Skip to content
Straubel Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Straubel Family 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.

$458k
Granted FY2020
18
Grants FY2020
6
States reached
$89k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead

Read this first · the figures below need context

90% of Straubel Family Foundation’s FY2024 grant dollars went to Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund, not to grantees.

Its money now reaches organizations through that sponsor, which does not report who recommended each grant. FY2024 names 1 organization directly, so a portfolio cannot be read from it. Everything below is therefore FY2020, the last year Straubel Family Foundation named its own grantees at scale: 13 organizations, $458k. It is dated, not current.

Organizations named directly on the return

7
’18
5
’19
13
’20
1
’21
0
’22
15
’23
1
’24

Amber years are those where most dollars went to a sponsor.

01What it funds
0198% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2018 to 2024.

Philanthropy$4.3MEducation$613kEnvironment$270kPublic Safety & Disaster$89kYouth Development$66kHuman Services$50kRecreation & Sports$50kFood & Nutrition$30kOther$0
02FY2020 · 18 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2020

  • Under $10k2 grants · $2k
  • $10k–50k14 grants · $317k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $139k
$23,082
Median grant
6
States reached
$26M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Individual grant recipient$89,000
HEALTH IN HARMONY$50,000
BROOKFIELD SCHOOL PTA$40,000
SAGE RIDGE SCHOOL$30,000
UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA RENO FOUNDATION$30,000
STANFORD UNIVERSITY$30,000
THE CHILDREN'S CABINET$25,000
MIDWEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOCIATION$23,750
ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTITUTE$23,082
SACRED HEART SCHOOLS$20,000
DRI FOUNDATION$20,000
WESTERN NEVADA COLLEGE FOUNDATION$20,000
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF WESTERN NEVADA$15,000
PEACE OF MIND DOG RESCUE$15,000
FOOD FOR THOUGHT$15,000
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 (FY20–23, $100k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 90% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%STOREY COUNTY SENIOR CENTER: $10k → 7%FOOD FOR THOUGHT INC: $15k → 13%FOOD FOR THOUGHT: $15k → 13%THE CHILDREN'S CABINET: $25k → 10%THE EDDY HOUSE: $20k → 10%THE CHILDREN'S CABIMET: $15k → 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.

Which US states its grants reach

WI
NY
MA
OR
NV
CA
CO
DC
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.

61%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$680k · 10 repeat orgs$434k to everyone else

10 repeat relationships: 9 still active in FY2020, 1 since wound down; 21 grantees were first funded in FY2020 (too recent to call). Read against FY2020, the last year this funder named its own grantees directly; its giving has since run through a sponsor, which reports no donor behind each grant.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

10
4

Total granted

$680k
$25k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+31%
+67%

Still filing today

90%
50%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 went to new ones.

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

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

’18’19’20’21’23’24
EducationHuman ServicesEnvironmentAnimalsArts & CultureYouth DevelopmentOther
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

  • SR
    SAGE RIDGE SCHOOL
    3× · 2020–2024 · $180k · revenue +31%
  • Rocky Mountain Institute
    3× · 2018–2020 · $121k · revenue +313%
  • EG
    ECHOING GREEN INC
    2× · 2018–2019 · $65k · revenue +20%

Funded once

  • EH
    EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
    one grant, 2018 · $15k
  • MA
    MIT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
    one grant, 2019 · $5k
  • MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM FOUNDATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2018 · $5k · revenue +67%
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
The Sierra Fund

The Sierra Fund (TSF) is a non-profit organization with a mission to restore ecosystem and community resiliency in the Sierra Nevada.

Environment
2
Tahoe Institute for Natural Science

To advance the natural history, conservation and ecosystem knowledge of the Tahoe region through science, education and outreach.

Environment
3
Greater Yellowstone Coalition

Greater yellowstone coalition works with all people to protect the lands, waters, and wildlife of the greater yellowstone ecosystem, now and for future generations.

Environment
4
The Nevada Discovery Museum

Educating children and adults through interactive hands-on exhibits and educational programming.

—
5
Naturebridge

To connect young people to the wonder and science of the natural world, igniting self-discovery and inspiring stewardship of our planet.

Environment
6
Sierra Watch

Sierra watch secures conservation outcomes to protect the natural resources, mountain communities, and timeless values of the tahoe sierra.

Environment
7
The Union of Concerned Scientists Inc

The union of concerned scientists puts rigorous, independent science into action, developing solutions and advocating for a healthy, safe, and just future.

International
8
Glacier National Park Conservancy

The glacier national park conservancy works to preserve and protect glacier national park for future generations.

Recreation & Sports
9
Sierra Commons

To educate and support underserved and economically distressed entrepreneurs through new entrepreneur training, incubation, and technical assistance, with a sector focus on food and forest enterprises.

Community Improvement
10
Environmental Investigation Agency

To establish and promote programs to protect the global climate, forests, wildlife and the natural environment, through research, advocacy, and investigation.

International
11
The Water Research Foundation

The purpose of the water research foundation (wrf) is a definitive research organization to advance the science of all things water to better meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. to engage exclusively in…

Environment
12
Wild Rockies Field Institute Inc

To broaden the nature of a liberal arts education; teach critical thinking about social & environmental issues; foster understanding of & respect for natural & human communities; & cultivate a sense of place that encourages personal,…

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada; the most unlike its peers is Storey County Senior Citizens 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

27 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. 27 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.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
27/27
Grantees still filing
22/27
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

GS DONOR ADVISED PHILANTHROPY FUND FOR WEALTH MANAGEMENT INC: $4,323,876 · PhilanthropyGS DONOR ADVISED PHILANTHROPY FUND FOR WEALTH MANAGEMENT INC+2 more: $10,200 · PhilanthropyRocky Mountain Institute: $120,582 · OtherRocky Mount…SACRED HEART SCHOOLS ATHERTON: $100,000 · OtherSACRED HEAR…Individual grant recipient: $89,000 · OtherIndividual …BROOKFIELD SCHOOL PTA: $40,000 · OtherBROOKFIELD …WESTERN NEVADA COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $35,000 · OtherWESTERN NEV…NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: $30,000 · OtherNEVADA DEPA…DRI FOUNDATION: $20,000 · OtherBLADE SPORTS CLUB ASSOCIATION: $20,000 · Other+12 more: $102,955 · Other+12 moreSAGE RIDGE SCHOOL: $180,000 · EducationTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY: $112,000 · EducationECHOING GREEN INC: $65,000 · EducationUniversity of Nevada Reno Foundation: $45,000 · Education+1 more: $11,000 · EducationTHE CHILDREN'S CABINET INC: $40,000 · Human ServicesFood for Thought Inc: $30,000 · Human ServicesEDDY HOUSE: $20,000 · Human ServicesSTOREY COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER: $10,000 · Human ServicesMIDWEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOCIATION INC: $44,000 · EnvironmentClimate Defense Project: $20,000 · EnvironmentGREAT BASIN INSTITUTE: $10,000 · EnvironmentHealth in Harmony: $50,000 · HealthBOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF TRUCKEE MEADOWS: $20,000 · Youth DevelopmentSIERRA NEVADA JOURNEYS: $11,000 · Youth Development
Philanthropy$4,334,076Other$557,537Education$413,000Human Services$100,000Environment$74,000Health$50,000Youth Development$31,000

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 budgetGS DONOR ADVISED PHILANTHROPY FUND FOR WEALTH MANAGEMENT INC: $4,323,876 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetSAGE RIDGE SCHOOL: $180,000 over 3y, 1.9% of budgetRocky Mountain Institute: $120,582 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY: $112,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetECHOING GREEN INC: $65,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetHealth in Harmony: $50,000 over 1y, 2.1% of budgetUniversity of Nevada Reno Foundation: $45,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMIDWEST RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSOCIATION INC: $44,000 over 4y, 1.2% of budgetTHE CHILDREN'S CABINET INC: $40,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetWESTERN NEVADA COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $35,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetFood for Thought Inc: $30,000 over 2y, 12% of budgetEDDY HOUSE: $20,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetClimate Defense Project: $20,000 over 2y, 8.8% of budgetBOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF TRUCKEE MEADOWS: $20,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBoys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada: $15,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetPORTLAND ART MUSEUM: $15,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPEACE OF MIND DOG RESCUE: $15,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetSIERRA NEVADA JOURNEYS: $11,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetTHE GREAT BASIN OUTDOOR SCHOOL: $11,000 over 1y, 4.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF NEVADA WILDERNESS: $11,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetKEEP TRUCKEE MEADOWS BEAUTIFUL: $10,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetASIAN PACIFIC FUND: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGREAT BASIN INSTITUTE: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSTOREY COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS CENTER: $10,000 over 1y, 90% of budgetMONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM FOUNDATION: $4,600 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWISCONSIN HISTORICAL FOUNDATION INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTEAM CONTINUUM INC: $200 over 1y, 0.2% 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.

Community Foundation …NV Energy Charitable …The Nell J Redfield F…John Ben Snow Memoria…The E L Cord Foundati…Tahoe Community Found…Marin Community Found…Sagebrush Chapter of …Greater Nevada Credit…Helen Close Charitabl…Charles H Stout Found…Renown Health
Community Foundation of Northern NevadaNV28× affinity11 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Community Foundation of Northern Nevada · NV Energy Charitable Foundation · The Nell J Redfield Foundation · John Ben Snow Memorial Tr Uw #839158 · The E L Cord Foundation · Tahoe Community Foundation · Marin Community Foundation · Sagebrush Chapter of Trout Unlimted · Greater Nevada Credit Union · Helen Close Charitable Foundation · Charles H Stout Foundation · Renown Health

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

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%6%23%51%90%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 1%
  • Portland Art Museum: 1% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
6report 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.

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 2020, released 2020. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Straubel 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