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McBrier Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

McBrier 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.

$38k
Granted FY2024still arriving
7
Grants FY2024still arriving
2
States reached
$10k
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.

Human Services$31kHealth$25kFood & Nutrition$24kRecreation & Sports$24kArts & Culture$21kPhilanthropy$10kReligion$10kSocial Science$6kOther$0
02FY2024 · 7 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k6 grants · $28k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $10k
$5,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$0
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
ERIE YACHT CLUB FOUNDATION$10,000
Individual grant recipient$7,500
MERCY CENTER FOR WOMEN$7,500
CLEVELAND CLINIC$5,000
CREATIVE COMMUNITY CONNECTORS$2,500
THE JEFFERSON SOCIETY$2,500
MARIA HOUSE PROJECT$2,500
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 (FY21–21, $2k) land where the poverty rate runs at 15%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%GECAC: $2k → 15%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
OH
PA
CT
CA
CO
VA
AZ
DC
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.

45%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$82k · 12 repeat orgs$101k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +19% since the first grant, against +5% for those funded once.

12 repeat relationships: 0 still active in FY2024, 12 since wound down; 7 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

12
41

Total granted

$82k
$63k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+19%
+5%

Still filing today

58%
29%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 0% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $38k 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
Arts & CultureHealthEducationPhilanthropyRecreation & 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

  • SMILE TRAIN INC
    4× · 2017–2022 · $11k · revenue +19%
  • CM
    CITY MISSION OF THE EVANGELICAL CHURCHES OF ERIE
    4× · 2017–2021 · $10k · revenue +59%
  • FF
    FAIRVIEW FIRE AND RESCUE
    2× · 2021–2022 · $1k · revenue +87%

Funded once

  • EY
    ERIE YACHT CLUBgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $10k · revenue +47%
  • UW
    UNITED WAY OF ERIE
    one grant, 2020 · $6k
  • UW
    UNITED WAY
    one grant, 2021 · $4k
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
Erie Marsh Conservation Foundation
Environment
2
Greater Erie Economic Development Corporation
—
3
Erie County Economic Development Charitable Fund

To facilitate both the creation and retention of jobs within erie county and increase economic opportunities for individuals and businesses through comprehensive economic development programs.

—
4
Lake Erie Nature and Science Center

Lake erie nature & science center educates and inspires each of us to understand, appreciate, and take responsibility for our natural world. serving more than 100,000 people each year with animal exhibits and programs, planetarium shows,…

Arts & Culture
5
Erie Zoological Society

The mission of the Erie Zoological Society is to: foster an appreciation of the natural world and the animals and plants that share it; establish educational recreational opportunities for all the people of Northwestern Pennsylvania;…

Animals
6
Environment Erie

A non-profit organization dedicated to the protection, restoration, enhancement, and sustainable development of the lake erie watershed in pennsylvania.

—
7
Jefferson Educational Society of Erie Inc

The mission of the jefferson educational society of erie is to promote civic enlightenment and community progress for the erie region through study, research and discussion. the society conducts programs to further these goals.

Arts & Culture
8
Everhart Museum of Natural History Science and Art

The mission of the everhart museum of natural history, science, and art is to foster knowledge and enjoyment of natural history, science, art, and culture through a variety of exhibitions, educational programs, and events for people of all…

Arts & Culture
9
Elizabethtown College

Provide a transformative educational experience that cultivates strengths of its students.

Education
10
Erie Cancer and Wellness Foundation dba - Erie Cancer Wellness Center

The mission of the erie cancer wellness center is to support those living with cancer and the people that care for them through free of charge programs and services that promote physical, emotional and mental healing.

Health
11
Erie County Bar Association

The Erie County Bar Association serves the lawyers, judges & the public of Erie County, Pennsylvania by assisting our members in the practice of law & by engaging in activities that promote the public's understanding of & respect for our…

—
12
Erie Downtown Partnership

Revitalizing downtown by improving its image, business climate, physical environment and design

Community Improvement
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Arts Council of Erie; the most unlike its peers is Presque Isle Audubon Society. 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

25 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2026.

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 2026, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 25 of the 62 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)
24/25
Grantees still filing
14/25
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK: $24,300 · OtherSECOND HARVEST FOOD BANKSALVATION ARMY: $12,000 · OtherSALVATION ARMYSMILE TRAIN INC: $11,000 · OtherSMILE TRAIN INCERIE YACHT CLUB: $10,000 · OtherERIE YACHT CLUBCITY MISSION OF THE EVANGELICAL CHURCHES OF ERIE: $9,500 · OtherCITY MISSION OF THE EVANGELICAL CHURCHES OF ERIEMERCY CENTER FOR WOMEN INC: $7,500 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $7,500 · OtherUNITED WAY OF ERIE: $6,000 · OtherCLEVELAND CLINIC: $5,000 · Other+40 more: $53,600 · Other+40 morePUBLIC BROADCASTING OF NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA INC: $7,000 · Arts & CulturePUBLIC BROA…THE ARTS COUNCIL OF ERIE: $5,700 · Arts & CultureTHE ARTS CO…CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART: $2,000 · Arts & CultureCLEVELAND M…ERIE ART MUSEUM: $1,500 · Arts & CultureERIE ART MU…ERIE CIVIC THEATRE ASSOCIATION: $1,000 · Arts & CultureErie Philharmonic Inc: $1,000 · Arts & CultureSMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION: $1,000 · Arts & CultureErie Yacht Club Foundation Inc: $10,000 · Recreation & SportsERIE DAY SCHOOL INC: $2,000 · EducationTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY: $500 · EducationGreater Erie Community Action Committee: $2,000 · Human ServicesLake Shore Fire Department: $2,000 · PhilanthropyFAIRVIEW FIRE AND RESCUE: $1,000 · Public Safety & Disaster
Other$146,400Arts & Culture$19,200Recreation & Sports$10,000Education$2,500Human Services$2,000Philanthropy$2,000Public Safety & Disaster$1,000

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 budgetSMILE TRAIN INC: $11,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetERIE YACHT CLUB: $10,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetErie Yacht Club Foundation Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 6.6% of budgetCITY MISSION OF THE EVANGELICAL CHURCHES OF ERIE: $9,500 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetMERCY CENTER FOR WOMEN INC: $7,500 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetPUBLIC BROADCASTING OF NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA INC: $7,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetTHE ARTS COUNCIL OF ERIE: $5,700 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetMaria House Project: $2,500 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetGreater Erie Community Action Committee: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetERIE DAY SCHOOL INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetLake Shore Fire Department: $2,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetERIE ART MUSEUM: $1,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetFAIRVIEW FIRE AND RESCUE: $1,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetERIE CIVIC THEATRE ASSOCIATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetErie Philharmonic Inc: $1,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTURNING POINT USA INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSTAIRWAYS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHAMOT HEALTH FOUNDATION: $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.

  • Who funds SMILE TRAIN INC ↗
  • Who funds ERIE YACHT CLUB ↗
  • Who funds Erie Yacht Club Foundation Inc ↗
  • Who funds CITY MISSION OF THE EVANGELICAL CHURCHES OF ERIE ↗
  • Who funds MERCY CENTER FOR WOMEN INC ↗
  • Who funds PUBLIC BROADCASTING OF NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA INC ↗
  • Who funds THE ARTS COUNCIL OF ERIE ↗
  • Who funds CREATIVE COMMUNITY CONNECTORS INC ↗
  • Who funds Maria House Project ↗
  • Who funds Greater Erie Community Action Committee ↗
  • Who funds CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART ↗
  • Who funds ERIE DAY SCHOOL INC ↗
  • Who funds Lake Shore Fire Department ↗
  • Who funds ERIE ART MUSEUM ↗
  • Who funds FAIRVIEW FIRE AND RESCUE ↗
  • Who funds ERIE CIVIC THEATRE ASSOCIATION ↗

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.

Erie Community Founda…M J Surgala TrMerwin FoundationThe Britton Family Fo…Ge Aerospace Foundati…Wabtec FoundationNorthwest Charitable …Kern Family Foundatio…United Way of Erie Co…The Henry A and Mary …Vorsheck Family Found…The Arts Council of E…
Erie Community FoundationPA38.3× affinity16 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Erie Community Foundation · M J Surgala Tr · Merwin Foundation · The Britton Family Foundation · Ge Aerospace Foundation · Wabtec Foundation · Northwest Charitable Foundation · Kern Family Foundation Inc · United Way of Erie County · The Henry A and Mary J MacDonald Foundation · Vorsheck Family Foundation Inc · The Arts Council of Erie

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

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%6%13%19%25%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    10report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–25%
    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 62 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 McBrier’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