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Russell Wilson Foundation at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Public charity

Russell Wilson Foundation

The RUSSELL WILSON FOUNDATION dba why not you foundation was established to empower youth to lead with a why not you attitude by investing in youth education and health programs in communities with the greatest need.

$608k
Granted FY2024still arriving
8
Grants FY2024still arriving
5
States reached
$211k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
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.

Health$2.7MEducation$2.3MYouth Development$1.0MHuman Services$116kArts & Culture$75kInternational$16kPhilanthropy$5kCommunity Improvement$3k
02FY2024 · 8 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 8 grants below total $591,000, the rows itemized in this filing. The $608,217 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $17,217 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2024

  • $10k–50k4 grants · $105k
  • $50k–250k4 grants · $486k
$75,000
Median grant
5
States reached
$99k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF WESTERN PA$211,000
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION$100,000
MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA$100,000
FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN NATIONAL$75,000
SALVATION ARMY$45,000
THE V FOUNDATION$25,000
CANCER BRIDGES$25,000
PITTSBURGH SCHOOL DISTRICT$10,000
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 (FY17–23, $232k) land where the poverty rate runs at 7%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%A PRECIOUS CHILD: $100k → 5%FOSTERING HOPE FOUNDATION: $100k → 9%BELLEVUE LIFESPRING: $16k → 9%RWANDA GIRLS INITIATIVE: $16k → 9%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

WA
NY
OR
PA
UT
CO
AZ
NC
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.

68%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$4.2M · 3 repeat orgs$2.0M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +190% since the first grant, against +7% for those funded once.

3 repeat relationships: 0 still active in FY2024, 3 since wound down; 8 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

3
22

Total granted

$4.2M
$1.4M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+190%
+7%

Still filing today

100%
91%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 0% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $591k 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
HealthEducationYouth DevelopmentHuman ServicesArts & CulturePublic 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

  • CP
    Cascade Public Schools Why Not You Academy
    4× · 2020–2023 · $1.9M · revenue +207% · 28% of their budget
  • SC
    Seattle Children's Foundation
    3× · 2017–2022 · $1.2M · revenue +190%
  • FO
    FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN - SEATTLE
    4× · 2017–2020 · $1.0M · revenue +76%

Funded once

  • BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF METRO DENVER INC
    one grant, 2023 · $100k · revenue +1%
  • CP
    Community Partnership for Child Development
    one grant, 2023 · $100k · revenue +3%
  • KI
    KIDS IN NEED OF DENTISTRY
    one grant, 2023 · $100k · revenue +6%
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
Children's Hospital Corporation

Provider of pediatric healthcare, education, research & community service

Health
2
Seattle Children's Guild Association

Seattle children's guild association advocates for seattle children's hospital through volunteer, philanthropic and community endeavors to ensure hope, excellent care and advanced cures for children.

—
3
Seattle Children's Healthcare System

Seattle children's healthcare system (schs) is engaged in activities relating to the provision of health care services to infants, children, and adolescents, delivering and improving the delivery and the quality of those services through…

Health
4
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

The children's hospital of philadelphia, the oldest hospital in the united states dedicated exclusively to pediatrics, strives to be the world leader in the advancement of health care for children by integrating excellent patient care,…

Health
5
Curesearch for Children's Cancer

Curesearch's mission is to fund & support targeted & innovative cancer research with measurable results, & to be the authoritative source of information & resources for all those affected by children's cancer. see schedule o for…

Health
6
University Cooperative School

We take a joyful, community-oriented approach to raising engaged citizens, deep learners, and brave adventurers with the skills, creativity, and heart needed to better the world.

—
7
Friends of the Children-Portland

Friends - portland commits to standing alongside our community's youth as they work to overcome barriers to their success. each child receives 1:1 support and guidance from a salaried, professional mentor (called a friend), from…

Youth Development
8
The Association of Chrmc and University Physicians

Children's university medical group (cumg) is the non-profit pediatric group practice established to support the academic, research and clinical missions of its corporate members, university of washington school of medicine (uwsom) and…

Health
9
Kids in Need Foundation

We believe every child in america should have equal opportunity and resources to engage in a quality education. by partnering with teachers and students in under-resourced schools, we provide the support needed to create equitable learning…

Education
10
Chicago Public Education Fund

The chicago public education fund (the fund) is a nonprofit organization that improves public schools in chicago by investing in the talented educators who lead them.

Education
11
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Inc

To make kids better today and healthier tomorrow.

Health
12
Children's Council of San Francisco

By advocating for quality early care and education, empowering families with information and financial support, and building the capabilities of educators, Children's Council of San Francisco ensures that every child in San Francisco has…

Human Services
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Make-a-Wish Foundation of America; the most unlike its peers is Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Denver 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

30 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. 30 of the 34 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.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
30/30
Grantees still filing
24/30
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Cascade Public Schools Why Not You Academy: $1,915,794 · EducationCascade Public Schools Why Not You AcademyCommunity Partnership for Child Development: $100,000 · EducationEducating Children of Color Inc: $100,000 · EducationCollege Success Foundation: $90,000 · EducationKing County Library System Foundation: $88,000 · Education+1 more: $16,000 · EducationSeattle Children's Foundation: $1,246,122 · OtherSeattle Children's Foundati…BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF METRO DENVER INC: $100,000 · OtherBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF MET…MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA: $100,000 · OtherMAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF A…+4 more: $63,080 · OtherFRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN - SEATTLE: $1,022,151 · Youth DevelopmentFRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN -…BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA: $211,000 · Youth DevelopmentBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF W…REACH OUT AND READ COLORADO: $100,000 · Youth DevelopmentREACH OUT AND READ COLORA…FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN: $75,000 · Youth DevelopmentKIDS IN NEED OF DENTISTRY: $100,000 · HealthKIDS IN NE…KIDS FIRST HEALTH CARE: $100,000 · HealthKIDS FIRST…EYE CARE FOR KIDS - Utah: $100,000 · HealthEYE CARE F…CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION: $100,000 · HealthCHILDREN'S…SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: $78,283 · HealthSEATTLE CH…CANCER BRIDGES: $25,000 · HealthChildren's Hospital Colorado Foundation: $25,000 · HealthTHE V FOUNDATION: $25,000 · Health+1 more: $5,000 · HealthFOSTERING HOPE FOUNDATION: $100,000 · Human ServicesA PRECIOUS CHILD INC: $100,000 · Human ServicesRwanda Girls Initiative: $16,000 · Human ServicesOVERLAKE SERVICE LEAGUE: $16,000 · Human ServicesKIDS ON BIKES INC: $100,000 · Public Safety & DisasterSEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC: $50,000 · Arts & CultureSEATTLE THEATRE GROUP: $25,000 · Arts & CultureSEATTLE FOUNDATION: $5,000 · Philanthropy
Education$2,309,794Other$1,509,202Youth Development$1,408,151Health$558,283Human Services$232,000Public Safety & Disaster$100,000Arts & Culture$75,000Philanthropy$5,000

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 budgetCascade Public Schools Why Not You Academy: $1,915,794 over 4y, 28% of budgetSeattle Children's Foundation: $1,246,122 over 3y, 0.5% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN - SEATTLE: $1,022,151 over 4y, 14% of budgetBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA: $211,000 over 1y, 3.1% of budgetBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF METRO DENVER INC: $100,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetCommunity Partnership for Child Development: $100,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetKIDS IN NEED OF DENTISTRY: $100,000 over 1y, 6.3% of budgetMAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA: $100,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetEducating Children of Color Inc: $100,000 over 1y, 21% of budgetREACH OUT AND READ COLORADO: $100,000 over 1y, 5.9% of budgetFOSTERING HOPE FOUNDATION: $100,000 over 1y, 8.0% of budgetKIDS FIRST HEALTH CARE: $100,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetEYE CARE FOR KIDS - Utah: $100,000 over 1y, 2.8% of budgetCHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION: $100,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetA PRECIOUS CHILD INC: $100,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetKIDS ON BIKES INC: $100,000 over 1y, 11% of budgetCollege Success Foundation: $90,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetKing County Library System Foundation: $88,000 over 1y, 5.1% of budgetSEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: $78,283 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN: $75,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetSEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSEATTLE THEATRE GROUP: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCANCER BRIDGES: $25,000 over 1y, 2.9% of budgetChildren's Hospital Colorado Foundation: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE V FOUNDATION: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetRwanda Girls Initiative: $16,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetRAINIER SCHOLARS: $16,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetOVERLAKE SERVICE LEAGUE: $16,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSEATTLE FOUNDATION: $5,000 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.

Seattle FoundationColorado Gives Founda…Hill Foundation Wells…Moccasin Lake Foundat…United Way of King Co…Puget Sound Energy Fo…El Pomar FoundationDelta Dental Plan of …Colorado Springs Heal…The Joseph Henry Edmo…The Anschutz Foundati…Pikes Peak Community …
Seattle FoundationWA17.5× affinity7 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Seattle Foundation · Colorado Gives Foundation · Hill Foundation Wells Fargo Bank Na · Moccasin Lake Foundation · United Way of King County · Puget Sound Energy Foundation · El Pomar Foundation · Delta Dental Plan of Colorado Foundation Inc · Colorado Springs Health Foundation · The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation · The Anschutz Foundation · Pikes Peak Community 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 Russell Wilson Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Russell Wilson Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%2%8%17%30%funder's share of their income ↑0%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    13report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–75%
    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 Russell Wilson Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Russell Wilson 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 34 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 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 Russell Wilson’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