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The Awe and Wonder Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Awe and Wonder 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.

$125k
Granted FY2024still arriving
2
Grants FY2024still arriving
2
States reached
$75k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0195% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Education$3.0MInternational$2.2MReligion$332kArts & Culture$300kFood & Nutrition$151kHuman Services$139kHousing & Shelter$50kYouth Development$50kOther$0
02FY2024 · 2 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$75,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$403k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
FOCUS North America$75,000
Individual grant recipient$50,000
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 (FY23–24, $150k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%FOCUS NORTH AMERICA: $75k → 11%FOCUS North America: $75k → 11%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
PA
CA
WV
MD
TN
DC
HI
TX
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.

86%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$5.4M · 16 repeat orgs$879k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +34% since the first grant, against +24% for those funded once.

16 repeat relationships: 1 still active in FY2024, 15 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

16
20

Total granted

$5.4M
$829k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+34%
+24%

Still filing today

56%
40%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 60% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $50k 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
EducationInternationalArts & CultureHousing & ShelterHealthHuman ServicesOther
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

  • TS
    THE SAINT CONSTANTINE SCHOOL
    3× · 2017–2023 · $197k · revenue +274%
  • AD
    Agape Development Ministries
    3× · 2021–2023 · $150k · revenue +60%
  • INT'L ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES INC
    2× · 2020–2021 · $150k · revenue +14%

Funded once

  • SS
    ST SILOUAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
    one grant, 2019 · $126k
  • AM
    Amazima Ministries International Education and Empowerment for East
    one grant, 2017 · $100k · revenue +10%
  • FF
    FELLOWSHIP FOR PERFORMING ARTS INC
    one grant, 2020 · $100k · revenue +24%
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
Houston Christian University

The mission of houston christian university is to provide a learning experience that instills in students a passion for academic, spiritual, and professional excellence as a result of our central confession, "jesus christ is lord."

—
2
San Antonio Christian School

Partner with families to provide students a christ-centered education while fostering a life of faith and service. the school desires to associate with like-minded teachers, administrators, staff, parents, and students to communicate the…

—
3
Houston Christian Foundation dba National Christian Foundation Houston

As the Houston affiliate of the National Christian Foundation (NCF), our mission is to serve and encourage givers to grow as faithful stewards who give wisely to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

—
4
Presbyterian School

Family, School, and Church united in the education and support of each child - this is the founding premise upon which Presbyterian School nurtures and challenges its students. The school provides an educational program of the highest…

Education
5
The Greatest School in West Houston

Christian pre-school from age 3-months to school-age, and school from

—
6
Trinity Classical School of Houston Inc

Trinity Classical School is a Christian school that uses classical curriculum and a collaborative approach.

Education
7
The Woodlands Christian Academy

TWCA is an independent, Christ-centered college preparatory school that integrates learning with biblical faith and challenges our students to reach their highest potential - intellectually, creatively, physically, and socially - for the…

—
8
Houston Christian Broadcasters Inc

Provide teaching of the word of god and religious music.

Arts & Culture
9
Colleyville Covenant Christian

The mission is to provide a biblically based classical college preparatory education that inspires a passion for excellence a heart of grace and the character of Christ.

Education
10
Christian Mission for the United Nations Community

Christian Mission for the United Nations Community is a ministry aimed at leading the head of every nation and other top leaders to faith in Jesus Christ and helping them to walk in dependence upon God as they discharge the…

—
11
The Methodist Hospital Foundation

Mission: this organization is part of the methodist hospital, doing business as houston methodist hospital, whose mission is: to provide high quality, cost-effective health care that delivers the best value to the people we serve in a…

Health
12
Global City Missions Initiative Incorporated

Global City Mission Initiative is dedicated to cross-cultural evanglism, disciplemaking, church planting among diverse diaspora populations in strategic cities reaching out evangelistically to start multiply churches, training believers to…

Religion
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Greater Houston Community Foundation; the most unlike its peers is The Preemptive Love Coalition. 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

19 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. 19 of the 39 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)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
19/19
Grantees still filing
13/19
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

HARBOR CHRISTIAN ACADEMY HOUSTON: $2,020,000 · OtherHARBOR CHRISTIAN ACADEMY HOUSTONWORLD VISION: $1,550,000 · OtherWORLD VISION+23 more: $1,079,775 · Other+23 moreHarbor Christian Academy: $500,000 · EducationHarbor Christia…THE SAINT CONSTANTINE SCHOOL: $197,000 · EducationTHE SAINT CONST…Agape Development Ministries: $150,000 · EducationAgape Developme…+2 more: $21,235 · EducationINT'L ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES INC: $150,000 · InternationalAmazima Ministries International Education and Empowerment for East: $100,000 · InternationalMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $50,000 · InternationalTHE COCAMA PROJECT: $25,000 · InternationalFOCUS NORTH AMERICA: $150,000 · Human ServicesFELLOWSHIP FOR PERFORMING ARTS INC: $100,000 · Arts & CultureMercury Chamber Orchestra Inc: $50,000 · Arts & CultureTHE PREEMPTIVE LOVE COALITION: $100,000 · HealthSTAR OF HOPE MISSION: $50,000 · Housing & Shelter
Other$4,649,775Education$868,235International$325,000Human Services$150,000Arts & Culture$150,000Health$100,000Housing & Shelter$50,000

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 budgetTHE SAINT CONSTANTINE SCHOOL: $197,000 over 3y, 0.8% of budgetAgape Development Ministries: $150,000 over 3y, 2.1% of budgetINT'L ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES INC: $150,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetFOCUS NORTH AMERICA: $150,000 over 2y, 1.7% of budgetTHE PREEMPTIVE LOVE COALITION: $100,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetAmazima Ministries International Education and Empowerment for East: $100,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetFELLOWSHIP FOR PERFORMING ARTS INC: $100,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetMISSION CENTERS OF HOUSTON: $100,000 over 2y, 6.3% of budgetMercury Chamber Orchestra Inc: $50,000 over 2y, 2.6% of budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSTAR OF HOPE MISSION: $50,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetYOUTH-REACH HOUSTON INC: $50,000 over 2y, 2.2% of budgetTHE COCAMA PROJECT: $25,000 over 1y, 18% of budgetYELLOWSTONE ACADEMY INC DBA YELLOWSTONE SCHOOLS: $16,235 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE BRAZOS VALLEY: $10,510 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetGREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPARKER SCHOOL: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetRecipe for Success Foundation: $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 Harbor Christian Academy ↗
  • Who funds THE SAINT CONSTANTINE SCHOOL ↗
  • Who funds Agape Development Ministries ↗
  • Who funds INT'L ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHARITIES INC ↗
  • Who funds FOCUS NORTH AMERICA ↗
  • Who funds THE PREEMPTIVE LOVE COALITION ↗
  • Who funds Amazima Ministries International Education and Empowerment for East ↗
  • Who funds FELLOWSHIP FOR PERFORMING ARTS INC ↗
  • Who funds MISSION CENTERS OF HOUSTON ↗
  • Who funds Mercury Chamber Orchestra Inc ↗
  • Who funds MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC ↗
  • Who funds STAR OF HOPE MISSION ↗
  • Who funds YOUTH-REACH HOUSTON INC ↗
  • Who funds THE COCAMA PROJECT ↗
  • Who funds YELLOWSTONE ACADEMY INC DBA YELLOWSTONE SCHOOLS ↗
  • Who funds COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE BRAZOS VALLEY ↗
  • Who funds GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds PARKER SCHOOL ↗
  • Who funds Recipe for Success 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.

Shell USA Company Fou…Greater Houston Commu…Oldham Little Church …The Brown Foundation …Christian Community F…Vanguard Charitable E…National Philanthropi…The Blackbaud Giving …American Endowment Fo…Morgan Stanley Global…Raymond James Charita…Natl Christian Charit…
Shell USA Company FoundationTX17.7× affinity8 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Shell USA Company Foundation · Greater Houston Community Foundation · Oldham Little Church Foundation · The Brown Foundation Inc · Christian Community Foundation Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · National Philanthropic Trust · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · American Endowment Foundation · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund · Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc

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 Awe and Wonder Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Awe and Wonder Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%5%11%20%funder's share of their income ↑0%15%30%45%60%share of the org’s income from government →median 7%
  • Int'l Orthodox Christian Charities Inc: 7% of 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
⤢ 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.
05Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to The Awe and Wonder Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The Awe and Wonder Foundation 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 39 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 Awe and Wonder’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