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Rowan Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Rowan 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.

$1.6M
Granted FY2024still arriving
23
Grants FY2024still arriving
4
States reached
$387k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead

Read this first · the figures below need context

74% of Rowan Foundation’s FY2025 grant dollars went to Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund, not to grantees.

Its money now reaches organizations through that sponsor, which does not report who recommended each grant. FY2025 names 3 organizations directly, so a portfolio cannot be read from it. Everything below is therefore FY2024, the last year Rowan Foundation named its own grantees at scale: 12 organizations, $2M. It is dated, not current.

Organizations named directly on the return

4
’22
8
’23
12
’24
3
’25

Amber years are those where most dollars went to a sponsor.

01What it funds
0188% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2022 to 2025.

Philanthropy$1.4MCivil Rights$1.4MInternational$698kHuman Services$395kHealth$348kFood & Nutrition$131kArts & Culture$110kCrime & Legal$108kOther$0
02FY2024 · 23 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • $10k–50k16 grants · $348k
  • $50k–250k6 grants · $884k
  • $250k+1 grant · $387k
$30,000
Median grant
4
States reached
$24M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
AMERICAN IRELAND FUND$387,304
IRISH COUNCIL CIVIL LIBERTIES$223,042
MIGRANT RIGHTS CENTER IE$220,514
Individual grant recipient$118,150
TRANSGENDER EQUALITY NETWORK IRELAND$109,435
THE HOPE AND COURAGE COLLECTIVE$108,590
Individual grant recipient$104,679
INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC DIALOGUE$48,000
THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION$40,000
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY$40,000
TRI COUNTY HEALTH NETWORK$30,000
ILLINOIS COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT REFUGEES$30,000
Individual grant recipient$25,000
CABRINIGREEN LEGAL AID$25,000
ANGEL BASKETS$20,000
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.

US giving: 61% of grant dollars ($3.2M). The need read here covers only this US portion; the 39% that went abroad ($2.0M) is mapped below.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY23–24, $35k) land where the poverty rate runs at 7%, against an area that typically sits at 13%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 13%ANGEL BASKETS: $20k → 7%SAN MIGUEL RESOURCE CENTER: $10k → 7%SAN MIGUEL RESOURCE CENTER: $5k → 7%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

IL
NY
MA
OH
PA
CA
CO
TN

Beyond the US: 39% of all-years giving ($2.0M)

2 countries, by the recipient’s country on the filing.

grant dollars sentlessmore
Ireland$2.0M · 16 grants
United Kingdom$48k · 1 grant
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. International giving is mapped by the recipient’s country from the same 990 filings; comparable need data isn’t available at that grain.
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 24% of Rowan Foundation’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address.

Rowan Foundationlessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address · 39% 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.

64%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$2.0M · 15 repeat orgs$1.1M to everyone else

15 repeat relationships: 13 still active in FY2024, 2 since wound down; 13 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call). Read against FY2024, the last year this funder named its own grantees directly; its giving has since run through a sponsor, which reports no donor behind each grant.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

15
7

Total granted

$2.0M
$567k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+8%
+20%

Still filing today

40%
29%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 77% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $120k went to new ones.

50%100%’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’22’23’24’25
Civil RightsHealthPhilanthropyHuman ServicesCrime & LegalArts & CultureOther
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

  • TH
    TRI-COUNTY HEALTH NETWORK
    3× · 2022–2024 · $100k · revenue +30%
  • CG
    CABRINI GREEN LEGAL AID
    3× · 2022–2024 · $75k · revenue +6%
  • JF
    Just For Kids Foundation Inc
    3× · 2023–2025 · $70k · revenue +8%

Funded once

  • UC
    UPLIFT CHARITY CORPORATION
    one grant, 2023 · $251k · revenue +20%
  • MR
    Migrant Rights Centre Ireland
    one grant, 2022 · $221k
  • II
    ILLINOIS IMMIGRATION FUNDERS
    one grant, 2023 · $50k
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
Cobalt Advocates

Cobalt advocates actualizes policies, structures and attitudes that secure unassailable reproductive autonomy and abortion access utilizing the political process and civic engagement.

—
2
Chicago Refugee Coalition

The Chicago Refugee Coalition is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated ot the alleviation of human suffering through innovative partnerships, advocacy and community empowerment.

Human Services
3
International Network for the Reduction of Abortion Discrimination and Stigma

The International Network for the Reduction of Abortion Discrimination and Stigma (inroads) builds cross-movement collective power, provides flexible resources, and strengthens movements across the global abortion justice ecosystem to…

Civil Rights
4
Iowa Abortion Access Fund

Grants to Iowa and Western Illinois residents for unmet medical expenses

—
5
Latino Union of Chicago

Latino Union works to defend the rights and dignity of contingent workers, including the right to immigrate, work, live free of oppression and violence, and provide for oneself and one's family.

Human Services
6
Legal Aid Chicago

At legal aid chicago, we work together to provide high quality civil legal aid to people living in poverty and other vulnerable groups.through advocacy, education, collaboration, and litigation we empower individuals, protect fundamental…

Crime & Legal
7
The Human Choice of Iowa

Mission is to provide women facing an unplanned pregnancy with truthful medical information and education. we are faith-based with a mission to encourage, through education and outreach, the recognition of human life from the moment of…

Human Services
8
National Network of Abortion Funds Lilith Fund

We provide financial assistance and emotional support while building community spaces for people who need abortions in texas unapologetically, with compassion and conviction. through organizing and movement-building, we foster a positive…

Environment
9
Montana Abortion Access Program

Maap protects and fosters reproductive autonomy by providing access to abortion care through financial, logistical and emotional support.

—
10
The Women's Clinic of Columbus

Women's health clinic focusing on helping at-risk parents deal with issues related to prenancy and parenting.

Health
11
Blue Ridge Abortion Fund Inc

Blue ridge abortion fund (braf) supports autonomy in reproductive decision making by providing financial, logistical, and emotional support to virginians, or people traveling to virginia for abortion care. (continued on sch. o)we also seek…

Health
12
New York Abortion Access Fund

The New York Abortion Access Fund (NYAAF) supports New Yorkers and people traveling to New York State to access abortion care through financial assistance, case management, and connections to other resources.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Crossroads Fund Inc; the most unlike its peers is Natural Resources Defense Council 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

19 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. 19 of the 38 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)
19/19
Grantees still filing
11/19
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

THE AMERICAN IRELAND FUND (DBA THE IRELAND FUNDS AMERICA/THE IRELAND FUNDS): $698,147 · OtherTHE AMERICAN IRELAND FUND (DBA THE IRELAND FUNDS AMERICA/THE IRELAND …MIGRANT RIGHTS CENTER IE: $433,966 · OtherMIGRANT RIGHTS CENTER IEIndividual grant recipient: $232,954 · OtherIndividual grant recipientTHE HOPE AND COURAGE COLLECTIVE: $225,160 · OtherTHE HOPE AND COURAGE COLLECTIVEIRISH COUNCIL CIVIL LIBERTIES: $223,042 · OtherIRISH COUNCIL CIVIL LIBERTIESMigrant Rights Centre Ireland: $220,532 · OtherMigrant Rights Centre IrelandCITYWIDE DRUGS CRISIS CAMPAIGN: $218,290 · OtherCITYWIDE DRUGS CRISIS CAMPAIGNIndividual grant recipient: $198,585 · OtherIndividual grant recipientTRANSGENDER EQUALITY NETWORK IRELAND: $109,435 · OtherUPLIFT: $108,843 · Other+17 more: $558,942 · Other+17 moreFIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND: $1,320,000 · Community ImprovementFIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITA…UPLIFT CHARITY CORPORATION: $251,252 · PhilanthropyJust For Kids Foundation Inc: $70,000 · PhilanthropyUPLIFT SOLUTIONS INC: $130,653 · Food & NutritionTRI-COUNTY HEALTH NETWORK: $100,000 · HealthCOLORADO DOULA PROJECT: $10,000 · HealthMEDICAL STUDENTS FOR CHOICE: $10,000 · HealthILLINOIS COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS: $70,000 · Civil RightsCOBALT FOUNDATION: $10,000 · Civil RightsMIDWEST ACCESS COALITION: $10,000 · Civil RightsCABRINI GREEN LEGAL AID: $75,000 · Crime & Legal
Other$3,227,896Community Improvement$1,320,000Philanthropy$321,252Food & Nutrition$130,653Health$120,000Civil Rights$90,000Crime & Legal$75,000

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 budgetFIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND: $1,320,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE AMERICAN IRELAND FUND (DBA THE IRELAND FUNDS AMERICA/THE IRELAND FUNDS): $698,147 over 3y, 1.1% of budgetUPLIFT CHARITY CORPORATION: $251,252 over 1y, 9.6% of budgetUPLIFT SOLUTIONS INC: $130,653 over 1y, 9.0% of budgetCROSSROADS FUND INC: $100,000 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetTRI-COUNTY HEALTH NETWORK: $100,000 over 3y, 1.8% of budgetCABRINI GREEN LEGAL AID: $75,000 over 3y, 0.8% of budgetJust For Kids Foundation Inc: $70,000 over 3y, 19% of budgetILLINOIS COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS: $70,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetAngel Baskets Inc: $20,000 over 1y, 9.9% of budgetSAN MIGUEL RESOURCE CENTER (SMRC): $15,000 over 2y, 0.8% of budgetCOBALT FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCHICAGO ABORTION FUND: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCOLORADO DOULA PROJECT: $10,000 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetMIDWEST ACCESS COALITION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetMEDICAL STUDENTS FOR CHOICE: $10,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetCHICAGO PUBLIC MEDIA INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMemphis Center For Reproductive Health Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC: $1,000 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.

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.

Peter Kinney and Lisa…Telluride FoundationThe Denver FoundationNew Venture FundNational Philanthropi…Network for GoodVanguard Charitable E…American Online Givin…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Peter Kinney and Lisa Sandquist FoundationIL13.6× affinity4 shared granteesties to 10 of 10Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Peter Kinney and Lisa Sandquist Foundation · Telluride Foundation · The Denver Foundation · New Venture Fund · National Philanthropic Trust · Network for Good · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving 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 Rowan Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Rowan Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%1%5%11%20%funder's share of their income ↑0%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    2get no government money at all
    7report 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.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Rowan Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Rowan 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 38 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 Rowan’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