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Katherine Olson Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Katherine Olson 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.

$21k
Granted FY2025still arriving
3
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.

Arts & Culture$77kPhilanthropy$30kEducation$29kHealth$12kReligion$6kPublic Benefit$6kHuman Services$5kCrime & Legal$5kOther$0
02FY2025 · 3 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k1 grant · $1k
  • $10k–50k2 grants · $20k
$10,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$221k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
KUOW$10,000
Cascade Public Media$10,000
ALS Association$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:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY17–25) 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%St Marks Episcopal Church: $500 → 10%Oregon State University: $5k → 18%Cholaniocarcinoma Fdn: $5k → 8%Cascade Public Media: $10k → 9%Community Fnd of South Puget Sound: $10k → 9%Bainbridge Island Museum: $5k → 10%Planned Parenthood of Wa: $4k → 17%Univ of Alaska Fdn: $1k → 8%ALS Association: $1k → 7%Inspiring Girls Expeditions: $5k → 18%Cascade Public Media: $10k → 9%Planned Parenthood of Wa: $1k → 17%University Lions Foundation: $1k → 9%Evergreen School: $1k → 9%Evergreen School: $1k → 9%Evergreen School: $1k → 9%St John's Episcobal Church: $5k → 9%Page Ahead: $2k → 9%Page Ahead: $500 → 9%Hearthstone Fund: $1k → 9%Page Ahead: $500 → 9%Virginia V Foundation: $5k → 9%Virginia V Foundation: $5k → 9%Virginia V Foundation: $1k → 9%Virginia V Foundation: $1k → 9%Univ of Washington Foundation: $5k → 9%Univ of Wa Foundation: $5k → 9%Univ of Washington Foundation: $5k → 9%Univ of Washington: $3k → 9%Univ of Wa - Dept of Econ: $2k → 9%Food Lifeline: $4k → 9%KUOW: $10k → 9%KCTS: $5k → 9%KUOW: $10k → 9%Steamer Virginia V: $4k → 9%KUOW: $5k → 9%KCTS: $2k → 9%KUOW: $4k → 9%KCTS: $2k → 9%KUOW: $3k → 9%KCTS TV: $1k → 9%KUOW: $3k → 9%KCTS TV: $1k → 9%CASA Family Law of King County: $2k → 9%KUOW: $2k → 9%CASA Family Law of King County: $2k → 9%KUOW: $2k → 9%CASA Family Law of King County: $1k → 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.

66%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$118k · 11 repeat orgs$60k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +67% since the first grant, against +12% for those funded once.

11 repeat relationships: 2 still active in FY2025, 9 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

11
24

Total granted

$118k
$59k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+67%
+12%

Still filing today

45%
25%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 95% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $1k 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 & CultureHealthFood & NutritionRecreation & SportsHuman 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

  • KP
    KUOW PUGET SOUND PUBLIC RADIO
    8× · 2017–2025 · $39k · revenue +67%
  • CP
    CASCADE PUBLIC MEDIA
    5× · 2020–2025 · $29k · revenue +135%
  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOUNDATION
    3× · 2018–2021 · $15k · revenue +46%

Funded once

  • CF
    Community Fnd of South Puget Sound
    one grant, 2021 · $10k
  • TC
    THE CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA FOUNDATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $5k · revenue +45%
  • SJ
    St John's Episcobal Church
    one grant, 2020 · $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
Association of Washington Cities

The association of washington cities builds connections between our state's diverse cities and towns, while providing our members with the support needed to thrive through delivery of data-driven education, nationally recognized pooling…

—
2
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…

—
3
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
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
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
6
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.

—
7
Friends of Kexp

Kexp's mission is to enrich your life by championing music and discovery.

Youth Development
8
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
9
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
10
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…

—
11
The University of British Columbia

Pursuing excellence in research learning and engagement to foster global citizenship and advance a sustainable and just society across British Columbia Canada and the world.

Education
12
Oregon Public Broadcasting

Connecting people across oregon and the pacific northwest through the power of a shared story.

Arts & Culture
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Cascade Public Media; the most unlike its peers is Lake Union Civic Orchestra. 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

12 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. 12 of the 36 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)
0
Early backer (in before they grew)
12/12
Grantees still filing
10/12
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Virginia V Foundation: $12,000 · OtherVirginia V FoundationCommunity Fnd of South Puget Sound: $10,000 · OtherCommunity Fnd of South Puget SoundSt John's Episcobal Church: $5,000 · OtherSt John's Episcobal ChurchOregon State University: $5,000 · OtherOregon State UniversityIndividual grant recipient: $5,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipientPlanned Parenthood of Wa: $5,000 · OtherPlanned Parenthood of WaBainbridge Island Museum: $5,000 · OtherBainbridge Island MuseumCASA Family Law of King County: $4,500 · OtherCASA Family Law of King CountyIndividual grant recipient: $3,500 · OtherSeattle Nightwatch: $2,750 · OtherSeattle Symphony: $2,500 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON: $2,500 · Other+12 more: $9,800 · Other+12 moreKUOW PUGET SOUND PUBLIC RADIO: $39,000 · Arts & CultureKUOW PUGET SOUND PUBLIC RADIOCASCADE PUBLIC MEDIA: $29,000 · Arts & CultureCASCADE PUBLIC MEDIA+1 more: $1,000 · Arts & CultureUNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOUNDATION: $15,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF…THE EVERGREEN SCHOOL: $3,250 · EducationTHE EVERGREEN…PAGE AHEAD CHILDRENS LITERACY PRGM: $2,500 · EducationPAGE AHEAD CH…UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FOUNDATION: $1,000 · EducationTHE CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA FOUNDATION: $5,000 · HealthAMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS ASSN: $1,000 · HealthAARP FOUNDATION: $5,000 · Human ServicesFOOD LIFELINE: $3,500 · Food & NutritionGeorge Pocock Rowing Foundation: $300 · Recreation & Sports
Other$72,550Arts & Culture$69,000Education$21,750Health$6,000Human Services$5,000Food & Nutrition$3,500Recreation & Sports$300

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 budgetKUOW PUGET SOUND PUBLIC RADIO: $39,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetCASCADE PUBLIC MEDIA: $29,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOUNDATION: $15,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetAARP FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFOOD LIFELINE: $3,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE EVERGREEN SCHOOL: $3,250 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetPAGE AHEAD CHILDRENS LITERACY PRGM: $2,500 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetLAKE UNION CIVIC ORCHESTRA: $1,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS ASSN: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGeorge Pocock Rowing Foundation: $300 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.

  • Who funds KUOW PUGET SOUND PUBLIC RADIO ↗
  • Who funds CASCADE PUBLIC MEDIA ↗
  • Who funds UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds THE CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds AARP FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds FOOD LIFELINE ↗
  • Who funds THE EVERGREEN SCHOOL ↗
  • Who funds PAGE AHEAD CHILDRENS LITERACY PRGM ↗
  • Who funds LAKE UNION CIVIC ORCHESTRA ↗
  • Who funds UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS ASSN ↗
  • Who funds George Pocock Rowing Foundation ↗

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.

American Online Givin…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
American Online Giving Foundation IncDE8.5× affinity4 shared granteesties to 2 of 2Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: American Online Giving Foundation 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 Katherine Olson Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Katherine Olson 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%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    6report 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 Katherine Olson Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Katherine Olson 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 36 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 Katherine Olson’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