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Martha F Wells Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Martha F Wells Family Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$85k
Granted FY2024still arriving
23
Grants FY2024still arriving
10
States reached
$12k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0191% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Religion$185kInternational$181kEducation$55kHealth$29kPublic Safety & Disaster$26kAnimals$25kHuman Services$19kEnvironment$13kOther$0
02FY2024 · 23 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k20 grants · $53k
  • $10k–50k3 grants · $32k
$2,000
Median grant
10
States reached
$2.8M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION$11,900
Individual grant recipient$10,000
THE REFUGEE CHILDERN CEN$10,000
NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE$8,000
WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT$6,000
THE HUMANE FARMING ASSOCIATION$5,000
Individual grant recipient$5,000
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION$5,000
Individual grant recipient$5,000
PROJECT K-9 HERO$4,000
Individual grant recipient$2,500
SPCALA$2,000
BAYSIDE CHURCH$2,000
CAVITT MIDDLE SCHOOL$1,500
NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION$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 (FY17–24, $35k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT: $6k → 14%A SENSE OF HOME: $1k → 14%WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT INC: $2k → 14%COVENANT HOUSE: $1k → 17%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $25k → 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

IL
NY
NV
SD
IA
PA
CA
UT
KY
VA
MD
KS
TN
NC
DC
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.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

81%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$474k · 24 repeat orgs$114k to everyone else

24 repeat relationships: 10 still active in FY2024, 14 since wound down; 13 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

24
39

Total granted

$474k
$73k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+15%
+28%

Still filing today

71%
64%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 52% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $41k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
HealthAnimalsEducationHuman ServicesEnvironmentReligionOther
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

  • SP
    SAMARITAN'S PURSE
    6× · 2017–2022 · $165k · revenue +134%
  • WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT INC
    2× · 2017–2024 · $8k · revenue +90%
  • NW
    NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION
    2× · 2022–2024 · $6k · revenue +39%

Funded once

  • AN
    American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches
    one grant, 2022 · $25k · revenue +23%
  • AC
    AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC
    one grant, 2017 · $5k · revenue -83%
  • TT
    TIM TEBOW FOUNDATION INCgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $5k · revenue +66%
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
Animal Wellness Action

To prevent cruelty to animals, we promote enacting and enforcing good public policies. enacting good laws depends upon electing good lawmakers, and we remind voters which candidates care about and support animal issues.

Human Services
2
Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Foundation

To engage and catalyze global seafood supply chains in rebuilding depleted fish stocks and reducing the environmental impacts of fishing and fish farming.

Animals
3
American Humane Association

Founded in 1877, american humane association, dba american humane society (american humane) is committed to ensuring the safety, welfare and well-being of animals. our leadership programs are first to serve in promoting and nurturing the…

Animals
4
Conservation International Foundation

Ci works to spotlight and secure the critical benefits that nature provides to humanity.

Environment
5
Target Als Foundation Inc

Our mission is to break down barriers to als research to find effective treatments. by uniting academia, the pharma and biotech industry, government, venture capital, related nonprofits, and the als community, we aim to overcome the…

Education
6
Aerial Recovery

Aerial recovery's mission is to save lives and stop evil. through the creation and deployment of humanitarian special operators, aerial recovery brings together selected veterans, first responders, and mission-qualified civilians who,…

—
7
The Peregrine Fund Inc

To change the future for nature and humanity by conserving birds of prey worldwide.

—
8
Denver Zoological Foundation

Inspiring communities to save wildlife for future generations.

Animals
9
Project Drawdown

Project drawdown's mission is to drive meaningful climate action by advancing science-based solutions and strategies. project drawdown's work is focused on three pillars: science - advancing science-based climate solutions and strategies;…

Education
10
Property and Environment Research Center

Perc is dedicated to advancing conservation through markets, incentives, property rights, and partnerships.

Public Benefit
11
American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign

The american wild horse campaign is the nation's leading conservation organization dedicated to preserving the freedom and habitat of wild horses and burros. through its initiatives in advocacy, conservation, land preservation, and legal…

Animals
12
Sweet Farm Foundation

Sweet farm is the world's first nonprofit sanctuary to address the devastating impact that factory farming has on climate change from the perspective of animals, plants, and the planet. we must first understand how these pieces are…

Animals
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Wounded Warrior Project Inc; the most unlike its peers is Rising Farmworker Dream Fund. 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

49 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. 49 of the 76 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.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
4
Early backer (in before they grew)
48/49
Grantees still filing
34/49
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Harvest Ministries Inc: $183,000 · ReligionHarvest Ministries IncSAMARITAN'S PURSE: $165,000 · ReligionSAMARITAN'S PURSEIndividual grant recipient: $15,000 · OtherIndividual grant recip…Individual grant recipient: $11,000 · OtherIndividual grant recip…THE REFUGEE CHILDERN CEN: $10,000 · OtherTHE REFUGEE CHILDERN C…CAVITT MIDDLE SCHOOL: $5,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $5,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $5,000 · OtherST ALBANS COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL: $5,000 · OtherSALVATION ARMY: $4,500 · OtherNATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC: $8,000 · OtherNATURAL RESOURCES DEFE…TIM TEBOW FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 · Other+35 more: $41,900 · Other+35 moreAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $25,000 · Human ServicesWOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT INC: $8,000 · Human Services+2 more: $2,000 · Human ServicesNotre Dame High School Foundation: $20,275 · EducationCornell University: $5,000 · EducationFRIENDS OF REED INC: $2,251 · EducationPRAGER UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION: $2,000 · Education+2 more: $1,250 · EducationAmerican Heart Association Inc: $5,100 · HealthAMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC: $5,000 · HealthSETTING SCOLIOSIS STRAIGHT FOUNDATION: $3,500 · HealthLatino Leadership Council Inc: $3,250 · HealthPARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA: $2,500 · HealthSOBRIETY FOUNDATION: $2,000 · HealthST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $1,000 · HealthChildren's Hospital Los Angeles: $1,000 · HealthBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $1,000 · HealthHUMANE FARMING ASSOCIATION: $6,000 · AnimalsNATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION: $6,000 · AnimalsPROJECT K9 HERO: $4,000 · AnimalsLOS ANGELES SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: $2,000 · AnimalsTHE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: $1,000 · AnimalsZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO: $1,000 · AnimalsTHOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT FOUNDATION INC: $1,000 · AnimalsLIVE LIKE ROO FOUNDATION: $1,000 · AnimalsPARENTS FOR CARPENTER INC: $10,350 · Recreation & SportsRISING FARMWORKER DREAM FUND: $1,500 · Recreation & Sports
Religion$348,000Other$115,400Human Services$35,000Education$30,776Health$24,350Animals$22,000Recreation & Sports$11,850

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 budgetSAMARITAN'S PURSE: $165,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNotre Dame High School Foundation: $20,275 over 3y, 42% of budgetPARENTS FOR CARPENTER INC: $10,350 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetWOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT INC: $8,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetNATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC: $8,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHUMANE FARMING ASSOCIATION: $6,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetNATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Heart Association Inc: $5,100 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCornell University: $5,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetST ALBANS COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL: $5,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTIM TEBOW FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPROJECT K9 HERO: $4,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMercy Ships International: $3,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSETTING SCOLIOSIS STRAIGHT FOUNDATION: $3,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetLatino Leadership Council Inc: $3,250 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetNATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION: $3,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetPARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA: $2,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF REED INC: $2,251 over 2y, 2.9% of budgetGold Country Wildlife Rescue Inc: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetSOBRIETY FOUNDATION: $2,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetLOS ANGELES SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPRAGER UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSACRAMENTO FOOD BANK & FAMILY SERVICES: $1,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetRISING FARMWORKER DREAM FUND: $1,500 over 2y, 12% of budgetST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetChildren's Hospital Los Angeles: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSTREETS ARE FOR EVERYONE: $1,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOVENANT HOUSE: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDisabled American Veterans: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNational Buffalo Foundation: $1,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetSTEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT FOUNDATION INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetA SENSE OF HOME: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBABY2BABY: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLIVE LIKE ROO FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetDEVON MICHAEL FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetGLADWYNE FIRE COMPANY: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCORPORATED: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSIERRA CLUB: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGranite Bay High Boosters Association: $250 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.

American Endowment Fo…National Philanthropi…The Bank of America C…Donor Advised Charita…American Online Givin…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
American Endowment FoundationOH6.7× affinity4 shared granteesties to 6 of 6Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: American Endowment Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · 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 Martha F Wells Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Martha F Wells Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%3%5%8%10%share of the org’s income from government →median 0%
  • Wounded Warrior Project Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
1get 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 · 0–10%
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.

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 76 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 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Martha F Wells Family’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