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Palmer Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Palmer Family Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$67k
Granted FY2025still arriving
8
Grants FY2025still arriving
3
States reached
$29k
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, FY2022 to 2025.

Recreation & Sports$110kEducation$55kHealth$47kYouth Development$22kArts & Culture$16kHuman Services$13kEnvironment$10kEmployment$3kOther$0
02FY2025 · 8 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k6 grants · $28k
  • $10k–50k2 grants · $39k
$6,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$411k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
QUAD CITIES GOLF CLASSIC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION$29,000
ST LUKE'S HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION$10,000
PUTNAM MUSEUM AND SCIENCE CENTER$9,000
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION INC$6,000
YMCA OF THE IOWA MISSISSIPPI VALLEY$5,000
TRINITY HEALTH FOUNDATION$5,000
KINGS HARVEST PET RESCUE$2,000
GILDA'S CLUB QUAD CITIES$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 (FY23–24, $13k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, 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%YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF THE IOWA MISSISSIPPI VALLEY: $3k → 12%HAND IN HAND: $5k → 12%HAND IN HAND: $5k → 12%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 8% of Palmer Family Foundation’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address.

Palmer Family 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.

87%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$239k · 10 repeat orgs$37k to everyone else

10 repeat relationships: 4 still active in FY2025, 6 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

10
6

Total granted

$239k
$19k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+17%
+65%

Still filing today

100%
100%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 73% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $18k went to new ones.

50%100%’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’22’23’24’25
HealthEducationHuman ServicesYouth DevelopmentPhilanthropyArts & 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

  • QC
    QUAD CITIES GOLF CLASSIC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
    3× · 2023–2025 · $110k · revenue +27%
  • SA
    ST AMBROSE UNIVERSITY
    3× · 2022–2024 · $40k · revenue +83%
  • TH
    TRINITY HEALTH FOUNDATION
    3× · 2023–2025 · $20k · revenue +318%

Funded once

  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN PLATTEVILLE ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $5k · revenue +92%
  • JA
    JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF THE HEARTLAND INC
    one grant, 2023 · $4k · revenue -16%
  • BB
    BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY
    one grant, 2023 · $3k · revenue +1%
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
State University of Iowa Alumni Association

Our mission is to strengthen the university of iowa through alumni engagement. we do this through our communications, alumni programs, and events.

—
2
Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce

Our mission is to inspire the iowa city area to be greater by: 1) elevating business, 2) investing in strategic initiatives, and 3) advocating for the economic resiliency of the greater community.

—
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
Central Indiana Corporate Partnership Inc

Central indiana corporate partnership (cicp) is an alliance of indiana's business and research university leaders coming together to foster long-term prosperity for the region. cicp's mission is to transform the economy of indiana in order…

Community Improvement
5
Indiana University Health Jay Inc

Lead the transformation of healthcare through quality, innovation & education, and make Indiana one of the nation's healthiest states.

Health
6
Indiana University Health Care Associates Inc

To deliver preeminent medical care and service to our patients and communities through outstanding and innovative medical leadership and practice, while participating in and supporting excellence in education and research. We achieve this…

Health
7
American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa

The union works to advocate and advance a public policy agenda to support and protect the constitution of the united states and the constitution of the state of iowa. it works to maintain throughout the united states the rights of free…

—
8
Iowa Public Health Association Foundation

Uniting and strengthening the voice for public health in iowa.

—
9
Indiana University Health West Hospital Inc

Lead the transformation of healthcare through quality, innovation & education, and make Indiana one of the nation's healthiest states.

Health
10
State University of Iowa Foundation

The university of iowa center for advancement's mission is to advance the university of iowa through engagement and philanthropy. we serve our alumni and friends in the state and the region, throughout the country, and around the world. we…

Education
11
Minnesota Medical Association

To be the leading voice of medicine to make minnesota the healthiest state and the best place to practice.

—
12
Trinity Medical Center

The mission of trinity medical center is to improve the health of the people and communities we serve.

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Cancer Support Community Iowa & Nw Illinois; the most unlike its peers is Empower House. 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

18 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. 18 of the 20 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)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
18/18
Grantees still filing
15/18
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

QUAD CITIES GOLF CLASSIC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION: $110,160 · PhilanthropyQUAD CITIES GOLF CLASSIC CHARITABLE FOUNDATIO…ST AMBROSE UNIVERSITY: $40,000 · EducationST AMBROSE UNIVERSITYPALMER COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $10,000 · EducationPALMER COLLEGE FOUNDA…QUAD CITY ELECTRICAL JOINT APPRENTICESHIP & TRAINING PROGRAM: $2,500 · EducationTRINITY HEALTH FOUNDATION: $20,000 · HealthTRINITY HEALTH FOUN…American Heart Association Inc: $11,000 · HealthAmerican Heart Asso…ST LUKE'S HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION: $10,000 · HealthST LUKE'S HEALTH CA…Empower House: $2,500 · HealthEmpower HouseCROSSROADS HEALTH FOUNDATION: $2,000 · Health+1 more: $1,000 · HealthPUTNAM MUSEUM AND SCIENCE CENTER: $16,000 · Arts & CultureILLOWA COUNCIL INC BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA: $10,000 · Youth DevelopmentBIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY: $3,000 · Youth DevelopmentHAND IN HAND: $10,000 · Human ServicesYOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF THE IOWA MISSISSIPPI VALLEY: $2,500 · Human ServicesYMCA OF THE IOWA MISSISSIPPI VALLEY: $5,000 · OtherYMCA OF TH…UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN PLATTEVILLE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION: $5,000 · OtherUNIVERSITY…KINGS HARVEST PET RESCUE: $2,000 · OtherKINGS HARV…LIVING LANDS & WATERS: $10,000 · OtherLIVING LAN…JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF THE HEARTLAND INC: $3,500 · OtherJUNIOR ACH…
Philanthropy$110,160Education$52,500Health$46,500Arts & Culture$16,000Youth Development$13,000Human Services$12,500Other$25,500

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 budgetQUAD CITIES GOLF CLASSIC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION: $110,160 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetST AMBROSE UNIVERSITY: $40,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTRINITY HEALTH FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetPUTNAM MUSEUM AND SCIENCE CENTER: $16,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetAmerican Heart Association Inc: $11,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetILLOWA COUNCIL INC BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA: $10,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetLIVING LANDS & WATERS: $10,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetHAND IN HAND: $10,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetPALMER COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN PLATTEVILLE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION: $5,000 over 1y, 8.0% of budgetJUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF THE HEARTLAND INC: $3,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY: $3,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetQUAD CITY ELECTRICAL JOINT APPRENTICESHIP & TRAINING PROGRAM: $2,500 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetEmpower House: $2,500 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetYOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF THE IOWA MISSISSIPPI VALLEY: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCROSSROADS HEALTH FOUNDATION: $2,000 over 2y, 0.4% 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.

Scott County Regional…Modern Woodmen of Ame…Quad Cities Golf Clas…Quad Cities Community…Charles R and Nancy L…Harold R Bechtel Char…Ih Mississippi Valley…Marie H Bechtel Chari…Roy J Carver Charitab…Greenstate FoundationMoline FoundationDoris & Victor Day Fo…
Scott County Regional AuthorityIA28.3× affinity11 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Scott County Regional Authority · Modern Woodmen of America · Quad Cities Golf Classic Charitable Foundation · Quad Cities Community Foundation · Charles R and Nancy L Von Maur Charitable Foundation · Harold R Bechtel Charitable Trust · Ih Mississippi Valley Credit Union · Marie H Bechtel Charitable Trust · Roy J Carver Charitable Trust · Greenstate Foundation · Moline Foundation · Doris & Victor Day Foundation 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 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%1%3%6%10%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
    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 · 0–15%
    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.

    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 20 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 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