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Stella M Buerger Charitable Trust at a glance

· Private foundation

Stella M Buerger Charitable Trust

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$53k
Granted FY2025still arriving
10
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$10k
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 2025.

Education$238kHealth$55kEnvironment$43kArts & Culture$31kCrime & Legal$15kHousing & Shelter$13kYouth Development$12kAnimals$10kOther$0
02FY2025 · 10 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k7 grants · $23k
  • $10k–50k3 grants · $30k
$5,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$1.0M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SETON HIGH SCHOOL$10,000
ELDER HIGH SCHOOL$10,000
HEARING SPEECH & DEAF CENTER$10,000
THE BEECHWOOD HOME$5,000
OHIO VALLEY VOICES$5,000
THE CARNEGIE THEATRE$2,500
OHIO RIVER FOUNDATION$2,500
THE DRAGONFLY FOUNDATION$2,500
PROKIDS$2,500
MOUNT ORB COMMUNITY PLAYGROUND$2,500
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 (FY17–25, $13k) land where the poverty rate runs at 16%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%MOUNT ORB COMMUNITY PLAYGROUND: $3k → 16%INNER CITY YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES: $1k → 16%CHANGING GEARS: $5k → 16%BEECH ACRES PARENTING CENTER: $3k → 16%CINCINNATI WORKS: $1k → 16%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.

90%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$396k · 20 repeat orgs$45k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +39% since the first grant, against +19% for those funded once.

20 repeat relationships: 6 still active in FY2025, 14 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

20
14

Total granted

$396k
$35k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+39%
+19%

Still filing today

55%
57%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 81% 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
Human ServicesEnvironmentHealthArts & CultureEducationHousing & ShelterOther
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

  • CN
    CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER
    8× · 2017–2024 · $38k · revenue +39%
  • NK
    NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC
    7× · 2018–2024 · $36k · revenue +145%
  • OV
    OHIO VALLEY VOICES
    6× · 2017–2025 · $19k · revenue +68%

Funded once

  • CI
    CHANGINGGEARS INC
    one grant, 2024 · $5k · revenue 0%
  • NP
    NEW PATH CHILD & FAMILY SOLUTIONS
    one grant, 2021 · $5k
  • BA
    BEECH ACRESgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $3k · revenue +27%
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
Cincinnati Parks Foundation

To build broad based private/public partnerships supporting the conservation and enhancement of our City's parks and greenspaces.

Recreation & Sports
2
The Children's Home of Cincinnati Ohio

Creating lasting results that strengthen families and our community by guiding individuals from infancy to independence through comprehensive education, behavioral, and health services.

Human Services
3
Cincinnati Waldorf School

The Cincinnati Waldorf School educates the unfolding capacities of children by engaging the creative imagination of the mind, the spirit of the heart, and the skillful use of the hands. The community actively participates in creating an…

—
4
Children's Home of Northern Kentucky Inc

A trauma-informed Healthcare Organization, CHNK Behavioral Health creates Holistic Partnerships for Health and Wellness that are inclusive, innovative and inspiring.

Human Services
5
Cincinnati's Optimum Residential Environments Inc

Residential & Habilitative Svs. Provide residential and habilitative services to adults with developmental disabilities

Health
6
Jewish Family Service of the Cincinnati Area

A social service agency, JFS strengthens lives and our diverse community by providing exceptional and transformational human services. Services include: Counseling, Case Management, Financial and Food Support, Home Care, Senior Services,…

Human Services
7
Cincinnati Union Bethel

Empowering women to break the cycles of poverty, addiction, and human trafficking.

Human Services
8
Ohio United Way

To strengthen the capacity of United Ways across Ohio and to advance the common good for Ohioans.

Philanthropy
9
The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati

The mission of The Children's Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) is to educate, entertain and engage audiences of all ages through professional theatrical productions and arts education programming. Our vision is to awaken a lifelong love of…

Arts & Culture
10
Cincinnati Aquatic Club

To offer children and young adults a top quality program that develops, trains and competes as competitive swimmers year-round in a supportive and motivating enviroment that respects, challenges and nurtures them as athletes, students, and…

Recreation & Sports
11
Cincinnati Country Day School

Creating leaders who, through the discovery of their own abilities, kindle the potential in others and better a dynamic world.

Education
12
Cincinnati Center for Autism

We support individuals with autism and their families through programming in the areas of academics, adaptive behavior, communication, and social participation.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Beechwood Home; the most unlike its peers is Mount Orab Community Playground Fund Inc. 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

22 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. 22 of the 38 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)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
22/22
Grantees still filing
17/22
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

ELDER HIGH SCHOOL: $64,500 · OtherELDER HIGH SCHOOLSETON HIGH SCHOOL: $62,500 · OtherSETON HIGH SCHOOLSPRINGER SCHOOL: $21,500 · OtherSPRINGER SCHOOLHEARING SPEECH & DEAF CENTER: $18,500 · OtherHEARING SPEECH & DEAF CENTERSt Rita School For The Deaf: $15,000 · OtherSt Rita School For The DeafCISE: $13,000 · Other+18 more: $65,250 · Other+18 moreNORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC: $36,000 · EducationNORTHERN KENTU…OHIO VALLEY VOICES: $19,250 · EducationOHIO VALLEY VO…CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER: $37,500 · EnvironmentCINCINNATI…Ohio River Foundation: $2,500 · EnvironmentOhio River…GORMAN HERITAGE FARM FOUNDATION: $1,500 · EnvironmentCINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER: $15,500 · Arts & CultureTAFT MUSEUM OF ART: $12,500 · Arts & CultureWave Foundation Inc: $2,500 · Arts & CultureCancer Family Care Inc: $14,000 · HealthBEECHWOOD HOME: $7,500 · HealthTHE DRAGONFLY FOUNDATION: $2,500 · HealthProKids: $14,500 · Civil RightsBethany House Services Inc: $12,500 · Housing & ShelterSLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE INC: $2,000 · Housing & Shelter
Other$260,250Education$55,250Environment$41,500Arts & Culture$30,500Health$24,000Civil Rights$14,500Housing & Shelter$14,500

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

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetCINCINNATI NATURE CENTER: $37,500 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetNORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC: $36,000 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetOHIO VALLEY VOICES: $19,250 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetCINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER: $15,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetSt Rita School For The Deaf: $15,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetProKids: $14,500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetCancer Family Care Inc: $14,000 over 6y, 0.3% of budgetCISE: $13,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetBethany House Services Inc: $12,500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetTAFT MUSEUM OF ART: $12,500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetBEECHWOOD HOME: $7,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCHANGINGGEARS INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetTHE DRAGONFLY FOUNDATION: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBEECH ACRES: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWave Foundation Inc: $2,500 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetPREGNANCY CENTER WEST: $2,500 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetSLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGORMAN HERITAGE FARM FOUNDATION: $1,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetINNER CITY YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES: $1,250 over 1y, 0.5% 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 CINCINNATI NATURE CENTER ↗
  • Who funds NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds OHIO VALLEY VOICES ↗
  • Who funds CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER ↗
  • Who funds St Rita School For The Deaf ↗
  • Who funds ProKids ↗
  • Who funds Cancer Family Care Inc ↗
  • Who funds CISE ↗
  • Who funds Bethany House Services Inc ↗
  • Who funds TAFT MUSEUM OF ART ↗
  • Who funds BEECHWOOD HOME ↗
  • Who funds CHANGINGGEARS INC ↗
  • Who funds THE DRAGONFLY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds MOUNT ORAB COMMUNITY PLAYGROUND FUND INC ↗
  • Who funds BEECH ACRES ↗
  • Who funds Ohio River Foundation ↗
  • Who funds Wave Foundation Inc ↗
  • Who funds PREGNANCY CENTER WEST ↗
  • Who funds SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE INC ↗
  • Who funds GORMAN HERITAGE FARM FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds INNER CITY YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES ↗
  • Who funds CINCINNATI WORKS ↗

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 Greater Cincinnat…Johnson Charitable Gi…Robert a & Marian K K…L & L Nippert Charita…Andrew Jergens Founda…Charles H Dater Found…Ge Aerospace Foundati…Pfau Charitable Found…John a Schroth Family…Carol Ann and Ralph V…J Frederick & Helen B…Agnes Nordloh Charita…
The Greater Cincinnati FoundationOH35.5× affinity16 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Greater Cincinnati Foundation · Johnson Charitable Gift Fund · Robert a & Marian K Kennedy Charitable Trust · L & L Nippert Charitable Foundation Inc Attn Carter F Randolph Phd · Andrew Jergens Foundation · Charles H Dater Foundation Inc · Ge Aerospace Foundation · Pfau Charitable Foundation · John a Schroth Family Char Tr · Carol Ann and Ralph V Haile Jr Foundation · J Frederick & Helen B Vogel Trust · Agnes Nordloh 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 Stella M Buerger Charitable Trust funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Stella M Buerger Charitable Trust. 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
    11report 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 Stella M Buerger Charitable Trust?

    Find your warmest path to Stella M Buerger Charitable Trust 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 38 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 Stella M Buerger’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