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Retzer Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Retzer 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.

$12k
Granted FY2025still arriving
15
Grants FY2025still arriving
7
States reached
$2k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0197% classified

What it funded, over time

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

International$19kHuman Services$14kHealth$8kPublic Safety & Disaster$8kArts & Culture$7kReligion$4kEnvironment$4kRecreation & Sports$2kOther$0
02FY2025 · 15 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$1,000
Median grant
7
States reached
$84k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Partners in Health$2,000
Starcross$1,500
North Sonoma Coast Voluntee Firefig$1,000
Fistual Foundation$1,000
Doctors Without Borders$1,000
UNICEF$1,000
International Rescue Committee$1,000
Gualala Art Center$1,000
Planned Parenthood$750
Destiny Art Center$500
Feeding America$250
Center for Action Contemplation$250
Individual grant recipient$250
KQED$250
Southern Poverty Law Center$65
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 (FY19–24, $11k) land where the poverty rate runs at 16%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 88% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%MarinLink: $250 → 8%Blue Mountain Certer of Meditation: $500 → 8%Blue Mountain Certer of Meditation: $250 → 8%BLUE MOUNTAIN CENTER OF MEDITATION: $200 → 8%BLUE MOUNTAIN CENTER OF MEDITATION: $100 → 8%Gualala Community Center: $10k → 18%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
IL
NY
MA
CA
UT
VA
NM
DC
AL
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.

72%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$52k · 16 repeat orgs$20k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +81% since the first grant, against +72% for those funded once.

16 repeat relationships: 9 still active in FY2025, 7 since wound down; 6 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

16
21

Total granted

$52k
$18k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+81%
+72%

Still filing today

56%
48%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 80% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $2k 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 & CultureHuman ServicesInternationalHealthFood & NutritionPublic Safety & DisasterOther
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

  • IR
    International Rescue Committee INC
    8× · 2017–2025 · $7k · revenue +81%
  • The Fistula Foundation
    8× · 2017–2025 · $7k · revenue +42%
  • PARTNERS IN HEALTH A NONPROFIT CORPORATION
    8× · 2017–2025 · $6k · revenue +120%

Funded once

  • GC
    Gualala Community Centergraduated
    one grant, 2024 · $10k · revenue +49%
  • NS
    N SONOMA COAST VOL FIREFIGHTER ASSOCIATION
    one grant, 2019 · $1k
  • PS
    PROJECT SANTA (ROTARY)
    one grant, 2017 · $1k
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
Sonoma Botanical Garden
—
2
Sonoma Mountain Institute
Environment
3
Transportation Alternatives for Marin
Public Benefit
4
California Coastkeeper dba California Coastkeeper Alliance

California Coastkeeper Alliance unites Waterkeeper programs statewide to fight for swimmable, fishable, and drinkable waters for all Californians.

Environment
5
Sutter Bay Medical Foundation

Mission statement: mission: caring for our patients first and our people always. vision: to be the most comprehensive, integrated and connected health system for getting and staying well. values: excellence - we deliver high-quality,…

Health
6
The Climate Center

The Climate Center is a climate and energy policy nonprofit working to rapidly reduce climate pollution at scale, starting in California.

Education
7
Point Reyes National Seashore Association

The Official Partner to the Point Reyes National Seashore Since 1964, Point Reyes National Seashore Association focuses on three priorities: Youth Education & access, environmental conservation and building a broad community for the people…

Environment
8
San Francisco Performances Inc

SFP presents internationally acclaimed and emerging performing artists, introduces innovative programs, and builds new and diversified audiences for the arts through education and outreach activities.

Arts & Culture
9
Sutter Bay Hospitals

MISSION STATEMENT: MISSION: CARING FOR OUR PATIENTS FIRST AND OUR PEOPLE ALWAYS. VISION: TO BE THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE, INTEGRATED AND CONNECTED HEALTH SYSTEM FOR GETTING AND STAYING WELL. VALUES: EXCELLENCE - We deliver high-quality,…

Health
10
Sustainable Conservation

Sustainable Conservation advances the collaborative stewardship of Californias land, air, and water for the benefit of nature and people. For over three decades, Sustainable Conservation has built coalitions of people with different…

Environment
11
The Sierra Fund

The Sierra Fund (TSF) is a non-profit organization with a mission to restore ecosystem and community resiliency in the Sierra Nevada.

Environment
12
Silicon Valley Community Foundation

Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) connects people, ideas and resources to ensure equity and opportunity for all.

Philanthropy
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Redwood Empire Food Bank; the most unlike its peers is The Sea Ranch Thespians. 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

24 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. 24 of the 43 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)
24/24
Grantees still filing
16/24
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

North Sonoma Coast Voluntee Firefig: $5,000 · OtherNorth Sonoma Coast Voluntee FirefigStarcross: $4,200 · OtherStarcrossGualala Art Center: $4,000 · OtherGualala Art CenterSTARCROSS MONASTIC COMMUNITY: $2,200 · OtherSTARCROSS MONASTIC COMMUNITYARENA THEATER: $1,290 · OtherCenter for Action Contemplation: $1,250 · OtherN SONOMA COAST VOL FIREFIGHTER ASSOCIATION: $1,000 · OtherPROJECT SANTA (ROTARY): $1,000 · OtherPARK CITY RUNNING CLUB: $1,000 · OtherICOCN: $1,000 · Other+17 more: $4,915 · Other+17 moreInternational Rescue Committee INC: $7,100 · InternationalInternational Rescue …MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $5,600 · InternationalMEDECINS SANS FRONTIE…UNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF: $1,000 · InternationalUNITED STATES FUND FO…The Fistula Foundation: $7,100 · HealthThe Fistula Foundati…PARTNERS IN HEALTH A NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $5,750 · HealthPARTNERS IN HEALTH A…Gualala Community Center: $10,000 · Human ServicesGualala Community…BLUE MOUNTAIN CENTER OF MEDITATION INC: $1,050 · Human ServicesBLUE MOUNTAIN CEN…+1 more: $250 · Human ServicesRedwood Coast Land Conservancy: $3,500 · EnvironmentTHE SEA RANCH VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT N SONOMA COAST VOLUNTEER FIREASSOCIATION: $2,000 · Public Safety & DisasterBERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE: $550 · Arts & CultureGualala Arts Inc: $450 · Arts & CultureKQED INC: $250 · Arts & CultureThe Sea Ranch Thespians: $250 · Arts & CultureCENTER FOR ACTION AND CONTEMPLATION: $200 · Arts & CultureMENDOCINO MUSIC FESTIVAL: $100 · Arts & Culture
Other$26,855International$13,700Health$12,850Human Services$11,300Environment$3,500Public Safety & Disaster$2,000Arts & Culture$1,800

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 budgetGualala Community Center: $10,000 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetInternational Rescue Committee INC: $7,100 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetThe Fistula Foundation: $7,100 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetPARTNERS IN HEALTH A NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $5,750 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $5,600 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetRedwood Coast Land Conservancy: $3,500 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetTHE SEA RANCH VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT N SONOMA COAST VOLUNTEER FIREASSOCIATION: $2,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetBLUE MOUNTAIN CENTER OF MEDITATION INC: $1,050 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetREDWOOD EMPIRE FOOD BANK: $750 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetBERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE: $550 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDestiny Arts Center: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGualala Arts Inc: $450 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetKQED INC: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Sea Ranch Thespians: $250 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetFeeding America: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMARIN LINK INC: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCENTER FOR ACTION AND CONTEMPLATION: $200 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOASTAL SENIORS INC: $200 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMENDOCINO MUSIC FESTIVAL: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetKAPPA SIGMA ENDOWMENT FUND: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER INC: $65 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSojourners Inc: $50 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 Gualala Community Center ↗
  • Who funds International Rescue Committee INC ↗
  • Who funds The Fistula Foundation ↗
  • Who funds PARTNERS IN HEALTH A NONPROFIT CORPORATION ↗
  • Who funds MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC ↗
  • Who funds Redwood Coast Land Conservancy ↗
  • Who funds THE SEA RANCH VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT N SONOMA COAST VOLUNTEER FIREASSOCIATION ↗
  • Who funds BLUE MOUNTAIN CENTER OF MEDITATION INC ↗
  • Who funds UNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF ↗
  • Who funds REDWOOD EMPIRE FOOD BANK ↗
  • Who funds BERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE ↗
  • Who funds The Sea Ranch Chapel Fdtn ↗
  • Who funds Destiny Arts Center ↗
  • Who funds Gualala Arts Inc ↗
  • Who funds KQED INC ↗
  • Who funds The Sea Ranch Thespians ↗
  • Who funds Feeding America ↗
  • Who funds MARIN LINK INC ↗
  • Who funds CENTER FOR ACTION AND CONTEMPLATION ↗
  • Who funds COASTAL SENIORS INC ↗
  • Who funds MENDOCINO MUSIC FESTIVAL ↗

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.

Community Foundation …Sonoma County Communi…Vanguard Charitable E…American Endowment Fo…National Philanthropi…Donor Advised Charita…American Online Givin…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Community Foundation of Mendocino CountyCA13.5× affinity4 shared granteesties to 8 of 8Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Community Foundation of Mendocino County · Sonoma County Community Foundation · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · American Endowment Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · 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 Retzer Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Retzer 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%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →median 0%
  • Partners in Health a Nonprofit Corporation: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
3report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–40%
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 43 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 Retzer’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