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James E and Edith Margaret Brandon Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

James E and Edith Margaret Brandon 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.

$88k
Granted FY2025still arriving
18
Grants FY2025still arriving
8
States reached
$17k
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, FY2017 to 2025.

Civil Rights$190kArts & Culture$84kPublic Benefit$79kEducation$74kPhilanthropy$70kReligion$52kEmployment$17kHealth$10kOther$0
02FY2025 · 18 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k14 grants · $36k
  • $10k–50k4 grants · $52k
$2,500
Median grant
8
States reached
$1.8M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
CAPITAL RESEARCH CENTER$17,000
MEDIA RESEARCH CENTER$15,000
NATIONAL RIGHT TO WORK$10,000
Individual grant recipient$10,000
PATRICK HENRY CENTER$6,000
FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES$6,000
LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE$5,000
WESTCLIFF BIBLE CHURCH$2,500
YOUNG AMERICA'S FOUNDATION$2,500
FREE ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE$2,500
ACADEMY OF PHILOSPHY$2,500
STUDENTS FOR LIFE OF AMERICA$2,000
ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND$2,000
FIRST LIBERTY INSTITUTE$2,000
EAGLE FORUM EDUCATION AND LEGAL DEFENSE FUND$1,000
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 (FY23–24, $450) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: $250 → 14%FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: $200 → 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

WA
MN
NY
IN
OH
CA
CO
MO
VA
AZ
DC
MS
AL
GA
TX
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.

97%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$527k · 30 repeat orgs$17k to everyone else

30 repeat relationships: 14 still active in FY2025, 16 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

30
8

Total granted

$527k
$12k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+54%
+130%

Still filing today

60%
38%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 93% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $6k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Civil RightsHealthReligionPhilanthropyArts & CultureHuman 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

  • CR
    CAPITAL RESEARCH CENTER
    9× · 2017–2025 · $70k · revenue +196%
  • TF
    THE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES
    9× · 2017–2025 · $70k · revenue +3%
  • MR
    MEDIA RESEARCH CENTER
    9× · 2017–2025 · $64k · revenue +7%

Funded once

  • DH
    DAVID HORWITZ FREEDOM CENTER
    one grant, 2024 · $3k
  • TC
    THE CLAREMONT INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF STATESMANSHIP & POLITICAL PHILOSOPHYgraduated
    one grant, 2019 · $2k · revenue +130%
  • RA
    REFORM AMERICAgraduated
    one grant, 2019 · $2k · revenue +72%
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
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research

The american enterprise institute is a community of scholars and supporters committed to expanding liberty, increasing individual opportunity, and strengthening free enterprise. aei pursues these ideals through independent thinking and the…

Social Science
2
Frontiers of Freedom Institute

To educate the public on constitutional issues and public policy matters. We are dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, peace through strength, limited government, free enterprise, and the values embodied in the Declaration of…

Public Benefit
3
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
4
Liberty Justice Center

To advance economic and social liberties and a free enterprise society through strategic litigation, training, communication, activism and research. in addition, the center will train law students, lawyers and policy activists in the…

Crime & Legal
5
Competitive Enterprise Institute

Competitive enterprise institute (cei) is a non-profit public policy organization dedicated to the principles of free enterprise and limited government. we believe that consumers are best helped not by government regulation but by being…

—
6
Center for Individual Freedom

To investigate, explore and focus public, legislative and judicial attention on all areas of individual freedom and individual rights as guaranteed by the u.s. and state constitutions and free market principles.

Public Benefit
7
International Republican Institute

Iri advances freedom and democracy worldwide by developing political parties, civic institutions, open elections, democratic governance and the rule of law.

Education
8
Freedom Forum Institute Inc

The mission of the freedom forum institute is to champion the five freedoms of the first amendment through education and entertainment.

—
9
Open Markets Institute

The open markets institute works to help people relearn how to use competition policy to build stronger democracies, more just and equitable societies, more innovative and sustainable economies, and a more secure and peaceful world.

Education
10
American Civil Liberties Union Fund of the District of Columbia

Preservation of civil liberties through litigation and public education.

—
11
Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies Inc

To provide thoughtful, conservative solutions to the challenges presented by education, workforce, labor and employment issues.

Education
12
Institute for Public Accuracy

To teach and disseminate educational materials to the public.

Arts & Culture
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Freedomworks Foundation Inc; the most unlike its peers is Free Enterprise Institute. 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

25 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. 25 of the 42 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)
23/25
Grantees still filing
23/25
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

THE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES: $69,500 · OtherTHE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIESNATIONAL RIGHT TO WORK: $40,500 · OtherNATIONAL RIGHT TO WORKWESTCLIFF BIBLE CHURCH: $40,500 · OtherWESTCLIFF BIBLE CHURCHYoung America's Foundation: $38,000 · OtherYoung America's FoundationLIBERTY INSTITUTE: $19,000 · OtherLIBERTY INSTITUTEIndividual grant recipient: $15,000 · OtherFREEDOMWORKS FOUNDATION INC: $14,600 · OtherPATRICK HENRY CENTER: $11,500 · Other+21 more: $58,350 · Other+21 moreALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM: $28,000 · Civil RightsALLIANCE DEFEND…Students for Life of America Inc: $21,100 · Civil RightsStudents for Li…EAGLE FORUM EDUCATION & LEGAL DEFENSE: $17,200 · Civil RightsEAGLE FORUM EDU…FIRST LIBERTY INSTITUTE: $5,000 · Civil RightsFIRST LIBERTY I…FOUNDATION FOR MORAL LAW INC: $3,750 · Civil Rights+2 more: $2,250 · Civil RightsCAPITAL RESEARCH CENTER: $70,000 · PhilanthropyCAPITAL RESEA…MEDIA RESEARCH CENTER: $63,500 · Arts & CultureMEDIA RESEAR…Leadership Institute: $39,250 · Public BenefitNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR LABOR RELATIONS RESEARCH: $17,000 · EmploymentCITIZENS' COUNCIL FOR HEALTH FREEDOM: $7,000 · HealthHOPE CHOICE INC: $2,500 · Health
Other$306,950Civil Rights$77,300Philanthropy$70,000Arts & Culture$63,500Public Benefit$39,250Employment$17,000Health$9,500

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 budgetCAPITAL RESEARCH CENTER: $70,000 over 9y, 0.2% of budgetTHE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES: $69,500 over 9y, 0.1% of budgetMEDIA RESEARCH CENTER: $63,500 over 9y, 0.1% of budgetLeadership Institute: $39,250 over 9y, 0.1% of budgetYoung America's Foundation: $38,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM: $28,000 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetStudents for Life of America Inc: $21,100 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetEAGLE FORUM EDUCATION & LEGAL DEFENSE: $17,200 over 7y, 0.6% of budgetNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR LABOR RELATIONS RESEARCH: $17,000 over 3y, 1.2% of budgetFREEDOMWORKS FOUNDATION INC: $14,600 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetDAVID HOROWITZ FREEDOM CENTER: $5,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetPROJECT VERITAS: $5,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetFIRST LIBERTY INSTITUTE: $5,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetFOUNDATION FOR MORAL LAW INC: $3,750 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetConservative Partnership Institute: $3,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetFree Enterprise Institute: $2,500 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetHOPE CHOICE INC: $2,500 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetPUBLIC INTEREST LEGAL FOUNDATION: $2,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CLAREMONT INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF STATESMANSHIP & POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetREFORM AMERICA: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSTATE POLICY NETWORK: $1,250 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR GUN RIGHTS INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: $450 over 2y, 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.

  • Who funds CAPITAL RESEARCH CENTER ↗
  • Who funds THE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES ↗
  • Who funds MEDIA RESEARCH CENTER ↗
  • Who funds Leadership Institute ↗
  • Who funds Young America's Foundation ↗
  • Who funds ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM ↗
  • Who funds Students for Life of America Inc ↗
  • Who funds EAGLE FORUM EDUCATION & LEGAL DEFENSE ↗
  • Who funds NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR LABOR RELATIONS RESEARCH ↗
  • Who funds FREEDOMWORKS FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds CITIZENS' COUNCIL FOR HEALTH FREEDOM ↗
  • Who funds DAVID HOROWITZ FREEDOM CENTER ↗
  • Who funds PROJECT VERITAS ↗
  • Who funds FIRST LIBERTY INSTITUTE ↗
  • Who funds FOUNDATION FOR MORAL LAW INC ↗
  • Who funds Conservative Partnership Institute ↗
  • Who funds Free Enterprise Institute ↗
  • Who funds HOPE CHOICE INC ↗
  • Who funds PUBLIC INTEREST LEGAL FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds THE CLAREMONT INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF STATESMANSHIP & POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY ↗
  • Who funds REFORM AMERICA ↗
  • Who funds STATE POLICY NETWORK ↗
  • Who funds AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION INC ↗
  • Who funds NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR GUN RIGHTS 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.

Natl Christian Charit…Vanguard Charitable E…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Natl Christian Charitable Fdn IncGA10.8× affinity7 shared granteesties to 4 of 4Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Amazonsmile 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 James E and Edith Margaret Brandon Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from James E and Edith Margaret Brandon 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%1%3%4%5%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    3report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–5%
    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 James E and Edith Margaret Brandon Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to James E and Edith Margaret Brandon 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 42 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 James E and Edith Margaret Brandon’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