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Msw Foundation at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Private foundation

Msw Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$38k
Granted FY2024still arriving
11
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$10k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Education$136kHealth$28kArts & Culture$23kReligion$14kYouth Development$14kPhilanthropy$6kPublic Benefit$4kHousing & Shelter$3kOther$0
02FY2024 · 11 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k10 grants · $28k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $10k
$2,500
Median grant
1
States reached
$619k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SACRED HEART ACADEMY$10,000
GILDA'S CLUB KENTUCKIANA$8,500
BOYS & GIRLS HAVEN$5,000
ST XAVIER HIGH SCHOOL$2,500
FLIGHT CLUB 502$2,500
SPEED ART MUSEUM$2,500
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY PHILANTHROPY$2,500
HILDEGARD HOUSE$1,000
CABBAGE PATCH SETTLEMENT HOUSE$1,000
COMMUNITY CATHOLIC CENTER$1,000
CATHOLIC EDUCATION 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 (FY22–24, $3k) land where the poverty rate runs at 15%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%CABBAGE PATCH SETTLEMENT HOUSE: $1k → 15%CABBAGE PATCH SETTLEMENT HOUSE: $1k → 15%CABBAGE PATCH SETTLEMENT HOUSE: $1k → 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.
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.
04

Where the work is directed

The same grants placed two ways: where each recipient sits, and where its stated purpose sends the money.

About 58% of Msw Foundation’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address.

Msw Foundationlessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address
How this is measured
Recipient view: each grant at its grantee’s ZIP, mapped to a county. Directed view: each grant at the county its stated purpose names, falling back to the recipient’s county when the purpose names no place; US grants only. A county shows only if it carries the top 95% of that view’s dollars. Purposes are read from the funder’s own 990 grant descriptions.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

79%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$179k · 18 repeat orgs$49k to everyone else

18 repeat relationships: 9 still active in FY2024, 9 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

18
11

Total granted

$179k
$35k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+37%
+84%

Still filing today

78%
55%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 64% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $14k 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
EducationHealthPublic BenefitArts & CulturePhilanthropyYouth DevelopmentOther
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

  • JS
    JEFFERSON SCHOLARS FOUNDATION
    3× · 2017–2019 · $18k · revenue +37%
  • SA
    SPEED ART MUSEUM
    5× · 2020–2024 · $12k · revenue +224%
  • KC
    KIDS CANCER ALLIANCE INC
    3× · 2021–2023 · $10k · revenue +76%

Funded once

  • FM
    Fralin Museum of Art
    one grant, 2018 · $10k
  • HT
    HOLY TRINITY CHURCH - CLIFTON CAMPUS
    one grant, 2021 · $10k
  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
    one grant, 2020 · $5k · revenue -55%
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
Kentucky Center for Economic Policy Inc

To improve the quality of life for all kentuckians through research, education and advocacy on important policy issues facing the commonwealth.

Public Benefit
2
Louisville Collegiate School

Louisville collegiate school inspires academic excellence, extraordinary character and global citizenship.

Education
3
University Family Physicians Inc

Engage actively and continuously in medical research, education and training in the practice of medicine in conjunction with the department of family medicine of the indiana university school of medicine and indiana university…

—
4
Kentucky College of Art Design

The kentucky college of art and design opens the door to a creative and productive life through an undergraduate education in the contemporary arts.

Education
5
The Common Application Inc

The common application is a not-for-profit membership organization of over 1,100 colleges and universities across the globe committed to access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process. every year, over 1.5 million students…

Education
6
Kentucky Bankers Association

To provide effective advocacy for the financial services industry both in kentucky and on a national level; to serve as a reliable and responsive source of information and education about areas of interest to the industry; and to provide a…

—
7
Columbia College

Columbia college improves lives by providing quality education to both traditional and nontraditional students, helping them achieve their true potential.

Education
8
Kentucky Medical Association

The kentucky medical association provides physician advocacy through governmental interaction, legal intervention, and public education, as well as providing physician education through periodic workshops/seminars, and an annual convention…

—
9
Union Health System

To serve our communities by provding innovative and compassionate healthcare.

Health
10
California Dental Association

The california dental association is committed to the success of our members in service to their patients and the public.

Community Improvement
11
Augustana College

Rooted in the liberal arts & sciences & lutheran expression of the christian faith, & is committed to offering a challenging education that develops qualities of mind, spirit, & body necessary for a rewarding life of leadership & service…

Education
12
National Association of Corporate Directors

We empower directors and transform boards to be future ready.

Public Benefit
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Cabbage Patch Settlement House Inc; the most unlike its peers is West End School Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
05the grantee network

21 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. 21 of the 31 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)
21/21
Grantees still filing
17/21
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

SACRED HEART SCHOOLS INC: $53,000 · OtherSACRED HEART SCHOOLS INCHoly Trinity Church School: $20,000 · OtherHoly Trinity Church SchoolSt Xavier High School: $15,000 · OtherSt Xavier High SchoolFralin Museum of Art: $10,000 · OtherFralin Museum of ArtHOLY TRINITY CHURCH - CLIFTON CAMPUS: $10,000 · OtherHOLY TRINITY CHURCH - CLIFTON CAMPUSGILDA'S CLUB KENTUCKIANA INC: $8,500 · OtherGILDA'S CLUB KENTUCKIANA INCUNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY PHILANTHROPY: $6,000 · OtherBOYS & GIRLS HAVEN: $5,000 · Other+8 more: $15,000 · Other+8 moreCATHOLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC: $6,500 · EducationCATHOLIC EDU…TEACH KENTUCKY INC: $6,000 · EducationTEACH KENTUC…UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION: $5,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY O…West End School Inc: $4,500 · EducationWest End Sch…COMMUNITY CATHOLIC CENTER INC: $4,000 · EducationCOMMUNITY CA…JEFFERSON SCHOLARS FOUNDATION: $17,500 · PhilanthropyKIDS CANCER ALLIANCE INC: $10,000 · Public BenefitTHE HERITAGE FOUNDATION: $3,000 · Public BenefitCONCERNED WOMEN FOR AMERICA: $1,000 · Public BenefitSPEED ART MUSEUM: $12,000 · Arts & CultureKENTUCKY DANCE COUNCIL INC DBA LOUISVILLE BALLET: $1,000 · Arts & CultureSMOKETOWN FAMILY WELLNESS CENTER CORP: $8,000 · HealthHOUSE OF RUTH INC: $500 · HealthNORTON HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION INC: $500 · HealthFLIGHT CLUB 502: $5,500 · Youth Development
Other$142,500Education$26,000Philanthropy$17,500Public Benefit$14,000Arts & Culture$13,000Health$9,000Youth Development$5,500

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 budgetJEFFERSON SCHOLARS FOUNDATION: $17,500 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetSPEED ART MUSEUM: $12,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetKIDS CANCER ALLIANCE INC: $10,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetGILDA'S CLUB KENTUCKIANA INC: $8,500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetSMOKETOWN FAMILY WELLNESS CENTER CORP: $8,000 over 3y, 1.2% of budgetCATHOLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC: $6,500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetTEACH KENTUCKY INC: $6,000 over 2y, 0.8% of budgetFLIGHT CLUB 502: $5,500 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWest End School Inc: $4,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCOMMUNITY CATHOLIC CENTER INC: $4,000 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetTHE HERITAGE FOUNDATION: $3,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCABBAGE PATCH SETTLEMENT HOUSE INC: $3,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetVISUALLY IMPARIED PRESCHOOL SERVICES INC: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetHildegard House Incorporated: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetNATIONAL EATING DISORDERS ASSOCIATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCONCERNED WOMEN FOR AMERICA: $1,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetWATERFRONT BOTANICAL GARDENS INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetKENTUCKY DANCE COUNCIL INC DBA LOUISVILLE BALLET: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHOUSE OF RUTH INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNORTON HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION 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.

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.

LG&E and Ku Foundatio…Wood & Marie Hannah F…W L Lyons Brown Found…Cralle Foundation IncSnowy Owl Foundation …The Gheens Foundation…The Community Foundat…The Community Foundat…Mightycause Charitabl…National Philanthropi…American Online Givin…Donor Advised Charita…
LG&E and Ku Foundation IncKY15.7× affinity5 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: LG&E and Ku Foundation Inc · Wood & Marie Hannah Foundation · W L Lyons Brown Foundation · Cralle Foundation Inc · Snowy Owl Foundation Inc · The Gheens Foundation Inc · The Community Foundation of Louisville Corporate Depository Inc · The Community Foundation of Louisville Inc · Mightycause Charitable Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc

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

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%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
    0get no government money at all
    5report 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.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Msw Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Msw 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 from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 31 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 Msw’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