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Sue J Gross Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Sue J Gross Foundation

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.

$5.3M
Granted FY2024still arriving
27
Grants FY2024still arriving
6
States reached
$2.1M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02Its granteesRead
03Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0190% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2019 to 2025.

Philanthropy$9.8MHealth$4.8MEducation$3.4MEnvironment$585kYouth Development$375kAnimals$205kEmployment$180kHuman Services$140kOther$0
02FY2024 · 27 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 27 grants below total $5,047,500, the rows itemized in this filing. The $5,252,500 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $205,000 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k4 grants · $18k
  • $10k–50k11 grants · $205k
  • $50k–250k9 grants · $725k
  • $250k+3 grants · $4.1M
$25,000
Median grant
6
States reached
$101M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Ayco Charitable Foundation$2,100,000
University of California Irvine Foundation$1,000,000
Find Your Grind Foundation$1,000,000
Oceana Inc$150,000
Environmental Nature Center$125,000
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center$100,000
Saddleback College Foundation$100,000
CAL State Fullerton Philanthropic Foundation$50,000
Valley Packaging Industries Inc$50,000
Golf Fore Life Skills$50,000
Hoag Hospital Foundation$50,000
Pacific Marine Mammal Center$50,000
Aspiro Inc.$30,000
Laguna Food Pantry$25,000
Girls Incorporated$25,000
02Its 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.
$15M · 23 repeat orgs$1.0M to everyone else

23 repeat relationships: 20 still active in FY2024, 3 since wound down; 6 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

23
21

Total granted

$15M
$831k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+1%
+27%

Still filing today

74%
38%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 93% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $205k went to new ones.

50%100%’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

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

’21’22’23’24
EducationPhilanthropyHuman ServicesEnvironmentYouth 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

  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE FOUNDATION
    3× · 2021–2024 · $4.0M · revenue +61%
  • CHARLES R DREW UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND SCIENCE
    2× · 2021–2022 · $400k · revenue +113%
  • EN
    ENVIRONMENTAL NATURE CENTER
    2× · 2023–2024 · $250k · revenue +13%

Funded once

  • MS
    Mercy Ships Foundation
    one grant, 2021 · $100k · revenue -87%
  • SC
    Saddleback College Nursing
    one grant, 2022 · $100k
  • CR
    Charles R. Drew University Of Of Medicine And Science
    one grant, 2023 · $100k
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.

03Its 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
Ucla Foundation

The ucla foundation is the giving, receiving, and investing arm of the ucla campus. the foundation enables private donors to help build, sustain and advance one of the world's finest academic and research institutions. private philanthropy…

Education
2
Uc Santa Barbara Foundation

The uc santa barbara foundation actively works to further the goals of the university of california, santa barbara. the foundation seeks to maintain and nurture the university's quality and distinction. on behalf of the campus, the…

Education
3
The San Diego Foundation

The san diego foundation inspires enduring philanthropy and enables community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region.

Philanthropy
4
California State University Long Beach Research Foundation

Serves the mission of the university by supporting and engaging in research, entrepreneurship, community service, sponsored programs and the acquisition of private resources.

Education
5
Uc Riverside Foundation

To support educational, research and public functions and programs of the riverside campus of the university of california.

Education
6
Santa Catalina Island Conservancy

The catalina island conservancy protects and stewards 88% of catalina island. more than 42,000 acres of wildlands, coves and coastal habitats. founded to preserve the island's natural resources, the conservancy advances a mission rooted in…

—
7
California Dental Association Foundation

The foundation's mission is to improve the oral health of all californians by supporting the dental profession and its efforts to meet community needs.

Science & Tech
8
Silicon Schools Fund Inc

The mission of the silicon schools fund is to improve education through supporting the launch of excellent new schools, improving academic instruction in existing schools, and by funding some of the boldest innovations in education…

Education
9
Naval Postgraduate School Foundation Inc

Our mission is to support the naval postgraduate school by providing funding and programmatic support for education, research, technology development, institutional initiatives, and community programs that advance national security and…

Education
10
Arizona Community Foundation

To lead, serve and collaborate to mobilize enduring philanthropy for a better arizona.

Philanthropy
11
Santa Fe Community Foundation

The santa fe community foundation inspires philanthropic generosity, strengthens nonprofits, and fosters positive change to build a more vibrant, healthy, and resilient region. the foundation's vision is a thriving northern new mexico,…

Philanthropy
12
League of California Community Foundations

The league of california community foundations promotes and strengthens community foundations in california. through collaboration and shared learning among member foundations and building partnerships with private and public entities, we…

Philanthropy
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is University of California Irvine Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Find Your Grind Foundation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
03the grantee network

34 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. 34 of the 53 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)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
32/34
Grantees still filing
18/34
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Find Your Grind Foundation: $4,450,000 · PhilanthropyFind Your Grind FoundationPLAYERS PHILANTHROPY FUND INC: $1,000,000 · PhilanthropyPLAYERS PHILANTHROPY FUND INC+4 more: $177,500 · PhilanthropyTHE AYCO CHARITABLE FOUNDATION: $4,325,000 · OtherTHE AYCO CHARITABLE FOUNDATION+31 more: $1,363,000 · Other+31 moreUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE FOUNDATION: $4,000,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA …CHARLES R DREW UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND SCIENCE: $400,000 · EducationCHARLES R DREW UNIVERSITY…SADDLEBACK COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $200,000 · Education+2 more: $115,000 · EducationHOAG HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $3,950,000 · HealthHOAG HOSPITAL FOUNDAT…+1 more: $5,000 · HealthOCEANA INC: $300,000 · EnvironmentENVIRONMENTAL NATURE CENTER: $250,000 · Environment+1 more: $10,000 · EnvironmentGOLF FORE LIFE SKILLS THE FIRST TEE OF ORANGE COUNTY: $200,000 · Human ServicesLAURA'S HOUSE: $30,000 · Human ServicesHope Link of West Michigan: $10,000 · Human ServicesFRIENDS OF THE SEA LIONS INC DBA PACIFIC MARINE MAMMAL CENTER: $175,000 · AnimalsTHE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: $10,000 · Animals
Philanthropy$5,627,500Other$5,688,000Education$4,715,000Health$3,955,000Environment$560,000Human Services$240,000Animals$185,000

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 budgetFind Your Grind Foundation: $4,450,000 over 4y, 99% of budgetTHE AYCO CHARITABLE FOUNDATION: $4,325,000 over 3y, 0.8% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA IRVINE FOUNDATION: $4,000,000 over 3y, 1.4% of budgetHOAG HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $3,950,000 over 4y, 4.4% of budgetPLAYERS PHILANTHROPY FUND INC: $1,000,000 over 1y, 2.3% of budgetCHARLES R DREW UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND SCIENCE: $400,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetOCEANA INC: $300,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetENVIRONMENTAL NATURE CENTER: $250,000 over 2y, 4.2% of budgetSADDLEBACK COLLEGE FOUNDATION: $200,000 over 2y, 7.3% of budgetGOLF FORE LIFE SKILLS THE FIRST TEE OF ORANGE COUNTY: $200,000 over 3y, 11% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE SEA LIONS INC DBA PACIFIC MARINE MAMMAL CENTER: $175,000 over 4y, 1.8% of budgetLAGUNA FOOD PANTRY: $105,000 over 3y, 1.4% of budgetMercy Ships Foundation: $100,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetVALLEY PACKAGING INDUSTRIES INC: $80,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetAge Well Senior Services Inc: $80,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetASPIRO INC: $60,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetTALLER SAN JOSE HOPE BUILDERS: $55,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetCAL STATE FULLERTON PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetFRIENDSHIP SHELTER INC: $45,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetLAURA'S HOUSE: $30,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetHOPELINK OF SOUTHERN NEVADA: $25,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetBOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF LAGUNA BEACH: $25,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetTHE ALDRICH CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM INC: $25,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetGIRLS INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY FOUNDATION: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBLUE BELL FOUNDATION FOR CATS: $10,000 over 1y, 4.2% of budgetBALBOA ISLAND MUSEUM: $10,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetHope Link of West Michigan: $10,000 over 1y, 14% of budgetTHE SURFRIDER FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE AUTISM COMMUNITY IN ACTION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetBIGHORN GOLF CLUB CHARITIES INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% 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.

Orange County Communi…Farmers & Merchants B…O L Halsell FoundationThe Devto Support Fou…Roberta Freeman Cox C…Curci FundThe Hexberg Family Fo…OneocArgyros Family Founda…Sisters of St Joseph …California Community …National Philanthropi…
Orange County Community FoundationCA22.2× affinity9 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Orange County Community Foundation · Farmers & Merchants Bank Foundation · O L Halsell Foundation · The Devto Support Foundation · Roberta Freeman Cox Charitable Foundation · Curci Fund · The Hexberg Family Foundation · Oneoc · Argyros Family Foundation · Sisters of St Joseph Healthcare Foundation · California Community Foundation · National Philanthropic 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.

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 53 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.

Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2025) is on record and reports $5.7M of grant expense with no grantee named in the published copy. A private foundation itemizes every grant it makes, so a return carrying none has filed its list as an attachment that the public copy does not include. The figures above are therefore from FY2024, the most recent year this funder’s grantee list reached the public record.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Sue J Gross’ 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