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Jahns Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Jahns 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.

$24k
Granted FY2025still arriving
28
Grants FY2025still arriving
6
States reached
$8k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
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$64kEducation$49kArts & Culture$26kPublic Benefit$5kHealth$2kFood & Nutrition$1kHuman Services$700Animals$450Other$0
02FY2025 · 28 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$200
Median grant
6
States reached
$79k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SMITH COLLEGE$8,000
DRIFTLESS AREA LAND CONSERVANCY$5,500
CORAL REEF ALLIANCE$2,000
CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION$1,500
CAXTON CLUB$1,000
Individual grant recipient$1,000
Individual grant recipient$1,000
Individual grant recipient$600
AMERICAN PLAYERS THEATRE$500
SECOND HARVEST$300
Individual grant recipient$250
COMMUNITY CONSERVATION$250
SOCIAL GOOD FUND$205
COMMUNITY FOOD PANRY$200
NEWBERRY LIBRARY$150
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, $650) 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%MAKE A WISH INTERNATIONAL: $100 → 11%CARE FOR REAL: $250 → 14%CARE FOR REAL: $200 → 14%CARE FOR REAL: $100 → 14%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

ME
WA
IL
WI
NY
MA
PA
CA
VA
AZ
AR
TN
NC
GA
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.

85%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$127k · 25 repeat orgs$22k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +35% since the first grant, against +26% for those funded once.

25 repeat relationships: 15 still active in FY2025, 10 since wound down; 12 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

25
38

Total granted

$127k
$17k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+35%
+26%

Still filing today

60%
45%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 77% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $6k went to new ones.

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

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

’20’21’23’24’25
EnvironmentArts & CultureEducationHuman ServicesAnimalsCivil RightsOther
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

  • DA
    DRIFTLESS AREA LAND CONSERVANCY INC
    4× · 2021–2025 · $57k · revenue +141%
  • TT
    THE TRUSTEES OF THE SMITH COLLEGE
    5× · 2020–2025 · $28k · revenue +35%
  • CA
    Chicago Architecture Foundation
    4× · 2020–2025 · $15k · revenue +163%

Funded once

  • TF
    TIDES FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2020 · $5k
  • YOU CAN VOTE
    one grant, 2020 · $5k · revenue -39%
  • RF
    RIZZO FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2023 · $1k
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
Boston Architectural College

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

—
2
American Water Works Association

To promote public health, safety, and welfare through the improvement of the quality and quantity of drinking water and the development and furtherance of understanding of the problems relating thereto.

Public Benefit
3
Tucson Audubon Society

Inspire people to enjoy and protect birds through recreation, education, conservation, and restoration of the environment, upon which we all depend.

Animals
4
Amazon Conservation Association

Amazon conservation unites science, people, and innovation to protect the amazon - the greatest wild forest on earth. as guardians of the most iconic forest on the planet, we bring together the power of the latest science and technology…

Environment
5
Native Plant Trust Inc

The organization's mission is to conserve and promote new england's native plants to ensure healthy, biologically diverse landscapes.

Environment
6
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.

—
7
American Gas Association

American gas association's (the association) mission is to develop and advocate for informed, innovative, and durable policy that fulfills our nation's energy needs, environmental aspirations and economic potential. we are committed to…

—
8
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
9
Eastern National

Eastern national promotes the public's understanding and support of america's national parks and other public trust partners by providing quality educational experiences, products and services.

Recreation & Sports
10
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Advance science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all. the world's largest multidisciplinary scientific society and a leading publisher of cutting-edge research through its science family of journals,…

Science & Tech
11
Chicago Zoological Society

To inspire conservation leadership by connecting people with wildlife and nature.

Animals
12
Columbia College Chicago

The organization's mission is to educate students for creative occupations in diverse fields of arts and media.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Aldo Leopold Foundation Inc; the most unlike its peers is Badger History Group. 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

37 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. 37 of the 77 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)
37/37
Grantees still filing
26/37
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

DRIFTLESS AREA LAND CONSERVANCY INC: $56,600 · EnvironmentDRIFTLESS AREA LAND CONSERVANCY INC+8 more: $3,675 · Environment+8 moreTHE TRUSTEES OF THE SMITH COLLEGE: $28,000 · EducationTHE TRUSTEES OF THE SMITH COLLEG…University of Chicago: $13,000 · EducationUniversity of Chicago+5 more: $1,355 · EducationTIDES FOUNDATION: $5,000 · OtherTIDES FOUNDATIONCAXTON CLUB: $4,070 · OtherCAXTON CLUBIndividual grant recipient: $1,000 · OtherRIZZO FOUNDATION: $1,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $1,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $950 · Other+41 more: $8,358 · Other+41 moreChicago Architecture Foundation: $14,500 · Arts & CultureChicago Archit…American Players Theatre of Wisconsin Inc: $3,600 · Arts & CultureAmerican Playe…+6 more: $1,300 · Arts & Culture+6 moreYOU CAN VOTE: $5,000 · Civil RightsCARE FOR REAL: $550 · Human ServicesKINGSPORT HOMELESS MINISTRY INC: $250 · Human ServicesMAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL: $100 · Human ServicesINTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION INC: $100 · AnimalsLINCOLN PARK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY: $100 · Animals
Environment$60,275Education$42,355Other$21,378Arts & Culture$19,400Civil Rights$5,000Human Services$900Animals$200

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 budgetDRIFTLESS AREA LAND CONSERVANCY INC: $56,600 over 4y, 3.3% of budgetTHE TRUSTEES OF THE SMITH COLLEGE: $28,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetChicago Architecture Foundation: $14,500 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetUniversity of Chicago: $13,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetYOU CAN VOTE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetCAXTON CLUB: $4,070 over 5y, 0.7% of budgetAmerican Players Theatre of Wisconsin Inc: $3,600 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CORAL REEF ALLIANCE: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCARE FOR REAL: $550 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND: $550 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE NEWBERRY LIBRARY: $500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetSAVANNA INSTITUTE: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTs INC: $400 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetChicago Symphony Orchestra: $400 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CHICAGO BAR FOUNDATION: $300 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetURBAN GATEWAYS: $300 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetKINGSPORT HOMELESS MINISTRY INC: $250 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetPRESIDENT AND TRUSTEES OF BATES COLLEGE: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOMMUNITY CONSERVATION INC: $250 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetBADGER HISTORY GROUP: $250 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetNOURISHING HOPE: $150 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSHAKE RAG ALLEY INC: $150 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetALDO LEOPOLD FOUNDATION INC: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetINTERNATIONAL CRANE FOUNDATION INC: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY INC: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetVILLANOVA UNIVERSITY: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTISBEST PHILANTHROPY: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNORTHLIGHT THEATRE INC: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF HOG ISLAND AKA FOHI: $100 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetLINCOLN PARK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN BLUES THEATER NFP: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCHICAGO BIRD ALLIANCE: $75 over 1y, 0.1% 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.

  • Who funds DRIFTLESS AREA LAND CONSERVANCY INC ↗
  • Who funds THE TRUSTEES OF THE SMITH COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds Chicago Architecture Foundation ↗
  • Who funds University of Chicago ↗
  • Who funds YOU CAN VOTE ↗
  • Who funds CAXTON CLUB ↗
  • Who funds American Players Theatre of Wisconsin Inc ↗
  • Who funds THE CORAL REEF ALLIANCE ↗
  • Who funds CARE FOR REAL ↗
  • Who funds THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND ↗
  • Who funds THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY ↗
  • Who funds SAVANNA INSTITUTE ↗
  • Who funds THE PRAIRIE ENTHUSIASTs INC ↗
  • Who funds Chicago Symphony Orchestra ↗
  • Who funds THE CHICAGO BAR FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds URBAN GATEWAYS ↗
  • Who funds KINGSPORT HOMELESS MINISTRY INC ↗
  • Who funds PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEES OF BATES COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds COMMUNITY CONSERVATION INC ↗
  • Who funds BADGER HISTORY GROUP ↗
  • Who funds SOCIAL GOOD FUND INC ↗

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.

The Chicago Community…John D and Catherine …Alliant Energy Founda…Lloyd a Fry FoundationPolk Bros Foundation …Jewish Federation of …Lincoln Financial Fou…T Rowe Price Program …Gs Donor Advised Phil…Vanguard Charitable E…AbbVie FoundationAmerican Endowment Fo…
The Chicago Community TrustIL22.3× affinity12 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Chicago Community Trust · John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation · Alliant Energy Foundation Inc · Lloyd a Fry Foundation · Polk Bros Foundation Inc · Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago · Lincoln Financial Foundation Inc · T Rowe Price Program for Charitable Giving Inc · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · AbbVie Foundation · American Endowment 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 Jahns Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Jahns Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%23%45%68%90%share of the org’s income from government →median 2%
  • The Orion Society Inc: 2% of income from government
  • The Trustees of the Smith College: 1% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get 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
⤢ 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.

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 77 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 Jahns Family’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