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Shellbrook Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Shellbrook Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$36k
Granted FY2024still arriving
8
Grants FY2024still arriving
4
States reached
$5k
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 2024.

Education$160kArts & Culture$16kFood & Nutrition$12kEnvironment$10kPhilanthropy$8kPublic Safety & Disaster$7kAnimals$6kHealth$4kOther$0
02FY2024 · 8 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$5,000
Median grant
4
States reached
$897k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
BOWDOIN$5,000
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE$5,000
MONTECITO UNION SCHOOL FOUNDATION$5,000
STANFORD UNIVERSITY$5,000
CATE SCHOOL$5,000
TAFT SCHOOL$5,000
LAGUNA BLANCA SCHOOL$5,000
MARIN COUNTY FOUNDATION$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 (FY17–21, $6k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%PUPPY JAKE FOUNDATION: $1k → 10%PUPPY JAKE FOUNDATION: $1k → 10%UNITY SHOPPE: $1k → 14%PUPPY JAKE FOUNDATION: $1k → 10%CENTER FOR SUCCESSFUL AGING: $1k → 14%PUPPY JAKE FOUNDATION: $125 → 10%RAPHAEL HOUSE: $500 → 10%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

ME
VT
IL
NY
OR
IA
CT
CA
VA
DC
AL
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.
$142k · 17 repeat orgs$44k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +47% since the first grant, against +6% for those funded once.

17 repeat relationships: 4 still active in FY2024, 13 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

17
31

Total granted

$142k
$33k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+47%
+6%

Still filing today

53%
65%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 65% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $11k 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
EnvironmentHuman ServicesEducationArts & CultureHealthAnimalsOther
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

  • PA
    President and Fellows of Middlebury College
    5× · 2018–2024 · $15k · revenue +47%
  • TT
    THE TAFT SCHOOL CORPORATION
    3× · 2022–2024 · $15k · revenue +47%
  • PJ
    PUPPY JAKE FOUNDATION
    4× · 2017–2020 · $4k · revenue +2%

Funded once

  • SB
    Santa Barbara Bucket Brigade
    one grant, 2022 · $5k · revenue -33%
  • RE
    REDWOOD EMPIRE FOOD BANK
    one grant, 2020 · $4k · revenue +17%
  • FB
    FOOD BANK OF IOWAgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $3k · revenue +42%
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
The International School of San Francisco

Guided by the principles of academic rigor and diversity, the international school of san francisco offers programs of study in french and english to prepare its graduates for a world in which the ability to think critically and to…

Education
2
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory

The San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory is dedicated to the conservation of birds and their habitats through science and outreach.

Environment
3
Santa Barbara Education Foundation

Santa Barbara Education Foundation (SBEF) provides and supports programs that enrich the academic, artistic, and personal development of all students in the Santa Barbara Unified School District.

Education
4
Uc Santa Barbara Foundation

The uc santa barbara foundation actively works to further the goals of the university of california, santa barbara. the foundation seeks to maintain and nurture the university's quality and distinction. on behalf of the campus, the…

Education
5
The San Francisco School

A private school that cultivates and celebrates the intellectual, imaginative, and humanitarian promise of each student in a community that practices mutual respect, embraces diversity, and inspires passion for learning.

—
6
San Francisco Friends School

At san francisco friends school, students learn in a community grounded in the quaker values of reflection, integrity, peaceful problem-solving and stewardship. our teachers challenge students with a dynamic curriculum that inspires…

Education
7
Silicon Schools Fund Inc

The mission of the silicon schools fund is to improve education through supporting the launch of excellent new schools, improving academic instruction in existing schools, and by funding some of the boldest innovations in education…

Education
8
Ucsf Foundation Investment Company

The organization provides professional investment management services for endowed gifts and financial assets entrusted to the ucsf foundation.

Education
9
The Bar Association of San Francisco

The bar association of san francisco champions equal access to justice and promotes humanity, excellence, and diversity in the legal profession. we provide legal services to disadvantaged and underserved individuals in san francisco. we…

—
10
Association of California School Administrators

The association serves its members by creating resources that enable california school administrators to develop and apply creative leadership and management skills and in turn, improve the educational process for all students.

—
11
Califonia State University East Bay Foundation Inc

Csu east bay foundation is an auxiliary organization of california state university east bay and the california state university system. the organization's mission is to provide services that aid, supplement, and advance the educational…

Education
12
San Francisco Girls' School

To educate and inspire girls to become innovators and leaders in stem.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Partners in School Innovation; the most unlike its peers is National Wildlife Federation. 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

34 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. 34 of the 53 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)
4
Early backer (in before they grew)
33/34
Grantees still filing
21/34
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

TOWN SCHOOL FOUNDATION: $25,000 · OtherTOWN SCHOOL FOUNDATIONBOWDOIN: $15,000 · OtherBOWDOINMontecito Union School Foundation: $15,000 · OtherMontecito Union School FoundationTHE MOUNTAIN SCHOOL: $13,000 · OtherTHE MOUNTAIN SCHOOLYALE UNIVERSITY: $11,693 · OtherYALE UNIVERSITYYALE UNIVERSITY: $9,193 · OtherYALE UNIVERSITYTHE FAMILY FOUNDATION: $6,000 · Other+26 more: $21,203 · Other+26 moreTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY: $40,000 · EducationTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STA…President and Fellows of Middlebury College: $15,000 · EducationPresident and Fellows of Middlebury Col…THE TAFT SCHOOL CORPORATION: $15,000 · EducationTHE TAFT SCHOOL CORPORATIONCATE SCHOOL: $5,000 · EducationCATE SCHOOLLAGUNA BLANCA SCHOOL: $5,000 · EducationLAGUNA BLANCA SCHOOLSANTA BARBARA CHANNELKEEPER INC: $3,575 · EnvironmentSonoma Ecology Center: $2,000 · EnvironmentBridgewater Land Trust: $1,500 · EnvironmentSONOMA LAND TRUST: $1,000 · EnvironmentNATIONAL NETWORK OF ABORTION FUNDS INC: $1,000 · EnvironmentWORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC: $500 · EnvironmentREDWOOD EMPIRE FOOD BANK: $4,000 · Food & NutritionFOOD BANK OF IOWA: $3,000 · Food & NutritionPUPPY JAKE FOUNDATION: $3,625 · Human ServicesCENTER FOR SUCCESSFUL AGING: $1,000 · Human ServicesUNITY SHOPPE INC: $1,000 · Human ServicesRAPHAEL HOUSE OF SAN FRANCISCO INC: $500 · Human ServicesSanta Barbara Bucket Brigade: $5,000 · Public Safety & DisasterPARTNERS IN SCHOOL INNOVATION: $2,250 · PhilanthropyTIDES FOUNDATION: $1,000 · Philanthropy
Other$116,089Education$80,000Environment$9,575Food & Nutrition$7,000Human Services$6,125Public Safety & Disaster$5,000Philanthropy$3,250

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 budgetTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY: $40,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetPresident and Fellows of Middlebury College: $15,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetTHE TAFT SCHOOL CORPORATION: $15,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetMontecito Union School Foundation: $15,000 over 3y, 0.9% of budgetCATE SCHOOL: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLAGUNA BLANCA SCHOOL: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSanta Barbara Bucket Brigade: $5,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetREDWOOD EMPIRE FOOD BANK: $4,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPUPPY JAKE FOUNDATION: $3,625 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetSANTA BARBARA CHANNELKEEPER INC: $3,575 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetFOOD BANK OF IOWA: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPARTNERS IN SCHOOL INNOVATION: $2,250 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetSonoma Ecology Center: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetBridgewater Land Trust: $1,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFOOD RUNNERS: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSONOMA LAND TRUST: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCENTER FOR SUCCESSFUL AGING: $1,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetNATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION: $1,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetIowa Legal Aid: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetChildren of Shelters: $1,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetTIDES FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPets Lifeline Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNATIONAL NETWORK OF ABORTION FUNDS INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUNITY SHOPPE INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC: $500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetRAPHAEL HOUSE OF SAN FRANCISCO INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetKQED INC: $400 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPRISON YOGA SANTA BARBARA: $240 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetTHE EXPLORATORIUM: $149 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFAMILIES OF SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY DBA CURE SMA: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetEQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE: $100 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.

Santa Barbara Foundat…Marin Community Found…Hutton Foundation Dba…The Kirby-Jones Found…Williams-Corbett Foun…Ann Jackson Family Fo…Www FoundationManitou FundMcNabb FoundationThe Goldman Sachs Cha…The San Francisco Fou…American Endowment Fo…
Santa Barbara FoundationCA19.4× affinity7 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Santa Barbara Foundation · Marin Community Foundation · Hutton Foundation Dba Hutton Parker Foundation · The Kirby-Jones Foundation · Williams-Corbett Foundation · Ann Jackson Family Foundation · Www Foundation · Manitou Fund · McNabb Foundation · The Goldman Sachs Charitable Gift Fund · The San Francisco Foundation · American Endowment 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 Shellbrook Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Shellbrook Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 30%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 1%
  • President and Fellows of Middlebury College: 1% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
3get no government money at all
8report 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 53 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 Shellbrook’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