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· Private foundation

Nielsen-Massey 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.

$280k
Granted FY2023
18
Grants FY2023
6
States reached
$100k
Largest
01What it funds
0195% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2023.

Food & Nutrition$460kEducation$354kInternational$170kPhilanthropy$95kEmployment$75kPublic Safety & Disaster$70kEnvironment$60kArts & Culture$50kOther$0
02FY2023 · 18 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2023

  • Under $10k5 grants · $20k
  • $10k–50k12 grants · $160k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $100k
$10,000
Median grant
6
States reached
$571k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY$100,000
WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC$25,000
COMMON THREADS$25,000
WATERAID AMERICA INC$15,000
GRAMEEN FOUNDATION$15,000
SHARE OUR STRENGTH - NO KID HUNGRY$10,000
FEEDING AMERICA$10,000
HEALTHY SCHOOLS CAMPAIGN$10,000
GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE INC$10,000
PILOT LIGHT$10,000
COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY FOUNDATION$10,000
DC CENTRAL KITCHEN$10,000
PROJECT HARAMBEE$10,000
FOUNDATION FOR CULINARY ARTS KENDAL COLLEGE TRUST$7,500
FARESTART$5,000
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 (FY20–23, $50k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, 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%ANOTHER ROUND ANOTHER RALLY: $30k → 11%HOT BREAD KITCHEN: $3k → 17%ANOTHER ROUND ANOTHER RALLY: $15k → 11%HOT BREAD KITCHEN: $3k → 17%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

VT
WA
IL
WI
NY
MA
RI
CA
MD
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.

81%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.1M · 23 repeat orgs$268k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +60% since the first grant, against -43% for those funded once.

23 repeat relationships: 17 still active in FY2023, 6 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2023 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

23
11

Total granted

$1.1M
$258k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+60%
-43%

Still filing today

78%
64%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2023, 96% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $10k went to new ones.

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

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
EducationInternationalFood & NutritionPhilanthropyHuman ServicesArts & CultureOther
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

  • CT
    COMMON THREADS
    7× · 2017–2023 · $125k · revenue +12%
  • Feeding America
    7× · 2017–2023 · $95k · revenue +84%
  • WA
    WATERAID AMERICA INC
    5× · 2017–2023 · $90k · revenue +63%

Funded once

  • UW
    UNITED WAY OF LAKE COUNTY INC
    one grant, 2020 · $60k · revenue -43%
  • WA
    WAYLAND ACADEMY
    one grant, 2021 · $50k · revenue +15%
  • CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICAgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $40k · revenue +43%
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
Partners in Food Solutions

Improve the food value chain in developing countries by mobilizing corporate volunteers to share knowledge and expertise with small and growing food processors.

International
2
Foodcorps Inc

Together with communities, foodcorps serves to connect kids to healthy food in schools.

Food & Nutrition
3
Foodshot Global Inc

Accelerate the transformation to a healthy, sustainable and equitable food system.

Food & Nutrition
4
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation

Through philanthropy, empower current and future food and nutrition practitioners to optimize global health.

Health
5
Eat Real Certified Inc

We empower food service programs and school districts to make food delicious, nourishing, and responsible through our evidence-based certification program. We provide education and support that inspires students, schools, and communities…

Public Benefit
6
Food Action

Our mission is to educate, organize and advocate for food and farming systems to become economically prosperous, ecologically sound and socially equitable.

—
7
Food Forward Inc

Food forward fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people experiencing food insecurity, and inspiring others to do the same.

Food & Nutrition
8
The Global FoodBanking Network

To nourish the world's hungry through uniting and advancing food banks.

International
9
Greater Chicago Food Depository

The greater chicago food depository is the nonprofit food bank serving cook county. our mission - is to end hunger. we believe food is a basic human right. to achieve our mission, we work in partnership with a network of community-based…

Food & Nutrition
10
Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research

Foundation for food and agriculture research connects funders, researchers and farmers through public-private partnerships to support audacious research addressing the biggest food and agriculture challenges.

Food & Nutrition
11
The Food Alliance

Food alliance works at the juncture of science, business and values to define and promote sustainability in agriculture and the food industry, and to ensure safe and fair working conditions, humane treatment of animals, and careful…

Arts & Culture
12
The Good Food Institute Inc

To harness the power of food innovation and markets to make the global food system better for the planet, people, and animals by supporting efforts to make alternative proteins accessible, affordable, and delicious.

Food & Nutrition
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Feed My Starving Children Inc; the most unlike its peers is Alliance for a Just 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

26 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. 26 of the 36 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)
26/26
Grantees still filing
15/26
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY: $185,000 · EducationJOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSIT…WAYLAND ACADEMY: $50,000 · EducationWAYLAND ACADEMYCULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA: $40,000 · EducationCULINARY INSTITUTE OF AME…College of Lake County Foundation: $35,000 · EducationCollege of Lake County Fo…+1 more: $10,000 · EducationSHARE OUR STRENGTH: $60,000 · OtherSHARE OUR STRENGTHTHE DC CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $52,000 · OtherTHE DC CENTRAL KITCHEN INCGIGI'S PLAYHOUSE INC: $50,000 · OtherGIGI'S PLAYHOUSE INCFOR THE LOVE OF CHOCOLATE FOUNDATION: $30,000 · OtherFOR THE LOVE OF CHOCOLATE FOUNDATIO…FREEDOM FROM HUNGER FOUNDATION: $25,000 · OtherFREEDOM FROM HUNGER FOUNDATIONIndividual grant recipient: $22,500 · OtherCHICAGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $20,000 · OtherFOUNDATION FOR CULINARY ARTS KENDAL COLLEGE TRUST: $18,500 · OtherANOTHER ROUND ANOTHER RALLY: $45,000 · OtherANOTHER ROUND ANOTHER RALLYPILOT LIGHT: $40,000 · OtherPILOT LIGHTALLIANCE FOR A JUST SOCIETY: $25,000 · OtherALLIANCE FOR A JUST SOCIETYFARESTART: $17,500 · Other+6 more: $52,500 · Other+6 moreWATERAID AMERICA INC: $90,000 · InternationalWATERAID AMERICA I…WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $70,000 · InternationalWORLD CENTRAL KITC…GRAMEEN FOUNDATION USA: $45,000 · InternationalGRAMEEN FOUNDATION…OXFAM-AMERICA INC: $20,000 · InternationalOXFAM-AMERICA INCFEED MY STARVING CHILDREN INC: $10,000 · InternationalFeeding America: $95,000 · Food & NutritionFeeding Ameri…SUSTAINABLE FOOD LABORATORY INC: $30,000 · Food & NutritionSUSTAINABLE F…RESTAURANT WORKERS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC: $30,000 · Food & NutritionRESTAURANT WO…ANGELIC ORGANICS LEARNING CENTER INC: $15,000 · Food & NutritionANGELIC ORGAN…COMMON THREADS: $125,000 · Arts & CultureCOMMON TH…UNITED WAY OF LAKE COUNTY INC: $60,000 · PhilanthropyFREEDOM FROM HUNGER: $15,000 · PhilanthropyHealthy Schools Campaign: $60,000 · Environment
Education$320,000Other$458,000International$235,000Food & Nutrition$170,000Arts & Culture$125,000Philanthropy$75,000Environment$60,000

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 budgetJOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY: $185,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetCOMMON THREADS: $125,000 over 7y, 0.6% of budgetFeeding America: $95,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetWATERAID AMERICA INC: $90,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $70,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetUNITED WAY OF LAKE COUNTY INC: $60,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetHealthy Schools Campaign: $60,000 over 6y, 0.4% of budgetSHARE OUR STRENGTH: $60,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetTHE DC CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $52,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetWAYLAND ACADEMY: $50,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetGRAMEEN FOUNDATION USA: $45,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetANOTHER ROUND ANOTHER RALLY: $45,000 over 2y, 0.9% of budgetPILOT LIGHT: $40,000 over 6y, 1.6% of budgetCULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA: $40,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCollege of Lake County Foundation: $35,000 over 5y, 0.5% of budgetSUSTAINABLE FOOD LABORATORY INC: $30,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetRESTAURANT WORKERS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC: $30,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetALLIANCE FOR A JUST SOCIETY: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetOXFAM-AMERICA INC: $20,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetFARESTART: $17,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetFREEDOM FROM HUNGER: $15,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetICING SMILES Inc: $15,000 over 1y, 2.0% of budgetANGELIC ORGANICS LEARNING CENTER INC: $15,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetFOUNDATION FOR CULINARY ARTS: $10,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetFEED MY STARVING CHILDREN INC: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetHOT BREAD KITCHEN LTD: $5,000 over 2y, 0.1% 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 JOHNSON & WALES UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds COMMON THREADS ↗
  • Who funds Feeding America ↗
  • Who funds WATERAID AMERICA INC ↗
  • Who funds WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC ↗
  • Who funds UNITED WAY OF LAKE COUNTY INC ↗
  • Who funds Healthy Schools Campaign ↗
  • Who funds SHARE OUR STRENGTH ↗
  • Who funds THE DC CENTRAL KITCHEN INC ↗
  • Who funds WAYLAND ACADEMY ↗
  • Who funds GRAMEEN FOUNDATION USA ↗
  • Who funds ANOTHER ROUND ANOTHER RALLY ↗
  • Who funds PILOT LIGHT ↗
  • Who funds CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA ↗
  • Who funds College of Lake County Foundation ↗
  • Who funds SUSTAINABLE FOOD LABORATORY INC ↗
  • Who funds RESTAURANT WORKERS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds ALLIANCE FOR A JUST SOCIETY ↗
  • Who funds OXFAM-AMERICA INC ↗
  • Who funds FARESTART ↗
  • Who funds FREEDOM FROM HUNGER ↗
  • Who funds ICING SMILES Inc ↗
  • Who funds ANGELIC ORGANICS LEARNING CENTER INC ↗
  • Who funds FOUNDATION FOR CULINARY ARTS ↗
  • Who funds FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN INC ↗
  • Who funds HOT BREAD KITCHEN LTD ↗

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.

AbbVie FoundationIL13.5× affinity5 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: AbbVie Foundation · The Chicago Community Trust · Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Network for Good · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund

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

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 0%
  • Oxfam-America Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
2get 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
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 36 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 2023, released 2023. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2024) is on record and reports no grant expense, so the figures above are from FY2023, the most recent year this funder made grants.

Source object · view filing

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