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Sooch Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Sooch 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.

$871k
Granted FY2024still arriving
17
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$100k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
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 2024.

Education$1.5MEmployment$1.2MHuman Services$1.1MHousing & Shelter$475kYouth Development$396kHealth$80kCommunity Improvement$50kPhilanthropy$15kOther$0
02FY2024 · 17 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k2 grants · $10k
  • $50k–250k15 grants · $861k
$50,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$16M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
LIFEWORKS AUSTN$100,000
AMERICAN YOUTHWORKS$100,000
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF AUSTIN TEXAS INC$60,000
TEXAS EMPOWERMENT ACADEMY$51,000
SKILLPOINT ALLIANCE$50,000
FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN$50,000
FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES$50,000
SAN JUAN DIEGO CATHOLIC SCHOOL$50,000
CAPITAL IDEA$50,000
PELOTONU$50,000
CODE2COLLEGE$50,000
LEVEL$50,000
TODOS JUNTOS LEARNING CENTER$50,000
BREAKTHROUGH CENTRAL TX$50,000
E4 YOUTH$50,000
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, $282k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%FOSTER FORWARD: $2k → 14%SAMMY'S HOUSE: $5k → 10%CAPITAL IDEA: $50k → 10%CAPITAL IDEA: $50k → 10%CAPITAL IDEA: $50k → 10%CAPITAL IDEA: $50k → 10%CAPITAL IDEA: $50k → 10%CAPITAL IDEA: $25k → 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.
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.

93%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$4.6M · 25 repeat orgs$336k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +73% since the first grant, against +32% for those funded once.

25 repeat relationships: 14 still active in FY2024, 11 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

25
25

Total granted

$4.6M
$276k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+73%
+32%

Still filing today

68%
40%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 93% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $60k 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
EducationCommunity ImprovementHousing & ShelterHuman ServicesYouth DevelopmentHealthOther
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

  • SA
    Skillpoint Alliance
    7× · 2017–2024 · $445k · revenue +153%
  • BA
    Better ATX
    8× · 2017–2024 · $430k · revenue +70%
  • AY
    AMERICAN YOUTHWORKS
    6× · 2019–2024 · $375k · revenue +51%

Funded once

  • AO
    AUSTIN OPPORTUNITY YOUTH COLLABORATIVE
    one grant, 2017 · $40k
  • KA
    KIPP AUSTIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS INC
    one grant, 2018 · $35k
  • YA
    YOUTH AND FAMILY ALLIANCE (AKA LIFEWORKS)
    one grant, 2018 · $25k
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
Leadership Austin

Leadership austin connects and develops leaders to courageously engage and transform our communities.

Youth Development
2
Good Work Austin

Good Work Austin's mission is to foster healthy careers in the local food and beverage industry through professional development and advocacy for more equitable practices.

Public Benefit
3
Raise Texas

RAISE Texas advances equitable policies and programs that foster financial security and economic mobility for low- and moderate-income Texans. We equip, innovate and advocate to reduce disparities, remove barriers and build opportunities…

Human Services
4
Center for Public Policy Priorities

At the Every Texan, we believe in a Texas that offers everyone the chance to compete and succeed in life. We envision a Texas where everyone is healthy, well educated, and financially secure. We want the best Texas, a proud state that sets…

Public Benefit
5
Austin Partners in Education

Apie provides college and career readiness support through individualized academic and mentoring programs to prepare students for success.

Education
6
Breakthrough Houston

The mission of Breakthrough Houston (BTH) is to work with highly motivated students to achieve post-secondary success and empower aspiring leaders to become the next generation of educational advocates.

Education
7
Austin Free-Net

To provide technology training and access to the community, fostering skills that enable people to succeed in the digital age.

Education
8
Austin Coming Together

To increase the collective impact of our member organization on improving education economic development outcomes within the Austin Community.

Education
9
FIRST3YEARS

First3years nurtures early relational and mental health of infants and toddlers in texas. working in deep collaboration with caregivers, parents, and professionals statewide, we cultivate strong early childhood systems, educate our…

—
10
HomeAid Austin Inc

Engage in building procted to provide emergency shelters, transitional housing, and permanent housing while offering job skills training and support to help residents move toward self-sufficiency.

Employment
11
Worksource - Greater Austin Area Dba Workforce Solutions - Capital

To lead the region's workforce system in the development of a world-class workforce.

Employment
12
Communities in Schools of Central Texas

Communities in schools of central texas (cisct) ensures students have holistic support, removing academic and nonacademic barriers to their success in school.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Literacy Coalition of Central Texas; the most unlike its peers is Economic Growth Business Incubator. 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

30 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. 30 of the 54 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)
12
Early backer (in before they grew)
30/30
Grantees still filing
24/30
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

AMERICAN YOUTHWORKS: $375,000 · OtherAMERICAN YOUTHWORKSLIFEWORKS AUSTN: $350,000 · OtherLIFEWORKS AUSTNFRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN: $185,000 · OtherFRIENDS OF THE CHILDRENLEVEL: $125,000 · OtherLEVELCARITAS OF AUSTIN: $125,000 · OtherCARITAS OF AUSTINGOODWILL OF CENTRAL TEXAS: $100,000 · OtherGOODWILL OF CENTRAL TEXASBREAKTHROUGH CENTRAL TX: $75,000 · OtherSALVATION ARMY AUSTIN METRO COMMAND: $60,000 · Other+25 more: $373,000 · Other+25 morePELOTONU INC: $300,000 · EducationPELOTONU INCTodos Juntos Learning Center: $280,000 · EducationTodos Juntos Learn…BREAKTHROUGH: $100,000 · EducationBREAKTHROUGHLITERACY COALITION OF CENTRAL TEXAS: $90,000 · EducationLITERACY COALITION…ECONOMIC GROWTH BUSINESS INCUBATOR: $35,000 · Education+2 more: $6,000 · EducationBetter ATX: $430,000 · Community ImprovementBetter ATXTri-Angel Unlimited Inc: $286,000 · Community ImprovementTri-Angel Unlimi…+3 more: $15,000 · Community ImprovementFOUNDATION COMMUNITIES INC: $290,000 · Housing & ShelterFOUNDATION CO…JEREMIAH PROGRAM: $230,000 · Housing & ShelterJEREMIAH PROG…Front Steps Inc: $60,000 · Housing & ShelterFront Steps I…Skillpoint Alliance: $445,000 · EmploymentSkillpoint…CODE2COLLEGE: $200,000 · Youth DevelopmentE4 YOUTH INCORPORATED: $116,000 · Youth DevelopmentCapital Investing in Development and Employment of Adults Inc: $275,000 · Human Services+2 more: $7,000 · Human Services
Other$1,768,000Education$811,000Community Improvement$731,000Housing & Shelter$580,000Employment$445,000Youth Development$316,000Human Services$282,000

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 budgetSkillpoint Alliance: $445,000 over 7y, 4.7% of budgetBetter ATX: $430,000 over 8y, 6.5% of budgetAMERICAN YOUTHWORKS: $375,000 over 6y, 0.9% of budgetPELOTONU INC: $300,000 over 7y, 9.7% of budgetFOUNDATION COMMUNITIES INC: $290,000 over 7y, 0.2% of budgetTri-Angel Unlimited Inc: $286,000 over 7y, 1.0% of budgetTodos Juntos Learning Center: $280,000 over 6y, 7.3% of budgetCapital Investing in Development and Employment of Adults Inc: $275,000 over 6y, 1.2% of budgetJEREMIAH PROGRAM: $230,000 over 6y, 0.4% of budgetCODE2COLLEGE: $200,000 over 4y, 3.2% of budgetCARITAS OF AUSTIN: $125,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetE4 YOUTH INCORPORATED: $116,000 over 5y, 8.9% of budgetBREAKTHROUGH: $100,000 over 3y, 0.9% of budgetLITERACY COALITION OF CENTRAL TEXAS: $90,000 over 4y, 1.3% of budgetFront Steps Inc: $60,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetECONOMIC GROWTH BUSINESS INCUBATOR: $35,000 over 2y, 5.8% of budgetFilm Society of Austin Inc: $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetAUSTIN TOGETHER FUND: $5,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetMOBILE LOAVES & FISHES INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetAUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTexas Appleseed: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetSt Edwards University: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSAMMYS HOUSE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetLIRIOS PEDIATRICS: $5,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetTHE UNITED WAY INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE ONESTAR FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFOSTER FORWARD: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetE3 ALLIANCE: $1,000 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 Skillpoint Alliance ↗
  • Who funds Better ATX ↗
  • Who funds AMERICAN YOUTHWORKS ↗
  • Who funds PELOTONU INC ↗
  • Who funds FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES INC ↗
  • Who funds Tri-Angel Unlimited Inc ↗
  • Who funds Todos Juntos Learning Center ↗
  • Who funds Capital Investing in Development and Employment of Adults Inc ↗
  • Who funds JEREMIAH PROGRAM ↗
  • Who funds CODE2COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds CARITAS OF AUSTIN ↗
  • Who funds E4 YOUTH INCORPORATED ↗
  • Who funds BREAKTHROUGH ↗
  • Who funds LITERACY COALITION OF CENTRAL TEXAS ↗
  • Who funds Front Steps Inc ↗
  • Who funds ECONOMIC GROWTH BUSINESS INCUBATOR ↗
  • Who funds Film Society of Austin Inc ↗
  • Who funds AUSTIN TOGETHER FUND ↗
  • Who funds THE MIRACLE FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds MOBILE LOAVES & FISHES INC ↗
  • Who funds AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds Texas Appleseed ↗

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.

Austin Community Foun…The Webber Family Fou…United Way for Greate…St David's FoundationBetter Business BureauHarry E and Eda L Mon…Trellis FoundationThe Applied Materials…Michael & Susan Dell …Texas Mutual Insuranc…The Long FoundationA Glimmer of Hope Fou…
Austin Community Foundation IncTX44.4× affinity20 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Austin Community Foundation Inc · The Webber Family Foundation · United Way for Greater Austin · St David's Foundation · Better Business Bureau · Harry E and Eda L Montandon Charitable Tr · Trellis Foundation · The Applied Materials Foundation · Michael & Susan Dell Foundation · Texas Mutual Insurance Company · The Long Foundation · A Glimmer of Hope Foundation Austin

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

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    12report 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.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Sooch Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Sooch 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 54 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 Sooch’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