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Pierce Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Pierce 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.

$103k
Granted FY2025still arriving
18
Grants FY2025still arriving
5
States reached
$34k
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, FY2017 to 2025.

Health$368kEducation$141kFood & Nutrition$113kPhilanthropy$61kHuman Services$58kRecreation & Sports$40kCivil Rights$22kArts & Culture$21kOther$0
02FY2025 · 18 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k15 grants · $44k
  • $10k–50k3 grants · $59k
$3,000
Median grant
5
States reached
$517k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
CENTRACARE FOUNDATION$34,000
Individual grant recipient$15,000
SPECIAL OLYMPICS OF MINNESOTA$10,000
PRAIRIE WOODS ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER$5,500
GOOD NEWS JAIL & PRISON MINISTRY$5,000
Individual grant recipient$5,000
HENNEPIN HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION$5,000
COLORADO FRIENDSHIP$5,000
FRIENDS OF U W HEALTH$3,000
MERITER FOUNDATION POINT$2,500
NEIGHBORHOOD THEATER PROJECT$2,500
Individual grant recipient$2,500
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH$2,500
THE LINK FOOD BANK$1,500
BIKES FOR KIDS (WI)$1,500
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 (FY17–22, $11k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%SAFE AVENUES: $3k → 9%Safe Avenues: $1k → 9%Safe Avenues: $500 → 9%Dane County Diaper Bank: $500 → 10%ONE CITY SCHOOLS: $5k → 10%GEO'S GARDEN: $1k → 10%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
WI
NY
CA
CO
MO
VA
DC
FL
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.

80%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$621k · 30 repeat orgs$155k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +56% since the first grant, against 0% for those funded once.

30 repeat relationships: 9 still active in FY2025, 21 since wound down; 8 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

30
50

Total granted

$621k
$133k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+56%
0%

Still filing today

50%
36%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 67% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $23k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
HealthFood & NutritionHuman ServicesEducationPhilanthropyCivil RightsOther
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

  • CF
    COLORADO FRIENDSHIP
    6× · 2018–2025 · $38k · revenue +46%
  • SO
    SPECIAL OLYMPICS OF MINNESOTA
    4× · 2018–2025 · $25k · revenue +56%
  • PW
    PRAIRIE WOODS ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER
    2× · 2024–2025 · $11k · revenue +70%

Funded once

  • FO
    Friends of UW Hospitals Clinics
    one grant, 2018 · $11k
  • UW
    U W Suncoast Manatee Office
    one grant, 2019 · $10k
  • JD
    Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundati
    one grant, 2017 · $10k
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
Minnesota Business Partnership

The minnesota business partnership's mission is to maintain a high quality of life for all minnesotans by ensuring that the state's economy remains strong, globally competitive and its prospects for growth bright by working with elected…

—
2
Minnesota Medical Association

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

—
3
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
4
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation

Purpose: we inspire, advocate and invest to advance community visions. continued on sch o

Philanthropy
5
The Minneapolis Foundation

The foundation cultivates generosity by taking action on the greatest civic, social, and economic needs partnering with nonprofits, facilitating grantmaking, driving research and advocacy, and providing services to donors seeking to make a…

Philanthropy
6
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The minnesota chamber of commerce proactively leads the business community statewide to: advance pro-business, responsible minnesota public policy that creates jobs and grows the econony; provde member services to address evolving business…

—
7
Great Mn Schools

We believe that great schools are the cornerstone of a just and thriving community. ensuring that every child is able to attend a school that works is our moral and social imperative - our children deserve no less.

Education
8
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…

—
9
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The mission of mit is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.

Education
10
Midwest Dairy Association

Midwest dairy works with others to give consumers an excellent dairy experience increasing sales, fostering innovation, and inspiring consumer confidence of dairy products and practices.

—
11
University of Minnesota Foundation Investment Advisors

To provide the highest level of stewardship for university donors through professional management and oversight of the university of minnesota foundation's assets by creating a focused investment environment with clarity of purpose,…

Education
12
Opportunity Partners

Mission: together we advance the quality of life for people with disabilities. vision: people of all abilities thrive in the world. values: impact- generate solutions that make a difference. choice - create opportunities for people to lead…

Employment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Denver Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Big Dreamers United. 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

37 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. 37 of the 90 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)
36/37
Grantees still filing
22/37
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

UW Department of Surgery: $140,000 · OtherUW Department of SurgeryNLS School District: $112,745 · OtherNLS School DistrictRice Health Foundation: $54,663 · OtherRice Health FoundationNOURISH 282: $43,950 · OtherNOURISH 282Individual grant recipient: $33,341 · OtherSPECIAL OLYMPICS OF MINNESOTA: $25,000 · Other+61 more: $215,800 · Other+61 moreCENTRACARE FOUNDATION: $120,412 · HealthCENTRACARE FOUND…HENNEPIN HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION: $5,000 · Health+5 more: $7,750 · Health+5 moreUnited Way of West Central MN: $45,000 · PhilanthropyBIG DREAMS UNITED: $5,000 · PhilanthropyFOND BLANC FOUNDATION: $4,500 · Philanthropy+1 more: $250 · PhilanthropyCOLORADO FRIENDSHIP: $37,500 · Food & NutritionRIVER FOOD PANTRY: $7,597 · Food & NutritionThe Sheridan Story: $4,500 · Food & Nutrition+1 more: $1,500 · Food & NutritionCENTER FOR BLACK EXCELLENCE: $10,000 · Arts & CultureTake Note Colorado: $1,000 · Arts & CultureALSO YOUTH: $10,000 · Civil RightsOUT FRONT MINNESOTA: $1,000 · Civil RightsONE CITY SCHOOLS: $5,000 · Human ServicesSAFE AVENUES: $4,000 · Human ServicesGEO'S GARDEN: $1,300 · Human ServicesDane County Diaper Bank: $500 · Human Services
Other$625,499Health$133,162Philanthropy$54,750Food & Nutrition$51,097Arts & Culture$11,000Civil Rights$11,000Human Services$10,800

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 budgetCENTRACARE FOUNDATION: $120,412 over 4y, 0.5% of budgetRice Health Foundation: $54,663 over 5y, 0.6% of budgetUnited Way of West Central MN: $45,000 over 4y, 2.3% of budgetNOURISH 282: $43,950 over 5y, 17% of budgetCOLORADO FRIENDSHIP: $37,500 over 6y, 3.9% of budgetSPECIAL OLYMPICS OF MINNESOTA: $25,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetPRAIRIE WOODS ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER: $10,500 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetCENTER FOR BLACK EXCELLENCE: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetALSO YOUTH: $10,000 over 2y, 3.0% of budgetRIVER FOOD PANTRY: $7,597 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetU W FOUNDATION: $6,750 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetONE CITY SCHOOLS: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBIG DREAMS UNITED: $5,000 over 1y, 4.8% of budgetThe Sheridan Story: $4,500 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetFOND BLANC FOUNDATION: $4,500 over 3y, 0.8% of budgetSAFE AVENUES: $4,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetRape Crisis Center: $2,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCOMMUNITIES UNITED AGAINST BLACK BRUTALITY: $2,500 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetAMERICAN PARKINSON ASSOCIATION: $2,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE BRAND LAB: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetVISIBLE MEN ACADEMY: $1,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetKANDIGOHI COUNTY FOOD SHELF: $1,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGEO'S GARDEN: $1,300 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetAIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin: $1,250 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetDOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTake Note Colorado: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetVISION LOSS RESOURCES: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBREAKTHROUGH T1D: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetOUT FRONT MINNESOTA: $1,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetBLACK GIRLS CODE: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Cancer Society: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDenver Foundation: $250 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.

  • Who funds CENTRACARE FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds Rice Health Foundation ↗
  • Who funds United Way of West Central MN ↗
  • Who funds NOURISH 282 ↗
  • Who funds COLORADO FRIENDSHIP ↗
  • Who funds SPECIAL OLYMPICS OF MINNESOTA ↗
  • Who funds PRAIRIE WOODS ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER ↗
  • Who funds CENTER FOR BLACK EXCELLENCE ↗
  • Who funds ALSO YOUTH ↗
  • Who funds RIVER FOOD PANTRY ↗
  • Who funds U W FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds ONE CITY SCHOOLS ↗
  • Who funds HENNEPIN HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN ↗
  • Who funds WILMAR PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds BIG DREAMS UNITED ↗
  • Who funds The Sheridan Story ↗
  • Who funds FOND BLANC FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds SAFE AVENUES ↗

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.

CommunitygivingOtto Bremer TrustLand O'Lakes Foundati…Lawrence H & Elizabet…The Roots and Wings F…The Minneapolis Found…Madison Gas and Elect…Ascendium Education S…Madison Community Fou…Pohlad Family Foundat…The Jamf Nation Globa…Southwest Initiative …
CommunitygivingMN21.1× affinity8 shared granteesties to 10 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Communitygiving · Otto Bremer Trust · Land O'Lakes Foundation · Lawrence H & Elizabeth S Dunlap Foundation c/o Liz Dayton · The Roots and Wings Foundation Inc · The Minneapolis Foundation · Madison Gas and Electric Foundation Inc · Ascendium Education Solutions Inc · Madison Community Foundation · Pohlad Family Foundation · The Jamf Nation Global Foundation · Southwest Initiative 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 Pierce Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Pierce Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%1%5%11%20%funder's share of their income ↑0%23%45%68%90%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    2get no government money at all
    11report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–90%
    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 Pierce Family Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Pierce Family 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 90 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 Pierce 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