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Stephens' Christian Trust at a glance

· Private foundation

Stephens' Christian Trust

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$1.4M
Granted FY2025still arriving
2
Grants FY2025still arriving
1
States reached
$1.3M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0197% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Education$6.6MReligion$135kYouth Development$113kHuman Services$56kInternational$6kCivil Rights$6kHealth$5kPublic Safety & Disaster$4kOther$0
02FY2025 · 2 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • $50k–250k1 grant · $100k
  • $250k+1 grant · $1.3M
$1,334,792
Median grant
1
States reached
$4.0M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
DAVID LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY$1,334,792
NASHVILLE INNER CITY MINISTRY$100,000
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 (FY18–24, $23k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 22% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%HEARTLIGHT MINISTRIES: $500 → 16%MOUNTAIN STATES CHILDREN'S HOME: $8k → 9%SARDIS LAKE CHRISTIAN CAMP: $2k → 25%STONES RIVER MANOR INC: $5k → 9%GRACEWORKS MINISTRIES INC: $3k → 4%GRACEWORKS MINISTRIES INC: $3k → 4%TENNESSEE RESETTLEMENT AID: $2k → 14%WAYNE REED CHRISTIAN CHILDCARE CENT: $1k → 14%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

MT
MI
NY
CA
CO
KY
WV
AR
TN
DC
OK
MS
AL
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.

94%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$6.5M · 20 repeat orgs$391k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +59% since the first grant, against +20% for those funded once.

20 repeat relationships: 2 still active in FY2025, 18 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

20
60

Total granted

$6.5M
$391k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+59%
+20%

Still filing today

60%
47%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 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 ServicesReligionEducationInternationalArts & CultureHealthOther
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

  • LU
    LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY
    9× · 2017–2025 · $6.3M · revenue +44%
  • NI
    NASHVILLE INNER CITY MINISTRY INC
    3× · 2017–2025 · $103k · revenue +123%
  • WC
    WORLD CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION
    2× · 2017–2018 · $44k · revenue +17%

Funded once

  • OV
    OHIO VALLEY UNIVERSITY INC
    one grant, 2019 · $250k · revenue 0%
  • MD
    MOUNT DORA CHILDREN'S HOME
    one grant, 2019 · $10k
  • OA
    OPERATION ANDREW GROUP INCgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $10k · revenue +257%
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
Christian Schools Inc

Education - private christian school grades k-12

—
2
Heritage Christian University

Heritage Christian University equips servants through undergraduate and graduate and continuing education. HCU produces effective communicators, preachers, teachers and missionaries for real world ministry with a focus on evangelism and a…

Education
3
Charlotte Christian College & Theological Seminary

To educate, train, and develop ministers, evangelists, missionaries, and other people who are going to enter the Christian ministry. Educate ministers and missionaries to serve the Lord.

Religion
4
Huntsville Bible College Inc

Prepare individuals to become pastors, evangelists, missionary workers, christian education teachers, and to assist the local church in carrying out its mission.

Education
5
Houston Christian University

The mission of houston christian university is to provide a learning experience that instills in students a passion for academic, spiritual, and professional excellence as a result of our central confession, "jesus christ is lord."

—
6
Olivet University

Providing guality Christian education to the network generation

Education
7
Asbury Theological Seminary

Asbury Theological Seminary is a community called to prepare theologically educated, sanctified, Spirit-filled men and women to evangelize and to spread scriptural holiness throughout the world through the love of Jesus Christ, in the…

Education
8
Knoxville Christian School

Educate preschool through twelfth grade children in a Christian environment while developing them spiritually,academically, emotionally, and physically with Jesus Christ as their standard and the Bible as their foundation.

—
9
Universidad Teologica Del Caribe in

UTC is a religious educational non-profit institution who's main mission is to offer Christian education through mayor programs such as associates, bachelor and master degrees in Bible Interpretation, Christian Education, Counseling, Child…

Education
10
Houston Graduate School of Theology

Equip women and men to be ministers and messengers of God's mission of reconciliation through academic excellence, personal transformation, and leadership development.

—
11
Southern Methodist College

The college's mission is to train christians to serve god and his church.

Education
12
God's Bible School College & Missionary Training Home

God's bible school and college seeks to glorify god and to serve his church by providing higher education centered in holy scripture and shaped by wesleyan conviction, thus preparing faithful servants to proclaim jesus christ and spread…

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Nashville Christian Schools Inc; the most unlike its peers is Mountain States Children's Home. 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

43 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. 43 of the 80 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)
11
Early backer (in before they grew)
40/43
Grantees still filing
30/43
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY: $6,287,225 · OtherLIPSCOMB UNIVERSITYOHIO VALLEY UNIVERSITY INC: $250,000 · Other+50 more: $254,300 · OtherWORLD CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION: $44,000 · Arts & CulturePEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY: $15,000 · EducationThe Joseph School Inc: $8,500 · EducationTUSKEGEE HUMAN & CIVIL RIGHTS MULTICULTURAL CENTER INC: $6,000 · EducationNEW HOPE ACADEMY: $3,000 · EducationFREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY: $1,250 · Education+2 more: $1,050 · EducationMountain States Children's Home: $8,000 · Human ServicesGRACEWORKS MINISTRIES INC: $5,000 · Human ServicesSTONES RIVER MANOR INC: $5,000 · Human ServicesCHRISTIAN HOMES FOR CHILDREN INC: $3,000 · Human ServicesTENNESSEE RESETTLEMENT AID: $2,000 · Human ServicesSARDIS LAKE CHRISTIAN CAMP: $1,500 · Human ServicesJUVENTUD EN CAMINO ASSOCIATION: $1,000 · Human ServicesWayne Reed Christian Childcare Center Inc: $1,000 · Human Services+1 more: $500 · Human ServicesOPERATION ANDREW GROUP INC: $10,000 · ReligionGODS WORD FOR WARRIORS: $5,000 · ReligionIN SEARCH OF THE LORD'S WAY INC: $5,000 · ReligionCHURCHES OF CHRIST DISASTER RELIEF EFFORT INC: $4,000 · ReligionHERITAGE21 INC: $1,250 · ReligionLOVE SQUARED MISSIONS: $1,000 · Religion+1 more: $700 · ReligionHEALING HANDS INTERNATIONAL INC: $6,000 · InternationalBaja Missions Inc: $1,500 · InternationalAFRICAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS FOUNDATION: $1,000 · InternationalBAREFOOT REPUBLIC INC: $5,500 · Youth Development
Other$6,791,525Arts & Culture$44,000Education$34,800Human Services$27,000Religion$26,950International$8,500Youth Development$5,500

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 budgetLIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY: $6,287,225 over 9y, 0.5% of budgetOHIO VALLEY UNIVERSITY INC: $250,000 over 1y, 1.8% of budgetNASHVILLE INNER CITY MINISTRY INC: $103,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetWORLD CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION: $44,000 over 2y, 1.4% of budgetPEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY: $15,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetNASHVILLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS INC: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetThe Joseph School Inc: $8,500 over 3y, 0.8% of budgetMountain States Children's Home: $8,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetTUSKEGEE HUMAN & CIVIL RIGHTS MULTICULTURAL CENTER INC: $6,000 over 2y, 1.3% of budgetHEALING HANDS INTERNATIONAL INC: $6,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetBAREFOOT REPUBLIC INC: $5,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetGODS WORD FOR WARRIORS: $5,000 over 1y, 6.1% of budgetIN SEARCH OF THE LORD'S WAY INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGRACEWORKS MINISTRIES INC: $5,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSTONES RIVER MANOR INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFRANK TOWN OPEN HEARTS MINISTRY INC: $4,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetCHURCHES OF CHRIST DISASTER RELIEF EFFORT INC: $4,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMOBILE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: $3,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTENNESSEE BAPTIST ADULT HOMES INC: $3,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNEW HOPE ACADEMY: $3,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetRochester Christian University: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $2,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetBRIDGES FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTENNESSEE RESETTLEMENT AID: $2,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetSARDIS LAKE CHRISTIAN CAMP: $1,500 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetBaja Missions Inc: $1,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHERITAGE21 INC: $1,250 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetFREED-HARDEMAN UNIVERSITY: $1,250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAFRICAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetLOVE SQUARED MISSIONS: $1,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetJUVENTUD EN CAMINO ASSOCIATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetWayne Reed Christian Childcare Center Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetTHE NEXT DOOR INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTENNESSEE WILDLIFE FEDERATION INC: $900 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFAULKNER UNIVERSITY: $800 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CITIZENS COMMITTEE: $700 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetHEARTLIGHT MINISTRIES INC: $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.

Washington FoundationEzell Foundation IncThe Community Foundat…Servant FoundationHca Healthcare Founda…The Harrison-Robbie D…Memorial Foundation I…Dorothy Cate and Thom…The Frist FoundationUnited Way of Middle …Christian Community F…Raymond James Charita…
Washington FoundationTN34.6× affinity14 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Washington Foundation · Ezell Foundation Inc · The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Inc · Servant Foundation · Hca Healthcare Foundation · The Harrison-Robbie Dearing Foundation · Memorial Foundation Inc · Dorothy Cate and Thomas F Frist Foundation · The Frist Foundation · United Way of Middle Tennessee Inc · Christian Community Foundation Inc · Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund

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 Stephens' Christian Trust funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Stephens' Christian Trust. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%15%30%45%60%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    2get 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
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–60%
    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 Stephens' Christian Trust?

    Find your warmest path to Stephens' Christian 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 80 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 Stephens' Christian’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