Skip to content
Plinth

· Private foundation

Life 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.

$44k
Granted FY2025still arriving
12
Grants FY2025still arriving
8
States reached
$22k
Largest
01What you fund
0193% classified

What you funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year — across FY20172025.

Religion$154kHuman Services$64kPhilanthropy$27kInternational$22kEducation$7kHealth$3kHousing & Shelter$2kArts & Culture$1kOther$0
02FY2025 · 12 grants

Where the money goes

Your grants by size, and where they go.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k11 grants · $22k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $22k
$2,500
Median grant
8
States reached
$86k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
ETCH FOR AFRICA$22,000
CORNER CHRISTIAN CHURCH$7,000
SUMMIT MINISTRIES$4,000
OVATE CONCERN$2,500
OUR DAILY BREAD$2,500
HOPE MINISTRIES$2,500
LIGHTHOUSE CENTER OF HOPE$1,750
GREENBELT AREA CHRISTIAN CONCERTS$1,000
ST PATRICK'S CENTER$200
BARLOW MEMORIAL LIBRARY$100
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHONA SOCIETY$25
AMERICAN LUNG ASSOC$25
02The need
03

Do your dollars go where the need is?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, then read against the area’s typical level.

show:

Your human-services grants (FY23–25, $47k) land where the poverty rate runs at 25%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 53% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Your grants spread fairly evenly across need levels.

area typical 9%ETCH FOR AFRICA: $22k → 7%DIAMOND WILLOW MINISTRIES: $15k → 40%DIAMOND WILLOW MINISTRIES: $10k → 40%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount

Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty linein the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP; grantee ZIP can differ from where services are delivered.

Which US states your grants reach

MN
MI
NY
SD
IA
PA
CA
CO
DE
TN
DC
FL

US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are actually delivered. Need from public data — U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA — shown as context about the area, never attributed to your giving.

03Your edge
repeat funding

Who you back again

Which organizations you funded more than once, and which you funded a single time. Each grantee is matched to its own filings.

72%of every dollar goes to organizations you’ve funded before.
$207k · 22 repeat orgs$82k to everyone else

22 repeat relationships — 8 still active in FY2025, 14 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

22
24

Total granted

$207k
$52k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+22%
+78%

Still filing today

45%
17%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 31% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $30k 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
Human ServicesPhilanthropyHealthReligionEducationHousing & ShelterOther

First-time = a grantee’s first year in your filing window; renewed = funded in an earlier year too. As a portfolio matures the renewed share naturally climbs — once funded, an org stays “renewable” — so the signal is the years that buck it (a new-grantee intake wave). 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

  • HM
    HOPE MINISTRIES
    6× · 2017–2025 · $53k · revenue +22%
  • DW
    DIAMOND WILLOW MINISTRIES
    2× · 2023–2024 · $25k · revenue +111%
  • SM
    SUMMIT MINISTRIES INC
    4× · 2022–2025 · $8k · revenue +22%

Funded once

  • MF
    MASHIAN FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2023 · $20k
  • FC
    FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
    one grant, 2024 · $15k
  • TF
    THE FAMILY LEADER FOUNDATION INCgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $5k · revenue +570%

Repeat = funded in two or more distinct years; growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Your field

The map has a center of gravity: the average direction from the rest of the sector toward the organizations the foundation funds — the shape of its giving. Scoring every nonprofit along that direction surfaces the ones that look most like the portfolio. These are the closest matchesthat aren’t grantees — a resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Time of Grace Ministry

Time of grace is for people who want more growth and less struggle in their spiritual walk. we share the truth of god's word simply and clearly through television, print, and digital media that people view millions of times each month. we…

Religion
2
Midwest Christian Villages

Christian horizons empowers older adults in mind, body, and spirit through faith-led service. our services are driven by our f.a.i.t.h.-led values which include: fun - we foster personalized experiences filled with joy for those we serve,…

Human Services
3
Mercy Clinics Inc

We, mercy clinics and trinity health, serve together in the spirit of the gospel as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities. mercy clinics is a member of trinity health.

Health
4
Iowa City Hospice Inc

To provide high-quality and compassionate care to community members approaching the end of life.

Human Services
5
Blue Letter Bible

The specific purpose of this corporation is to present a biblical, christian ministry of the gospel, hope, encouragement and strength to as many people as possible. the intent of those who will conduct this corporation's work is to present…

6
One for Israel

One for israel's purposes are to unite u.s. and international churches, ministries and individuals for the proclamation of the gospel in israel, to raise funds for evangelism and gospel proclamation, to provide tangible relief for israel's…

7
Pella Regional Health Center

The mission of pella regional health center is to provide healthcare and healing services with christian compassion.

Health
8
World Hope International Inc

The purpose of world hope international, inc. (whi) includes providing assistance to economically disadvantaged people through long-term social transformation projects, including anti-trafficking protection, clean water, economic…

International
9
Christian Healthcare Ministries Inc

To glorify god, show christian love, and experience god's presence as christians share each other's medical bills.

Religion
10
The Human Choice of Iowa

Mission is to provide women facing an unplanned pregnancy with truthful medical information and education. we are faith-based with a mission to encourage, through education and outreach, the recognition of human life from the moment of…

Human Services
11
Christian Care Management Inc

Through christian love and excellence, we are dedicated to providing a fulfilling lifestyle and promoting independence to those we serve.

12
Hospice of North Iowa

We, mercy health services - iowa and trinity health, serve together in the spirit of the gospel as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities. hospice of north iowa is a member of mercy health services - iowa…

Human Services

For reference, the grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Family Leader Foundation Inc and the most unlike its peers is Blood Cancer United 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

15 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each one resolved to its own IRS returns and tracked year by year — your grant beside their revenue from every source. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

Counted here: distinct organizations you funded across 20172025, not grant rows in a single year — so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 15 of the 50 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile; the rest are funded organizations whose filings we could not track year by year.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
15/15
Grantees still filing
9/15
Grew since you first funded

Where your money sits — by cause, then by grantee

MASHIAH FOUNDATION — $40,000 · OtherMASHIAH FOUNDATIONFIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF IOWA FALLS — $25,750 · OtherFIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF IOWA FALLSMASHIAN FOUNDATION — $20,000 · OtherMASHIAN FOUNDATIONFIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH — $15,300 · OtherFIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCHSUMMIT MINISTRIES INC — $7,500 · OtherCORNER CHRISTIAN CHURCH — $7,000 · OtherSCENIC CITY CIVIC FOUNDATION INC — $5,750 · OtherIndividual grant recipient — $5,074 · Other+29 more — $24,439 · Other+29 moreHOPE MINISTRIES — $52,986 · Human ServicesHOPE MINISTRIESDIAMOND WILLOW MINISTRIES — $25,000 · Human ServicesDIAMOND WILLOW MINISTRIESETCH for Africa — $22,000 · Human ServicesETCH for AfricaOYATE CONCERN INC — $16,000 · ReligionRBC MINISTRIES — $5,500 · ReligionLIGHTHOUSE CENTER OF HOPE — $6,500 · PhilanthropyIOWA FALLS COMMUNITY CHEST INC — $750 · PhilanthropyHANSEN FAMILY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION — $700 · PhilanthropyTHE FAMILY LEADER FOUNDATION INC — $5,000 · EducationBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC — $1,525 · HealthMAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF IOWA INC — $500 · HealthST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC — $100 · HealthOne Vision — $2,000 · Housing & Shelter
Other$150,813Human Services$99,986Religion$21,500Philanthropy$7,950Education$5,000Health$2,125Housing & Shelter$2,000

Each org by its size and your share of it — top-left is where you’re load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ your share of their budgetHOPE MINISTRIES — $52,986 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetDIAMOND WILLOW MINISTRIES — $25,000 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetETCH for Africa — $22,000 over 1y, 14% of budgetOYATE CONCERN INC — $16,000 over 6y, 1.4% of budgetSUMMIT MINISTRIES INC — $7,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetLIGHTHOUSE CENTER OF HOPE — $6,500 over 4y, 2.3% of budgetRBC MINISTRIES — $5,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE FAMILY LEADER FOUNDATION INC — $5,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetOne Vision — $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC — $1,525 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetST PATRICK'S CENTER INC — $1,100 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetIOWA FALLS COMMUNITY CHEST INC — $750 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetHANSEN FAMILY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION — $700 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetMAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF IOWA INC — $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC — $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Go grantee by grantee — a decade per org, and how each moved after you funded them

A decade per grantee — revenue shaded, your grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds HOPE MINISTRIES
  • Who funds DIAMOND WILLOW MINISTRIES
  • Who funds ETCH for Africa
  • Who funds OYATE CONCERN INC
  • Who funds SUMMIT MINISTRIES INC
  • Who funds LIGHTHOUSE CENTER OF HOPE
  • Who funds RBC MINISTRIES
  • Who funds THE FAMILY LEADER FOUNDATION INC
  • Who funds One Vision
  • Who funds BLOOD CANCER UNITED INC
  • Who funds ST PATRICK'S CENTER INC
  • Who funds IOWA FALLS COMMUNITY CHEST INC
  • Who funds HANSEN FAMILY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
  • Who funds MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF IOWA INC

The grantmakers whose grantees overlap with yours far more than size alone predicts. Each orbits closer the stronger the alignment; the arcs between them show where they also fund each other. Here it reads as a tightly interlocked camp — most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Community Fdn of Greater Des Moines F/K/A Greater Des Moines Community FdnIA16.8× affinity6 shared granteesties to 7 of 7Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Community Fdn of Greater Des Moines F/K/A Greater Des Moines Community Fdn · Servant Foundation · The US Charitable Gift Trust · Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Amazonsmile Foundation

Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. A research starting point: overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

Government reliance of your grantees

Every dot is one organization Life Foundation funds. Left–right is the share of its income from government; up–down is the share from you. Bigger dots raise more. Filter to federal or a single department — and drag the year to watch it move.

2024
202122232425
no gov · 00%1%4%8%15%your share of their income ↑0%3%5%8%10%share of the org’s income from government
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    2report 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, FY2025

    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 your grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first — a floor, not 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 12–24 months.

    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Life Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Life 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 directly from IRS e-file XML — your own 990/990-PF and the multi-year returns of the 50 grantees we resolved across every year we hold, several hundred filings in all (a different count from the grant rows on the cover, which are one fiscal year)— each linked to its source. Grantee achievements and outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III); we read these as association with sustained funding — the foundation is one of several forces — suppress low-confidence name matches rather than guess, and say so where a figure rests on a single grant or filing. Not everything on this page is a filed figure, and the difference matters. Filed is what you reported on your 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. How we build these →

    Generated from your IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12–24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    More from the funding graph