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Hilen Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Hilen 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.

$24k
Granted FY2025still arriving
3
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$8k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0195% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Arts & Culture$174kEducation$121kCivil Rights$7kHealth$6kCrime & Legal$5kCommunity Improvement$4kFood & Nutrition$3kPublic Safety & Disaster$2kOther$0
02FY2025 · 3 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$8,006
Median grant
2
States reached
$0
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Shaw Island Library & Historical Society$8,006
University of Washington Foundation$8,006
Occidental College - Scholarships$8,006
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 (FY20–25) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 7%. 100% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 7%Occidental College - Scholarships: $8k → 14%UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOUNDATION: $45k → 9%Shaw Island Library & Historical Society: $29k → 10%MEANY CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS: $30k → 9%SHAW ISLAND LIBRARY & HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $20k → 10%UW Foundation: $16k → 9%Shaw Island Library & Historical Society: $8k → 10%UW Foundation: $13k → 9%SHAW ISLANDERS INC: $5k → 10%UW FOUNDATION - University of Washington Libraries: $13k → 9%Shaw Island Corporations: $4k → 10%Meany Center for Performing Arts: $10k → 9%Meany Center for Performing Arts: $10k → 9%Meany Center for Performing Arts: $10k → 9%University of Washington Foundation: $8k → 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.

72%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$233k · 3 repeat orgs$89k to everyone else

3 repeat relationships: 2 still active in FY2025, 1 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

3
28

Total granted

$233k
$81k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+7%
+15%

Still filing today

67%
68%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 67% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $8k went to new ones.

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

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

’19’20’21’22’24’25
Arts & CultureEducationHuman ServicesHealthInternationalFood & 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

  • SI
    SHAW ISLAND LIBRARY & HISTORICAL SOCIETY
    4× · 2019–2025 · $92k · revenue -61%
  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOUNDATION
    4× · 2020–2025 · $82k · revenue +7%
  • MC
    MEANY CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS
    4× · 2020–2024 · $60k

Funded once

  • UF
    UW FOUNDATION - University of Washington Libraries
    one grant, 2022 · $13k
  • SA
    SEATTLE ART MUSEUM
    one grant, 2019 · $10k · revenue +15%
  • A
    ACLU
    one grant, 2019 · $5k
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
The Seattle Academy of Arts & Sciences

Seattle academy is a dynamic community that challenges students to question, imagine, and create in order to contribute to a changing world.

Education
2
Seattle Symphony Orchestra Inc

To present symphonic music of the highest quality in a distinctive way for the cultural enrichment, education, engagement and enjoyment of the people of our community.

Arts & Culture
3
University Cooperative School

We take a joyful, community-oriented approach to raising engaged citizens, deep learners, and brave adventurers with the skills, creativity, and heart needed to better the world.

—
4
Seattle Public Library Foundation

The seattle public library foundation inspires the community's philanthropic support, advocacy for, and pride in the library.

Education
5
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
6
The University of Puget Sound

University of puget sound, as a community of learning, maintains a strong commitment to teaching excellence, scholarly engagement, and fruitful student-faculty interaction. the mission of the university is to develop in its students'…

Education
7
Islandwood

The primary goal is to help children & adults develop a commitment to lifelong learning & environmental and community stewardship through hands-on learning experiences combining science, technology, & the arts at islandwood's 255-acre…

Environment
8
Seattle Country Day School

Seattle country day school is an independent, coeducational school serving kindergarten through eighth grade, inspiring gifted children to reach their potential through inquiry, curiosity, and wonder.

Education
9
Life Science Washington

Life science washington is a non-profit trade and professional association dedicated to promoting innovation and responsible growth in the life sciences and biomedical industries in the state of washington. promotion and education are…

—
10
Washington Society of Certified Public a

We are a community of cpas and financial professionals cultivating authentic relationships, unique learning experiences, and purposeful advocacy for our future.

—
11
Kqed Inc

See schedule okqed serves the people of northern california with a community-supported alternative to commercial media, providing the knowledge needed to make informed decisions; convening community dialogue; bringing the arts to everyone;…

Arts & Culture
12
School's Out Washington

School's out washington (sowa) drives positive systemic change so that all washington's children and youth, particularly those furthest from justice, have access to a robust ecosystem of high-quality expanded learning programs.

Youth Development
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Seattle Repertory Theatre; the most unlike its peers is Shaw Islanders Incorporated. 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

21 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. 21 of the 32 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)
21/21
Grantees still filing
14/21
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

SHAW ISLAND LIBRARY & HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $91,506 · OtherSHAW ISLAND LIBRARY & HISTORICAL SOCIETYMEANY CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS: $60,000 · OtherMEANY CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTSUW FOUNDATION - University of Washington Libraries: $13,000 · OtherUW FOUNDATION - University of Washington LibrariesOccidental College - Scholarships: $8,006 · Other+12 more: $27,250 · Other+12 moreUNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOUNDATION: $81,506 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOUNDAT…THE CENTER FOR EARLY EDUCATION: $5,000 · EducationTHE CENTER FOR EARLY EDUCATIONCornell University: $5,000 · EducationCornell University+1 more: $1,500 · EducationSEATTLE ART MUSEUM: $10,000 · Arts & CultureSEATTLE REPERTORY THEATRE: $3,000 · Arts & CultureSEATTLE OPERA: $1,500 · Arts & Culture+1 more: $250 · Arts & CulturePLANNED PARENTHOOD GREAT NORTHWEST HAWAII ALASKA INDIANA AND KENTUCKY: $5,000 · HealthCROHN'S & COLITIS FOUNDATION INC: $500 · HealthAMERICAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS INC: $2,910 · InternationalFOOD LIFELINE: $2,500 · Food & NutritionMaris Place: $2,500 · Youth DevelopmentCalifornia Youth Services: $1,000 · Human ServicesWELLSPRING FAMILY SERVICES: $250 · Human ServicesPROGRAM FOR EARLY PARENT SUPPORT: $250 · Human Services
Other$199,762Education$93,006Arts & Culture$14,750Health$5,500International$2,910Food & Nutrition$2,500Youth Development$2,500Human Services$1,500

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

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetSHAW ISLAND LIBRARY & HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $91,506 over 4y, 15% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOUNDATION: $81,506 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetSEATTLE ART MUSEUM: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CENTER FOR EARLY EDUCATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPLANNED PARENTHOOD GREAT NORTHWEST HAWAII ALASKA INDIANA AND KENTUCKY: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCornell University: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSHAW ISLANDERS INCORPORATED: $5,000 over 1y, 8.0% of budgetSEATTLE REPERTORY THEATRE: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS INC: $2,910 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPASADENA WALDORF SCHOOL: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFOOD LIFELINE: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLAGUNA BEACH EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $1,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSEATTLE OPERA: $1,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWASHINGTON TRAILS ASSOCIATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCROHN'S & COLITIS FOUNDATION INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNORTHWEST IMMIGRANT RIGHTS PROJECT: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetArtist Trust: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWELLSPRING FAMILY SERVICES: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPROGRAM FOR EARLY PARENT SUPPORT: $250 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.

Grousemont FoundationM J Murdock Charitabl…Seattle FoundationGs Donor Advised Phil…American Endowment Fo…Morgan Stanley Global…Charities Aid Foundat…Vanguard Charitable E…American Online Givin…The Bank of America C…National Philanthropi…Donor Advised Charita…
Grousemont FoundationWA13.6× affinity4 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Grousemont Foundation · M J Murdock Charitable Trust · Seattle Foundation · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · American Endowment Foundation · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Charities Aid Foundation America · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · National Philanthropic Trust · Donor Advised 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 Hilen Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Hilen Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%5%11%20%funder's share of their income ↑0%1%3%4%5%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–5%
    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 Hilen Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Hilen 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 32 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 Hilen’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