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Robert E Browning Fund at a glance

· Private foundation

Robert E Browning Fund

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.

$110k
Granted FY2025still arriving
5
Grants FY2025still arriving
3
States reached
$90k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
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.

Education$162kYouth Development$131kHuman Services$120kArts & Culture$101kEnvironment$94kHealth$62kScience & Tech$52kRecreation & Sports$35kOther$0
02FY2025 · 5 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k4 grants · $20k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $90k
$5,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$1.6M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
FINGER LAKES LAND TRUST$90,000
TOM BROWNING BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB$5,000
HAYS SYMPHONY GUILD$5,000
HAYS MEDICAL FOUNDATION$5,000
THE WASHINGTON OPERA HOUSE$5,000
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 (FY20–23, $33k) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, 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%Tanzanian Children's Fund: $18k → 8%ST JOSEPH INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF: $15k → 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.

Which US states its grants reach

MI
NY
MA
IA
OH
CO
MO
KY
KS
LA
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.

65%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$542k · 14 repeat orgs$296k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +54% since the first grant, against +25% for those funded once.

14 repeat relationships: 2 still active in FY2025, 12 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

14
28

Total granted

$542k
$196k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+54%
+25%

Still filing today

79%
54%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 9% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $100k went to new ones.

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

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

’17’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Arts & CultureEducationHealthEnvironmentYouth DevelopmentHuman 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

  • TB
    TOM BROWNING BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
    8× · 2017–2025 · $125k · revenue +29%
  • TA
    TABOR ACADEMY
    4× · 2019–2023 · $78k · revenue +54%
  • PR
    PALEONTOLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTION
    3× · 2019–2024 · $52k · revenue +43%

Funded once

  • CA
    COLUMBUS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTSgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $30k · revenue +367%
  • TT
    THE TANZANIAN CHILDRENS FUND INC
    one grant, 2023 · $18k · revenue +0%
  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2019 · $15k
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
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
2
Colorado Museum of Natural History

Be a catalyst! Ignite our community's passion for nature and science.

Arts & Culture
3
Lincoln Children's Museum

The lincoln children's museum invites children to create, discover and learn through the power of play.

Arts & Culture
4
University of New Haven

The University of New Haven is a student-centered comprehensive university with an emphasis on excellence in liberal arts and professional education. Our mission is to prepare our students to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in a…

Education
5
Museum of Arts and Design

To collect, display and interpret objects in craft art and design.

Arts & Culture
6
Delaware Museum of Nature and Science Inc

The museum is an educational corporation formed to ignite a life-long passion for exploring, discovering, and valuing nature and science.

—
7
Columbia College

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

Education
8
Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce

The chamber is a member association designed to be the leading advocate for the business community of the greater dayton region. its mission is to work shoulder to shoulder with businesses to help them succeed.

—
9
Heckscher Museum

Museum has a mission to create opportunties for everyone to experience art that broadens understanding of the past, fosters community connections to the present, and creates diverse possbilities for the future.

Arts & Culture
10
Cincinnati Museum Center

Cincinnati museum center inspires people of all ages to learn more about our world through science, regional history, and educational, engaging and meaningful experiences.

Arts & Culture
11
Houston Botanic Garden

To enrich life through discovery, education, and the conservation of plants and the natural environment.

Environment
12
Zoological Society of Pittsburgh

The zoological society of pittsburgh is dedicated to being a leader in, and significant contributor to, the conservation of endangered and threatened species. the society provides an enjoyable family experience that fosters understanding,…

Animals
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Beyond Housing Inc; the most unlike its peers is Tom Browning Boys and Girls Club. 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

29 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. 29 of the 46 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)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
28/29
Grantees still filing
20/29
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

CATCO: $60,000 · OtherCATCOPALEONTOLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTION: $52,000 · OtherPALEONTOLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTIONTHE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF ITHACA AND TOMPKINS COUNTY: $51,000 · OtherTHE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF ITHA…WASHINGTON OPERA HOUSE INC: $33,000 · OtherWASHINGTON OPERA HOUSE INCST PETERS EPISCOPAL CHURCH: $17,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $15,000 · OtherHILLTOP PRESCHOOL: $15,000 · OtherAMERICAN RED CROSS HURRICANE RELIEF: $12,500 · OtherCORNELL UNIVERSITY WOMENS SWIMMING ENDOWMENT: $12,500 · OtherCharlevoix County Community Foundation: $20,000 · OtherCharlevoix County Community Foundation+16 more: $56,500 · Other+16 moreTABOR ACADEMY: $78,000 · EducationTABOR ACADEMYCITY ACADEMY INC: $25,000 · EducationCITY ACADEMY INCDANA HALL SCHOOL: $23,000 · EducationDANA HALL SCHOOLCornell University: $21,000 · EducationCornell UniversityTOM BROWNING BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB: $125,000 · Youth DevelopmentTOM BROWNING BOYS…FRIENDS OF THE ITHACA YOUTH BUREAU: $6,000 · Youth DevelopmentThe Finger Lakes Land Trust Inc: $90,000 · EnvironmentThe Finger Lake…Forest Park Forever Inc: $20,000 · EnvironmentForest Park For…SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION: $4,000 · EnvironmentCOLUMBUS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS: $30,000 · Arts & CultureMAYSVILLE PLAYERS INC: $5,000 · Arts & CultureDAYTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY: $5,000 · Arts & CultureTHE DAYTON ART INSTITUTE: $5,000 · Arts & CultureVICTORIA THEATRE ASSOCIATION: $5,000 · Arts & CultureSTEAMBOAT ART MUSEUM: $2,000 · Arts & CultureMARY BIRD PERKINS CANCER CENTER: $15,000 · HealthDAYTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $12,500 · HealthFAMILY & CHILDREN'S SERVICE OF ITHACA INC: $9,000 · HealthTHE TANZANIAN CHILDRENS FUND INC: $18,000 · Human ServicesST JOSEPH INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF: $15,000 · Human Services
Other$344,500Education$147,000Youth Development$131,000Environment$114,000Arts & Culture$52,000Health$36,500Human Services$33,000

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 budgetTOM BROWNING BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB: $125,000 over 8y, 11% of budgetThe Finger Lakes Land Trust Inc: $90,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetTABOR ACADEMY: $78,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetPALEONTOLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTION: $52,000 over 3y, 1.2% of budgetTHE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF ITHACA AND TOMPKINS COUNTY: $51,000 over 2y, 3.6% of budgetWASHINGTON OPERA HOUSE INC: $33,000 over 7y, 8.9% of budgetCOLUMBUS ASSOCIATION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS: $30,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetCITY ACADEMY INC: $25,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetDANA HALL SCHOOL: $23,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCornell University: $21,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetForest Park Forever Inc: $20,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCharlevoix County Community Foundation: $20,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetTHE TANZANIAN CHILDRENS FUND INC: $18,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetMARY BIRD PERKINS CANCER CENTER: $15,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetDAYTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $12,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFAMILY & CHILDREN'S SERVICE OF ITHACA INC: $9,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetBEYOND HOUSING INC: $7,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE ITHACA YOUTH BUREAU: $6,000 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetMAYSVILLE PLAYERS INC: $5,000 over 1y, 3.3% of budgetDAYTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE DAYTON ART INSTITUTE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetVICTORIA THEATRE ASSOCIATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION: $4,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSTEAMBOAT ART MUSEUM: $2,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetTHE GREATER ST LOUIS ARTS AND EDUCATION COUNCIL: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetAlmost Home: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE HAVEN OF GRACE: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% 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 loosely connected circle, clustered around a few shared anchors.

Russell E Browning Fa…The Riley Family Foun…St Louis Community Fo…Kettering Family Foun…United Way of Greater…The Dayton Power and …Fischer-Bauer-Knirps …United Way of Tompkin…Tompkins Charitable G…Legacy Foundation of …Mathile Family Founda…Community Foundation …
Russell E Browning Family Foundation IncMO24.2× affinity9 shared granteesties to 5 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Russell E Browning Family Foundation Inc · The Riley Family Foundation Inc · St Louis Community Foundation Inc · Kettering Family Foundation · United Way of Greater St Louis Inc · The Dayton Power and Light Company Foundation Dba Aes Ohio Foundation · Fischer-Bauer-Knirps Foundation · United Way of Tompkins County Inc · Tompkins Charitable Gift Fund Inc · Legacy Foundation of Tompkins County · Mathile Family Foundation · Community Foundation of Tompkins County Inc

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 Robert E Browning Fund funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Robert E Browning Fund. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 30%1%4%8%15%funder's share of their income ↑0%5%10%15%20%share of the org’s income from government →median 4%
  • Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation: 4% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
3get 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 · 0–20%
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 Robert E Browning Fund?

Find your warmest path to Robert E Browning Fund 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 46 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 Robert E Browning’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