Skip to content
Summers Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Summers 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.

$331k
Granted FY2024still arriving
7
Grants FY2024still arriving
5
States reached
$300k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Philanthropy$300kInternational$112kCivil Rights$85kEnvironment$58kHousing & Shelter$20kHealth$18kArts & Culture$14kCrime & Legal$10kOther$0
02FY2024 · 7 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k5 grants · $16k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $15k
  • $250k+1 grant · $300k
$5,000
Median grant
5
States reached
$0
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Alliance Bernstein$299,829
Doctors Without Borders$15,000
Arbor Day Foundation$5,000
Planned Parenthood$5,000
Individual grant recipient$3,000
Save the Redwoods League$2,000
Unicef USA$1,000
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 (FY20–20, $5k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%World Food Program USA: $5k → 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.
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.

43%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$273k · 10 repeat orgs$360k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +98% since the first grant, against +48% for those funded once.

10 repeat relationships: 6 still active in FY2024, 4 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

10
14

Total granted

$273k
$60k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+98%
+48%

Still filing today

60%
71%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 9% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $300k 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
InternationalArts & CultureEnvironmentAnimalsRecreation & SportsHousing & 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

  • MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC
    8× · 2017–2024 · $110k · revenue +98%
  • AC
    AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INC
    5× · 2017–2021 · $85k · revenue +18%
  • NA
    NATIONAL ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION
    4× · 2021–2024 · $20k · revenue +26%

Funded once

  • LS
    LOUVIS SERVICES INCgraduated
    4× · 2018–2021 · $20k · revenue ×14
  • JD
    JUST DETENTION INTERNATIONAL
    4× · 2018–2021 · $10k · revenue -23%
  • SM
    Shambala Meditation Center of Los Angeles
    3× · 2019–2021 · $10k
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 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
2
American Gas Association

American gas association's (the association) mission is to develop and advocate for informed, innovative, and durable policy that fulfills our nation's energy needs, environmental aspirations and economic potential. we are committed to…

—
3
American Civil Liberties Union Fund of the District of Columbia

Preservation of civil liberties through litigation and public education.

—
4
United States Telecom Association

See schedule oustelecom exists to ensure members can compete, grow and thrive to build a world where families, enterprises and communities are connected through the power of broadband.our member companies have committed a considerable…

—
5
Asociacion Interamericana Para La Defensa Del Ambiente

To strenghten people's ability to guarantee their individual and collective right to a healthy environment, via the development, implementation, and effective enforcement of national and international law.

Crime & Legal
6
Npr Foundation

The npr foundation ("foundation") is organized and operated exclusively for the benefit of its sole supported organization, national public radio, inc. ("npr inc."). the foundation supports npr inc. through various activities such as…

—
7
United States Naval Institute

Provide an independent forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to global security.

—
8
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Advance science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all. the world's largest multidisciplinary scientific society and a leading publisher of cutting-edge research through its science family of journals,…

Science & Tech
9
Actionaid Usa

Actionaid is an international network building a just, equitable, and sustainable world in solidarity with communities on the frontlines of poverty and injustice. actionaid usa is the u.s. branch of actionaid international, which works in…

Social Science
10
American Flood Coalition Inc

To drive transformational adaptation to protect communities across the country from higher seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding.

Environment
11
American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California

The american civil liberties union of northern california (aclu nc union) defends and advances the principles of freedom, equality and justice contained in the united states constitution. aclu nc union, a california mutual benefit…

—
12
Air Transport Association of America Inc

Airlines for america (a4a) vigorously advocates for america's airlines as models of safety, customer service, and environmental responsibility; and as the indispensable network that drives our nation's economy and global…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Amnesty International of the Usa Inc; the most unlike its peers is Louvis Services 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 25 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)
2
Early backer (in before they grew)
22/22
Grantees still filing
19/22
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Alliance Bernstein: $299,829 · OtherAlliance BernsteinAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INC: $85,000 · OtherAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INC+12 more: $49,000 · Other+12 moreMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $110,250 · InternationalMEDECINS SANS FRONTI…+2 more: $2,200 · InternationalNATIONAL ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION: $20,000 · EnvironmentSAVE THE REDWOODS LEAGUE: $20,000 · EnvironmentLOUVIS SERVICES INC: $20,000 · Housing & ShelterCREATIVE VISIONS FOUNDATION: $10,000 · Arts & CultureMuseum of Modern Art: $1,000 · Arts & CultureTHE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART LOS ANGELES: $1,000 · Arts & CultureJUST DETENTION INTERNATIONAL: $10,000 · Crime & LegalFRIENDS OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM INC: $5,000 · Human Services
Other$433,829International$112,450Environment$40,000Housing & Shelter$20,000Arts & Culture$12,000Crime & Legal$10,000Human Services$5,000

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

25%50%75%100%$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $110,250 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA INC: $85,000 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetNATIONAL ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetSAVE THE REDWOODS LEAGUE: $20,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetJUST DETENTION INTERNATIONAL: $10,000 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetCREATIVE VISIONS FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM INC: $5,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetNATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMuseum of Modern Art: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART LOS ANGELES: $1,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetLOS ANGELES SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: $500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetSMILE TRAIN INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAMNESTY INTERNATIONAL OF THE USA INC: $200 over 5y, 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.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Summers Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Summers Family Foundation. 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%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    2report 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 25 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 Summers 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