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· Private foundation

The Bellwether Foundation II

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.

$350k
Granted FY2025still arriving
8
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$50k
Largest
01What you fundRead
02The needRead
03Your edgeRead
04Your fieldRead
01What you fund
0198% classified

What you funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year — across FY2017–2025.

Environment$1.7MPublic Benefit$1.3MCrime & Legal$610kHealth$495kPhilanthropy$430kFood & Nutrition$360kHuman Services$310kCivil Rights$265kOther$0
02FY2025 · 8 grants

Where the money goes

Your grants by size, and where they go.

By grant size · FY2025

  • $10k–50k3 grants · $100k
  • $50k–250k5 grants · $250k
$50,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$11M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
VOTE SOLAR$50,000
FREEFROM$50,000
FAMILY VIOLENCE LAW CENTER$50,000
CALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE$50,000
FAMILY VIOLENCE APPELLATE PROJECT$50,000
COALITION FOR GREEN CAPITAL$35,000
GROUNDSWELL INC$35,000
BREAKTHROUGH INSTITUTE$30,000
02The need
03

Do your dollars go where the need is?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, then read against the area’s typical level.

show:

Your human-services grants (FY23–25, $150k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of your grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%FREEFROM: $50k → 14%FREEFROM: $50k → 14%FREEFROM: $50k → 14%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount

Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty linein the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP; grantee ZIP can differ from where services are delivered.

US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are actually delivered. Need from public data — U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA — shown as context about the area, never attributed to your giving.

03Your edge
repeat funding

Who you back again

Which organizations you funded more than once, and which you funded a single time. Each grantee is matched to its own filings.

86%of every dollar goes to organizations you’ve funded before.
$4.6M · 19 repeat orgs$714k to everyone else

And the relationships you keep tend to grow: grantees you re-up on have seen median revenue of +46% since the first grant, against 0% for the ones you funded once.

19 repeat relationships — 8 still active in FY2025, 11 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

19
17

Total granted

$4.6M
$714k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+46%
0%

Still filing today

95%
59%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
EnvironmentCivil RightsHealthEducationInternationalCrime & LegalOther

First-time = a grantee’s first year in your filing window; renewed = funded in an earlier year too. As a portfolio matures the renewed share naturally climbs — once funded, an org stays “renewable” — so the signal is the years that buck it (a new-grantee intake wave). 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

  • CF
    COALITION FOR GREEN CAPITAL D/B/A AMERICAN GREEN BANK CONSORTIUM
    9× · 2017–2025 · $450k · revenue ×20
  • GI
    GROUNDSWELL INC
    8× · 2018–2025 · $385k · revenue +357%
  • CF
    Center for Environmental Health
    8× · 2017–2024 · $360k · revenue +46%

Funded once

  • PROTECT DEMOCRACY PROJECT
    one grant, 2024 · $100k · revenue 0%
  • SU
    STATES UNITED DEMOCRACY CENTER INC
    one grant, 2024 · $100k · revenue 0%
  • TF
    TIDES FOUNDATION - MOVEMENT VOTER FUND
    one grant, 2020 · $100k

Repeat = funded in two or more distinct years; growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Your field

The map has a center of gravity: the average direction from the rest of the sector toward the organizations the foundation funds — the shape of its giving. Scoring every nonprofit along that direction surfaces the ones that look most like the portfolio. These are the closest matchesthat aren’t grantees — a resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
The Climate Center

The Climate Center is a climate and energy policy nonprofit working to rapidly reduce climate pollution at scale, starting in California.

Education
2
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
3
CarbonPlan

Improving the transparency and scientific integrity of climate solutions through open data and tools.

Environment
4
Partnership for Policy Integrity

Partnership for Policy Integrity (PFPI) uses data-driven advocacy and litigation to fight for forests, communities and the climate.

Environment
5
Legal Advocates for Safe Science and Technology Inc

Using legal advocacy to make advances in science and technology safer for people and the planet.

Science & Tech
6
Center for Arms Control and

A nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization dedicated to enhancing international peace and security in the 21st century, thereby retaining its focus on nuclear weapons but expanding to include other present emerging security threats.

International
7
Center for International Policy Inc

The center for international policy is a woman-led, progressive, independent nonprofit center for research, education, and advocacy working to advance a more peaceful, just, and sustainable u.s. approach to foreign policy. through…

International
8
Climate Breakthrough Inc

To launch breakthrough climate mitigation efforts by identifying, supporting, and unleashing innovative leaders with transformative strategies.

Human Services
9
Transformca dba Transform

Transform works to ensure that people of all incomes thrive in a world safe from climate chaos.

Community Improvement
10
Environment Next Inc

Environment next supports individuals, nonprofits and businesses around the world on solutions to complex climate issues. we provide leadership, outreach and communication support, grants, and investments to empower leaders and their ideas…

Environment
11
Environmental Investigation Agency

To establish and promote programs to protect the global climate, forests, wildlife and the natural environment, through research, advocacy, and investigation.

International
12
Upturn Inc

Upturn advances equity and justice in the design, governance, and use of technology.

—

For reference, the grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Futures Without Violence and the most unlike its peers is Maitri. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.

Your grantees are a median of 21 years old; the field is 17. You back the established end — and your money leans older still.

THE FIELDby orgYOUR GRANTEESby number20%0%<5yr14%17%5–10yr20%33%10–20yr19%23%20–35yr14%27%35–55yr13%0%55yr+
THE FIELDby orgYOUR MONEYby value20%0%<5yr14%13%5–10yr20%36%10–20yr19%33%20–35yr14%18%35–55yr13%0%55yr+

The field is 20% startups (under 5 years old) — 0% of your grantees by number, and just 0% of your money.

Closures · last 5 years

The orgs you fund almost never close — 0.0% lost their exemption, against 12% of the field you don’t fund.

orgs you fund
0.0%0/32
the rest of the field
12%
5,778/49,834

Age = years since IRS exemption (a founding proxy). “Closed” = auto-revocation for 3 years of non-filing — a floor on closure, not proof, and bigger established orgs lapse least. Association, not causation.

04the grantee network

32 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each one resolved to its own IRS returns and tracked year by year — your grant beside their revenue from every source. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

Counted here: distinct organizations you funded across 2017–2025, not grant rows in a single year — so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 32 of the 40 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile; the rest are funded organizations whose filings we could not track year by year.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
11
Early backer (in before they grew)
32/32
Grantees still filing
20/32
Grew since you first funded

Where your money sits — by cause, then by grantee

COALITION FOR GREEN CAPITAL D/B/A AMERICAN GREEN BANK CONSORTIUM — $450,000 · EnvironmentCOALITION FOR GREEN CAPITAL D/B/…GROUNDSWELL INC — $385,000 · EnvironmentGROUNDSWELL INCVote Solar — $290,000 · EnvironmentVote SolarThe Breakthrough Institute — $245,000 · EnvironmentThe Breakthrough InstituteNEW VENTURE FUND — $115,000 · EnvironmentNEW VENTURE FUNDCIVILIZATION WORKS — $85,000 · EnvironmentPesticide Action Network North America — $75,000 · EnvironmentTHE VOTER PARTICIPATION CENTER — $440,000 · Civil RightsTHE VOTER PARTICIP…CALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE — $240,000 · Civil RightsCALIFORNIA PARTNER…PROTECT DEMOCRACY PROJECT — $100,000 · Civil RightsPROTECT DEMOCRACY …STATES UNITED DEMOCRACY CENTER INC — $100,000 · Civil RightsSTATES UNITED DEMO…FAIRVOTE — $50,000 · Civil Rights+1 more — $25,000 · Civil RightsVOTO LATINO INC — $445,000 · OtherVOTO LATINO INCTIDES FOUNDATION - MOVEMENT VOTER FUND — $100,000 · OtherTIDES FOUNDATION - MOVEMENT…La Casa de las Madres — $80,000 · OtherLa Casa de las MadresIndividual grant recipient — $70,000 · OtherFUND FOR A SAFER FUTURE — $50,000 · OtherFreefrom — $150,000 · OtherFreefromMAITRI — $80,000 · OtherMAITRITHE COUNCIL ON STRATEGIC RISKS — $105,000 · OtherTHE COUNCIL ON STRATEGIC RI…CONTINA IMPACT — $50,000 · Other+10 more — $238,500 · Other+10 moreFamily Violence Law Center — $320,000 · Crime & LegalFamily Viol…FAMILY VIOLENCE APPELLATE PROJECT — $240,000 · Crime & LegalFAMILY VIOL…Center for Environmental Health — $360,000 · HealthCenter fo…BREAST CANCER PREVENTION PARTNERS — $135,000 · HealthBREAST CA…Center for Food Safety — $360,000 · Food & NutritionTIDES FOUNDATION — $250,000 · PhilanthropyROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS INC — $50,000 · PhilanthropyPLAYERS PHILANTHROPY FUND INC — $15,000 · Philanthropy
Environment$1,645,000Civil Rights$955,000Other$1,368,500Crime & Legal$560,000Health$495,000Food & Nutrition$360,000Philanthropy$315,000

Each org by its size and your share of it — top-left is where you’re load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ your share of their budgetCOALITION FOR GREEN CAPITAL D/B/A AMERICAN GREEN BANK CONSORTIUM — $450,000 over 9y, 5.0% of budgetVOTO LATINO INC — $445,000 over 6y, 2.3% of budgetTHE VOTER PARTICIPATION CENTER — $440,000 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetGROUNDSWELL INC — $385,000 over 8y, 2.7% of budgetCenter for Environmental Health — $360,000 over 8y, 1.9% of budgetCenter for Food Safety — $360,000 over 8y, 1.9% of budgetFamily Violence Law Center — $320,000 over 7y, 1.6% of budgetVote Solar — $290,000 over 7y, 0.5% of budgetTIDES FOUNDATION — $250,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetThe Breakthrough Institute — $245,000 over 8y, 1.8% of budgetCALIFORNIA PARTNERSHIP TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE — $240,000 over 5y, 1.9% of budgetFAMILY VIOLENCE APPELLATE PROJECT — $240,000 over 5y, 2.8% of budgetFreefrom — $150,000 over 3y, 1.0% of budgetBREAST CANCER PREVENTION PARTNERS — $135,000 over 3y, 1.7% of budgetNEW VENTURE FUND — $115,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE COUNCIL ON STRATEGIC RISKS — $105,000 over 3y, 3.9% of budgetPROTECT DEMOCRACY PROJECT — $100,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetSTATES UNITED DEMOCRACY CENTER INC — $100,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetMAITRI — $80,000 over 2y, 2.5% of budgetLa Casa de las Madres — $80,000 over 2y, 0.9% of budgetFAIRVOTE — $50,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetCONTINA IMPACT — $50,000 over 1y, 3.5% of budgetROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS INC — $50,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENTS IN RADIO INC — $30,000 over 1y, 2.2% of budgetGLOBAL ZERO — $20,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetPLAYERS PHILANTHROPY FUND INC — $15,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFUTURES WITHOUT VIOLENCE — $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Go grantee by grantee — a decade per org, and how each moved after you funded them

A decade per grantee — revenue shaded, your grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

The grantmakers whose grantees overlap with yours far more than size alone predicts. Each orbits closer the stronger the alignment; the arcs between them show where they also fund each other. Here it reads as a tightly interlocked camp — most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Silicon Valley Commun…The William & Flora H…Jewish Community Fede…John D and Catherine …Rockefeller Philanthr…The San Francisco Fou…California Physicians…Tides FoundationMarin Community Found…New Venture FundWomen's Foundation of…Jewish Communal Fund
Silicon Valley Community FoundationCA22.9× affinity12 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Silicon Valley Community Foundation · The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation · Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco the Peninsula Marin & Sonoma · John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation · Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc · The San Francisco Foundation · California Physicians' Service Fdn Dba Blue Shield of California Fdn · Tides Foundation · Marin Community Foundation · New Venture Fund · Women's Foundation of California · Jewish Communal Fund

Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. A research starting point: overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

Government reliance of your grantees

Every dot is one organization The Bellwether Foundation II funds. Left–right is the share of its income from government; up–down is the share from you. Bigger dots raise more. Filter to federal or a single department — and drag the year to watch it move.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%0%1%3%5%your share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s 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
    typical government reliance, FY20–25

    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 your grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first — a floor, not 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 12–24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read directly from IRS e-file XML — your own 990/990-PF and the multi-year returns of the 40 grantees we resolved across every year we hold, several hundred filings in all (a different count from the grant rows on the cover, which are one fiscal year)— each linked to its source. Grantee achievements and outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III); we read these as association with sustained funding — the foundation is one of several forces — suppress low-confidence name matches rather than guess, and say so where a figure rests on a single grant or filing. Not everything on this page is a filed figure, and the difference matters. Filed is what you reported on your 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. How we build these →

    Generated from your IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12–24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    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 camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home
    State money flows
    the interactive map of money crossing state lines