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Sam Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Sam Family Foundation

$45k
Granted FY2020
8
Grants FY2020
4
States reached
$20k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead

Read this first · the figures below need context

100% of Sam Family Foundation’s FY2023 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. FY2023 names 0 organizations directly, so a portfolio cannot be read from it. Everything below is therefore FY2020, the last year Sam Family Foundation named its own grantees at scale: 5 organizations, $45k. It is dated, not current.

Organizations named directly on the return

7
’17
5
’18
6
’19
5
’20
3
’21
1
’22
0
’23

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

01What it funds
0198% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2023.

Philanthropy$865kHealth$71kHuman Services$36kRecreation & Sports$16kEducation$12kReligion$10kCivil Rights$2kOther$0
02FY2020 · 8 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2020

  • Under $10k6 grants · $15k
  • $10k–50k2 grants · $30k
$5,000
Median grant
4
States reached
$0
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
JUPITER MEDICAL FOUNDATION$20,000
LOST TREE VILLAGE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION$10,000
The Pat Green Foundation$6,250
Children's Home & Aid$5,000
MADONNA MISSION$1,000
LOST TREE CHAPEL$1,000
ST PAUL OF THE CROSS$1,000
The Pink Foundation$500
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 (FY17–22, $29k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 56% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%THE PAT GREEN FOUNDATION: $6k → 11%MISERICORDIA HOME: $4k → 14%The Pat Green Foundation: $6k → 11%CHILDREN'S HOME & AID: $5k → 14%Children's Home & Aid: $5k → 14%MADONNA MISSION: $1k → 14%MADONNA MISSION: $1k → 14%MADONNA MISSION: $500 → 14%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.

68%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$134k · 10 repeat orgs$62k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +44% since the first grant, against +41% for those funded once.

10 repeat relationships: 8 still active in FY2020, 2 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2020 (too recent to call). Read against FY2020, 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

10
9

Total granted

$134k
$49k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+44%
+41%

Still filing today

60%
56%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2022, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 went to new ones.

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

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22
Human ServicesPhilanthropyRecreation & SportsEducationHealthCrime & LegalOther
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

  • LT
    Lost Tree Village Charitable Foundation
    5× · 2017–2021 · $48k · revenue +38%
  • TP
    THE PAT GREEN FOUNDATION
    2× · 2020–2022 · $13k · revenue +725%
  • CH
    CHILDREN'S HOME & AID SOCIETY OF ILL
    2× · 2017–2020 · $10k · revenue +41%

Funded once

  • Northwestern Universitygraduated
    one grant, 2019 · $15k · revenue +34%
  • JM
    JUPITER MED CENTER FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2017 · $10k
  • ES
    EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2017 · $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
Gastro Intestinal Research Foundation Inc

The GI Research Foundation works to treat, prevent, and cure digestive diseases. In collaboration with the physicians and scientists at the University of Chicago Digestive Diseases Center, we fund innovative clinical and laboratory…

Health
2
Stanley Manne Childrens Research Institute

Stanley manne children's research institute strives to generate new knowledge and advance the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric diseases.

Health
3
Pediatric Faculty Foundation Inc

We value excellence and innovation in clinical and basic research, coordinated and comprehensive patient care, ongoing physician education, and evidence-based child advocacy. our goal is to provide leadership in endeavors that promote the…

Health
4
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The mission of mit is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.

Education
5
University of Illinois Foundation

The Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, is an independent and separate nonprofit entity from the University of Illinois. Our mission is to encourage and administer private gifts and serve the UI System by working closely with…

Education
6
Children's Hospital Corporation

Provider of pediatric healthcare, education, research & community service

Health
7
Miami Children's Health System Foundation Inc

The mission of MIAMI CHILDREN'S HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION (D/B/A NICKLAUS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION, INC. )is to create awareness and generate funds for Nicklaus Children's Health System (System), Nicklaus Children's Hospital and any…

—
8
Children's Hospital of Chicago Medical Center

We are dedicated to the health and well-being of all children. as the pediatric teaching facility for the northwestern university feinberg school of medicine, this commitment drives us to be a leader in: -pediatric health care delivery…

Health
9
Miami Children's Hospital Research Institute Inc

The NCHRI directly supports the NICKLAUS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL ("NCH") mission to provide hope through advanced care for our children and families. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)

—
10
Lurie Children's Surgical Foundation Inc

Provide pediatric and subspecialty surgical, research, and educational services.

—
11
Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Foundation

To optimize philanthropy in support of the mission and future of the children's hospital of chicago medical center.

Health
12
Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Ann & robert h. lurie children's hospital of chicago is dedicated to the health and well-being of all children. as the pediatric teaching facility for northwestern university feinberg school of medicine, this commitment drives us to be a…

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is St Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc; the most unlike its peers is The Michelle McGann Fund 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

13 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. 13 of the 23 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)
13/13
Grantees still filing
11/13
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUND: $817,355 · Community ImprovementFIDELITY INVESTMENTS CHARITABLE GIFT FUNDLost Tree Village Charitable Foundation: $47,500 · OtherLost Tree Villa…JUPITER MEDICAL FOUNDATION: $40,000 · OtherJUPITER MEDICAL…JUPITER MED CENTER FOUNDATION: $10,000 · OtherJUPITER MED CEN…LURIE CANCER CENTER: $10,000 · OtherLURIE CANCER CE…EVANS SCHOLARS FOUNDATION: $9,500 · OtherEVANS SCHOLARS …THE GLADNEY CENTER: $7,500 · OtherTHE GLADNEY CEN…LOST TREE CHAPEL INC: $5,000 · OtherST PAUL OF THE CROSS: $5,000 · Other+3 more: $4,000 · OtherTHE PAT GREEN FOUNDATION: $12,500 · Human ServicesCHILDREN'S HOME & AID SOCIETY OF ILL: $10,000 · Human ServicesMISERICORDIA HOME: $3,500 · Human ServicesMadonna Mission: $2,500 · Human ServicesNorthwestern University: $15,000 · Recreation & SportsMILLENNIUM PARK FOUNDATION: $1,000 · Recreation & SportsNicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation: $6,250 · PhilanthropyThe Michelle McGann Fund Inc: $3,000 · PhilanthropyST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $1,800 · HealthUniversity of Chicago: $1,000 · EducationPLAY FOR PINK INC: $250 · Crime & Legal
Community Improvement$817,355Other$138,500Human Services$28,500Recreation & Sports$16,000Philanthropy$9,250Health$1,800Education$1,000Crime & Legal$250

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: $817,355 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetLost Tree Village Charitable Foundation: $47,500 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetNorthwestern University: $15,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE PAT GREEN FOUNDATION: $12,500 over 2y, 15% of budgetCHILDREN'S HOME & AID SOCIETY OF ILL: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetNicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation: $6,250 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMISERICORDIA HOME: $3,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Michelle McGann Fund Inc: $3,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetMadonna Mission: $2,500 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $1,800 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMILLENNIUM PARK FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUniversity of Chicago: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPLAY FOR PINK INC: $250 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.

National Philanthropi…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …
National Philanthropic TrustPA10.7× affinity5 shared granteesties to 2 of 2Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: National Philanthropic Trust · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund

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

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 40%1%4%8%15%funder's share of their income ↑0%5%10%15%20%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    4get no government money at all
    1report 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 Sam Family Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Sam Family 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 23 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 2020, released 2020. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Sam 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