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John Christopher Bunting Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

John Christopher Bunting 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.

$43k
Granted FY2025still arriving
9
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$10k
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.

Health$280kFood & Nutrition$147kEducation$119kHuman Services$112kArts & Culture$69kPublic Benefit$55kCommunity Improvement$55kYouth Development$54kOther$0
02FY2025 · 9 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k7 grants · $23k
  • $10k–50k2 grants · $20k
$3,500
Median grant
2
States reached
$694k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
FRIENDS OF OAKLEY LIBRARY$10,000
SONOMA VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY$10,000
HANNA CENTER$6,000
SAN DAMENICO SCHOOL ANNUAL FUND$5,000
SEBASTIANI THEATRE FOUNDATION$3,500
SONOMA COUNTY VINTNERS FOUNDATION$2,500
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SONOMA COUNTY$2,500
YOUNG AMERICANS FOR LIBERTY$2,000
THE ROTARY CLUB OF SONOMA VALLEY$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 (FY17–19, $36k) land where the poverty rate runs at 8%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%SONOMA COMMUNITY CENTER: $16k → 8%VINTAGE HOUSE: $10k → 8%VINTAGE HOUSE: $10k → 8%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

IL
MI
NV
CA
MD
DC
HI
GA
TX
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.
04

Where the work is directed

The same grants placed two ways: where each recipient sits, and where its stated purpose sends the money.

About 10% of John Christopher Bunting Foundation’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address.

John Christopher Bunting Foundationlessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address
How this is measured
Recipient view: each grant at its grantee’s ZIP, mapped to a county. Directed view: each grant at the county its stated purpose names, falling back to the recipient’s county when the purpose names no place; US grants only. A county shows only if it carries the top 95% of that view’s dollars. Purposes are read from the funder’s own 990 grant descriptions.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

58%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$571k · 23 repeat orgs$418k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +41% since the first grant, against +19% for those funded once.

23 repeat relationships: 6 still active in FY2025, 17 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

23
42

Total granted

$571k
$402k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+41%
+19%

Still filing today

65%
64%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 60% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $16k 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
EducationArts & CultureHuman ServicesYouth DevelopmentHealthCivil 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

  • SV
    Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance
    3× · 2019–2023 · $40k · revenue +213%
  • SV
    SONOMA VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
    2× · 2020–2025 · $25k · revenue +51%
  • SC
    SONOMA COMMUNITY CENTER
    2× · 2019–2020 · $22k · revenue +59%

Funded once

  • SV
    SONOMA VALLEY VINTNERS & GROWERS FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2017 · $147k · revenue -90%
  • CF
    CENTER FOR URBAN RENEWAL & EDUCATION
    one grant, 2017 · $35k · revenue +19%
  • TY
    THE YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF SONOMA COUNTYgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $25k · revenue +141%
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
Sonoma Botanical Garden
—
2
Sonoma Mountain Institute
Environment
3
The Stanford Theatre Foundation
—
4
Sonoma Valley Film Festival

Sonoma valley film society produces the annual international film festival

Arts & Culture
5
Symons Family Fund

The Mission of the Symons Family Fund is to benefit, perform the functions of, and carry out the purposes of the Sonora Area Foundation that engage in charitable activities which benefit the residents of Tuolumne County, California.

Human Services
6
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

See schedule osfmoma believes the art of our time is vital and shares it with passion and purpose, and that art and the creative process can open minds and help build a better world. for that reason, we assemble unparalleled collections,…

Arts & Culture
7
Solano Community Foundation

The Solano Community Foundation strengthens Solano County by advancing equity, supporting nonprofit resilience, and expanding access to philanthropy. We serve as a community leader, responsive grantmaker, and trusted partner for donors who…

Philanthropy
8
Museum of Sonoma County

The museum of sonoma county engages and inspires our diverse community with art and history exhibitions, collections, and public programs that are inclusive, educational, and relevant.

Arts & Culture
9
Friends of the Sonoma Library
—
10
Sonora Area Foundation

Strengthens its community through assisting donors, making grants, and providing leadership.

Philanthropy
11
California Film Institute

The california film institute celebrates film and videos as art and education. its goal is to present and support emerging and established independent filmakers whose works address issues relevant to contemporary society. this is…

Arts & Culture
12
Sonoma Land Trust

Protect the scenic, natural, cultural, agricultural and open landscapes of sonoma county for the benefit of the community and future generations by developing long-term land protection strategies; (continued on schedule o) promoting…

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Napa Valley Festival Association; the most unlike its peers is Common Goal Fund. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
05the grantee network

44 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. 44 of the 68 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)
13
Early backer (in before they grew)
43/44
Grantees still filing
24/44
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

SONOMA VALLEY VINTNERS & GROWERS FOUNDATION: $147,330 · OtherSONOMA VALLEY VINTNERS & GROWERS FOUNDATIONNORTH BAY LEARNING FOUNDATION: $60,000 · OtherNORTH BAY LEARNING FOUNDATIONTHE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES (TFAS): $25,000 · OtherYWCA: $22,500 · OtherFOUNDATION FOR LIBERTY AND AMERICAN GREATNESS: $20,000 · OtherPacific Legal Foundation: $17,500 · Other+38 more: $188,466 · Other+38 moreSONOMA VALLEY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $210,000 · HealthSONOMA VALLEY HOSPITAL FO…CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION: $7,500 · Health+1 more: $2,000 · HealthCENTER FOR URBAN RENEWAL & EDUCATION: $35,000 · Arts & CultureCENTER FOR…SONOMA VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $25,000 · Arts & CultureSONOMA VAL…THE ATLAS SOCIETY LTD: $15,000 · Arts & CultureTHE ATLAS …Sebastiani Theatre Foundation Inc: $7,000 · Arts & CultureSebastiani…NAPA VALLEY FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION: $4,500 · Arts & Culture+1 more: $1,000 · Arts & CultureTHE YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF SONOMA COUNTY: $25,000 · Human ServicesSONOMA COMMUNITY CENTER: $21,900 · Human ServicesVintage House Multi Purpose Senior Center: $20,000 · Human Services+1 more: $1,500 · Human ServicesSonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance: $40,000 · EducationThe George Washington University: $10,000 · EducationGOLDEN STATE SALMON ASSOCIATION INC: $5,000 · EducationTHE UC DAVIS FOUNDATION: $5,000 · Education+2 more: $2,000 · EducationHIPPO LIFE: $14,000 · Youth DevelopmentFOUNDATION FOR TEACHING ECONOMICS: $10,000 · Youth DevelopmentMENTORING ALLIANCE: $10,000 · Youth DevelopmentYOUNG AMERICANS FOR LIBERTY INC: $4,000 · Youth DevelopmentCURE INTERNATIONAL INC: $35,000 · International
Other$480,796Health$219,500Arts & Culture$87,500Human Services$68,400Education$62,000Youth Development$38,000International$35,000

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 budgetSONOMA VALLEY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $210,000 over 5y, 4.1% of budgetSONOMA VALLEY VINTNERS & GROWERS FOUNDATION: $147,330 over 1y, 3.9% of budgetSonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance: $40,000 over 3y, 4.7% of budgetCURE INTERNATIONAL INC: $35,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCENTER FOR URBAN RENEWAL & EDUCATION: $35,000 over 1y, 2.1% of budgetTHE YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF SONOMA COUNTY: $25,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetSONOMA VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $25,000 over 2y, 17% of budgetSONOMA COMMUNITY CENTER: $21,900 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetVintage House Multi Purpose Senior Center: $20,000 over 2y, 1.3% of budgetFOUNDATION FOR LIBERTY AND AMERICAN GREATNESS: $20,000 over 2y, 1.0% of budgetPacific Legal Foundation: $17,500 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHE ATLAS SOCIETY LTD: $15,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetHIPPO LIFE: $14,000 over 2y, 21% of budgetVALLEY OF THE MOON NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION: $12,500 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetTHE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFOUNDATION 36 INC: $10,000 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetCHRISTIAN'S TOUCH INC: $10,000 over 1y, 8.2% of budgetFOUNDATION FOR TEACHING ECONOMICS: $10,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetTHE HEARTLAND INSTITUTE: $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetMENTORING ALLIANCE: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetThe George Washington University: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION: $7,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetKA'OHANA O KALAUPAPA: $7,000 over 3y, 4.9% of budgetSebastiani Theatre Foundation Inc: $7,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetActon Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGOLDEN STATE SALMON ASSOCIATION INC: $5,000 over 1y, 1.7% of budgetTHE UC DAVIS FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNAPA VALLEY FESTIVAL ASSOCIATION: $4,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetYOUNG AMERICANS FOR LIBERTY INC: $4,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE KNIGHTS OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI: $2,500 over 1y, 9.5% of budgetGiant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center Inc: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetMarin History Museum: $1,935 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetPets Lifeline Inc: $1,550 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetRITTER CENTER: $1,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetJF SHEA THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER INC FKA FRAN JOSWICK THERAP RIDING CTR INC: $1,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGiant Steps Illinois Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSONOMA CONSERVATORY OF DANCE: $1,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetAmargosa Land Trust: $1,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetBELLOSGUARDO FOUNDATION INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetSAN DOMENICO SCHOOL: $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.

Sonoma County Communi…Marin Community Found…McNabb FoundationSimon Blattner Family…The Vadasz Family Fou…Sanderson Family Foun…Sonoma Valley Vintner…Khr McNeely Family Fo…Clay Foundation - WestKakatu Foundation IncWomen Giving as One I…The Scott Family Fund
Sonoma County Community FoundationCA35.3× affinity15 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Sonoma County Community Foundation · Marin Community Foundation · McNabb Foundation · Simon Blattner Family Foundation · The Vadasz Family Foundation · Sanderson Family Foundation · Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Foundation · Khr McNeely Family Foundation · Clay Foundation - West · Kakatu Foundation Inc · Women Giving as One Inc · The Scott Family Fund

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 Christopher Bunting Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from John Christopher Bunting Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%2%6%14%25%funder's share of their income ↑0%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    2get no government money at all
    10report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–40%
    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 Christopher Bunting Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to John Christopher Bunting 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 68 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 John Christopher Bunting’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