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Margolis Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Margolis 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.

$345k
Granted FY2025still arriving
10
Grants FY2025still arriving
7
States reached
$250k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0196% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2025.

Philanthropy$970kHuman Services$226kReligion$103kEnvironment$38kAnimals$25kEducation$17kYouth Development$17kHousing & Shelter$5kOther$0
02FY2025 · 10 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k7 grants · $25k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $20k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $50k
  • $250k+1 grant · $250k
$5,000
Median grant
7
States reached
$5.3M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Jewish Federation$250,000
Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona$50,000
Harold Greenspan Foundation$20,000
Kansas City University$5,000
Chabad of Polk County$5,000
Chabad of Washington State$5,000
Individual grant recipient$5,000
Chabad of Palm Coast$5,000
US Holocaust Museum$300
Hebrew Free Burial Association$150
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 (FY20–22, $216k) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 7% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%JEWISH FAMILIY SERVICES: $151k → 9%HELPLINE HOUSE: $10k → 10%JEWISH FAMILIY SERVICES: $50k → 9%JEWISH FAMILIY SERVICES: $680 → 9%HELPLINE HOUSE: $5k → 10%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

WA
NY
MA
MO
MD
AZ
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.

90%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.3M · 16 repeat orgs$135k to everyone else

16 repeat relationships: 6 still active in FY2025, 10 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

16
12

Total granted

$1.3M
$70k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+20%
+89%

Still filing today

63%
33%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 81% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $65k went to new ones.

50%100%’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’20’21’22’23’24’25
EnvironmentHuman ServicesAnimalsArts & CultureYouth DevelopmentEducationOther
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

  • JF
    JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE
    3× · 2020–2022 · $201k · revenue +97%
  • HH
    HELPLINE HOUSE
    2× · 2021–2022 · $15k · revenue +176%
  • WS
    West Sound Wildlife Shelter
    2× · 2021–2022 · $10k · revenue +20%

Funded once

  • GP
    GREAT PENINSULA CONSERVANCYgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $20k · revenue +48%
  • CO
    CHABAD OF SEATTLE
    one grant, 2024 · $15k
  • TH
    THE HAROLD GRINSPOON FOUNDATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2024 · $10k · revenue +79%
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
The Humane Society for Seattleking County

Seattle humane promotes the human-animal bond by saving and serving pets in need, regardless of age, ability, circumstance or geography.

Animals
2
Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice Northwest

The jewish coalition builds a jewish voice in the pacific northwest advancing immigrant justice and domestic policy, following the leadership of impacted community.

Human Services
3
Washington State Jewish Historical Socie

To preserve and present the history of jewish life in washington state. the society fosters awareness and appreciation of the experiences, the diverse culture, and the significant contributions of jews, past and present. to build bridges…

—
4
Kwiaht Center for Salish Sea

Science for stewardship of the san juan islands including studies of long term change in marine and terrestrial species, habitats and food webs

Health
5
Stewardship Partners

Stewardship Partners helps private landowners restore and preserve the natural landscapes of WA State. We collaborate with diverse interest groups to build bridges and find solutions that achieve mutual goals of environmental protection,…

Environment
6
Seattle University

Seattle University is dedicated to educating the whole person, to professional formation, and to empowering leaders for a just and humane world.

—
7
Jewish Mothers of Metropolitan Seattle
Religion
8
Holocaust Center for Humanity

The Holocaust Center for Humanity teaches the lessons of the Holocaust, inspiring students of all ages to confront bigotry and indifference, promote human dignity, and take action.

—
9
Whatcom Land Trust

The mission of the Whatcom Land Trust is to preserve and protect wildlife habitat, scenic, agricultural and open space lands in Whatcom County for future generations by securing interests in land and promoting land stewardship.

Environment
10
Puget Sound Restoration Fund

To restore habitat, water quality and native species in the puget sound

Environment
11
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art

Bainbridge island museum of art (bima) inspires curiosity, wonder and understanding by connecting people with the contemporary art and craft of the puget sound region.

Arts & Culture
12
Fsc I&P

Fsc i&p promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests. this mission aligns with the forest stewardship council (fsc), its network of offices, and other organizations.…

Philanthropy
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Bainbridge Island Land Trust; the most unlike its peers is Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. 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

14 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. 14 of the 32 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)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
14/14
Grantees still filing
11/14
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Jewish Federation: $879,500 · OtherJewish FederationJewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona: $50,000 · Other+18 more: $168,110 · Other+18 moreJEWISH FAMILY SERVICE: $201,330 · Human ServicesJEWISH FAMILY SER…HELPLINE HOUSE: $15,000 · Human ServicesHELPLINE HOUSEGREAT PENINSULA CONSERVANCY: $20,000 · EnvironmentBAINBRIDGE ISLAND LAND TRUST: $17,600 · EnvironmentISLANDWOOD: $5,000 · EnvironmentKITSAP HUMANE SOCIETY: $15,000 · AnimalsWest Sound Wildlife Shelter: $10,000 · AnimalsJOY OF LIVING JUDAISM: $16,500 · Youth DevelopmentKansas City University: $9,250 · EducationSister Jose Women's Center: $5,000 · Housing & ShelterThe United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: $1,400 · Arts & CultureARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM: $1,000 · Arts & Culture
Other$1,097,610Human Services$216,330Environment$42,600Animals$25,000Youth Development$16,500Education$9,250Housing & Shelter$5,000Arts & Culture$2,400

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

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetJEWISH FAMILY SERVICE: $201,330 over 3y, 1.2% of budgetGREAT PENINSULA CONSERVANCY: $20,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetBAINBRIDGE ISLAND LAND TRUST: $17,600 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetJOY OF LIVING JUDAISM: $16,500 over 3y, 12% of budgetHELPLINE HOUSE: $15,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetKITSAP HUMANE SOCIETY: $15,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetWest Sound Wildlife Shelter: $10,000 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetTHE HAROLD GRINSPOON FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetKansas City University: $9,250 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetSister Jose Women's Center: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetISLANDWOOD: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCHEBRA AGUDAS ACHIM CHESED SHEL EMETH HEBREW FREE BURIAL ASSOCIATIONINC: $1,600 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetThe United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: $1,400 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM: $1,000 over 3y, 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 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE ↗
  • Who funds GREAT PENINSULA CONSERVANCY ↗
  • Who funds BAINBRIDGE ISLAND LAND TRUST ↗
  • Who funds JOY OF LIVING JUDAISM ↗
  • Who funds HELPLINE HOUSE ↗
  • Who funds KITSAP HUMANE SOCIETY ↗
  • Who funds West Sound Wildlife Shelter ↗
  • Who funds THE HAROLD GRINSPOON FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds Kansas City University ↗
  • Who funds Sister Jose Women's Center ↗
  • Who funds ISLANDWOOD ↗
  • Who funds CHEBRA AGUDAS ACHIM CHESED SHEL EMETH HEBREW FREE BURIAL ASSOCIATIONINC ↗
  • Who funds The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum ↗
  • Who funds ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM ↗

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.

Bainbridge Community …One Call for AllPuget Sound Energy Fo…Seattle FoundationThe Stollman Foundati…The Norcliffe Foundat…Mightycause Charitabl…Morgan Stanley Global…Renaissance Charitabl…The Bank of America C…Vanguard Charitable E…National Philanthropi…
Bainbridge Community FoundationWA17.8× affinity6 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Bainbridge Community Foundation · One Call for All · Puget Sound Energy Foundation · Seattle Foundation · The Stollman Foundation · The Norcliffe Foundation · Mightycause Charitable Foundation · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Renaissance Charitable Foundation Inc · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · National Philanthropic Trust

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

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%1%4%8%15%funder's share of their income ↑0%4%8%11%15%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    8report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–15%
    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.

    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 32 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 Margolis’ 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