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Shelly Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Shelly Family Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$105k
Granted FY2024still arriving
15
Grants FY2024still arriving
4
States reached
$15k
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.

Education$741kPhilanthropy$15kEmployment$5k
02FY2024 · 15 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k10 grants · $50k
  • $10k–50k5 grants · $55k
$5,000
Median grant
4
States reached
$3.4M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY$15,000
MUSKINGUM COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION$10,000
OHIO UNIVERSITY$10,000
UNIVERSITY OF FINDLAY$10,000
DENNISON UNIVERSITY$10,000
COLUMBUS STATE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION$5,338
FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY$5,000
HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY$5,000
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY$5,000
COLUMBUS STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE$5,000
STANFORD UNIVERSITY$5,000
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY - NEWARK$5,000
OHIO DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY$5,000
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY$5,000
MUSKINGUM UNIVERSITY$5,000
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:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY17–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 92% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%STANFORD UNIVERSITY: $5k → 8%OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY: $5k → 5%UNIVERSITY OF FINDLAY: $10k → 9%OHIO UNIVERSITY - LANCASTER: $10k → 9%Wright State University: $10k → 9%Hobart Institute of Welding Technology: $5k → 10%DENNISON UNIVERSITY: $10k → 10%HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY: $5k → 12%Emily TaylorUNIVERSITY OF AKRON: $5k → 13%Zachary OrtmanUNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN: $5k → 13%Malone University: $5k → 13%MUSKINGUM COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $10k → 14%University of Dayton: $5k → 14%WITTENBERG UNIVERSITY: $5k → 15%COLUMBUS STATE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $5k → 15%Hocking College: $5k → 16%Ohio University: $20k → 22%Bailey LotozoWEST VIRGINIA TECH: $5k → 20%Concord University: $6k → 21%University of Virginia: $5k → 8%UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY: $5k → 15%Murry State University: $6k → 19%STANFORD UNIVERSITY: $5k → 8%OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY: $5k → 5%University of Findlay: $5k → 9%Ohio University - Lancaster: $10k → 9%Wright State University: $10k → 9%Ohio State University - NEWARK: $10k → 10%HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY: $5k → 12%Gabrielle LargeUNIVERSITY OF AKRON: $5k → 13%University of Northwestern: $5k → 13%MALONE UNIVERSITY: $5k → 13%Mackenzie MerrickOHIO UNIVERSITY-ZANESVILLE: $5k → 14%Nathaniel KehnUNIVERSITY OF DAYTON: $5k → 14%Wittenberg University: $5k → 15%COLUMBUS STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE: $5k → 15%Hocking College - Perry: $5k → 16%Ohio University: $20k → 22%THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY - NEWARK: $10k → 10%OHIO UNIVERSITY: $15k → 22%Ohio State University - NEWARK: $10k → 10%OHIO UNIVERSITY: $10k → 22%Ohio University: $10k → 22%OHIO UNIVERSITY: $10k → 22%THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY: $25k → 15%THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY: $20k → 15%THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY: $30k → 15%THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY: $15k → 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.

79%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$584k · 25 repeat orgs$158k to everyone else

25 repeat relationships: 9 still active in FY2024, 16 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

25
27

Total granted

$584k
$132k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

-2%
+24%

Still filing today

40%
11%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 72% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $25k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time
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

  • TB
    THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WITTENBERG COLLEGE
    4× · 2020–2023 · $20k · revenue +4%
  • OU
    Otterbein University
    2× · 2018–2019 · $15k · revenue +2%
  • MU
    MUSKINGUM UNIVERSITY
    4× · 2019–2024 · $12k · revenue +16%

Funded once

  • MS
    Murry State University
    one grant, 2020 · $6k
  • SY
    Samuel YingerOHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
    one grant, 2017 · $5k
  • HI
    HOBART INSTITUTE OF WELDING TECHNOLOGY
    one grant, 2022 · $5k · 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
Benedictine University

Benedictine University is an inclusive academic community dedicated to teaching and learning, scholarship and service, truth and justice, as inspired by the Catholic intellectual tradition, the social teaching of the Church, and the…

Education
2
Lehigh University

The university's goal in the coming decade is to advance learning through the integration of teaching, research and service to others. the core of this goal is to prepare graduates to engage with the world and lead lives of meaning. to do…

Education
3
Delaware Valley University

See schedule o.we are inspired by the ideals of our founder who, in 1896, emphasized respect for all people and ideas, who honored knowledge with practice, progress and the common good. our historical commitment to experiential learning…

—
4
Excelsior University

Excelsior University provides educational opportunity to adult learners with an emphasis on those historically underrepresented in higher education. The University meets students where they are - academically and geographically, offering…

Education
5
Union University

Union university provides christ-centered education that promotes excellence and character development in service to church and society.

Education
6
Trinity University

Trinity university is an independent co-educational university whose mission is excellence in the interrelated areas of teaching, research and services.

Education
7
University of Mount Union

The university affirms the institution's mission to prepare students for fulfilling lives, meaningful work and responsible citizenship. the university of mount union offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in a wide array of academic…

Education
8
Dordt University

As an institution of higher education committed to the reformed christian perspective, dordt university equips students, alumni, and the broader community to work effectively toward christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary…

Education
9
Loyola University

Loyola University New Orleans, a Jesuit and Catholic institution of higher education, welcomes students of diverse backgrounds and prepares them to lead meaningful lives with and for others; to pursue truth, wisdom, and virtue; and to work…

Education
10
Walsh University Inc

Walsh university is an independent, coeducational catholic, liberal arts and sciences institution dedicated to educating its students to become leaders in service to others through a values-based education with an international perspective…

Education
11
Xavier University

Xavier is a jesuit catholic university rooted in the liberal arts tradition. our mission is to educate each student intellectually, morally, and spiritually. we create learning opportunities through rigorous academic and professional…

Education
12
University of the Ozarks

True to our christian heritage, we prepare students from diverse religious, cultural, educational and economic backgrounds to live life fully.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Muskingum University; the most unlike its peers is Hobart Institute of Welding Technology. 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

17 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. 17 of the 58 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)
0
Early backer (in before they grew)
17/17
Grantees still filing
10/17
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY: $105,000 · OtherTHE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITYOhio University: $85,000 · OtherOhio UniversityTHE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY: $40,000 · OtherTHE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITYOHIO UNIVERSITY - LANCASTER: $30,000 · OtherWright State University: $25,000 · OtherCONCORD UNIVERSITY: $21,000 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY: $20,000 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: $20,000 · Other+35 more: $228,537 · Other+35 moreTHE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WITTENBERG COLLEGE: $20,000 · EducationTHE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF …MALONE UNIVERSITY: $20,000 · EducationMALONE UNIVERSITYThe University of Findlay: $20,000 · EducationThe University of FindlayCAPITAL UNIVERSITY: $15,000 · EducationCAPITAL UNIVERSITYOHIO DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY: $15,000 · EducationOHIO DOMINICAN UNIVERSITYOtterbein University: $15,000 · EducationOtterbein UniversityMUSKINGUM UNIVERSITY: $12,000 · EducationMUSKINGUM UNIVERSITYOHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY: $10,000 · EducationOHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITYUNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN OHIO: $10,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN…DENISON UNIVERSITY: $10,000 · EducationDENISON UNIVERSITYHeidelberg University: $10,000 · EducationHeidelberg UniversityTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY: $10,000 · EducationTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF T…+2 more: $10,000 · Education+2 moreTHE MUSKINGUM COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $10,000 · Philanthropy
Other$574,537Education$177,000Philanthropy$10,000

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

25%50%75%100%$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetTHE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WITTENBERG COLLEGE: $20,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetMALONE UNIVERSITY: $20,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetThe University of Findlay: $20,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCAPITAL UNIVERSITY: $15,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetOHIO DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY: $15,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetOtterbein University: $15,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMUSKINGUM UNIVERSITY: $12,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetOHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE MUSKINGUM COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN OHIO: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetDENISON UNIVERSITY: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHeidelberg University: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetHOBART INSTITUTE OF WELDING TECHNOLOGY: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFRANKLIN UNIVERSITY: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCedarville University: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUniversity of Dayton: $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.

  • Who funds THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF WITTENBERG COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds MALONE UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds The University of Findlay ↗
  • Who funds CAPITAL UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds OHIO DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds Otterbein University ↗
  • Who funds MUSKINGUM UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds THE MUSKINGUM COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN OHIO ↗
  • Who funds DENISON UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds Heidelberg University ↗
  • Who funds THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds HOBART INSTITUTE OF WELDING TECHNOLOGY ↗
  • Who funds FRANKLIN UNIVERSITY ↗

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.

Columbus FoundationRuth M Hughes Scholar…Clapper Scholarship F…Ella Weiss Educationa…The Ohio Foundation o…Folds of Honor Founda…A K Stephenson Fdn Ch…Ritton Family Foundat…Coshocton FoundationNational Collegiate A…The Dayton FoundationTulsa Community Found…
Columbus FoundationOH18.6× affinity7 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Columbus Foundation · Ruth M Hughes Scholarship Trust · Clapper Scholarship Fund · Ella Weiss Educational Fund · The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges · Folds of Honor Foundation · A K Stephenson Fdn Char Tr Agy · Ritton Family Foundation · Coshocton Foundation · National Collegiate Athletic Association · The Dayton Foundation · Tulsa 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 Shelly Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Shelly 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%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    7report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–40%
    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 Shelly Family Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Shelly 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 58 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 Shelly 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