Skip to content
River City Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

River City 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.

$1.4M
Granted FY2025still arriving
7
Grants FY2025still arriving
1
States reached
$500k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0198% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Philanthropy$2.4MHealth$1.9MEnvironment$921kHousing & Shelter$856kAnimals$810kArts & Culture$342kEducation$300kHuman Services$283kOther$0
02FY2025 · 7 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • $50k–250k5 grants · $550k
  • $250k+2 grants · $800k
$100,009
Median grant
1
States reached
$29M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION$500,004
MARY FREE BED REHABILITATION HOSPITAL FOUNDATION$300,000
BLANDFORD NATURE CENTER$200,002
HOSPICE OF MICHIGAN INC$100,009
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF KENT COUNTY$100,000
JOHN BALL ZOO$100,000
NORTH KENT CONNECT$50,000
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 (FY17–25, $673k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 47% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants spread fairly evenly across need levels.

area typical 12%HOSPICE OF MICHIGAN: $100k → 11%FAITH IN ACTION: $10k → 14%NORTH KENT CONNECT: $108k → 11%FAITH IN ACTION: $5k → 14%NORTH KENT CONNECT: $50k → 11%FAITH IN ACTION: $2k → 14%NORTH KENT CONNECT: $38k → 11%NORTH KENT CONNECT: $30k → 11%HOSPICE OF MICHIGAN INC: $100k → 14%HOSPICE OF MICHIGAN INC: $100k → 14%HOSPICE OF MICHIGAN: $100k → 14%NORTH KENT CONNECT: $5k → 11%NORTH KENT CONNECT: $5k → 11%NORTH KENT CONNECT: $5k → 11%DEGAGE MINISTRIES: $5k → 11%DEGAGE MINISTRIES: $5k → 11%DEGAGE MINISTRIES: $5k → 11%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.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

96%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$5.4M · 32 repeat orgs$229k to everyone else

32 repeat relationships: 6 still active in FY2025, 26 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

32
7

Total granted

$5.4M
$229k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+21%
+93%

Still filing today

59%
86%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 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
HealthArts & CultureHuman ServicesEducationHousing & ShelterAnimalsOther
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

  • MF
    MARY FREE BED REHABILITATION HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
    4× · 2022–2025 · $971k · revenue +644%
  • HF
    HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF KENT COUNTY INC
    5× · 2020–2025 · $811k · revenue +10%
  • JB
    JOHN BALL ZOO
    5× · 2020–2025 · $808k · revenue +150%

Funded once

  • MF
    MARY FREE BED REHABILITATION HOSPITALgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $153k · revenue +52%
  • TL
    THE LUKE CLINICgraduated
    one grant, 2019 · $30k · revenue +164%
  • HW
    HURON WATERLOO PATHWAYS INITIATIVEgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $20k · revenue +89%
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
The Northern Michigan University Foundation

The nmu foundation will establish and foster relationships to generate resources that benefit the strategic goals of northern michigan university.

Education
2
Detroit Historical Society

The Detroit Historical Society tells Detroit's stories and why they matter through its exhibits, programs, outreach, and the preservation and dissemination of its artifacts and collections.

Arts & Culture
3
The Foundation for Health Care Continuums

The mission of the foundation for health care continuums is to strengthen each community we serve by providing a wide spectrum of housing and health care services that honor the evolving, aging population.

Health
4
Mid Michigan Community Action Agency Inc

Mid michigan community action guides local residents on the path to self-sufficiency through empowerment, education and community enrichment.

—
5
Mymichigan Medical Group

Creating healthy communities - together

Health
6
Central Maine Healthcare Corporation

To provide exceptional healthcare services in a safe and trustful environment through the expertise, committment, and compassion of our family of caregivers.

Health
7
Mymichigan Medical Center Midland

Creating healthy communities - together

Health
8
Michigan Chamber of Commerce

To promote conditions favorable to job creation and business success in michigan.

—
9
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
10
Union Health System

To serve our communities by provding innovative and compassionate healthcare.

Health
11
Great Lakes Community Action Partnership

The mission of great lakes community action partnership is to create partnerships and opportunites to help individuals, families and communities thrive.

Human Services
12
Grand View University

Engages, equips and empowers learners to explore their vocations, fulfill their potential and serve the world.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding Inc. 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

28 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. 28 of the 42 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)
8
Early backer (in before they grew)
28/28
Grantees still filing
21/28
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $2,004,114 · PhilanthropyGRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONANN ARBOR AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $268,030 · PhilanthropyANN ARBOR AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATIO…The Chicago Community Trust: $170,100 · PhilanthropyThe Chicago Community Trust+1 more: $15,000 · PhilanthropyHABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF KENT COUNTY INC: $810,698 · OtherHABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF K…LAND CONSERVANCY OF WEST MI: $503,000 · OtherLAND CONSERVANCY OF WEST …MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE: $93,248 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $81,205 · OtherGERMAN SCHOOL CHICAGO NFP: $77,000 · Other+15 more: $251,898 · Other+15 moreMARY FREE BED REHABILITATION HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $971,113 · HealthMARY FREE BED REHABIL…COREWELL HEALTH FOUNDATION WEST MICHIGAN: $311,284 · HealthCOREWELL HEALTH FOUND…MARY FREE BED REHABILITATION HOSPITAL: $152,580 · HealthMARY FREE BED REHABIL…+3 more: $78,086 · HealthJOHN BALL ZOO: $808,112 · AnimalsJOHN BALL Z…Hospice of Michigan Inc: $399,953 · Human ServicesHospice o…ROCKFORD COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER: $240,896 · Human ServicesROCKFORD …+2 more: $32,000 · Human ServicesBLANDFORD NATURE CENTER: $418,032 · EducationGERMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL CHICAGO NFP: $78,000 · Education+1 more: $2,000 · EducationGRAND RAPIDS CIVIC THEATRE INC: $328,419 · Arts & Culture+3 more: $10,500 · Arts & Culture
Philanthropy$2,457,244Other$1,817,049Health$1,513,063Animals$808,112Human Services$672,849Education$498,032Arts & Culture$338,919

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 budgetGRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $2,004,114 over 4y, 3.6% of budgetMARY FREE BED REHABILITATION HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $971,113 over 4y, 3.4% of budgetHABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF KENT COUNTY INC: $810,698 over 5y, 4.2% of budgetJOHN BALL ZOO: $808,112 over 5y, 1.4% of budgetBLANDFORD NATURE CENTER: $418,032 over 2y, 8.5% of budgetHospice of Michigan Inc: $399,953 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetGRAND RAPIDS CIVIC THEATRE INC: $328,419 over 7y, 4.3% of budgetANN ARBOR AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $268,030 over 6y, 0.3% of budgetROCKFORD COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER: $240,896 over 7y, 4.1% of budgetThe Chicago Community Trust: $170,100 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetMARY FREE BED REHABILITATION HOSPITAL: $152,580 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGERMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL CHICAGO NFP: $78,000 over 3y, 0.9% of budgetHOME REPAIR SERVICES OF KENT COUNTY INC: $40,000 over 7y, 0.4% of budgetMichigan Physical Fitness Health and Sports Foundation: $30,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHE LUKE CLINIC: $30,000 over 1y, 16% of budgetHURON WATERLOO PATHWAYS INITIATIVE: $20,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetEquest Center for Therapeutic Riding Inc: $18,086 over 1y, 2.3% of budgetFAITH IN ACTION INC: $17,000 over 3y, 1.0% of budgetDEGAGE MINISTRIES: $15,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetFAMILY FUTURES: $15,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetWASHTENAW HOUSING ALLIANCE: $5,000 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetGRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM: $4,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetDA BLODGETT - ST JOHN'S: $3,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetINTERLOCHEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS: $3,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetBLUE LAKE FINE ARTS CAMP: $3,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetGREENHILLS SCHOOL: $2,000 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 GRAND RAPIDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds MARY FREE BED REHABILITATION HOSPITAL FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF KENT COUNTY INC ↗
  • Who funds JOHN BALL ZOO ↗
  • Who funds BLANDFORD NATURE CENTER ↗
  • Who funds Hospice of Michigan Inc ↗
  • Who funds GRAND RAPIDS CIVIC THEATRE INC ↗
  • Who funds COREWELL HEALTH FOUNDATION WEST MICHIGAN ↗
  • Who funds ANN ARBOR AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds ROCKFORD COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER ↗
  • Who funds The Chicago Community Trust ↗
  • Who funds MARY FREE BED REHABILITATION HOSPITAL ↗
  • Who funds GERMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL CHICAGO NFP ↗
  • Who funds HOME REPAIR SERVICES OF KENT COUNTY INC ↗
  • Who funds Michigan Physical Fitness Health and Sports Foundation ↗
  • Who funds THE LUKE CLINIC ↗
  • Who funds HURON WATERLOO PATHWAYS INITIATIVE ↗
  • Who funds Equest Center for Therapeutic Riding Inc ↗
  • Who funds FAITH IN ACTION INC ↗
  • Who funds DEGAGE MINISTRIES ↗
  • Who funds VAN ANDEL INSTITUTE ↗
  • Who funds FAMILY FUTURES ↗
  • Who funds WASHTENAW HOUSING ALLIANCE ↗
  • Who funds GRAND RAPIDS ART MUSEUM ↗
  • Who funds DA BLODGETT - ST JOHN'S ↗
  • Who funds INTERLOCHEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS ↗
  • Who funds BLUE LAKE FINE ARTS CAMP ↗
  • Who funds GREENHILLS SCHOOL ↗

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.

Grand Rapids Communit…The Meijer FoundationPeter C & Emajean Coo…Frey FoundationThe Sebastian Foundat…Cdv5 FoundationDick and Betsy Devos …Douglas & Maria Devos…Consumers Energy Foun…Grand Haven Area Comm…The Korff FoundationUfp Industries Founda…
Grand Rapids Community FoundationMI37.8× affinity16 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Grand Rapids Community Foundation · The Meijer Foundation · Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation · Frey Foundation · The Sebastian Foundation · Cdv5 Foundation · Dick and Betsy Devos Family Foundation · Douglas & Maria Devos Foundation · Consumers Energy Foundation · Grand Haven Area Community Foundation Inc · The Korff Foundation · Ufp Industries 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 River City Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from River City 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%1%3%4%5%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    10report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–5%
    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 River City Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to River City 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 42 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 River City’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