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Sonscope Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Sonscope 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.

$1.0M
Granted FY2024still arriving
18
Grants FY2024still arriving
10
States reached
$200k
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.

Religion$1.7MCommunity Improvement$1.5MInternational$969kEducation$645kPhilanthropy$503kHuman Services$206kYouth Development$144kFood & Nutrition$112kOther$0
02FY2024 · 18 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k1 grant · $3k
  • $10k–50k10 grants · $239k
  • $50k–250k7 grants · $770k
$26,000
Median grant
10
States reached
$21M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
COME AND SEE FOUNDATION INC$200,000
IMPACT INVESTING CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC$100,000
PRAXIS INC$100,000
HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY$100,000
HOPE INTERNATIONAL$100,000
GOSPEL MUSIC ASSOCIATION INC$100,000
AXIS$70,000
SINAPIS GROUP$45,000
CARE FOR CHILDREN USA INC$26,000
HOUSE UNIVERSITY MINISTRIES OF CHATTANOOGA$26,000
CEO FORUM INC$25,000
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH$25,000
THE BAYLOR SCHOOL$25,000
1040 CONNECTIONS INC$20,000
CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE FOR ORPHANS$20,000
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 (FY17–24, $153k) land where the poverty rate runs at 6%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE FOR ORPHANS: $40k → 6%CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE FOR ORPHANS: $30k → 6%CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE FOR ORPHANS: $26k → 6%CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE FOR ORPHANS: $25k → 6%CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE FOR ORPHANS: $20k → 6%CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE FOR ORPHANS: $8k → 6%CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE FOR ORPHANS: $4k → 6%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

WA
IL
NY
IA
IN
PA
CA
CO
VA
AZ
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
GA
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.

88%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$4.8M · 24 repeat orgs$635k to everyone else

24 repeat relationships: 12 still active in FY2024, 12 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

24
15

Total granted

$4.8M
$225k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+39%
+63%

Still filing today

83%
80%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 55% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $410k went to new ones.

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

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

’17’18’20’21’22’23’24
EducationReligionInternationalYouth DevelopmentHuman ServicesHealthOther
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

  • HOPE INTERNATIONAL
    6× · 2017–2024 · $915k · revenue +140%
  • PI
    Praxis Inc
    6× · 2018–2024 · $700k · revenue +290%
  • CF
    CEO FORUM INC
    7× · 2017–2024 · $492k · revenue +258%

Funded once

  • CC
    CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INC
    one grant, 2021 · $60k · revenue +12%
  • FF
    FDM FOUNDATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $50k · revenue +45%
  • FO
    FRIENDS OF CHATTANOOGA PREP INC
    one grant, 2018 · $45k · revenue -69%
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
Christianity Today International

Christianity Today is a global community inspired by evangelical conviction to advance the stories and ideas of the kingdom of God. Our mission is to elevate the storytellers and sages of the global church.

Religion
2
Christian Mission for the United Nations Community

Christian Mission for the United Nations Community is a ministry aimed at leading the head of every nation and other top leaders to faith in Jesus Christ and helping them to walk in dependence upon God as they discharge the…

—
3
Global Scholars

Global scholars exists so that christian academics are adequately equipped to have a redemptive influence among their students, colleagues, universities and disciplines, at a reasonable cost.

—
4
Kingdom Advisors Inc

Kingdom advisors is a discipleship ministry serving christian financial professionals. the organization encourages, educates, and empowers christian financial professionals with biblical wisdom to be effective disciples of jesus christ in…

Religion
5
Biglife International Inc

Biglife international inc. empowers believers worldwide to reach and disciple their own people for jesus christ.

Recreation & Sports
6
Dallas International University

As a christian university, we provide education and research opportunities preparing global leaders to partner with local communities.

Education
7
Christian Leadership Alliance

Christian leadership alliance exists to equip and unite leaders called to transform the world for christ.

—
8
Christian Leaders for Africa Inc

Christian leaders from africa promotes christian theological training & education of local leaders in kenya and throughout africa. it invests in undergraduate, masters, and phd scholarships, faculty support for african professors and…

Religion
9
International Leadership Institute

The international leadership institute (ili) changes history by accelerating the spread of the gospel through training and mobilizing leaders of leaders to reach their nations. ili accomplishes this purpose through cutting edge leadership…

Religion
10
Youth for Christ International Ministries

As part of the body of Christ, to see that every young person in every people group in every nation has the opportunity to make an informed decision to be a follower of Jesus Christ and become a part of the local church.

Religion
11
Global Media Outreach

Leveraging technology to invite all people to know jesus christ as savior and grow in a personal relationship with him.

Religion
12
Bibleproject

Bibleproject's mission is to help people experience the bible as a unified story that leads to jesus. this is achieved by creating biblical videos to be regularly released on a newly-created youtube channel. (continued on schedule o.)each…

Religion
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Chalmers Center for Economic Development; the most unlike its peers is The Speech and Hearing Center. 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

38 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. 38 of the 46 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)
10
Early backer (in before they grew)
38/38
Grantees still filing
29/38
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

CEO FORUM INC: $492,000 · EducationCEO FORUM INCBAYLOR SCHOOL: $345,500 · EducationBAYLOR SCHOOLAXIS: $320,000 · EducationAXISSINAPIS GROUP INC: $257,000 · EducationSINAPIS GROUP INCHIGH POINT UNIVERSITY: $100,000 · EducationHIGH POINT UNIVERSITYCHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INC: $60,000 · Education+5 more: $139,000 · Education+5 morePraxis Inc: $700,000 · ReligionPraxis Inc1040 CONNECTIONS INC: $132,000 · Religion1040 CONNECTIONS INCMACLELLAN CENTER FOR GLOBAL CHRISTIAN ED: $126,000 · ReligionMACLELLAN CENTER FOR GL…The House University Ministries: $120,000 · ReligionThe House University Mi…WORKMATTERS: $75,000 · ReligionWORKMATTERSDevelopment Assoc International: $63,000 · Religion+3 more: $24,000 · ReligionSIGNAL MOUNTAIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: $485,000 · OtherSIGNAL MOUNTAIN PRESBYT…COME AND SEE FOUNDATION INC: $200,000 · OtherCOME AND SEE FOUNDATION…SEED COMPANY INC: $101,000 · OtherSEED COMPANY INCVAIL RELIGIOUS FOUNDATION: $100,500 · OtherVAIL RELIGIOUS FOUNDATI…COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN OF THE VAIL VALLEY: $56,000 · OtherFOCUS ON THE FAMILY: $53,000 · OtherGOSPEL MUSIC ASSOCIATION INC: $100,000 · OtherGOSPEL MUSIC ASSOCIATIO…FIRST THINGS FIRST INC: $71,000 · OtherFIRST THINGS FIRST INC+8 more: $78,000 · Other+8 moreHOPE INTERNATIONAL: $914,500 · InternationalHOPE INTERNATIONA…+3 more: $21,500 · InternationalIMPACT INVESTING CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC: $250,000 · PhilanthropyIMPACT IN…CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $203,000 · PhilanthropyCHATTANOO…Global Generosity Inc: $50,000 · PhilanthropyGlobal Ge…Christian Alliance for Orphans: $153,000 · Human ServicesCARE FOR CHILDREN CARE FOR CHILDREN - USA INC: $119,000 · Youth DevelopmentYOUNG LIFE: $25,250 · Youth Development
Education$1,713,500Religion$1,240,000Other$1,244,500International$936,000Philanthropy$503,000Human Services$153,000Youth Development$144,250

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 budgetHOPE INTERNATIONAL: $914,500 over 6y, 1.1% of budgetPraxis Inc: $700,000 over 6y, 4.7% of budgetCEO FORUM INC: $492,000 over 7y, 11% of budgetBAYLOR SCHOOL: $345,500 over 6y, 0.4% of budgetAXIS: $320,000 over 4y, 3.5% of budgetSINAPIS GROUP INC: $257,000 over 5y, 2.8% of budgetIMPACT INVESTING CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INC: $250,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $203,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetChristian Alliance for Orphans: $153,000 over 7y, 1.0% of budget1040 CONNECTIONS INC: $132,000 over 6y, 5.2% of budgetMACLELLAN CENTER FOR GLOBAL CHRISTIAN ED: $126,000 over 4y, 2.1% of budgetThe House University Ministries: $120,000 over 5y, 7.4% of budgetCARE FOR CHILDREN CARE FOR CHILDREN - USA INC: $119,000 over 5y, 4.1% of budgetVAIL RELIGIOUS FOUNDATION: $100,500 over 2y, 2.8% of budgetHIGH POINT UNIVERSITY: $100,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGOSPEL MUSIC ASSOCIATION INC: $100,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetWORKMATTERS: $75,000 over 2y, 4.7% of budgetFIRST THINGS FIRST INC: $71,000 over 5y, 1.6% of budgetDevelopment Assoc International: $63,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetCHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INC: $60,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetFDM FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetGlobal Generosity Inc: $50,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetFRIENDS OF CHATTANOOGA PREP INC: $45,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetLIFEWATER INC: $39,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetYOUNG LIFE: $25,250 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSIGNAL MOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL INC: $23,000 over 3y, 1.8% of budgetPREP PUBLIC SCHOOLS: $20,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetIMPACT AFRICA INC: $15,500 over 2y, 1.7% of budgetCHATT FOUNDATION: $10,500 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetCHALMERS CENTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: $10,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetCHATTANOOGA FC FOUNDATION INC: $9,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetAfrican Leadership Inc: $8,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetTHE SPEECH AND HEARING CENTER: $5,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetOUTFITTERS FOR CHRIST: $5,000 over 1y, 9.3% of budgetSAMARITAN'S PURSE: $3,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWATER MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL: $3,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM: $3,500 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.

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.

The Maclellan Foundat…Chattanooga Christian…Servant FoundationRobert L & Kathrina H…Hugh and Charlotte Ma…The Community Foundat…International Generos…Raymond James Charita…Christian Community F…Weldon F Osborne Foun…G II CharitiesThe Signatry Charitab…
The Maclellan Foundation IncTN52.2× affinity23 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Maclellan Foundation Inc · Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation · Servant Foundation · Robert L & Kathrina H Maclellan Founda Foundation · Hugh and Charlotte Maclellan Charitable Charitable Trust · The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga Inc · International Generosity Foundation Trust · Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund · Christian Community Foundation of Memphis · Weldon F Osborne Foundation Inc · G II Charities · The Signatry Charitable Trust

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

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%1%4%8%15%funder's share of their income ↑0%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get 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 · 0–75%
    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 Sonscope Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Sonscope 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 46 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 Sonscope’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