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Samsara Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Samsara 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.

$210k
Granted FY2025still arriving
11
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$46k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0199% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Human Services$564kInternational$413kFood & Nutrition$244kPublic Benefit$170kCrime & Legal$120kCivil Rights$117kEducation$101kHousing & Shelter$66kOther$0
02FY2025 · 11 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k3 grants · $14k
  • $10k–50k8 grants · $196k
$20,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$4.0M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
MISSIONS INC HOME FREE PROGRAM$46,000
DOMESTIC ABUSE LEGAL ADVOCACY CENTE$40,000
NONVIOLENT PEACEFORCE$30,000
HOPE LOVE OPTION CMMNTY FNDTN OF NW$20,000
WE WIN$20,000
CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK$20,000
FIERCELY EMBRACED$10,000
ICWA LAW CENTER$10,000
SUNSET HILL PTSA$8,000
SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND$5,000
PLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH$1,000
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, $23k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 40% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%INFANTS REMEMBERED IN SILENCE: $5k → 11%LOAVES AND FISHES: $3k → 7%INFANTS REMEMBERED IN SILENCE: $5k → 11%ADVOCATING CHANGE TOGETHER: $3k → 14%ADVOCATING CHANGE TOGETHER: $3k → 14%THE BRIDGE FOR YOUTH: $500 → 11%ADVOCATING CHANGE TOGETHER: $1k → 14%ADVOCATING CHANGE TOGETHER: $1k → 14%ADVOCATING CHANGE TOGETHER: $1k → 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.

Which US states its grants reach

MN
IL
WI
NY
MA
IN
CT
CA
DC
AL
TX
FL
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.

92%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.8M · 30 repeat orgs$150k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +60% since the first grant, against +31% for those funded once.

30 repeat relationships: 10 still active in FY2025, 20 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

30
21

Total granted

$1.8M
$140k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+60%
+31%

Still filing today

60%
67%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 95% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $10k 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
EducationHuman ServicesCivil RightsCrime & LegalInternationalArts & 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

  • NP
    Nonviolent Peaceforce
    9× · 2017–2025 · $395k · revenue +222%
  • CF
    CONNECTICUT FOODSHARE INC
    9× · 2017–2025 · $165k · revenue +153%
  • DA
    DOMESTIC ABUSE LEGAL ADVOCACY CENTER PSC
    2× · 2024–2025 · $50k · revenue +71%

Funded once

  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2021 · $20k
  • MF
    MN FOOD SHARE COUNCIL
    one grant, 2020 · $10k
  • MF
    MINNESOTA FREEDOM FUNDgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $10k · revenue +38%
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
Minnesota Business Partnership

The minnesota business partnership's mission is to maintain a high quality of life for all minnesotans by ensuring that the state's economy remains strong, globally competitive and its prospects for growth bright by working with elected…

—
2
Minnesota State University Student Association Inc

Led by minnesota state university students, we are the inclusive voice for all future, current, and former students. we actively work to represent and support minnesota state university students and advocate at a campus, state, and federal…

Education
3
Avivo

Avivo increases well-being through recovery and career advancement while working to end homelessness.

Human Services
4
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation

Purpose: we inspire, advocate and invest to advance community visions. continued on sch o

Philanthropy
5
St Paul Transportation Management Organization

Move minnesota leads the movement for an equitable and sustainable transportation system that puts people first. we are passionate about connecting communities, ending the climate crisis, expanding access to jobs and resources, and…

Environment
6
The Minneapolis Foundation

The foundation cultivates generosity by taking action on the greatest civic, social, and economic needs partnering with nonprofits, facilitating grantmaking, driving research and advocacy, and providing services to donors seeking to make a…

Philanthropy
7
Minnesota Medical Association

To be the leading voice of medicine to make minnesota the healthiest state and the best place to practice.

—
8
Minnesota Council on Foundations

MCF is a vibrant philanthropic community connecting, strengthening and mobilizing the power of philanthropy to advance prosperity and equity.

—
9
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The minnesota chamber of commerce proactively leads the business community statewide to: advance pro-business, responsible minnesota public policy that creates jobs and grows the econony; provde member services to address evolving business…

—
10
Men As Peacemakers

Map is a local, statewide, and national resource for communities looking to develop and implement proven, innovative, community-centered strategies that address gender-based violence. using map's "we are all connected" (waac) prevention…

Civil Rights
11
Gender Justice

Gender justice is a nonprofit legal and policy advocacy organization working to advance gender equity through the law.

Crime & Legal
12
Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Mitchell hamline school of law is an independent law school that advances its mission through a combination of legal education, public service, and community engagement. it is dedicated to preparing students to practice law, while also…

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners; the most unlike its peers is Tigerlion Arts. 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

32 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2026.

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 2026, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 32 of the 52 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)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
32/32
Grantees still filing
27/32
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

MISSIONS INC HOME FREE PROGRAM: $385,887 · OtherMISSIONS INC HOME FREE PROGRAMWE WIN: $170,000 · OtherWE WINCONNECTICUT FOODSHARE INC: $165,000 · OtherCONNECTICUT FOODSHARE INCNY TIMES NEEDIEST CASES: $146,000 · OtherNY TIMES NEEDIEST CASESHOPE LOVE OPTION CMMNTY FNDTN OF NW: $90,000 · OtherHOPE LOVE OPTION CMMNTY FNDTN OF NW+29 more: $322,000 · Other+29 moreNonviolent Peaceforce: $395,000 · InternationalNonviolent Peaceforce+1 more: $1,000 · InternationalDOMESTIC ABUSE LEGAL ADVOCACY CENTER PSC: $50,000 · Crime & LegalJUST DETENTION INTERNATIONAL: $30,000 · Crime & LegalMINNESOTA FREEDOM FUND: $10,000 · Crime & LegalMarquette University: $30,000 · EducationJUMPSTART FOR YOUNG CHILDREN INC: $10,000 · EducationFLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE: $10,000 · EducationUniversity of St Thomas: $7,000 · EducationWAYZATA EDUCATION FUND: $5,000 · EducationSECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND: $44,000 · Food & NutritionLAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATION FUND INC: $17,000 · Civil RightsREFUGEE & IMMIGRANT CENTER FOR EDUCATION & LEGAL SERVICES: $10,000 · Civil RightsEQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE: $10,000 · Civil RightsINFANTS REMEMBERED IN SILENCE INC: $10,000 · Human ServicesADVOCATING CHANGE TOGETHER: $9,000 · Human ServicesLOAVES & FISHES COMMUNITY SERVICES: $3,000 · Human Services+1 more: $500 · Human Services
Other$1,278,887International$396,000Crime & Legal$90,000Education$62,000Food & Nutrition$44,000Civil Rights$37,000Human Services$22,500

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 budgetNonviolent Peaceforce: $395,000 over 9y, 3.5% of budgetCONNECTICUT FOODSHARE INC: $165,000 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetDOMESTIC ABUSE LEGAL ADVOCACY CENTER PSC: $50,000 over 2y, 16% of budgetSECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND: $44,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetMarquette University: $30,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetJUST DETENTION INTERNATIONAL: $30,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetAnimal Humane Society: $20,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetALL STARS PROJECT INC: $20,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetINTERFAITH OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS: $20,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetSunset Hill PTSA: $19,000 over 4y, 9.5% of budgetLAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATION FUND INC: $17,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetGAY MEN'S HEALTH CRISIS INC: $12,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMINNESOTA FREEDOM FUND: $10,000 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetINFANTS REMEMBERED IN SILENCE INC: $10,000 over 2y, 3.5% of budgetJUMPSTART FOR YOUNG CHILDREN INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetREFUGEE & IMMIGRANT CENTER FOR EDUCATION & LEGAL SERVICES: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetEQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBEACON INTERFAITH HOUSING COLLABORATIVE: $9,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetADVOCATING CHANGE TOGETHER: $9,000 over 5y, 0.5% of budgetAEON: $9,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetUniversity of St Thomas: $7,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMICROGRANTS: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetLOTUS OUTREACH: $5,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetSIMPSON HOUSING SERVICES INC: $4,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetTIGERLION ARTS: $2,000 over 1y, 2.2% of budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE BRIDGE FOR YOUTH: $500 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.

  • Who funds Nonviolent Peaceforce ↗
  • Who funds CONNECTICUT FOODSHARE INC ↗
  • Who funds DOMESTIC ABUSE LEGAL ADVOCACY CENTER PSC ↗
  • Who funds SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND ↗
  • Who funds Marquette University ↗
  • Who funds JUST DETENTION INTERNATIONAL ↗
  • Who funds Animal Humane Society ↗
  • Who funds ALL STARS PROJECT INC ↗
  • Who funds INTERFAITH OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS ↗
  • Who funds Sunset Hill PTSA ↗
  • Who funds LAMBDA LEGAL DEFENSE & EDUCATION FUND INC ↗
  • Who funds GAY MEN'S HEALTH CRISIS INC ↗
  • Who funds MINNESOTA FREEDOM FUND ↗
  • Who funds INFANTS REMEMBERED IN SILENCE INC ↗
  • Who funds JUMPSTART FOR YOUNG CHILDREN INC ↗
  • Who funds REFUGEE & IMMIGRANT CENTER FOR EDUCATION & LEGAL SERVICES ↗
  • Who funds FLORIDA SOUTHERN COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds PAGE EDUCATION FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE ↗
  • Who funds BEACON INTERFAITH HOUSING COLLABORATIVE ↗
  • Who funds ADVOCATING CHANGE TOGETHER ↗
  • Who funds AEON ↗
  • Who funds University of St Thomas ↗
  • Who funds WAYZATA EDUCATION FUND ↗

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.

Saint Paul & Minnesot…The Minneapolis Found…Julie & Doug Baker Jr…Marbrook FoundationLenfestey Family Foun…Pohlad Family Foundat…Otto Bremer TrustMightycause Charitabl…The Richard M Schulze…National Philanthropi…The Blackbaud Giving …Vanguard Charitable E…
Saint Paul & Minnesota FoundationMN20.2× affinity8 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation · The Minneapolis Foundation · Julie & Doug Baker Jr Foundation · Marbrook Foundation · Lenfestey Family Foundation Inc · Pohlad Family Foundation · Otto Bremer Trust · Mightycause Charitable Foundation · The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program

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

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%1%5%11%20%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 5%
  • Connecticut Foodshare Inc: 5% of income from government
  • Florida Southern College: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
1get no government money at all
6report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
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 52 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 Samsara’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