Skip to content
John and Nancy Edwards Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

John and Nancy Edwards Family Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$599k
Granted FY2024still arriving
20
Grants FY2024still arriving
2
States reached
$134k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0196% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Environment$2.2MHealth$1.4MHuman Services$1.2MArts & Culture$970kAnimals$285kPublic Safety & Disaster$227kEducation$80kPublic Benefit$51kOther$0
02FY2024 · 20 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k8 grants · $39k
  • $10k–50k7 grants · $88k
  • $50k–250k5 grants · $471k
$12,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$15M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Individual grant recipient$134,300
FRIENDS OF BALLONA WETLANDS$120,164
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM$100,000
VET HUNTERS PROJECT$65,000
GREATER LOS ANGELES ZOO ASSOCIATION$52,000
THE CLAREMONT INSTITUTE$16,000
AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC$15,000
THE SALVATION ARMY$12,000
AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION$12,000
AMERICAN RED CROSS$12,000
EL SEGUNDO EDUCATION FOUNDATION$11,000
JUDICIAL WATCH$10,000
PLAYA VENICE SUNRISE ROTARY$9,750
VARIOUS OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS$9,540
CATO INSTITUTE$5,000
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 (FY17–24, $314k) land where the poverty rate runs at 13%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 84% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT: $50k → 11%WOUNDER WARRIOR PROJECT: $25k → 14%WOUNDED WARRIORS PROJECT: $10k → 14%WESTCHESTER FAMILY YMCA: $2k → 14%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $109k → 14%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $46k → 14%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $14k → 14%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $12k → 14%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $12k → 14%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $12k → 14%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $12k → 14%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $10k → 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

MT
NY
OH
CA
VA
KS
DC
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.

98%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$6.5M · 33 repeat orgs$151k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +34% since the first grant, against +31% for those funded once.

33 repeat relationships: 19 still active in FY2024, 14 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

33
9

Total granted

$6.5M
$135k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+34%
+31%

Still filing today

70%
78%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 97% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $16k went to new ones.

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

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Arts & CultureAnimalsPublic BenefitHealthHuman ServicesEnvironmentOther
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

  • FO
    FRIENDS OF BALLONA WETLANDS
    8× · 2017–2024 · $1.2M · revenue +69% · 41% of their budget
  • AO
    AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC CORPORATION
    7× · 2018–2024 · $525k · revenue +46%
  • HT
    HEAL THE BAY
    7× · 2017–2024 · $465k · revenue +34%

Funded once

  • CC
    Central Coast Wine Classic
    one grant, 2017 · $60k
  • HISPANIC FEDERATION INCgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $25k · revenue +187%
  • SHARE OUR STRENGTHgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $25k · revenue +60%
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
California Ocean Science Trust

California ocean science trust (ost) is a non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating progress towards a healthy and productive ocean future for california. created by state legislation, ost bridges the gap between cutting-edge…

Environment
2
Ucla Foundation

The ucla foundation is the giving, receiving, and investing arm of the ucla campus. the foundation enables private donors to help build, sustain and advance one of the world's finest academic and research institutions. private philanthropy…

Education
3
Zoological Society of San Diego

San diego zoo wildlife alliance is committed to saving species worldwide by uniting our expertise in wildlife care and conservation science with our dedication to inspiring passion for nature.

Animals
4
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.

—
5
California Dental Association Foundation

The foundation's mission is to improve the oral health of all californians by supporting the dental profession and its efforts to meet community needs.

Science & Tech
6
Sacramento Zoological Society

The sacramento zoo inspires appreciation, respect and a connection with wildlife and nature through education, recreation and conservation.

Animals
7
The Water Research Foundation

The purpose of the water research foundation (wrf) is a definitive research organization to advance the science of all things water to better meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. to engage exclusively in…

Environment
8
The Union of Concerned Scientists Inc

The union of concerned scientists puts rigorous, independent science into action, developing solutions and advocating for a healthy, safe, and just future.

International
9
Los Angeles County Medical Association

To enhance the professionalism and clinical autonomy of physicians to allow them to advocate for their patients and the health of the community of los angeles.

—
10
Uc Riverside Foundation

To support educational, research and public functions and programs of the riverside campus of the university of california.

Education
11
San Diego Society of Natural History

Conserving nature through science and discovery.

Arts & Culture
12
Santa Catalina Island Conservancy

The catalina island conservancy protects and stewards 88% of catalina island. more than 42,000 acres of wildlands, coves and coastal habitats. founded to preserve the island's natural resources, the conservancy advances a mission rooted in…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Wounded Warrior Project Inc; the most unlike its peers is Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre. 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

35 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. 35 of the 45 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.

3
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
2
Early backer (in before they grew)
32/35
Grantees still filing
24/35
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Individual grant recipient: $1,355,550 · OtherIndividual grant recipientFRIENDS OF BALLONA WETLANDS: $1,193,539 · OtherFRIENDS OF BALLONA WETLANDS+25 more: $600,940 · Other+25 moreVET HUNTERS PROJECT: $683,190 · AnimalsVET HUNTERS PROJECTAQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC CORPORATION: $525,000 · AnimalsAQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC C…GREATER LOS ANGELES ZOOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION: $192,000 · AnimalsGREATER LOS ANGELES ZOOLO…AFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION INC: $93,000 · AnimalsAFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATI…THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM SANTA MARIA CALIFORNIA: $890,000 · Arts & CultureTHE NATURAL HIS…+3 more: $20,000 · Arts & CultureHEAL THE BAY: $465,000 · Environment+1 more: $2,500 · EnvironmentAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $227,000 · Human ServicesWOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT INC: $160,000 · Human Services+1 more: $2,000 · Human ServicesUNITED SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS INC: $105,000 · Public BenefitNAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY: $45,000 · Public BenefitJUDICIAL WATCH INC: $25,000 · Public BenefitCATO INSTITUTE: $10,000 · Public BenefitHISPANIC FEDERATION INC: $25,000 · Community Improvement
Other$3,150,029Animals$1,493,190Arts & Culture$910,000Environment$467,500Human Services$389,000Public Benefit$185,000Community Improvement$25,000

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 budgetFRIENDS OF BALLONA WETLANDS: $1,193,539 over 8y, 41% of budgetTHE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM SANTA MARIA CALIFORNIA: $890,000 over 8y, 42% of budgetVET HUNTERS PROJECT: $683,190 over 8y, 99% of budgetAQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC CORPORATION: $525,000 over 7y, 0.4% of budgetHEAL THE BAY: $465,000 over 7y, 3.6% of budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $227,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetGREATER LOS ANGELES ZOOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION: $192,000 over 6y, 0.3% of budgetWOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT INC: $160,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS INC: $105,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetAFRICAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION INC: $93,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetEL SEGUNDO EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $67,525 over 6y, 0.7% of budgetCentral Coast Wine Classic: $60,000 over 1y, 11% of budgetNAVY-MARINE CORPS RELIEF SOCIETY: $45,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetSMILE TRAIN INC: $33,500 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetHISPANIC FEDERATION INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetJUDICIAL WATCH INC: $25,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetSHARE OUR STRENGTH: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CLAREMONT INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF STATESMANSHIP & POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY: $16,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL ZIONIST ORGANIZATION: $13,600 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetTOWER-60 INC: $11,100 over 3y, 9.1% of budgetEl Segundo Little League Inc: $10,900 over 6y, 6.3% of budgetCATO INSTITUTE: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE CHINESE AMERICAN MUSEUM: $10,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetPTA CONGRESS OF PARENTS RICHMOND STREET SCHOOL: $7,500 over 3y, 2.5% of budgetCALIFORNIA HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION: $7,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetInternational Rett Syndrome Foundation: $6,625 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetLOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLAX COASTAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 5y, 1.1% of budgetROCKY MOUNTAIN BALLET THEATRE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetYoung Men's Christian Association of Metropolitan Los Angeles: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWEST COAST SPORTS MEDICINE FOUNDATION: $1,000 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.

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.

California Community …American Endowment Fo…Network for GoodAmerican Online Givin…Fidelity Investments …Donor Advised Charita…Amazonsmile Foundation
California Community FoundationCA13.5× affinity5 shared granteesties to 6 of 6Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: California Community Foundation · American Endowment Foundation · Network for Good · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · 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 John and Nancy Edwards Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from John and Nancy Edwards Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 0%
  • Wounded Warrior Project Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
7report 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 John and Nancy Edwards Family Foundation?

Find your warmest path to John and Nancy Edwards Family 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 45 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 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on John and Nancy Edwards 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