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Rackham Foundation Limited at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Private foundation

Rackham Foundation Limited

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.

$161k
Granted FY2025still arriving
16
Grants FY2025still arriving
8
States reached
$73k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0186% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Education$1.3MCrime & Legal$191kCommunity Improvement$75kHealth$27kArts & Culture$27kInternational$21kScience & Tech$15kEnvironment$11kOther$0
02FY2025 · 16 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k14 grants · $34k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $127k
$2,000
Median grant
8
States reached
$2.0M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD IN AMERICA$72,500
RESOLUTION SYSTEMS INSTITUTE$54,789
INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE$5,000
NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO$5,000
WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE$5,000
USA FOR UNHCR$5,000
BREM FOUNDATION TO DEFEAT BREAST CANCER$3,600
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CONSTRUCTION LAWYERS FOUNDATION$2,000
BLUE SWALLOW FARM FOUNDATION$2,000
BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY$1,800
MPT$1,000
WETA$1,000
INOVA HEALTH FOUNDATION$1,000
REPRO RISING VIRGINIA FOUNDATION (PRO CHOICE VIRGINIA)$1,000
CENTER FOR SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST$250
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 (FY21–25, $188k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, 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%RESOLUTION SYSTEMS INSTITUTE: $79k → 14%RESOLUTION SYSTEMS INSTITUTE: $55k → 14%RESOLUTION SYSTEMS INSTITUTE: $45k → 14%RESOLUTION SYSTEMS INSTITUTE: $10k → 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.

Which US states its grants reach

WA
MN
IL
NY
MA
CA
VA
MD
DC
TX
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.

93%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.6M · 17 repeat orgs$125k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +62% since the first grant, against +40% for those funded once.

17 repeat relationships: 9 still active in FY2025, 8 since wound down; 6 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

17
8

Total granted

$1.6M
$109k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+62%
+40%

Still filing today

59%
75%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 90% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $16k 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
Arts & CultureEducationInternationalFood & NutritionHealthHuman ServicesOther
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

  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD IN AMERICA INC
    9× · 2017–2025 · $1.3M · revenue +514%
  • BF
    BREM FOUNDATION TO DEFEAT BREAST CANCER
    5× · 2021–2025 · $19k · revenue +62%
  • GW
    GREATER WASHINGTON EDUCATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION INC
    4× · 2021–2025 · $10k · revenue +3%

Funded once

  • EN
    EDINBURGH NAPIER UNIVERSITY
    one grant, 2018 · $75k
  • TC
    THE CLIFTON INSTITUTE INCgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $11k · revenue +30%
  • SS
    SEVEN STORIES
    one grant, 2018 · $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
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Advance science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all. the world's largest multidisciplinary scientific society and a leading publisher of cutting-edge research through its science family of journals,…

Science & Tech
2
International Biomedical Research Alliance

Our mission is to invest in and accelerate the development of the most promising future leaders in biomedical research with global impact.

Health
3
United States Naval Institute

Provide an independent forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to global security.

—
4
The National Bureau of Asian Research

Nbr conducts advanced independent research on strategic, political, economic, energy, globalization, and health issues affecting u.s. relations with asia. drawing upon an extensive network of the world's leading specialists and leveraging…

—
5
Foreign Policy Research Institute

The foreign policy research institute (frpi) is dedicated to producing the highest quality scholarship and nonpartisan policy analysis focused on crucial foreign policy and national security challenges facing the united states. we educate…

International
6
The International Institute for Strategic Studies - Us

To provide accurate, objective information and analysis on international strategic issues for legislators, diplomats, foreign affairs analysts, international business leaders, economists, the military, defense commentators, journalists,…

International
7
Npr Foundation

The npr foundation ("foundation") is organized and operated exclusively for the benefit of its sole supported organization, national public radio, inc. ("npr inc."). the foundation supports npr inc. through various activities such as…

—
8
American Gas Association

American gas association's (the association) mission is to develop and advocate for informed, innovative, and durable policy that fulfills our nation's energy needs, environmental aspirations and economic potential. we are committed to…

—
9
America's Newspapers

Providing research, education and practical information all aimed at optimizing newspapers' business operations, deepening their community engagement and enhancing the quality of their journalism.

Employment
10
United States Telecom Association

See schedule oustelecom exists to ensure members can compete, grow and thrive to build a world where families, enterprises and communities are connected through the power of broadband.our member companies have committed a considerable…

—
11
Open Markets Institute

The open markets institute works to help people relearn how to use competition policy to build stronger democracies, more just and equitable societies, more innovative and sustainable economies, and a more secure and peaceful world.

Education
12
Boston Architectural College

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

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Wikimedia Foundation Inc; the most unlike its peers is Blue Swallow Farm Foundation. 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

22 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. 22 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)
22/22
Grantees still filing
15/22
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD IN AMERICA INC: $1,263,618 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD IN AMERICA INC+5 more: $22,901 · EducationResolution Systems Institute: $187,812 · Human ServicesResolution S…EDINBURGH NAPIER UNIVERSITY: $75,000 · OtherEDINBURGH …Individual grant recipient: $29,500 · OtherIndividual…WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE: $15,000 · OtherWEIZMANN I…THE CLIFTON INSTITUTE INC: $10,500 · OtherTHE CLIFTO…SEVEN STORIES: $10,000 · OtherSEVEN STOR…MPT: $9,000 · OtherMPT+6 more: $11,612 · Other+6 moreGREATER WASHINGTON EDUCATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION INC: $10,000 · Arts & CulturePRO PUBLICA INC: $7,000 · Arts & CultureNATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO INC: $5,000 · Arts & CultureCOSMOS CLUB FOUNDATION: $2,500 · Arts & CulturePBS FOUNDATION: $2,000 · Arts & Culture+1 more: $180 · Arts & CultureFREEDOM HOUSE: $10,000 · InternationalInternational Rescue Committee INC: $6,000 · InternationalUnited States Association for UNHCR: $5,000 · InternationalBREM FOUNDATION TO DEFEAT BREAST CANCER: $19,400 · HealthINOVA HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION: $1,000 · HealthCENTER FOR SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST: $6,750 · Food & NutritionFeeding America: $250 · Food & Nutrition
Education$1,286,519Human Services$187,812Other$160,612Arts & Culture$26,680International$21,000Health$20,400Food & Nutrition$7,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetUNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD IN AMERICA INC: $1,263,618 over 9y, 20% of budgetResolution Systems Institute: $187,812 over 4y, 9.5% of budgetBREM FOUNDATION TO DEFEAT BREAST CANCER: $19,400 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetBRANDEIS UNIVERSITY: $11,200 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CLIFTON INSTITUTE INC: $10,500 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetGREATER WASHINGTON EDUCATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION INC: $10,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetFREEDOM HOUSE: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPRO PUBLICA INC: $7,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetCENTER FOR SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST: $6,750 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetInternational Rescue Committee INC: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN UNIVERSITY: $5,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetNATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUnited States Association for UNHCR: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION INC: $2,701 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCOSMOS CLUB FOUNDATION: $2,500 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetPBS FOUNDATION: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBlue Swallow Farm Foundation: $2,000 over 1y, 2.9% of budgetTHE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CONSTRUCTION LAWYERS FOUNDATION INC: $2,000 over 1y, 16% of budgetAmerican Bar Association: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFeeding America: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetINTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FOUNDATION INC: $180 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.

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.

Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …
Donor Advised Charitable Giving IncCO5× affinity4 shared granteesties to 1 of 1Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: 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 Rackham Foundation Limited funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Rackham Foundation Limited. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%1%5%11%20%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 9%
  • Brandeis University: 9% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
1get no government money at all
2report 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 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 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Rackham Foundation Limited’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