY PRIDE: $5,000 · Civil RightsAFFIRMATIONS COMMUNITY CENTER: $3,000 · Civil RightsGRAND RAPIDS PRIDE CENTER: $3,000 · Civil RightsHEADWATERS LAND CONSERVANCY: $3,887 · Environment
Other$100,730Human Services$23,500Crime & Legal$18,219Health$18,000Public Benefit$13,000Civil Rights$11,000Environment$3,887

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetCHILDREN'S LEUKEMIA FOUNDATION OF MICHIGAN: $8,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetTURNING POINT INC: $7,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetGREAT LAKES BAY PRIDE: $5,000 over 1y, 2.0% of budget92 FOR 22: $4,000 over 1y, 3.4% of budgetAMERICAN AUTOIMMUNE RELATED DISEASES ASSOCIATION: $4,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetEVERY WOMAN'S PLACE INC: $4,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetAFFIRMATIONS COMMUNITY CENTER: $3,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGRAND RAPIDS PRIDE CENTER: $3,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetWest Michigan Veterans Ranch Inc: $3,000 over 1y, 7.5% of budgetHARBOR COUNTRY MISSION: $2,500 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetVietnam Veterans of America #154: $2,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetTHE ARBOR CIRCLE CORPORATION: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSYLVIA'S PLACE: $2,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetVETERANS HELPING VETERANS FOUNDATIO: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetRISE CORP: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetHUMANE SOCIETY OF WEST MICHIGAN: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSOWHOPE ORG: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetELK COUNTRY ANIMAL SHELTER: $1,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetWOMENS INFORMATION SERVICES INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCommunity Living Options: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHURSTON WOODS VILLAGE INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFOOD GATHERERS: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDOMESTIC AND SEXUAL ABUSE SERVICES: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFISHER HOUSE MICHIGAN: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSt Joseph Community Co-op Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWOMEN'S AID SERVICE INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMISSION FOR AREA PEOPLE: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGRYPHON PLACE: $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.

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.

Consumers Energy Foun…DTE Energy FoundationThe Mercantile Bank F…Grand Rapids Communit…Frey FoundationGrand Haven Area Comm…Michigan Coalition to…Community Foundation …John E Fetzer Institu…Canton Community Foun…Heart of West Michiga…Battle Creek Communit…
Consumers Energy FoundationMI33.5× affinity15 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Consumers Energy Foundation · DTE Energy Foundation · The Mercantile Bank Foundation · Grand Rapids Community Foundation · Frey Foundation · Grand Haven Area Community Foundation Inc · Michigan Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence · Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan · John E Fetzer Institute Inc · Canton Community Foundation Inc · Heart of West Michigan United Way · Battle Creek Community Foundation

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 Higher Hopes Foundation Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Higher Hopes Foundation Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%3%6%10%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
    0get no government money at all
    11report 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.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Higher Hopes Foundation Inc?

    Find your warmest path to Higher Hopes Foundation Inc 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 93 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 Higher Hopes’ 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