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Phiferjohnson Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Phiferjohnson 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.

$859k
Granted FY2024still arriving
13
Grants FY2024still arriving
6
States reached
$500k
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, FY2020 to 2024.

Religion$1.1MHealth$876kEducation$452kPhilanthropy$381kHousing & Shelter$50kArts & Culture$29kScience & Tech$22kEnvironment$11kOther$0
02FY2024 · 13 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k5 grants · $19k
  • $10k–50k3 grants · $40k
  • $50k–250k4 grants · $300k
  • $250k+1 grant · $500k
$10,320
Median grant
6
States reached
$10M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
MAYO CLINIC$500,000
NEW MORNING FOUNDATION$125,000
EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION$75,000
EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ADVENT$50,000
EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ADVENT$50,000
SHEPPARD PRATT HOSPITAL SYSTEM$20,000
EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ADVENT$10,320
OAKBROOK SCHOOL$10,000
SPARTANBURG SCIENCE CENTER$6,000
FOOTHILLS CONSERVANCY OF NORTH CAROLINA$5,000
EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION$5,000
SPARTANBURG COUNTY FOUNDATION$2,500
FROM K-1 ZCA HEDGED CREDIT STRATEGY LP$1
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:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY20–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 15%. 23% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 15%MAYO CLINIC: $500k → 9%METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART: $3k → 17%NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDENS: $1k → 28%OAKBROOK SCHOOL: $10k → 15%BROOKGREEN GARDENS: $10k → 15%SC ARCHIVES AND HISTORY FOUNDATION: $15k → 16%AMERICAN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN GROWTH: $100k → 14%FOOTHILLS CONSERVANCY OF NORTH CAROLINA: $5k → 13%BLOWING ROCK COMMUNITY LIBRARY ASSOCIATION: $10k → 21%HABITAT FOR HUMANITY - VAIL VALLEY: $50k → 7%GRALAND COUNTY DAY SCHOOL: $50k → 12%FROM K-1 ZCA HEDGED CREDIT STRATEGY LP: $1 → 13%WASHINGTON & LEE UNIVERSITY: $2k → 12%EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION: $100k → 19%SHEPPARD PRATT HOSPITAL SYSTEM: $20k → 11%OAKBROOK SCHOOL: $10k → 15%NEW MORNING FOUNDATION: $125k → 16%FOOTHILLS CONSERVANCY OF NORTH CAROLINA: $5k → 13%VAIL INTERFAITH CHAPEL: $10k → 7%FROM K-1 ZCA HEDGED CREDIT STRATEGY LP: $1 → 13%EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION: $75k → 19%SPARTANBURG COUNTY FOUNDATION: $251k → 15%NEW MORNING FOUNDATION: $125k → 16%VAIL RELIGIONS FOUNDATION: $10k → 7%EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION: $75k → 19%EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ADVENT: $125k → 15%EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION: $5k → 19%EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ADVENT: $105k → 15%EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ADVENT: $105k → 15%EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ADVENT: $50k → 15%EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ADVENT: $50k → 15%EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ADVENT: $10k → 15%CONVERSE COLLEGE: $10k → 15%CANCER ASSOCIATION OF SPARTANBURG & CHEROKEE COUNTIES INC: $5k → 15%SPARTANBURG SCIENCE CENTER: $16k → 15%SPARTANBURG COUNTY FOUNDATION: $3k → 15%SPARTANBURG SCIENCE CENTER: $6k → 15%CANCER ASSOCIATION OF SPARTANBURG & CHEROKEE COUNTIES INC: $1k → 15%WOFFORD COLLEGE: $5k → 15%SPARTANBURG DAY SCHOOL: $250k → 15%ANGELS CHARGE MINISTRIES: $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.

Which US states its grants reach

MN
NY
OH
CO
VA
MD
NC
SC
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.

46%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.2M · 10 repeat orgs$1.4M to everyone else

10 repeat relationships: 7 still active in FY2024, 3 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

10
19

Total granted

$1.2M
$915k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

-7%
+55%

Still filing today

50%
58%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 39% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $520k went to new ones.

50%100%’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

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

’20’21’22’23’24
EducationEnvironmentArts & CulturePhilanthropyOther
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

  • EC
    EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ADVENT
    4× · 2020–2024 · $445k
  • EC
    EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION
    3× · 2022–2024 · $255k
  • NM
    NEW MORNING
    2× · 2023–2024 · $250k · revenue -7%

Funded once

  • SD
    SPARTANBURG DAY SCHOOL
    one grant, 2021 · $250k · revenue -34%
  • EC
    EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF TRANSFIGURATION
    one grant, 2023 · $175k
  • SR
    SPARTANBURG REGIONAL FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2020 · $103k
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
Spartanburg Methodist College

SMC Delivers an exceptional education that fuses the empowerment of the liberal arts with crucial career skills. Our mission is to equip our students with the knowledge, skills, virtues, and mindset needed to thrive personally, create…

Education
2
Brevard College Corporation

Brevard college is committed to an experiential liberal arts education that encourages personal growth and inspires artistic, intellectual, and social action.

Education
3
Columbia College

Columbia college provides educational opportunities that develop students' capacity for critical thought and expression, life-long learning, acceptance of personal responsibilty, and commitment to service and social justice.

Education
4
Barton College

Founded in 1902, barton college is a four-year, private, liberal arts college located in wilson, n.c. the barton experience focuses on academic excellence within a wide range of professional and liberal arts programs leading to…

Education
5
Greensboro College

Greensboro College provides a liberal arts education grounded in the traditions of the United Methodist Church and fosters the intellectual, social, and spiritual development of all students while supporting their individual needs.

Education
6
Hampden-Sydney College

Since 1775, the mission of Hampden-Sydney College has been to form good men and good citizens in an atmosphere of sound learning.

Education
7
Catawba College

Catawba college is committed to providing students an education rich in personal attention that blends the knowledge and competencies of liberal studies with career preparation. catawba college draws strength from judeo-christian values,…

Education
8
Boston Architectural College

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

—
9
Southern Wesleyan University

Southern wesleyan university is a christ-centered, student-focused learning community devoted to transforming lives by challenging students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for christ.

Education
10
Greenville College

Greenville college d/b/a greenville university empowers students for lives of character and service through a transforming christ-centered education in the liberal arts, sciences, and professional studies.

Education
11
Columbia College

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

Education
12
Saint Anselm College

Saint anselm is a catholic, benedictine college providing all of its students a distinctive liberal arts education that incorporates opportunities for professional and career preparation. it does so in a learning community that encourages…

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Wofford College; the most unlike its peers is Metropolitan Museum of Art. 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

17 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. 17 of the 32 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)
2
Early backer (in before they grew)
17/17
Grantees still filing
11/17
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

MAYO CLINIC: $500,000 · OtherMAYO CLINICEPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ADVENT: $445,320 · OtherEPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ADVENTEPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION: $255,000 · OtherEPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE ASCENSIONSPARTANBURG DAY SCHOOL: $250,000 · OtherSPARTANBURG DAY SCHOOLEPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION: $175,000 · OtherEPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATIONEPISCOPAL CHURCH OF TRANSFIGURATION: $175,000 · OtherEPISCOPAL CHURCH OF TRANSFIGURATIONSPARTANBURG REGIONAL FOUNDATION: $103,000 · OtherAMERICAN FEDERATION FOR CHILDREN GROWTH: $100,000 · Other+14 more: $199,502 · Other+14 moreSpartanburg County Foundation: $253,000 · PhilanthropySpartanburg County …NEW MORNING: $250,000 · PhilanthropyNEW MORNINGSPARTANBURG COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC: $100,000 · EducationGRALAND COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL: $50,000 · EducationCONVERSE UNIVERSITY: $9,607 · Education+1 more: $2,000 · EducationFOOTHILLS CONSERVANCY OF NORTH CAROLINA INC: $10,000 · EnvironmentBROOKGREEN GARDENS: $10,000 · EnvironmentNEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN: $1,000 · EnvironmentMETROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART: $3,000 · Arts & Culture
Other$2,202,822Philanthropy$503,000Education$161,607Environment$21,000Arts & Culture$3,000

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 budgetSpartanburg County Foundation: $253,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetSPARTANBURG DAY SCHOOL: $250,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetNEW MORNING: $250,000 over 2y, 1.8% of budgetSPARTANBURG COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION INC: $100,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetGRALAND COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL: $50,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetHABITAT FOR HUMANITY VAIL VALLEY INC: $50,000 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetSPARTANBURG SCIENCE CENTER: $22,000 over 2y, 7.6% of budgetVAIL RELIGIOUS FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetFOOTHILLS CONSERVANCY OF NORTH CAROLINA INC: $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetBROOKGREEN GARDENS: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCONVERSE UNIVERSITY: $9,607 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCANCER ASSOCIATION OF SPARTANBURG & CHEROKEE COUNTIES INC: $6,000 over 2y, 1.4% of budgetWOFFORD COLLEGE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMETROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWashington and Lee University: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHISTORIC BURKE FOUNDATION INC: $500 over 1y, 1.3% 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.

Foundation for the Ca…Mary Black Foundation…Spartanburg County Fo…Duke Energy FoundationGe Aerospace Foundati…National Philanthropi…The Bank of America C…Vanguard Charitable E…Donor Advised Charita…American Online Givin…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Foundation for the CarolinasNC18.7× affinity7 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Foundation for the Carolinas · Mary Black Foundation Inc · Spartanburg County Foundation · Duke Energy Foundation · Ge Aerospace Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Amazonsmile 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 Phiferjohnson Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Phiferjohnson 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%5%10%15%20%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 · 0–20%
    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 Phiferjohnson Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Phiferjohnson 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 32 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 Phiferjohnson’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