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Swenson Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Swenson Family 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.

$186k
Granted FY2025still arriving
37
Grants FY2025still arriving
13
States reached
$50k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0194% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2018 to 2025.

Public Benefit$424kReligion$187kCivil Rights$119kHuman Services$84kHealth$60kEducation$55kFood & Nutrition$47kCrime & Legal$30kOther$0
02FY2025 · 37 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k32 grants · $63k
  • $10k–50k4 grants · $73k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $50k
$2,000
Median grant
13
States reached
$2.6M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
CENTER FOR RENEWING AMERICA$50,000
CONSERVATIVE PARTNERSHIP INSTITUTE$35,000
DREAM CITY CHURCH$18,000
STATE FREEDOM CAUCUS NETWORK FDTN$10,000
FREEDOM CAUCUS FOUNDATION$10,000
AMERICAN ACCOUNTABILITY FOUNDATION$5,000
HONOR HEALTH FDN$5,000
THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION$3,500
THE VOICE OF THE MARTYRS$3,000
CENTER FOR ARIZONA POLICY$3,000
AMERICAN FIRST LEGAL FOUNDATION$3,000
HARVEST TIME ASSEMBLY OF GOD$3,000
THE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE$2,500
YOUNG AMERICA FOUNDATION$2,500
JUDICIAL WATCH$2,000
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 (FY19–25, $45k) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 9% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: $25k → 8%FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: $10k → 8%FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: $5k → 8%FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: $1k → 8%FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: $3k → 14%FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: $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

IL
MI
NY
OH
NJ
CT
CA
UT
CO
MO
VA
DE
AZ
NM
KS
NC
DC
OK
GA
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.

96%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.0M · 58 repeat orgs$42k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +51% since the first grant, against +49% for those funded once.

58 repeat relationships: 28 still active in FY2025, 30 since wound down; 6 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

58
20

Total granted

$1.0M
$23k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+51%
+49%

Still filing today

36%
50%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 89% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $19k went to new ones.

50%100%’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Public BenefitEducationReligionCivil RightsHealthCrime & LegalOther
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

  • Conservative Partnership Institute
    7× · 2019–2025 · $213k · revenue +548%
  • THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION
    7× · 2018–2025 · $56k · revenue +65%
  • FR
    FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL
    7× · 2018–2025 · $53k · revenue +60%

Funded once

  • TE
    THE EUMENCIAL CHAPLAINCY
    one grant, 2019 · $3k
  • TS
    The Stamford Hospitalgraduated
    one grant, 2019 · $2k · revenue +49%
  • AW
    Andrew Wommack Ministries Inc
    one grant, 2019 · $2k · revenue -4%
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
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research

The american enterprise institute is a community of scholars and supporters committed to expanding liberty, increasing individual opportunity, and strengthening free enterprise. aei pursues these ideals through independent thinking and the…

Social Science
2
Christianity Today International

Christianity Today is a global community inspired by evangelical conviction to advance the stories and ideas of the kingdom of God. Our mission is to elevate the storytellers and sages of the global church.

Religion
3
First Liberty Institute

First liberty institute provides pro bono legal services to advance and defend religious liberty for individuals, churches, and other ministries and organizations.

Civil Rights
4
Freedom in Christ Ministries

To provide resources, training, and continuing support to leaders in the us and around the world in order that they may help others find freedom in christ.

Religion
5
Foreign Policy Research Institute

The foreign policy research institute (frpi) is dedicated to producing the highest quality scholarship and nonpartisan policy analysis focused on crucial foreign policy and national security challenges facing the united states. we educate…

International
6
Faith in Public Life Inc

Faith in public life's mission is to advance the moral imperative for a just, inclusive and equitable country that allows each of us to live into our full humanity. we do this by building power and cultures of belongings among diverse…

Religion
7
Freedom Forum Institute Inc

The mission of the freedom forum institute is to champion the five freedoms of the first amendment through education and entertainment.

—
8
Evangel University

Evangel is a comprehensive christian university that is committed to excellence in educating and equipping students to become spirit empowered servants of god who will impact the church and society globally.

Education
9
Intentional Life Media

Dedicated to igniting personal transformation by affirming faith, inspiring hope, and equipping individuals, to live an intentional life in christ.

Religion
10
Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Americans united for separation of church and state is a nonpartisan educational and advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the separation of religion and government as the only way to ensure freedom of religion, including the right…

Civil Rights
11
Religious Freedom Institute Inc

The religious freedom institute is committed to achieving a broad acceptance of religious liberty as a fundamental human right, the cornerstone of a successful society, and a source of national and international security.

Education
12
Frontiers of Freedom Institute

To educate the public on constitutional issues and public policy matters. We are dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, peace through strength, limited government, free enterprise, and the values embodied in the Declaration of…

Public Benefit
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Family Policy Alliance Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Heroes Equine Assisted Riding Therapy. 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

39 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. 39 of the 87 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)
8
Early backer (in before they grew)
36/39
Grantees still filing
28/39
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

CENTER FOR RENEWING AMERICA: $95,000 · OtherCENTER FOR RENEWING AMERICADREAM CITY CHURCH: $74,000 · OtherDREAM CITY CHURCHHARVEST TIME: $46,000 · OtherHARVEST TIMESTATE FREEDOM CAUCUS NETWORK FDTN: $43,000 · OtherSTATE FREEDOM CAUCUS NETWORK FDTNVOICE OF THE MARTYRS INC: $23,500 · OtherEcumenical Chaplaincy for the Homeless Inc: $19,000 · Other+57 more: $248,750 · Other+57 moreConservative Partnership Institute: $213,000 · EducationConservative Partnership In…MANHATTAN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY: $20,000 · EducationMANHATTAN CHRISTIAN ACADEMYHILLSDALE COLLEGE: $16,000 · EducationHILLSDALE COLLEGECENTER FOR ARIZONA POLICY INC: $13,500 · Education+2 more: $7,500 · EducationTHE HERITAGE FOUNDATION: $56,000 · Public BenefitTHE HERITAG…Leadership Institute: $20,500 · Public BenefitLeadership …AMERICAN ACCOUNTABILITY FOUNDATION: $13,000 · Public BenefitAMERICAN AC…JUDICIAL WATCH INC: $11,500 · Public BenefitJUDICIAL WA…Freedom Caucus Foundation: $10,000 · Public BenefitFreedom Cau…+2 more: $3,000 · Public BenefitFAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: $52,500 · Human ServicesALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM: $29,000 · Civil RightsFAMILY INSTITUTE OF CONNECTICUT INC: $10,500 · Civil RightsAMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE INC: $6,000 · Civil RightsHONORHEALTH FOUNDATION: $36,000 · HealthThe Stamford Hospital: $2,000 · HealthCHRISTIAN CENTER OF PARK CITY: $15,500 · ReligionPHOENIX GOSPEL MISSION: $5,500 · ReligionAndrew Wommack Ministries Inc: $2,000 · ReligionINTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR THE FAMILY: $1,000 · Religion+1 more: $500 · Religion
Other$549,250Education$270,000Public Benefit$114,000Human Services$52,500Civil Rights$45,500Health$38,000Religion$24,500

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

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetConservative Partnership Institute: $213,000 over 7y, 0.4% of budgetTHE HERITAGE FOUNDATION: $56,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetFAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: $52,500 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetHONORHEALTH FOUNDATION: $36,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM: $29,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetLeadership Institute: $20,500 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetMANHATTAN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY: $20,000 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetFREEDOM ALLIANCE: $17,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetHILLSDALE COLLEGE: $16,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetCHRISTIAN CENTER OF PARK CITY: $15,500 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetCENTER FOR ARIZONA POLICY INC: $13,500 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetPRISON FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES: $13,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN ACCOUNTABILITY FOUNDATION: $13,000 over 4y, 0.6% of budgetJUDICIAL WATCH INC: $11,500 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetFAMILY INSTITUTE OF CONNECTICUT INC: $10,500 over 5y, 0.6% of budgetPATRICK HENRY COLLEGE: $6,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE INC: $6,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetHuman Services Campus Inc: $6,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetPHOENIX GOSPEL MISSION: $5,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetAmerica First Legal Foundation: $5,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetHeroes Equine Assisted Riding Therapy: $4,000 over 3y, 5.6% of budgetHIGH HOPES THERAPEUTIC RIDING INC: $4,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetThe Stamford Hospital: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAndrew Wommack Ministries Inc: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Moment Inc: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTURNING POINT USA INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetYoung America's Foundation: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD FOR JESUS MINISTRIES INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBIBLE PATHWAY MINISTRIES INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetLIBERTY UNIVERSITY INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFAMILY POLICY ALLIANCE FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetINTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR THE FAMILY: $1,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTHE RUTHERFORD INSTITUTE: $750 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHEARTBEAT INTERNATIONAL 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.

  • Who funds Conservative Partnership Institute ↗
  • Who funds THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL ↗
  • Who funds HONORHEALTH FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds ALLIANCE DEFENDING FREEDOM ↗
  • Who funds Leadership Institute ↗
  • Who funds MANHATTAN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY ↗
  • Who funds Ecumenical Chaplaincy for the Homeless Inc ↗
  • Who funds FREEDOM ALLIANCE ↗
  • Who funds HILLSDALE COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds CHRISTIAN CENTER OF PARK CITY ↗
  • Who funds CENTER FOR ARIZONA POLICY INC ↗
  • Who funds PRISON FELLOWSHIP MINISTRIES ↗
  • Who funds AMERICAN ACCOUNTABILITY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds JUDICIAL WATCH INC ↗
  • Who funds FAMILY INSTITUTE OF CONNECTICUT INC ↗
  • Who funds Freedom Caucus Foundation ↗
  • Who funds PATRICK HENRY COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE INC ↗
  • Who funds Human Services Campus Inc ↗
  • Who funds PHOENIX GOSPEL MISSION ↗
  • Who funds America First Legal Foundation ↗

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.

Donors Trust IncKnights of Columbus C…Servant FoundationChristian Community F…California Community …Natl Christian Charit…Gs Donor Advised Phil…National Philanthropi…Vanguard Charitable E…Morgan Stanley Global…The Bank of America C…Raymond James Charita…
Donors Trust IncVA17× affinity6 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Donors Trust Inc · Knights of Columbus Charitable Fund Inc · Servant Foundation · Christian Community Foundation Inc · California Community Foundation · Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · National Philanthropic Trust · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · The Bank of America Charitable 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 Swenson Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Swenson Family Foundation. 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%3%5%8%10%share of the org’s income from government →median 0%
  • High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Inc: 0% of income from government
  • The Stamford Hospital: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
2get no government money at all
5report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–10%
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 87 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 Swenson 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