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Rydell Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Rydell Family 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.

$93k
Granted FY2025still arriving
12
Grants FY2025still arriving
3
States reached
$29k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0194% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Religion$303kEducation$122kPhilanthropy$112kHealth$50kHousing & Shelter$19kArts & Culture$18kEnvironment$18kHuman Services$17kOther$0
02FY2025 · 12 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k7 grants · $9k
  • $10k–50k5 grants · $84k
$5,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$908k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
United Way of Rock River Valley$29,000
St Mark Lutheran Church$22,750
Alpine Academy of Rockford$12,000
Seventh Street Coffee Inc$10,000
Christian Life Schools$10,000
Rosecrance Foundation$5,000
Rockford University$2,500
Rock Valley College Foundation$1,000
American Heart Association$250
Kids Around The World$250
Central Christian Church$250
Bethesda Covenant Church$200
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, $21k) land where the poverty rate runs at 13%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 76% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%Bravehearts Theapeutic Riding and Educational Center: $5k → 6%The Salvation Army Services Inc: $500 → 14%HONOR FLIGHT CHICAGO: $150 → 14%LAURENT HOUSE FOUNDATION: $1k → 15%Laurent House Foundation: $1k → 15%Seventh Street Coffee Inc: $10k → 15%CARPENTERS PLACE: $3k → 15%Carpenter's Place: $500 → 15%CARPENTERS PLACE: $250 → 15%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.

77%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$558k · 19 repeat orgs$168k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +16% since the first grant, against +1% for those funded once.

19 repeat relationships: 7 still active in FY2025, 12 since wound down; 5 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

19
53

Total granted

$558k
$144k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+16%
+1%

Still filing today

58%
38%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 75% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $23k 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
Human ServicesEducationArts & CulturePhilanthropyYouth DevelopmentHealthOther
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

  • RF
    ROSECRANCE FOUNDATION INC
    5× · 2018–2025 · $26k · revenue +153%
  • RU
    ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY
    5× · 2018–2025 · $25k · revenue +16%
  • RP
    ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT FOUNDATION
    2× · 2019–2021 · $16k · revenue +162%

Funded once

  • TL
    THE LINCOLN ACADEMY OF ILLINOIS
    one grant, 2018 · $50k · revenue -7%
  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2023 · $10k
  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
    one grant, 2022 · $10k
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
Northern Illinois Blood Bank Inc D/B/a Rock River Valley Blood Center

Rock river valley blood center, in partnership with our community, is dedicated to providing safe, high value blood products and services to people in need.

Health
2
The Rockford Institute

To provide analysis and commentary on cultural, economic, political, and educational issues through a published monthly opinion magazine and to operate continuing adult educational conferences in american and european literature and…

—
3
Rockford Day Nursery

It is the mission of this corporation to provide quality care for children between the ages of six weeks and twelve years whose parents are employed or in training.

Human Services
4
Rockford Community Investment Fund

To support housing and community development ventures

Community Improvement
5
Rockford Area Economic Development Council Inc

The rockford area economic development council cultivates opportunities for primary job growth that increase the economic well-being of our region

—
6
Rockford Regional Health Council

Rockford regional health council is a not-for-profit social service corporation organized under the laws of the state of illinois for the purpose of improving community health through data gatering and analysis, education and advocacy.

—
7
Rockford Municipal Employees Credit Union

Our purpose is to provide financial services to our members with competitive rates while maintaining our financial stability.

—
8
Swedish Historical Society of Rockford

Preservation of swedish historical structure, culture and artifacts through the operations of a museum and cultural center.

Arts & Culture
9
Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity

To advocate on behalf of those in need of decent shelter by building and renovating affordable houses.

Housing & Shelter
10
Rockford Area Community Endowment

Rockford area community endowment is a local foundation committed to assisting rockford area residents, businesses, government and volunteer organizations to expand opportunities locally. race was founded in 1964.

Philanthropy
11
Mosaic Illinois Housing of Rockford I

The organization provides low income affordable housing under illinois housing development authority guidelines.

Health
12
Racine Zoological Society Inc

The mission of the racine zoological society is to foster an enlightening and affordable wildlife experience that improves the bond between people and nature. the society will provide for the recreation and education of the people, the…

Animals
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Rockford Rescue Mission Ministries; the most unlike its peers is Life Decisions 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

35 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. 35 of the 78 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)
34/35
Grantees still filing
21/35
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

ST MARKS LUTHERAN CHURCH: $123,850 · OtherST MARKS LUTHERAN CHURCHST MARK LUTHERAN CHURCH: $95,300 · OtherST MARK LUTHERAN CHURCHHEARTLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH: $70,000 · OtherHEARTLAND COMMUNITY CHURCHChristian Life Schools: $20,000 · Other+55 more: $120,825 · Other+55 moreUNITED WAY OF ROCK RIVER VALLEY: $112,250 · PhilanthropyUNITED WAY OF ROCK RI…ROSECRANCE FOUNDATION INC: $26,000 · PhilanthropyROSECRANCE FOUNDATION…THE LINCOLN ACADEMY OF ILLINOIS: $50,000 · EducationTHE LINCOLN AC…ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY: $25,250 · EducationROCKFORD UNIVE…ROCKFORD RESCUE MISSION MINISTRIES: $15,250 · EducationROCKFORD RESCU…+1 more: $1,000 · EducationSEVENTH STREET COFFEE INC: $10,000 · Human ServicesBRAVEHEARTS THERAPEUTIC RIDING AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER: $5,000 · Human ServicesCARPENTER'S PLACE INC: $3,250 · Human ServicesLAURENT HOUSE FOUNDATION INC: $2,000 · Human Services+2 more: $650 · Human ServicesLIFE DECISIONS INC: $12,500 · Youth DevelopmentKIDS AROUND THE WORLD INC: $7,250 · Youth DevelopmentROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT FOUNDATION: $16,000 · EnvironmentROCKFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS INC: $5,000 · Arts & CultureROCKFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION: $3,500 · Arts & CultureMIDWAY VILLAGE & MUSEUM CENTER: $1,328 · Arts & Culture+1 more: $100 · Arts & Culture
Other$429,975Philanthropy$138,250Education$91,500Human Services$20,900Youth Development$19,750Environment$16,000Arts & Culture$9,928

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetUNITED WAY OF ROCK RIVER VALLEY: $112,250 over 6y, 0.7% of budgetTHE LINCOLN ACADEMY OF ILLINOIS: $50,000 over 1y, 8.0% of budgetROSECRANCE FOUNDATION INC: $26,000 over 5y, 0.6% of budgetROCKFORD UNIVERSITY: $25,250 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT FOUNDATION: $16,000 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetROCKFORD RESCUE MISSION MINISTRIES: $15,250 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetLIFE DECISIONS INC: $12,500 over 2y, 2.7% of budgetSwedishAmerican Health Foundation: $11,600 over 2y, 0.9% of budgetSEVENTH STREET COFFEE INC: $10,000 over 1y, 3.3% of budgetKIDS AROUND THE WORLD INC: $7,250 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetBRAVEHEARTS THERAPEUTIC RIDING AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetGeneva Lake Water Safety Committee Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetROCKFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION: $3,500 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetCARPENTER'S PLACE INC: $3,250 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetLAURENT HOUSE FOUNDATION INC: $2,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetMIDWAY VILLAGE & MUSEUM CENTER: $1,328 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFRIENDS OF ROCKFORD POLICE K9 UNIT: $1,225 over 1y, 1.8% of budgetBRIDGE MINISTRIES OF ROCKFORD INC: $1,000 over 1y, 2.7% of budgetROCK VALLEY COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetIllinois Executive Mansion Association: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE ROTARY FOUNDATION OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetVETSROLL INC: $500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE SALVATION ARMY SERVICES INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Heart Association Inc: $500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCENTRAL ASIA SHARING AID: $500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetAlpine Rescue Team: $250 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSTATELINE YOUTH FOR CHRIST: $250 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetEUCLID VETERANS ASSOCIATION INC: $200 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC: $200 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetARTISTS' ENSEMBLE THEATER INC: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPAWS HUMANE SOCIETY: $100 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.

  • Who funds UNITED WAY OF ROCK RIVER VALLEY ↗
  • Who funds THE LINCOLN ACADEMY OF ILLINOIS ↗
  • Who funds ROSECRANCE FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds ROCKFORD UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds ROCKFORD RESCUE MISSION MINISTRIES ↗
  • Who funds LIFE DECISIONS INC ↗
  • Who funds SwedishAmerican Health Foundation ↗
  • Who funds SEVENTH STREET COFFEE INC ↗
  • Who funds KIDS AROUND THE WORLD INC ↗
  • Who funds ROCKFORD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS INC ↗
  • Who funds BRAVEHEARTS THERAPEUTIC RIDING AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER ↗
  • Who funds Geneva Lake Water Safety Committee Inc ↗
  • Who funds ROCKFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds CARPENTER'S PLACE INC ↗
  • Who funds LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF ILLINOIS ↗
  • Who funds LAURENT HOUSE FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds MIDWAY VILLAGE & MUSEUM CENTER ↗
  • Who funds FRIENDS OF ROCKFORD POLICE K9 UNIT ↗

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.

Community Foundation …Bergstrom Inc Charita…The Kjellstrom Family…Blazer FoundationTracy E Anderson Char…The David & Colleen A…Kristin L Anderson Ch…John & Linda Anderson…Jeffrey R Anderson Ch…John T Wolf Charitabl…Guy Reno Family Found…United Way of Rock Ri…
Community Foundation of Northern ILIL46.6× affinity20 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Community Foundation of Northern IL · Bergstrom Inc Charitable Foundation Xxxxx2008 · The Kjellstrom Family Foundation · Blazer Foundation · Tracy E Anderson Charitable Foundation · The David & Colleen Anderson Charitable Foundation · Kristin L Anderson Charitable Foundation · John & Linda Anderson Charitable Foundation · Jeffrey R Anderson Charitable Foundation · John T Wolf Charitable Trust II · Guy Reno Family Foundation · United Way of Rock River Valley

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 Rydell Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Rydell Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%4%8%11%15%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    5report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–15%
    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 78 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 Rydell Family’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