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The Blackwell Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Blackwell Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$26k
Granted FY2025still arriving
8
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$10k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0191% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2021 to 2025.

Health$79kAnimals$25kFood & Nutrition$3kReligion$2kOther$0
02FY2025 · 8 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k7 grants · $16k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $10k
$2,500
Median grant
2
States reached
$497k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation$10,000
MD Anderson Cancer Center$5,000
Arthritis National Research Foundation$2,500
Seton Fund$2,500
Austin Pets Alive$2,500
Citizens for Animal Protection$2,500
Houston Food Bank$1,000
Individual grant recipient$250
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:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY21–25) land where the poverty rate runs at 15%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 79% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%Childrens Cancer Research Fund: $2k → 11%Arthritis National Research Foundation: $3k → 10%Arthritis National Research Foundation: $5k → 14%Street Youth ministry of Austin: $1k → 10%Shriner's Hospital for Children: $5k → 14%Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation: $5k → 16%Shriner's Hospital for Children: $3k → 13%St Judes Childrens Research Hospital: $3k → 17%Arthritis National Research Foundation: $3k → 10%Arthritis National Research Foundation: $1k → 14%Street Youth ministry of Austin: $1k → 10%Shriner's Hospital for Children: $5k → 14%Citizens for Animal Protection: $3k → 16%St Judes Childrens Research Hospital: $2k → 17%Austin Wildlife Rescue: $250 → 10%Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation: $10k → 16%St Judes Childrens Research Hospital: $2k → 17%Austin Pets Alive: $3k → 10%MD Anderson Cancer Center: $5k → 16%Austin Pets Alive: $3k → 10%Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation: $5k → 16%Austin Pets Alive: $3k → 10%MD Anderson Cancer Center: $5k → 16%Austin Pets Alive: $3k → 10%Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation: $5k → 16%Austin Pets Alive: $2k → 10%MD Anderson Cancer Center: $5k → 16%Austin Wildlife Rescue: $250 → 10%MD Anderson Cancer Center: $3k → 16%Seton Fund: $3k → 10%University of Texas Health Science Center: $2k → 16%Houston SPCA: $3k → 16%Houston SPCA: $3k → 16%Houston SPCA: $3k → 16%Houston SPCA: $2k → 16%The Wildlife Center of Texas Inc: $250 → 16%The Wildlife Center of Texas Inc: $250 → 16%Interfaith Ministies: $3k → 16%Interfaith Ministies: $500 → 16%Interfaith Ministies: $250 → 16%Houston Food Bank: $2k → 16%Houston Food Bank: $1k → 16%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.

88%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$100k · 12 repeat orgs$14k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +35% since the first grant, against -13% for those funded once.

12 repeat relationships: 6 still active in FY2025, 6 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

12
4

Total granted

$100k
$9k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+35%
-13%

Still filing today

75%
50%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 81% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $5k went to new ones.

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

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

’21’22’23’24’25
HealthAnimalsReligionPhilanthropyOther
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

  • TM
    THE METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
    4× · 2022–2025 · $25k · revenue +8%
  • AP
    AUSTIN PETS ALIVE INC
    5× · 2021–2025 · $12k · revenue +35%
  • AN
    ARTHRITIS NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    4× · 2021–2025 · $11k · revenue +97%

Funded once

  • SH
    Shriner's Hospital for Children - Texas
    one grant, 2023 · $3k
  • TS
    THE SHRINERS' HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN
    one grant, 2024 · $3k · revenue -13%
  • UO
    University of Texas Health Science Center
    one grant, 2022 · $2k
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 Pets Alive

Houston Pets Alive!s (HPA!) mission is to save the lives of at-risk companion cats and dogs and find them loving homes.

Animals
2
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

The aspca's mission, as stated by founder henry bergh in 1866, is "to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the united states." the aspca was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and…

Animals
3
The Humane Society of Austin & Travis County Inc

The austin humane society (ahs) offers comprehensive, humane, life-saving animal services, transforming the lives of animals and those who love them. because we believe homeless animals deserve a chance to thrive in a loving environment,…

Animals
4
The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

To ensure every companion animal has access to quality medical care, compassionate shelter, and a loving home.

Animals
5
Houston Cares Animal Rescue

Houston Cares Rescue is a volunteer organization rescuing animals from the streets, and occasionally from shelters, in Houston, TX, and caring for them primarily with foster families until a loving home can be found. We operate a…

Animals
6
Houston Zoo Inc

Mission: Connect communities with animals, inspiring action to save wildlife. Vision: Be a leader in the global movement to save wildlife. (Continued on Schedule O) Houston Zoo, Inc. (HZI) strives to be a zoo that practices exemplary…

Animals
7
Pippys Pals Rescue

Pippys Pals Rescue is dedicated to saving the lives of dogs facing euthanasia in Houston. Our mission is to provide a second chance to these beloved companions by rescuing them from shelters, providing them with necessary medical care, and…

Animals
8
Chances - Dog Rescue and Relocation

Animal Rescue

—
9
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Tampa Bay Florida Inc

Spca tampa bay is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates pinellas county's only nonprofit for-all animal shelter assisting all animals in need, regardless of species or circumstance, at its 10-acre campus in largo. (continued on…

Animals
10
Paws of Austin Protection of Animal Welfare Services

PAWS' purpose is to provide refuge to stray and unwanted animals. PAWS' mission is to prevent cruelty to all animals by promoting humane standards through education and example, to provide care and shelter for homeless animals, aid in the…

Animals
11
Animal Humane Society

Animal Humane Society (AHS) established in 1878 and incorporated as a nonprofit charitable organization in 1891 works to engage the hearts, hands, and minds of the community to help animals. AHS's vision is to compassionately and…

Animals
12
Humane Society of Tampa Bay Inc

The Humane Society of Tampa Bay is dedicated to ending animal homelessness and providing care and comfort for companion animals in need. Our vision is "Leading the way because every life counts". In 2025, we saved 10,631 animals.

Animals
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Austin Pets Alive Inc; the most unlike its peers is The Houston Food Bank. 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

12 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. 12 of the 18 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)
1
Early backer (in before they grew)
12/12
Grantees still filing
7/12
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

THE METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $25,000 · HealthTHE METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATIONARTHRITIS NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION: $11,000 · HealthARTHRITIS NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATIONST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $6,500 · HealthST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INCTHE SHRINERS' HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN: $2,500 · HealthTHE SHRINERS' HOSPITAL FOR CHILDRENMD Anderson Cancer Center: $17,500 · OtherMD Anderson Cancer CenterShriner's Hospital for Children: $10,000 · OtherShriner's Hospital for ChildrenIndividual grant recipient: $3,250 · OtherIndividual grant recipientThe Houston Food Bank: $3,000 · OtherThe Houston Food BankShriner's Hospital for Children - Texas: $2,500 · OtherShriner's Hospital for Children - TexasSeton Fund: $2,500 · OtherSeton FundUniversity of Texas Health Science Center: $2,000 · Other+1 more: $500 · OtherAUSTIN PETS ALIVE INC: $11,500 · AnimalsAUSTIN PETS ALIVE INCHOUSTON SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: $9,500 · AnimalsHOUSTON SOCIETY FOR THE…Citizens For Animal Protection Inc: $2,500 · AnimalsCitizens For Animal Pro…+1 more: $500 · AnimalsStreet Youth Ministry of Austin: $2,000 · ReligionCHILDREN'S CANCER RESEARCH FUND: $1,500 · Philanthropy
Health$45,000Other$41,250Animals$24,000Religion$2,000Philanthropy$1,500

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 budgetTHE METHODIST HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $25,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetAUSTIN PETS ALIVE INC: $11,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetARTHRITIS NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION: $11,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetHOUSTON SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: $9,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $6,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetThe Houston Food Bank: $3,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE SHRINERS' HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCitizens For Animal Protection Inc: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetStreet Youth Ministry of Austin: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCHILDREN'S CANCER RESEARCH FUND: $1,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE WILDLIFE CENTER OF TEXAS INC: $500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAustin Wildlife Rescue: $500 over 2y, 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.

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…The Blackbaud Giving …Paypal Charitable Giv…The Bank of America C…American Online Givin…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Shell USA Company FoundationTX12.6× affinity4 shared granteesties to 7 of 7Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Shell USA Company Foundation · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Paypal Charitable Giving Fund · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · 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 Blackwell Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Blackwell 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%3%5%8%10%share of the org’s income from government →median 6%
  • The Shriners' Hospital for Children: 6% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get 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 · 0–10%
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 18 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

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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