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Rockwater Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Rockwater Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$3.2M
Granted FY2024still arriving
8
Grants FY2024still arriving
5
States reached
$1.5M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
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 2024.

International$9.3MReligion$6.3MEducation$2.2MCommunity Improvement$1.4MArts & Culture$1.0MPhilanthropy$1.0MCrime & Legal$698kAnimals$200kOther$0
02FY2024 · 8 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • $50k–250k4 grants · $450k
  • $250k+4 grants · $2.7M
$250,000
Median grant
5
States reached
$39M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION$1,523,564
REALITY SAN FRANCISCO CHURCH$513,960
ABLE WORKS$450,000
BIBLEPROJECT$250,000
ROCKET DOG RESCUE INC$200,000
MINNEHAHA ACADEMY$150,000
AWAKE INC$50,000
MISSION DOLORES ACADEMY$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:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY17–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 7%. 77% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 7%PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE: $991k → 8%VINEYARD ASSEMBLY OF GOD: $10k → 8%MINNEHAHA ACADEMY: $150k → 11%TRANSFORMING THE BAY WITH CHRIST: $600k → 7%THE PENINSULA BRIDGE PROGRAM: $52k → 7%PENINSULA ARTS GUILD: $1.0M → 8%THE WELL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY: $20k → 10%ABLE WORKS: $450k → 10%MERCY SHIPS: $3.0M → 12%EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE: $489k → 18%AWAKE INC: $50k → 14%BIBLEPROJECT: $250k → 12%RAIZ FOUNDATION INC: $6k → 14%MORGAN STANLEY GLOBAL IMPACT FUNDING TRUST INC: $1.0M → 16%INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION: $1.5M → 7%FAITH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: $150k → 8%PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE: $372k → 8%TRANSFORMING THE BAY WITH CHRIST: $207k → 7%THE PENINSULA BRIDGE PROGRAM: $15k → 7%EASTSIDE COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL INC: $250k → 8%ALBERTO MOTTESI EVANGELISTIC ASSOC INC: $30k → 10%ABLE WORKS: $449k → 10%MERCY SHIPS: $3.0M → 12%BIBLEPROJECT: $250k → 12%MENLO PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: $2.5M → 7%ABLE WORKS: $202k → 8%NURU INTERNATIONAL: $50k → 10%ABLE WORKS: $250k → 10%MERCY SHIPS: $1.5M → 12%MENLO PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: $50k → 7%ECUMENICAL HUNGER PROGRAM: $120k → 8%STRATUM: $1.1M → 10%MERCY SHIPS: $50k → 12%MENLO PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: $25k → 7%ECUMENICAL HUNGER PROGRAM: $51k → 8%MISSION DOLORES ACADEMY: $103k → 10%RIEKES CENTER FOR HUMAN ENHANCEMENT: $15k → 7%ABLE WORKS: $20k → 8%MISSION DOLORES ACADEMY: $50k → 10%MENLO CHURCH: $10k → 7%ABLE WORKS: $8k → 8%REALITY SAN FRANCISCO CHURCH: $514k → 10%MENLO SCHOOL: $15k → 7%REALITY SAN FRANCISCO CHURCH: $200k → 10%PENINSULA COVENANT CHURCH: $51k → 7%TRANSFORMING THE BAY WITH CHRIST: $198k → 8%MENLO SCHOOL: $10k → 7%TRANSFORMING THE BAY WITH CHRIST: $201k → 8%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
MA
OR
IN
RI
CA
VA
KS
DC
AL
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.
04

Where the work is directed

The same grants placed two ways: where each recipient sits, and where its stated purpose sends the money.

About 9% of Rockwater Foundation’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address.

Rockwater Foundationlessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address · 8.1% directed abroad (not shown)
How this is measured
Recipient view: each grant at its grantee’s ZIP, mapped to a county. Directed view: each grant at the county its stated purpose names, falling back to the recipient’s county when the purpose names no place; US grants only. A county shows only if it carries the top 95% of that view’s dollars. Purposes are read from the funder’s own 990 grant descriptions.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

78%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$16M · 13 repeat orgs$4.6M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +52% since the first grant, against +0% for those funded once.

13 repeat relationships: 5 still active in FY2024, 8 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

13
14

Total granted

$16M
$4.2M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+52%
+0%

Still filing today

77%
57%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 87% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $400k went to new ones.

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

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
ReligionEducationInternationalEnvironmentArts & CultureFood & NutritionOther
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

  • Mercy Ships International
    4× · 2018–2022 · $7.6M · revenue +114%
  • IJ
    INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION
    2× · 2022–2024 · $1.6M · revenue +368%
  • AW
    ABLE WORKS
    6× · 2017–2024 · $1.4M · revenue +42% · 26% of their budget

Funded once

  • S
    STRATUM
    one grant, 2022 · $1.1M · revenue -41% · 42% of their budget
  • MS
    MORGAN STANLEY GLOBAL IMPACT FUNDING TRUST INC
    one grant, 2020 · $1.0M
  • PA
    PENINSULA ARTS GUILD
    one grant, 2018 · $1.0M · revenue +16%
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
Golden Gate University

Golden gate university prepares individuals to lead and serve by providing high quality, practice-based educational programs in law, taxation, business and related professions - as a nonprofit institution - in an innovative and challenging…

Education
2
Presidio Hill School

Presidio hill school is a co-ed k-8 independent, progressive school. learning is collaborative and an active experience with an emphasis on inquiry. students are engaged in their own learning and guided by an expert faculty through a…

Education
3
The International School of San Francisco

Guided by the principles of academic rigor and diversity, the international school of san francisco offers programs of study in french and english to prepare its graduates for a world in which the ability to think critically and to…

Education
4
Boston Architectural College

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

—
5
Evangel University

Evangel is a comprehensive christian university that is committed to excellence in educating and equipping students to become spirit empowered servants of god who will impact the church and society globally.

Education
6
Dominican University of California

Our institutional mission is to educate and prepare students to be ethical leaders and socially responsible global citizens who incorporate the dominican values of study, reflection, community and service into their lives.

Education
7
President-Board of Trustees Santa Clara College

Scu is a catholic and jesuit institution that makes student learning its central focus, promotes faculty and staff learning in its various forms, and exhibits organizational learning.

Education
8
California Institute of Integral Studies

Ciis is an institution of higher education that encourages an interdisciplinary approach to learning. over 1,700 students are enrolled in masters, doctoral, bachelor of arts completion programs, and certifications. ours is a mosaic of…

Education
9
Mills College

Mills college is an independent liberal arts college for women and gender nonbinary students, with graduate programs for all genders. the college educates students to think critically and communicate responsibly and effectively, to accept…

—
10
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.

—
11
International Budget Partnership

Ibp works with civil society, governments, international institutions and the private sector to bring about a world in which empowered citizens participate in open, inclusive public budgeting processes to shape policies and practices that…

International
12
Los Angeles Pacific University

Los angeles pacific university exists to deliver high quality, accessible christ-centered education to learners everywhere.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is International Justice Mission; the most unlike its peers is Raiz Foundation Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
05the 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 31 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.

3
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
1
Early backer (in before they grew)
22/22
Grantees still filing
16/22
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Mercy Ships International: $7,575,707 · InternationalMercy Ships InternationalINTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION: $1,623,564 · InternationalINTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION+1 more: $50,303 · InternationalMENLO PARK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: $2,582,017 · OtherMENLO PARK PRESBYTERIAN CH…MORGAN STANLEY GLOBAL IMPACT FUNDING TRUST INC: $1,000,000 · OtherMORGAN STANLEY GLOBAL IMPA…REALITY SAN FRANCISCO CHURCH: $713,960 · OtherREALITY SAN FRANCISCO CHUR…Special Operations - Finding Kids: $209,194 · OtherROCKETDOGRESCUE: $200,000 · Other+11 more: $563,746 · Other+11 moreTRANSFORMING THE BAY WITH CHRIST: $1,206,259 · ReligionTRANSFORMING T…STRATUM: $1,150,000 · ReligionSTRATUMBIBLEPROJECT: $500,000 · ReligionBIBLEPROJECT+1 more: $35,000 · ReligionPresident and Fellows of Harvard College: $1,368,183 · EducationPresident…EASTSIDE COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL INC: $250,252 · EducationEASTSIDE …Faith Christian School Inc: $150,000 · EducationFaith Chr…MINNEHAHA ACADEMY: $150,000 · EducationMINNEHAHA…+1 more: $15,036 · EducationABLE WORKS: $1,381,112 · Community ImprovementPENINSULA ARTS GUILD: $1,000,000 · Arts & CultureEQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE: $489,013 · Civil Rights
International$9,249,574Other$5,268,917Religion$2,891,259Education$1,933,471Community Improvement$1,381,112Arts & Culture$1,000,000Civil Rights$489,013

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 budgetMercy Ships International: $7,575,707 over 4y, 2.9% of budgetINTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION: $1,623,564 over 2y, 1.3% of budgetABLE WORKS: $1,381,112 over 6y, 26% of budgetPresident and Fellows of Harvard College: $1,368,183 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTRANSFORMING THE BAY WITH CHRIST: $1,206,259 over 3y, 72% of budgetSTRATUM: $1,150,000 over 1y, 42% of budgetPENINSULA ARTS GUILD: $1,000,000 over 1y, 22% of budgetBIBLEPROJECT: $500,000 over 2y, 0.9% of budgetEQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE: $489,013 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetEASTSIDE COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL INC: $250,252 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetSpecial Operations - Finding Kids: $209,194 over 2y, 16% of budgetROCKETDOGRESCUE: $200,000 over 1y, 14% of budgetECUMENICAL HUNGER PROGRAM: $170,567 over 2y, 2.2% of budgetFaith Christian School Inc: $150,000 over 1y, 3.3% of budgetMINNEHAHA ACADEMY: $150,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetTHE PENINSULA BRIDGE PROGRAM: $67,159 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetNURU INTERNATIONAL: $50,303 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetAWAKE INC: $50,000 over 1y, 12% of budgetALBERTO MOTTESI EVANGELISTIC ASSOC INC: $35,000 over 2y, 1.3% of budgetMENLO SCHOOL: $25,076 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetRiekes Center for Human Enhancement: $15,036 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetRAIZ FOUNDATION INC: $6,000 over 1y, 1.2% 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.

Marin Community Found…Silicon Valley Commun…The San Francisco Fou…Bright Funds Foundati…Gs Donor Advised Phil…Morgan Stanley Global…Philanthropic Venture…National Philanthropi…United Way WorldwideAbbVie FoundationThe US Charitable Gif…American Endowment Fo…
Marin Community FoundationCA19.9× affinity8 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Marin Community Foundation · Silicon Valley Community Foundation · The San Francisco Foundation · Bright Funds Foundation · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Philanthropic Ventures Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · United Way Worldwide · AbbVie Foundation · The US Charitable Gift Trust · American Endowment 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 Rockwater Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Rockwater Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%5%19%42%75%funder's share of their income ↑0%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from government →median 7%
  • President and Fellows of Harvard College: 7% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
1get 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 · 0–50%
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 31 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 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Rockwater’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