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Plinth

· Private foundation

The Block 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.

$389k
Granted FY2025still arriving
32
Grants FY2025still arriving
8
States reached
$55k
Largest
01What you fund
01100% classified

What you funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year — across FY20172025.

Education$963kArts & Culture$338kHealth$214kFood & Nutrition$203kYouth Development$195kHuman Services$125kEnvironment$98kEmployment$75kOther$0
02FY2025 · 32 grants

Where the money goes

Your grants by size, and where they go.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k15 grants · $71k
  • $10k–50k15 grants · $213k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $106k
$10,000
Median grant
8
States reached
$7.7M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
AQUINAS COLLEGE$55,000
DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL$50,500
MASONRY INSTITUTE OF MICHIGAN$47,500
NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY$25,000
ALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS$20,000
FORGOTTEN HARVEST$10,000
ST LASALLE AUXILIARY CHRISTIAN BROTHERS$10,000
THE LENNON CENTER$10,000
FRIENDS OF THE ROUGE$10,000
KIDNEY CANCER ASSOCIATION$10,000
Individual grant recipient$10,000
CAPUCHIN SOUP KITCHEN$10,000
THE CHILDREN'S CENTER OF DETROIT$10,000
MASONRY FOUNDATION$10,000
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN$10,000
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 (FY20–25, $28k) land where the poverty rate runs at 8%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Your grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%LIVING & LEARNING ENRICHMENT CENTER: $10k → 8%LIVING & LEARNING ENRICHMENT CENTER: $5k → 8%LIVING & LEARNING ENRICHMENT CENTER: $5k → 8%LIVING & LEARNING ENRICHMENT CENTER: $3k → 8%LIVING & LEARNING ENRICHMENT CENTER: $3k → 8%LIVING & LEARNING ENRICHMENT CENTER: $3k → 8%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.

Which US states your grants reach

WA
IL
MI
NY
CA
CO
NM
DC
LA
TX

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.

96%of every dollar goes to organizations you’ve funded before.
$2.1M · 32 repeat orgs$88k to everyone else

32 repeat relationships — 28 still active in FY2025, 4 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

32
5

Total granted

$2.1M
$76k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

0%
+31%

Still filing today

56%
40%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 97% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $13k 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
HealthEducationFood & NutritionEnvironmentHousing & ShelterHuman ServicesOther

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

  • ALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS
    9× · 2017–2025 · $130k · revenue +150%
  • FO
    FRIENDS OF THE ROUGE
    7× · 2019–2025 · $76k · revenue +161%
  • CC
    CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN
    6× · 2020–2025 · $50k · revenue +24%

Funded once

  • TM
    THE MASONRY SOCIETYgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $38k · revenue +31%
  • CH
    CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL INC
    one grant, 2017 · $25k
  • SF
    SANTA FE INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUALITY
    one grant, 2017 · $10k

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
Michigan Chamber of Commerce

To promote conditions favorable to job creation and business success in michigan.

2
Michigan State University College of Law

The mission of the michigan state university college of law is to provide a rigorous educational program which prepares a diverse community of students to be national and international leaders in private legal practice, business and…

3
Business Leaders for Michigan

Business leaders for michigan is a nonprofit, nonpartisan statewide organization driven by ceos from the state's leading employers, all working toward a shared goal: making michigan a top 10 state for jobs, talent and a thriving economy.…

4
Business Leaders for Michigan Foundation

Business leaders for michigan is a nonprofit, nonpartisan statewide organization driven by ceos from the state's leading employers, all working toward a shared goal: making michigan a top 10 state for jobs, talent and a thriving economy.…

Community Improvement
5
Minnesota Medical Association

To be the leading voice of medicine to make minnesota the healthiest state and the best place to practice.

6
Detroit Regional Chamber

The chamber is the voice for business and works to power the economy for southeast michigan through public policy, advocacy and leading regional economic development and talent initiatives.

7
Michigan Farm Bureau

Michigan farm bureau (mfb) is a member directed agricultural organization whose purpose is to represent, protect, and enhance the business, economic, social, and educational interests of our members located throughout the state of michigan.

8
Michigan Science Center

The mission of the michigan science center is to inspire curious minds of all ages to discover, explore and appreciate science, technology, engineering and math in a creative, dynamic learning environment.

Education
9
Michigan Biotechnology Institute

Bridging the gap between early-stage innovation and commercial application. partnering to de-risk, develop and scale-up discoveries into commercially-viable technology packages.

Education
10
Michigan Farmers Market Association

Mifma supports the viability of all community-driven marketplaces so that they can connect all consumers to local farms and businesses.

Food & Nutrition
11
Boston Architectural College

The bac is committed to provide excellence in design education grounded in practice and accessible to diverse communities.

12
Jewelers of America Inc

Jewelers of america, the most trusted and influential voice of the jewelry industry, empowers and unites its members through expert guidance and advocacy, driving excellence, integrity, and success in an ever-changing marketplace.

For reference, the grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Alternatives for Girls and the most unlike its peers is Dbt-Linehan Board of Certification. 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 36 years old; the field is 17. You back the established end — and your money leans older still.

THE FIELDby orgYOUR GRANTEESby number20%14%<5yr13%5%5–10yr20%0%10–20yr15%29%20–35yr14%43%35–55yr18%10%55yr+
THE FIELDby orgYOUR MONEYby value20%13%<5yr13%4%5–10yr20%0%10–20yr15%20%20–35yr14%48%35–55yr18%15%55yr+

The field is 20% startups (under 5 years old) — 14% of your grantees by number, and just 13% 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%0/24
the rest of the field
12%
6,511/53,832

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

22 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 20172025, not grant rows in a single year — so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 22 of the 41 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.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
22/22
Grantees still filing
10/22
Grew since you first funded

Where your money sits — by cause, then by grantee

DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL — $400,500 · OtherDETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOLMASONRY INSTITUTE OF MICHIGAN INC — $302,500 · OtherMASONRY INSTITUTE OF MICHIGAN INCNEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY — $225,000 · OtherNEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITYMICHIGAN INSTITUTE OF MASONRY — $104,333 · OtherMICHIGAN INSTITUTE OF MASONRYOUR LADY OF VICTORY — $57,500 · OtherCAPUCHIN SOUP KITCHEN — $52,500 · Other+19 more — $390,500 · Other+19 moreTHE MASONRY FOUNDATION — $90,000 · EducationTHE MASONRY…Aquinas College — $70,000 · EducationAquinas Col…THE MASONRY SOCIETY — $37,500 · EducationTHE MASONRY…ALBION COLLEGE — $20,000 · EducationALBION COLL…ALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS — $130,000 · Housing & ShelterTHE LENNON CENTER — $42,500 · HealthCOLORECTAL CANCER ALLIANCE — $28,000 · HealthTHE KIDNEY CANCER ASSOCIATION — $28,000 · HealthLYMPHOMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION — $17,500 · HealthDetroit Rescue Mission Ministries — $8,000 · Health+1 more — $2,000 · HealthGLEANERS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN — $52,500 · Food & NutritionFORGOTTEN HARVEST INC — $47,500 · Food & NutritionFRIENDS OF THE ROUGE — $75,500 · EnvironmentMICHIGAN ENVIROMENTAL COUNCIL — $10,000 · EnvironmentLIVING & LEARNING ENRICHMENT CENTER — $27,500 · Human Services
Other$1,532,833Education$217,500Housing & Shelter$130,000Health$126,000Food & Nutrition$100,000Environment$85,500Human Services$27,500

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

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ your share of their budgetMASONRY INSTITUTE OF MICHIGAN INC — $302,500 over 6y, 26% of budgetALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS — $130,000 over 9y, 0.3% of budgetTHE MASONRY FOUNDATION — $90,000 over 6y, 4.3% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE ROUGE — $75,500 over 7y, 1.2% of budgetAquinas College — $70,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetGLEANERS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN — $52,500 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetCATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN — $50,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetFORGOTTEN HARVEST INC — $47,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetTHE LENNON CENTER — $42,500 over 5y, 3.8% of budgetTHE MASONRY SOCIETY — $37,500 over 1y, 6.5% of budgetTHE ARC LIVINGSTON — $30,000 over 6y, 1.9% of budgetCOLORECTAL CANCER ALLIANCE — $28,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHE KIDNEY CANCER ASSOCIATION — $28,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetLIVING & LEARNING ENRICHMENT CENTER — $27,500 over 6y, 1.0% of budgetALBION COLLEGE — $20,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetLYMPHOMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION — $17,500 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetPROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION — $17,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC — $17,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetMICHIGAN ENVIROMENTAL COUNCIL — $10,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetDetroit Rescue Mission Ministries — $8,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetDBT-Linehan Board of Certification — $2,000 over 1y, 1.0% 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.

  • Who funds MASONRY INSTITUTE OF MICHIGAN INC
  • Who funds ALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS
  • Who funds THE MASONRY FOUNDATION
  • Who funds FRIENDS OF THE ROUGE
  • Who funds Aquinas College
  • Who funds GLEANERS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN
  • Who funds CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN
  • Who funds FORGOTTEN HARVEST INC
  • Who funds THE LENNON CENTER
  • Who funds THE MASONRY SOCIETY
  • Who funds THE ARC LIVINGSTON
  • Who funds COLORECTAL CANCER ALLIANCE
  • Who funds THE KIDNEY CANCER ASSOCIATION
  • Who funds LIVING & LEARNING ENRICHMENT CENTER
  • Who funds ALBION COLLEGE
  • Who funds LYMPHOMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION
  • Who funds PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION
  • Who funds THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC
  • Who funds MICHIGAN ENVIROMENTAL COUNCIL
  • Who funds Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries
  • Who funds NORTHVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC
  • Who funds DBT-Linehan Board of Certification

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.

Dte Energy FoundationMI15.3× affinity5 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Dte Energy Foundation · Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan · The Pfizer Foundation Inc · Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund · Network for Good · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Amazonsmile Foundation

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 Block Foundation 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
202122232425
no gov · 00%2%8%17%30%your share of their income ↑0%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from government
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    4report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–50%
    typical government reliance, FY2025

    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 41 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