Skip to content
McLain Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

McLain Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$68k
Granted FY2025still arriving
11
Grants FY2025still arriving
7
States reached
$15k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0192% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Health$203kReligion$131kInternational$61kEducation$31kFood & Nutrition$30kHousing & Shelter$16kArts & Culture$13kHuman Services$12kOther$0
02FY2025 · 11 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k9 grants · $43k
  • $10k–50k2 grants · $25k
$6,000
Median grant
7
States reached
$459k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Individual grant recipient$15,000
ROSWELL PARK ALLIANCE$10,000
UNICEF USA$6,000
THE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF BUFFALO$6,000
THE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF BUFFALO$6,000
WORLD VISION FUND$6,000
CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY$6,000
SAVE THE CHILDREN$5,000
DAVID LAWRENCE CENTER FOR$5,000
UNVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME$2,000
SPECIALISTERNE USA$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 (FY17–22, $18k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%FRIENDS OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM: $14k → 14%FRIENDS OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM: $2k → 14%BUFFALO CITY MISSION: $1k → 13%BUFFALO CITY MISSION: $500 → 13%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
IL
NY
MA
IN
OH
CT
WV
DE
TN
DC
GA
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.

80%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$441k · 47 repeat orgs$111k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +48% since the first grant, against +16% for those funded once.

47 repeat relationships: 3 still active in FY2025, 44 since wound down; 7 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

47
20

Total granted

$441k
$60k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+48%
+16%

Still filing today

51%
60%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 25% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $51k 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
InternationalEducationReligionHealthRecreation & 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

  • HF
    HOLY FAMILY COMMUNICATIONS
    8× · 2017–2024 · $101k · revenue +96%
  • UNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF
    3× · 2021–2025 · $18k · revenue +64%
  • FRIENDS OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM INC
    2× · 2021–2022 · $16k · revenue +117%

Funded once

  • OXFAM-AMERICA INC
    one grant, 2023 · $11k · revenue +5%
  • WF
    WORLD FOOD PROGRAM USA
    one grant, 2024 · $9k
  • HF
    HEARTS FOR THE HOMELESS
    one grant, 2023 · $6k
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
Stony Brook Ophthalmology University Faculty Practice Corporation

Provide clinical instruction to and supervision of medical school students, interns and residents and, incident thereto, rendering professional services.

Health
2
Stony Brook Childrens Services University Faculty Practice Corporation

Provide clinical instruction to and supervision of medical school students, interns and residents and, incident thereto, rendering professional services.

Health
3
Stony Brook Surgical Associates University Faculty Practice Corporation

Provide clinical instruction to and supervision of medical school students, interns and residents and, incident thereto, rendering professional services.

Health
4
Stony Brook Internists University Faculty Practice Corporation

Provide clinical instruction to and supervision of medical school students, interns and residents and, incident thereto, rendering professional services.

Health
5
Neurology Associates of Stony Brook University Faculty Practice Corp

Provide clinical instruction to and supervision of medical school students, interns and residents and, incident thereto, rendering professional services.

Health
6
Stony Brook Orthopedic Associates University Faculty Practice Corporation

Provide clinical instruction to and supervision of medical school students, interns and residents and, incident thereto, rendering professional services.

Health
7
Stony Brook Urology University Faculty Practice Corporation

Provide clinical instruction to and supervision of medical school students, interns and residents and, incident thereto, rendering professional services.

Health
8
St Charles Hospital Corp

We, at ch, humbly join together to bring christ's healing mission and the mission of mercy of the catholic church expressed in catholic health care to our communities.

Health
9
Wsnchs North Inc

We, at ch, humbly join together to bring christ's healing mission and the mission of mercy of the catholic church expressed in catholic health care to our communities.

Health
10
St Catherine of Siena Medical Center

We, at ch, humbly join together to bring christ's healing mission and the mission of mercy of the catholic church expressed in catholic health care to our communities.

Health
11
Chs Physician Partners Pc

We, at ch, humbly join together to bring christ's healing mission and the mission of mercy of the catholic church expressed in catholic health care to our communities.

Health
12
Chs Services Inc

We, at ch, humbly join together to bring christ's healing mission and the mission of mercy of the catholic church expressed in catholic health care to our communities.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Children's Hospital of Buffalo Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Project Lee Ministries 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

39 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. 39 of the 75 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)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
39/39
Grantees still filing
31/39
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

WOMEN AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF BUFFALO: $40,450 · OtherWOMEN AND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF BUFFALOUB FOUNDATION INC: $32,000 · OtherUB FOUNDATION INCIndividual grant recipient: $15,000 · OtherCASE WESTERN RESERVE: $14,500 · OtherTHE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF BUFFALO: $12,000 · OtherDAVID LAWRENCE CENTER FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: $12,000 · Other+46 more: $158,725 · Other+46 moreHOLY FAMILY COMMUNICATIONS: $101,251 · ReligionHOLY FAMILY COMMUNICA…+2 more: $4,500 · ReligionUNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF: $18,125 · InternationalUNITED STAT…OXFAM-AMERICA INC: $11,000 · InternationalOXFAM-AMERI…WORLD VISION INC: $7,500 · InternationalWORLD VISIO…COOPERATIVE FOR ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF EVERYWHERE INC: $6,500 · InternationalCOOPERATIVE…Save The Children Federation Inc: $5,000 · InternationalSave The Ch…MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $5,000 · InternationalMEDECINS SA…United States Association for UNHCR: $2,000 · InternationalROSWELL PARK ALLIANCE FOUNDATION: $51,000 · PhilanthropyROSWELL PA…+1 more: $1,000 · PhilanthropyTHE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION: $12,000 · HealthAUTISM SERVICES INC: $11,500 · HealthBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $3,500 · HealthFRIENDS OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM INC: $16,000 · Human ServicesCITY MISSION SOCIETY INC: $1,500 · Human Services+1 more: $500 · Human ServicesCASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY: $6,000 · EducationNICHOLS SCHOOL OF BUFFALO: $4,500 · EducationChesterton Academy of Buffalo: $4,000 · EducationUniversity of Miami: $1,000 · EducationTHE SUMMIT CENTER INC: $1,000 · Education
Other$284,675Religion$105,751International$55,125Philanthropy$52,000Health$27,000Human Services$18,000Education$16,500

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 budgetHOLY FAMILY COMMUNICATIONS: $101,251 over 8y, 1.2% of budgetROSWELL PARK ALLIANCE FOUNDATION: $51,000 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF: $18,125 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM INC: $16,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION: $12,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetAUTISM SERVICES INC: $11,500 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetOXFAM-AMERICA INC: $11,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD VISION INC: $7,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetCOOPERATIVE FOR ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF EVERYWHERE INC: $6,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY: $6,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSPECIALISTERNE USA: $6,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetST MATTHEWS HOUSE INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNICHOLS SCHOOL OF BUFFALO: $4,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetChesterton Academy of Buffalo: $4,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetNIAGARA FRONTIER RADIO READING SERVICE INC: $3,500 over 6y, 0.7% of budgetPROJECT LEE MINISTRIES INC: $3,500 over 4y, 2.5% of budgetBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $3,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO INC: $3,500 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetMERCY FLIGHT INC: $3,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetWINGS FLIGHTS OF HOPE: $3,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetFeeding America: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUnited States Association for UNHCR: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLAKE CHAUTAUQUA LUTHERAN CENTER INC: $2,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetBUFFALO NIAGARA WATERKEEPER INC: $1,980 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetCITY MISSION SOCIETY INC: $1,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetBUFFALO STRING WORKS INC: $1,500 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetLUTHERAN CHARITIES: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetSMILE TRAIN INC: $1,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetJERICHO ROAD MINISTRIES INC: $1,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetNATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetERIE COUNTY SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUniversity of Miami: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE SUMMIT CENTER INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSKATING ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND & HAND: $1,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetDOMINIK HASEK YOUTH HOCKEY LEAGUE INC: $500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHERITAGE CHRISTIAN SERVICES INC: $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.

  • Who funds HOLY FAMILY COMMUNICATIONS ↗
  • Who funds ROSWELL PARK ALLIANCE FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds UNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF ↗
  • Who funds FRIENDS OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM INC ↗
  • Who funds THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds AUTISM SERVICES INC ↗
  • Who funds OXFAM-AMERICA INC ↗
  • Who funds WORLD VISION INC ↗
  • Who funds COOPERATIVE FOR ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF EVERYWHERE INC ↗
  • Who funds CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds SPECIALISTERNE USA ↗
  • Who funds Save The Children Federation Inc ↗
  • Who funds ST MATTHEWS HOUSE INC ↗
  • Who funds MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC ↗
  • Who funds NICHOLS SCHOOL OF BUFFALO ↗
  • Who funds Chesterton Academy of Buffalo ↗
  • Who funds NIAGARA FRONTIER RADIO READING SERVICE INC ↗
  • Who funds PROJECT LEE MINISTRIES INC ↗

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.

Community Foundation …The John R Oishei Fou…The Peter and Elizabe…Children's Foundation…James H Cummings Foun…The Saperston Family …The Osc Charitable Fo…Cullen FoundationFoundation for Jewish…Clement and Karen Arr…The Hunt Charitable F…Red Top Foundation
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo IncNY37.1× affinity16 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc · The John R Oishei Foundation · The Peter and Elizabeth C Tower Foundation · Children's Foundation of Erie County Inc · James H Cummings Foundation Inc · The Saperston Family Foundation · The Osc Charitable Foundation · Cullen Foundation · Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies Inc · Clement and Karen Arrison Family Charitable Foundation · The Hunt Charitable Foundation Inc · Red Top 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 McLain Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from McLain 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%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →median 5%
  • Save the Children Federation Inc: 30% of income from government
  • University of Miami: 5% of income from government
  • Oxfam-America Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
1get no government money at all
7report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–40%
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 75 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 McLain’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