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Kim Seong Choo & Myung Hee Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Kim Seong Choo & Myung Hee 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.

$53k
Granted FY2025still arriving
7
Grants FY2025still arriving
3
States reached
$11k
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, FY2021 to 2025.

International$38kPublic Safety & Disaster$16kAnimals$13kEnvironment$9kCivil Rights$7kArts & Culture$5kFood & Nutrition$5kHealth$4kOther$0
02FY2025 · 7 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k4 grants · $21k
  • $10k–50k3 grants · $32k
$7,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$1.0M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
WORLD CENTER KITCHEN$10,500
PALESTINE CHILDREN'S RELIEF FUND$10,500
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS$10,500
PEOPLE AND PETS BTF$7,000
AMAZON CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION$7,000
LANGE FOUNDATION$3,500
THE MR HOLLAND'S OPUS FOUNDATION$3,500
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, $9k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 53% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants spread fairly evenly across need levels.

area typical 11%FII - NATIONAL: $4k → 10%LANGE FOUNDATION: $4k → 14%LANGE FOUNDATION: $1k → 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

NY
MA
OH
CA
CO
VA
AZ
NM
DC
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.

54%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$55k · 7 repeat orgs$47k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +57% since the first grant, against -10% for those funded once.

7 repeat relationships: 5 still active in FY2025, 2 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

7
12

Total granted

$55k
$30k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+57%
-10%

Still filing today

100%
75%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 67% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $18k went to new ones.

50%100%’21’22’23’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’21’22’23’25
InternationalEnvironmentHuman ServicesHealthCivil RightsAnimalsOther
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

  • MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC
    2× · 2021–2025 · $15k · revenue +20%
  • PC
    PALESTINE CHILDREN'S RELIEF FUND
    2× · 2021–2025 · $12k · revenue +338%
  • DIRECT RELIEF
    2× · 2021–2022 · $10k · revenue +24%

Funded once

  • LA
    LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANKgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $5k · revenue +50%
  • WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC
    one grant, 2022 · $5k · revenue -40%
  • FII - NATIONAL
    one grant, 2021 · $4k · revenue -82%
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
League of California Community Foundations

The league of california community foundations promotes and strengthens community foundations in california. through collaboration and shared learning among member foundations and building partnerships with private and public entities, we…

Philanthropy
2
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
3
American Flood Coalition Inc

To drive transformational adaptation to protect communities across the country from higher seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding.

Environment
4
Food & Water Watch

Food & water watch conducts extensive research and public education to ensure the food and water we consume is safe, accessible and sustainably produced. so we can all enjoy and trust in what we eat and drink, we help people take charge of…

Food & Nutrition
5
Marin Humane Society

Marin humane transforms lives through exceptional animal care, humane education, and advocacy. every day, marin humane inspires compassion and positive relationships between people and animals.

Animals
6
Worldwide Vets Incorporated

Our goal is to sustainably improve animal welfare, provide veterinary care, and improve veterinary education globally. in order to achieve this goal, we work in over 10 countries, across 5 continents, supporting local people and animals,…

Animals
7
American Civil Liberties Union Fund of the District of Columbia

Preservation of civil liberties through litigation and public education.

—
8
Ucsf Foundation Investment Company

The organization provides professional investment management services for endowed gifts and financial assets entrusted to the ucsf foundation.

Education
9
Rainforest Trust

Rainforest trust saves endangered wildlife and protects our planet by creating rainforest reserves through partnerships, community engagement, and donor support.

International
10
California Forward

Ca fwd drives action to identify solutions that can be taken to scale to meet the challenges the state is facing. the organization is driven by the belief that regional solutions across the state will help ensure economic, environmental,…

Public Benefit
11
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
12
United Animal Nations Dba Redrover

To bring animals out of crisis and strengthen the bond between people and animals through emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education. redrover accomplishes its mission by engaging volunteers and…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is California Community Foundation; the most unlike its peers is World Wildlife Fund Inc. 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

17 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. 17 of the 22 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)
4
Early backer (in before they grew)
17/17
Grantees still filing
11/17
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $14,500 · InternationalMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INCPALESTINE CHILDREN'S RELIEF FUND: $11,500 · InternationalPALESTINE CHILDREN'S RELIEF FUNDDIRECT RELIEF: $10,000 · InternationalDIRECT RELIEFWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $5,000 · InternationalWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INCWORLD CENTER KITCHEN: $10,500 · OtherWORLD CENTER KITCHENPEOPLE AND PETS BTF: $7,000 · OtherPEOPLE AND PETS BTFLOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK: $5,000 · OtherLOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANKNAVAJO NATION: $3,000 · OtherNAVAJO NATIONINTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE: $2,000 · OtherINTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEECALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $3,000 · OtherCALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONBETTERTOGETHER FOREVER: $1,400 · Other+2 more: $1,500 · OtherAMAZON CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION: $8,000 · EnvironmentAMAZON CO…WORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC: $1,000 · EnvironmentWORLD WIL…LANGE FOUNDATION: $4,500 · Human ServicesLANGE FOU…FII - NATIONAL: $4,000 · Human ServicesFII - NAT…THE MR HOLLAND'S OPUS FOUNDATION: $5,000 · EducationBENEVOLENT HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION: $3,000 · HealthALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH FOUNDATION: $1,000 · HealthNAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUC FUND INC: $2,000 · Civil RightsREFUGEE & IMMIGRANT CENTER FOR EDUCATION & LEGAL SERVICES: $2,000 · Civil Rights
International$41,000Other$33,400Environment$9,000Human Services$8,500Education$5,000Health$4,000Civil Rights$4,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $14,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetPALESTINE CHILDREN'S RELIEF FUND: $11,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetDIRECT RELIEF: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAMAZON CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION: $8,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE MR HOLLAND'S OPUS FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetLOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLANGE FOUNDATION: $4,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetFII - NATIONAL: $4,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCALIFORNIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBENEVOLENT HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNAACP LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUC FUND INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetREFUGEE & IMMIGRANT CENTER FOR EDUCATION & LEGAL SERVICES: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBETTERTOGETHER FOREVER: $1,400 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetALZHEIMER'S DISEASE RESEARCH FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCheetah Conservation Fund: $500 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.

Jpmorgan Chase Founda…Paypal Charitable Giv…The Bank of America C…American Online Givin…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Jpmorgan Chase FoundationNY12.2× affinity4 shared granteesties to 6 of 6Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · Paypal Charitable Giving Fund · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · 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 Kim Seong Choo & Myung Hee Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Kim Seong Choo & Myung Hee Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%3%5%8%10%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    5report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–10%
    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 Kim Seong Choo & Myung Hee Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Kim Seong Choo & Myung Hee 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 22 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 Kim Seong Choo & Myung Hee’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