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The Agnes Varis Trust at a glance

· Private foundation

The Agnes Varis Trust

Its FY2017 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$3.1M
Granted FY2017
30
Grants FY2017
8
States reached
$468k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its fieldRead
04Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01FY2017 · 30 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2017

  • Under $10k3 grants · $14k
  • $10k–50k9 grants · $135k
  • $50k–250k14 grants · $1.7M
  • $250k+4 grants · $1.3M
$50,000
Median grant
8
States reached
$4.5M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Act for Lebanon$467,500
Opening Act Inc$300,000
Community Foundation of the Hudson Valley$250,000
WNETOrg$250,000
Richard Tucker Music Foundation$225,000
American University of Beirut$200,000
Arcenciel USA$180,625
Actors Company Theatre Inc$175,000
Research Foundation of CU$150,000
Trilogy an Opera Company$125,000
Hellenic Initiative Inc$100,000
Doorways for Women and Families$100,000
Shining Home for Communities Inc$100,000
Angel of Light Inc$100,000
The Aspen Institute Inc$50,000
02The need
02

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 (FY17–17, $150k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%Paradise 4Kids: $50k → 16%Angel of Light Inc: $100k → 9%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

NY
MA
NJ
CA
MO
VA
MD
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 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
New York City Center Inc

The mission of new york city center is to be new york city's leading center for dance and musical theater. dedicated to making the arts accessible to the broadest possible audience, city center seeks to create a welcoming environment and…

Arts & Culture
2
United States Artists Inc

To invest in america's finest artists and illuminate the value of artists to society.

Arts & Culture
3
Performance Space 122 Inc

See schedule operformance space new york is committed to promoting the arts (including performance, visual and all other contemporary arts), fostering artistic development (including through direct grants), advancing diversity in the field…

Arts & Culture
4
Metropolitan Jewish Health System Inc

Mjhs health system is a charitable not-for-profit established to support the activities of affiliated organizations. mjhs is built on the core values of compassion, dignity and respect, first established by the four brooklyn ladies in…

Health
5
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

The Television Academy is dedicated to celebrating excellence, innovation and the advancement of the telecommunications arts and sciences through recognition, education and leadership, while fostering a diverse, inclusive and accessible…

—
6
Los Angeles Opera Company

To serve the public by producing world-class opera that preserves, promotes and advances the art form while embodying the diversity, spirit and artistic sensibility unique to los angeles. we envision an engaged and enlightened community in…

Arts & Culture
7
The American Theatre Guild

The american theatre guild is dedicated to providing the experience of live theatre to foster passion, inspire creativity and empower youth within our communities.

Arts & Culture
8
Stages

Stages makes plays and tells stories that invite everyone to live more deeply and love more boldly.

Arts & Culture
9
The 24 Hour Company

The organization's mission is to bring together creative communities to produce plays and musicals that are written, rehearsed and performed in 24 hours.

Arts & Culture
10
The Israel Innovation Fund Inc

Our vision is to reignite the zionist spirit and meet the needs of jewish civilization in the twenty-first century by connecting people around the world through the vibrancy and creativity of contemporary israeli culture.

Arts & Culture
11
Theaterworks Inc

Theaterworks' mission is to share intimate stories that engage all audiences. it creates exceptional contemporary theater that entertains, celebrates new voices, and invites meaningful conversations. its vision is to inspire a more…

Arts & Culture
12
University of New Haven

The University of New Haven is a student-centered comprehensive university with an emphasis on excellence in liberal arts and professional education. Our mission is to prepare our students to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in a…

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley Inc; the most unlike its peers is New York University. 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

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 30 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.

4
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
4
Early backer (in before they grew)
21/22
Grantees still filing
15/22
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

WNETOrg: $250,000 · OtherWNETOrgCOMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS OF THE HUDSON VALLEY INC: $250,000 · OtherCOMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS OF THE HUDSON VALLEY I…Arcenciel USA: $180,625 · OtherArcenciel USATHE ACTORS COMPANY THEATRE INC: $175,000 · OtherTHE ACTORS COMPANY THEATRE INCResearch Foundation of CU: $150,000 · OtherResearch Foundation of CUDOORWAYS FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES INC: $100,000 · OtherDOORWAYS FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES INC+7 more: $95,000 · Other+7 moreOpening Act Inc: $300,000 · Arts & CultureOpening Act IncRICHARD TUCKER MUSIC FOUNDATION INC: $225,000 · Arts & CultureRICHARD TUCKER MUSIC FOUN…TRILOGY AN OPERA COMPANY: $125,000 · Arts & CultureTRILOGY AN OPERA COMPANYPRESSER ARTS CENTER: $25,000 · Arts & Culture+1 more: $10,000 · Arts & CultureACT FOR LEBANON CO FMFSB LLC: $467,500 · InternationalACT FOR LEBANON CO F…HELLENIC INITIATIVE INC: $100,000 · InternationalHELLENIC INITIATIVE …AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT: $200,000 · EducationAMERICAN UNIVE…SHINING HOPE FOR COMMUNITIES INC: $100,000 · EducationSHINING HOPE F…New York University: $50,000 · EducationNew York Unive…Israel Venture Network: $50,000 · EducationIsrael Venture…ANGELS OF LIGHT INC: $100,000 · Human ServicesPARADISE 4 KIDS INC: $50,000 · Human ServicesTHE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC: $50,000 · Social ScienceJazz Foundation of America Inc: $10,000 · PhilanthropyJEWISH FEDERATION OF DUTCHESS COUNT: $3,600 · PhilanthropyTHE LOWELL GENERAL HOSPITAL: $5,000 · Health
Other$1,200,625Arts & Culture$685,000International$567,500Education$400,000Human Services$150,000Social Science$50,000Philanthropy$13,600Health$5,000

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 budgetACT FOR LEBANON CO FMFSB LLC: $467,500 over 1y, 90% of budgetOpening Act Inc: $300,000 over 1y, 32% of budgetCOMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS OF THE HUDSON VALLEY INC: $250,000 over 1y, 3.3% of budgetAMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT: $200,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE ACTORS COMPANY THEATRE INC: $175,000 over 1y, 26% of budgetANGELS OF LIGHT INC: $100,000 over 1y, 44% of budgetSHINING HOPE FOR COMMUNITIES INC: $100,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetDOORWAYS FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES INC: $100,000 over 1y, 2.1% of budgetHELLENIC INITIATIVE INC: $100,000 over 1y, 5.3% of budgetPARADISE 4 KIDS INC: $50,000 over 1y, 17% of budgetNew York University: $50,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetIsrael Venture Network: $50,000 over 1y, 12% of budgetTHE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPRESSER ARTS CENTER: $25,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetTHE PERFORMANCE ZONE INC: $20,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetJazz Foundation of America Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetJACOB BURNS FILM CENTER INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSPECIAL OLYMPICS NEW JERSEY INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE LOWELL GENERAL HOSPITAL: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetJEWISH FEDERATION OF DUTCHESS COUNT: $3,600 over 1y, 1.2% 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.

Jewish Communal FundCharities Aid Foundat…National Philanthropi…The Pfizer Foundation…American Endowment Fo…Morgan Stanley Global…Paypal Charitable Giv…The Bank of America C…American Online Givin…Fidelity Investments …Donor Advised Charita…Amazonsmile Foundation
Jewish Communal FundNY12.3× affinity5 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Jewish Communal Fund · Charities Aid Foundation America · National Philanthropic Trust · The Pfizer Foundation Inc · American Endowment Foundation · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Paypal Charitable Giving Fund · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Amazonsmile Foundation

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 The Agnes Varis Trust funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Agnes Varis Trust. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%15%30%45%60%share of the org’s income from government →median 34%
  • Trilogy an Opera Company: 34% of income from government
  • The Lowell General Hospital: 5% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
2get no government money at all
1report 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.
04Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to The Agnes Varis Trust?

Find your warmest path to The Agnes Varis 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 30 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 2017, released 2017. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Agnes Varis’ 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