Skip to content
Palmer Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Palmer Family Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$37k
Granted FY2024still arriving
19
Grants FY2024still arriving
4
States reached
$2k
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.

Education$66kFood & Nutrition$31kPhilanthropy$22kReligion$13kArts & Culture$12kAnimals$10kEnvironment$8kHealth$7kOther$0
02FY2024 · 19 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 19 grants below total $27,500, the rows itemized in this filing. The $36,500 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $9,000 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.
$1,000
Median grant
4
States reached
$834k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
OPRF Imagine Foundation$2,000
Quail West Foundation Endowment Fund$2,000
Society of St. Vincent de Paul Naples$2,000
Immokalee Foundation$2,000
St. John of the Cross Church$2,000
St. Matthew's House$2,000
United Way of Collier and the Keys$2,000
Harry Chapin Food Bank$2,000
Chicago Botanic Garden$1,500
Aurora University A Fund$1,000
Ball State University$1,000
Cameron Pepera Foundation$1,000
Holiday Food and Gift Basket$1,000
University of Wisconsin - Whitewater$1,000
Center for Independence through Conductive Education$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 (FY17–18, $2k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%SARAH'S INN: $1k → 14%SARAH'S INN: $1k → 14%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.

85%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$167k · 42 repeat orgs$29k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +43% since the first grant, against +19% for those funded once.

42 repeat relationships: 17 still active in FY2024, 25 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

42
20

Total granted

$167k
$26k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+43%
+19%

Still filing today

60%
35%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 89% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $3k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’22’23’24
EducationFood & NutritionArts & CultureHousing & ShelterAnimalsEnvironmentOther
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

  • AURORA UNIVERSITY
    4× · 2017–2022 · $10k · revenue +44%
  • AA
    AURORA AREA INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY
    3× · 2017–2019 · $7k · revenue +9%
  • Indiana University Foundation
    6× · 2017–2024 · $6k · revenue +97%

Funded once

  • JW
    JJ WATTS FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2017 · $5k
  • AF
    Aurora Food Pantry
    one grant, 2022 · $3k
  • DC
    DIOCESAN COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL DIOCESE PHOENIXgraduated
    one grant, 2019 · $2k · revenue +103%
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
Illinois College

Illinois college is a co-educational institution of higher education learning providing a four-year educational program leading to the baccalaureate degree. illinois college is a community committed to the highest standards of scholarship…

Education
2
Indiana University Alumni Association Inc

The indiana university alumni association activates and supports the global alumni network- encouraging alumni to grow a lifelong connection with indiana university, and inspiring their ongoing generosity toward each other and the…

—
3
Benedictine University

Benedictine University is an inclusive academic community dedicated to teaching and learning, scholarship and service, truth and justice, as inspired by the Catholic intellectual tradition, the social teaching of the Church, and the…

Education
4
Illinois State University Foundation

To elevate illinois state university through the power of philanthropy.

Education
5
Detroit Historical Society

The Detroit Historical Society tells Detroit's stories and why they matter through its exhibits, programs, outreach, and the preservation and dissemination of its artifacts and collections.

Arts & Culture
6
Union Health System

To serve our communities by provding innovative and compassionate healthcare.

Health
7
Saint Xavier University

Saint xavier university, a catholic institution inspired by the heritage of the sisters of mercy, educates persons to search for truth, think critically, communicate effectively and serve wisely and compassionately in support of human…

Education
8
Wilson College

Wilson college empowers students to be confident and critical thinkers, creative visionaries, effective communicators, honorable leaders, and agents of justice.

Education
9
Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute

The chicago psychoanalytic institute transforms the lives of individuals, families and communities, using psychoanalytic knowledge to help them grow and thrive.

Social Science
10
Furman University

The primary mission of furman as a liberal arts institution is to provide a distinctive education in fine arts, humanities, social sciences, mathematics and the sciences, as well as selected professional disciplines.

Education
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
Missouri Western State University Foundation Inc

The missouri western state university foundation is a not-for-profit charitable organization that functions solely to support the mission of missouri western state university, as stated in the university's mission statement. the foundation…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Chicago Horticultural Society; the most unlike its peers is The Home 2 Home Project. 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

32 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. 32 of the 64 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)
32/32
Grantees still filing
29/32
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

St John of the Cross Parish School: $6,500 · OtherSt John of the Cross Parish SchoolQuail West Foundation Endowment Fund: $6,000 · OtherQuail West Foundation Endowment FundBENET ACADEMY: $5,500 · OtherPARAMOUNT THEATER: $5,000 · OtherJJ WATTS FOUNDATION: $5,000 · OtherWaubonsee Community College: $5,000 · OtherChicago Zoological Society - Howards: $4,500 · OtherSTJOHN OF THE CROSS CHURCH: $4,500 · OtherSociety of St. Vincent de Paul Naples: $4,000 · OtherSOC OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL - PHOENIX: $4,000 · OtherBall State University: $4,000 · OtherChicago Zoological Society: $4,500 · Other+29 more: $48,250 · Other+29 moreAURORA UNIVERSITY: $10,000 · EducationAURORA UNIVERSITYIndiana University Foundation: $6,000 · EducationIndiana University Fou…WAUBONSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $6,000 · EducationWAUBONSEE COMMUNITY CO…Lake Forest College: $6,000 · EducationLake Forest CollegeCenter for Independence through Conductive Education Inc: $3,000 · EducationCenter for Independenc…Oak Park Country Club Foundation: $3,000 · EducationOak Park Country Club …Ball State University Foundation Inc: $2,000 · EducationUW-WHITEWATER FOUNDATION INC: $2,000 · Education+1 more: $450 · EducationAURORA AREA INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY: $7,000 · Food & NutritionAURORA AREA…ST MARY'S FOOD BANK ALLIANCE: $6,000 · Food & NutritionST MARY'S F…HARRY CHAPIN FOOD BANK OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INC: $5,000 · Food & NutritionHARRY CHAPI…BEYOND HUNGER: $2,000 · Food & NutritionBEYOND HUNG…Kenneth C Griffin Museum of Science and Industry: $5,000 · Arts & CultureMUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM: $4,648 · Arts & CultureFIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: $500 · Arts & CultureTHE IMMOKALEE FOUNDATION INC: $4,000 · PhilanthropyUNITED WAY OF COLLIER AND THE KEYS INC: $4,000 · PhilanthropyCHICAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: $4,500 · EnvironmentTHE MORTON ARBORETUM: $3,000 · EnvironmentST MATTHEWS HOUSE INC: $4,000 · Housing & ShelterHOUSING FORWARD: $1,000 · Housing & ShelterTHE HOME 2 HOME PROJECT: $500 · Housing & Shelter
Other$106,750Education$38,450Food & Nutrition$20,000Arts & Culture$10,148Philanthropy$8,000Environment$7,500Housing & Shelter$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 budgetAURORA UNIVERSITY: $10,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetAURORA AREA INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY: $7,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetIndiana University Foundation: $6,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetWAUBONSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $6,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetLake Forest College: $6,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetST MARY'S FOOD BANK ALLIANCE: $6,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetKenneth C Griffin Museum of Science and Industry: $5,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetHARRY CHAPIN FOOD BANK OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INC: $5,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetMUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM: $4,648 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetChicago Zoological Society: $4,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCHICAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: $4,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE IMMOKALEE FOUNDATION INC: $4,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED WAY OF COLLIER AND THE KEYS INC: $4,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetST MATTHEWS HOUSE INC: $4,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCenter for Independence through Conductive Education Inc: $3,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetOak Park Country Club Foundation: $3,000 over 3y, 0.7% of budgetTHE MORTON ARBORETUM: $3,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetBall State University Foundation Inc: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST: $2,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetBEYOND HUNGER: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetMAXS MISSION: $2,000 over 2y, 2.0% of budgetDIOCESAN COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL DIOCESE PHOENIX: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSARAH'S INN: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetUW-WHITEWATER FOUNDATION INC: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetFOX VALLEY UNITED WAY: $1,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHOUSING FORWARD: $1,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetLUCILE PACKARD FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH: $750 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSHEDD AQUARIUM SOCIETY: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE HOME 2 HOME PROJECT: $500 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetFIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetALPHA PHI FOUNDATION INC: $450 over 2y, 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 AURORA UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds AURORA AREA INTERFAITH FOOD PANTRY ↗
  • Who funds Indiana University Foundation ↗
  • Who funds WAUBONSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds Lake Forest College ↗
  • Who funds ST MARY'S FOOD BANK ALLIANCE ↗
  • Who funds Kenneth C Griffin Museum of Science and Industry ↗
  • Who funds HARRY CHAPIN FOOD BANK OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INC ↗
  • Who funds MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM ↗
  • Who funds Chicago Zoological Society ↗
  • Who funds CHICAGO HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY ↗
  • Who funds THE IMMOKALEE FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds UNITED WAY OF COLLIER AND THE KEYS INC ↗
  • Who funds ST MATTHEWS HOUSE INC ↗
  • Who funds Center for Independence through Conductive Education Inc ↗
  • Who funds Oak Park Country Club Foundation ↗
  • Who funds THE MORTON ARBORETUM ↗
  • Who funds Ball State University Foundation Inc ↗
  • Who funds THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST ↗
  • Who funds BEYOND HUNGER ↗
  • Who funds MAXS MISSION ↗
  • Who funds DIOCESAN COUNCIL FOR THE SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL DIOCESE PHOENIX ↗

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.

The Chicago Community…United Way of Metropo…AbbVie FoundationJpmorgan Chase Founda…The Blackbaud Giving …Charities Aid Foundat…The Ayco Charitable F…Baird Foundation IncDunham FundHealthy Communities F…Carol Bernick Family …Oak Park-River Forest…
The Chicago Community TrustIL20.6× affinity10 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Chicago Community Trust · United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Inc · AbbVie Foundation · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Charities Aid Foundation America · The Ayco Charitable Foundation · Baird Foundation Inc · Dunham Fund · Healthy Communities Foundation · Carol Bernick Family Foundation · Oak Park-River Forest Community 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 Palmer Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Palmer Family 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%15%30%45%60%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    6report 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 64 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.

    Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2025) is on record and reports $67k of grant expense with no grantee named in the published copy. A private foundation itemizes every grant it makes, so a return carrying none has filed its list as an attachment that the public copy does not include. The figures above are therefore from FY2024, the most recent year this funder’s grantee list reached the public record.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Palmer Family’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