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Near Walden Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Near Walden 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.

$163k
Granted FY2024still arriving
16
Grants FY2024still arriving
3
States reached
$20k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2023 to 2024.

Arts & Culture$80kHuman Services$73kFood & Nutrition$65kEducation$50kPhilanthropy$23kScience & Tech$20kHealth$10kRecreation & Sports$3k
02FY2024 · 16 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k5 grants · $18k
  • $10k–50k11 grants · $145k
$10,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$3.7M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
DISCOVERY MUSEUM INC$20,000
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE$20,000
CONCORD CARLISLE FOUNDATION$20,000
MIT$15,000
TIMESLIPS CREATIVE STORYTELLING$10,000
THE UMBRELLA ARTS CENTER$10,000
GROTON HILL MUSIC CENTER$10,000
HOUSEHOLD GOODS INC$10,000
CONCORD CHILDREN'S CENTER$10,000
CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY CORP$10,000
OPENTABLE INC$10,000
STRINGS MUSIC FESTIVAL$5,000
MIT$5,000
PLAY BOULDER FOUNDATION$2,500
ACRE FAMILY CHILDCARE$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 (FY23–24, $63k) land where the poverty rate runs at 8%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%HOUSEHOLD GOODS INC: $10k → 8%HOUSEHOLD GOODS INC: $5k → 8%CONCORD CHILDREN'S CENTER: $25k → 8%CONCORD CHILDREN'S CENTER: $10k → 8%ACRES FAMILY CHILDCARE: $10k → 8%ACRE FAMILY CHILDCARE: $3k → 8%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.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

71%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$228k · 10 repeat orgs$93k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +22% since the first grant, against -24% for those funded once.

10 repeat relationships: 10 still active in FY2024, 0 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

10
2

Total granted

$228k
$55k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+22%
-24%

Still filing today

70%
50%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 77% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $38k went to new ones.

50%100%’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

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

’23’24
Arts & CultureHuman ServicesFood & NutritionPhilanthropyEducationHealthOther
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

  • CC
    CONCORD CHILDREN'S CENTER INC
    2× · 2023–2024 · $35k · revenue +22%
  • CC
    CONCORD CARLISLE FOUNDATION INC
    2× · 2023–2024 · $30k · revenue +34%
  • CF
    CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY CORPORATION
    2× · 2023–2024 · $20k · revenue +25%

Funded once

  • TU
    THE URBAN FOOD INITIATIVE INC
    one grant, 2023 · $50k · revenue -24%
  • SM
    STRINGS MUSIC FESTIVAL
    one grant, 2023 · $5k
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 Childrens Museum

Boston children's museum engages children and families in joyful discovery experiences that instill an appreciation of our world, develop foundational skills, and spark a lifelong love of learning. boston children's museum is a welcoming,…

Arts & Culture
2
Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation Inc

Massachusetts taxpayers foundation provides public & private sector decision makers with accurate, timely, unbiased research & constructive solutions that drive public policy in order to strengthen the state's finances & position the…

Public Benefit
3
The Vermont Community Foundation

The vermont community foundation helps to build philanthropic resources to sustain healthy and vital vermont communities. the foundation connects and mobilizes people through giving to multiply the impact of philanthropy.

Philanthropy
4
Native Plant Trust Inc

The organization's mission is to conserve and promote new england's native plants to ensure healthy, biologically diverse landscapes.

Environment
5
Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine

At the children's museum & theatre of maine, we set the stage for every child to imagine and learn through play.

Arts & Culture
6
Museum of the American Revolution

The museum of the american revolution uncovers and shares compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked america's ongoing experiment in liberty, equality and self-government.

Arts & Culture
7
Children's Museum of Oak Park

To spark curiosity and creativity in all young children through positive, play-based learning experiences.

Arts & Culture
8
Curious Kids Museum

The curious kids' museum encourages discovery, wonder and awe for children. this interactive, hands-on playground for the mind fulfills its educational leadership role by stimulating curiosity, awareness and life preparedness in science,…

Arts & Culture
9
Trustees of the Berkshire Museum

Bringing people together for experiences that spark creativity and innovative thinking by making inspiring educational connections among art, history, and natural science.

Arts & Culture
10
Cambridge Chamber of Commerce

The mission of the cambridge chamber of commerce is to make cambridge a better place in which to live, to work, to do business, to visit and to study.

—
11
Boston Public Library Fund Inc

The boston public library fund provides financial support to the boston public library (bpl), ensuring that it remains viable, engaging, accessible, and free to all. the library fund fulfills this mission by working in partnership with…

Education
12
Boston Architectural College

The bac is committed to provide excellence in design education grounded in practice and accessible to diverse communities.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Discovery Museum Inc; the most unlike its peers is Boulder Parks and Recreation Foundation. 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

13 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. 13 of the 17 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)
1
Early backer (in before they grew)
13/13
Grantees still filing
9/13
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

MIT: $30,000 · OtherMITGROTON HILL MUSIC CENTER: $15,000 · OtherGROTON HILL MUSIC CENTE…THE UMBRELLA ARTS CENTER: $15,000 · OtherTHE UMBRELLA ARTS CENTE…STRINGS MUSIC FESTIVAL: $5,000 · OtherSTRINGS MUSIC FESTIVALBOULDER PARKS AND RECREATION FOUNDATION: $2,500 · OtherTHE URBAN FOOD INITIATIVE INC: $50,000 · Food & NutritionTHE URBAN FOOD INITIAT…OPEN TABLE INC: $15,000 · Food & NutritionOPEN TABLE INCDISCOVERY MUSEUM INC: $40,000 · Arts & CultureDISCOVERY MUSEUM INCMUSEUM OF SCIENCE: $20,000 · Arts & CultureMUSEUM OF SCIENCESTRINGS MUSIC FESTIVAL: $5,000 · Arts & CultureSTRINGS MUSIC FESTIVALCONCORD CHILDREN'S CENTER INC: $35,000 · Human ServicesCONCORD CHILDREN'S CE…HOUSEHOLD GOODS INC: $15,000 · Human ServicesHOUSEHOLD GOODS INCACRE FAMILY CHILD CARE INC: $12,500 · Human ServicesACRE FAMILY CHILD CAR…CONCORD CARLISLE FOUNDATION INC: $30,000 · PhilanthropyCONCORD CAR…YAMPA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $2,500 · PhilanthropyYAMPA VALLE…CONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY CORPORATION: $20,000 · EducationTIMESLIPS CREATIVE STORYTELLING INC: $10,000 · Health
Other$67,500Food & Nutrition$65,000Arts & Culture$65,000Human Services$62,500Philanthropy$32,500Education$20,000Health$10,000

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

25%50%75%100%$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetTHE URBAN FOOD INITIATIVE INC: $50,000 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetDISCOVERY MUSEUM INC: $40,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetCONCORD CHILDREN'S CENTER INC: $35,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetCONCORD CARLISLE FOUNDATION INC: $30,000 over 2y, 1.8% of budgetMUSEUM OF SCIENCE: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCONCORD FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY CORPORATION: $20,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetHOUSEHOLD GOODS INC: $15,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetOPEN TABLE INC: $15,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetACRE FAMILY CHILD CARE INC: $12,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTIMESLIPS CREATIVE STORYTELLING INC: $10,000 over 1y, 5.3% of budgetSTRINGS MUSIC FESTIVAL: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBOULDER PARKS AND RECREATION FOUNDATION: $2,500 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetYAMPA VALLEY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $2,500 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.

Boston Foundation IncAnalog Devices Founda…The Jaket FoundationCummings Foundation G…Eastern Bank Foundati…Concord Carlisle Foun…Kane Wallace Foundati…Middlesex Savings Cha…Cambridge Savings Cha…Combined Jewish Phila…Citizens Charitable F…Vanguard Charitable E…
Boston Foundation IncMA18.4× affinity7 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Boston Foundation Inc · Analog Devices Foundation · The Jaket Foundation · Cummings Foundation Grants Inc (Fka Oneworld Boston Inc) · Eastern Bank Foundation · Concord Carlisle Foundation Inc · Kane Wallace Foundation · Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation Inc · Cambridge Savings Charitable Foundation Inc · Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston Inc · Citizens Charitable Foundation · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program

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

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 30%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%15%30%45%60%share of the org’s income from government →median 7%
  • Acre Family Child Care Inc: 45% of income from government
  • Open Table Inc: 7% of income from government
  • Discovery Museum Inc: 3% of income from government
  • Museum of Science: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
3get no government money at all
4report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–60%
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 17 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 Near Walden’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