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The Carsey Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Carsey Family Foundation

Its FY2022 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$264k
Granted FY2022
14
Grants FY2022
3
States reached
$50k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2022.

Education$3.1MArts & Culture$2.3MPhilanthropy$600kScience & Tech$450kReligion$425kEnvironment$305kCivil Rights$100kHealth$65kOther$0
02FY2022 · 14 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2022

  • Under $10k4 grants · $20k
  • $10k–50k8 grants · $144k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $100k
$18,750
Median grant
3
States reached
$0
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
EARTHJUSTICE$50,000
350ORG$50,000
LA GOAL$20,000
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH$20,000
THE MUTT SCOUTS$18,922
PAWS FOR LIFE K9 RESCUE$18,750
YOUNG EISNER SCHOLARS (YES)$18,750
DETERMINED TO SUCCEED$18,750
A SENSE OF HOME$18,750
SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY$10,000
THE INKWELL THEATER$5,000
HEAL THE OCEAN$5,000
THE RAPE FOUNDATION$5,000
PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC$5,000
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 (FY22–22, $38k) 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 its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%A SENSE OF HOME: $19k → 14%YOUNG EISNER SCHOLARS (YES): $19k → 14%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.
04

Where the work is directed

The same grants placed two ways: where each recipient sits, and where its stated purpose sends the money.

About 23% of The Carsey Family Foundation’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address. By recipient address, 54% of the giving stays in CA; by stated purpose, 45%.

The Carsey Family Foundationlessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address
How this is measured
Recipient view: each grant at its grantee’s ZIP, mapped to a county. Directed view: each grant at the county its stated purpose names, falling back to the recipient’s county when the purpose names no place; US grants only. A county shows only if it carries the top 95% of that view’s dollars. Purposes are read from the funder’s own 990 grant descriptions.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

96%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$7.1M · 12 repeat orgs$276k to everyone else

12 repeat relationships: 1 still active in FY2022, 11 since wound down; 13 grantees were first funded in FY2022 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

12
3

Total granted

$7.1M
$32k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+26%
+1037%

Still filing today

100%
33%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2022, 8% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $244k went to new ones.

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

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22
Arts & CultureEducationEnvironmentHealthAnimalsHuman 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

  • UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FOUNDATION INCORPORATED
    2× · 2017–2018 · $2.0M · revenue +35%
  • UC SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION
    3× · 2017–2019 · $1.1M · revenue +224%
  • BH
    BILL HILLARY & CHELSEA CLINTON FOUNDATION
    3× · 2017–2019 · $600k · revenue +26%

Funded once

  • MC
    MUSIC CENTER
    one grant, 2017 · $12k
  • GT
    GRANADA THEATRE
    one grant, 2017 · $10k
  • RT
    ROCK THE VOTEgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $10k · revenue ×11
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
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
2
Friends of the Earth

Friends of the earth strives for a more healthy and just world by defendng the environment and human health while advancing social and economic justice by conducting research and education, transforming the economy so it protects the…

Environment
3
Sustainable Conservation

Sustainable Conservation advances the collaborative stewardship of Californias land, air, and water for the benefit of nature and people. For over three decades, Sustainable Conservation has built coalitions of people with different…

Environment
4
Upwell Turtles

To protect and recover endangered populations of turtles by reducing threats at sea.

Animals
5
The Conversationalist
—
6
Pew Research Center

Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan "fact tank" that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. Pew Research Center generates a foundation of facts that enriches the public dialogue and…

Social Science
7
Alliance for Safety and Justice

Just safe's mission is to educate the public about the needs of communities most impacted by crime, violence, and incarceration; and promote new safety solutions through community-building, leadership development, grassroots mobilization,…

Crime & Legal
8
Public Media Group of Southern California

We use the power of media for public good. we strengthen the civic fabric of southern california, share our distinctive perspective with the rest of the nation, and provide our community with an essential connection to a wider world. we…

Arts & Culture
9
World Resources Institute

Wri is committed to creating change that improves people's lives and ensures the natural world can thrive. (see schedule o)wri's bold vision requires a formula for success we call "count it. change it. scale it.":- count it: our work is…

International
10
Physicians for Social Responsibility

Psr-la is a physician and health advocate membership organization working to protect public health from nuclear threats and environmental toxins.

International
11
Ocean Conservancy

Ocean conservancy unites science, people, and policy to protect our ocean, today and for generations to come.

Environment
12
CarbonPlan

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

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Human Rights Watch Inc; the most unlike its peers is The Inkwell Theater Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
05the grantee network

26 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. 26 of the 28 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)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
26/26
Grantees still filing
18/26
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FOUNDATION INCORPORATED: $2,000,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE FOUNDATION INCORPORATEDUC SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION: $1,050,000 · EducationUC SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATIONAUBURN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY: $425,000 · EducationAUBURN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY+1 more: $18,750 · EducationARMAND HAMMER MUSEUM OF ART AND CULTURAL CENTER INC: $2,000,000 · Arts & CultureARMAND HAMMER MUSEUM OF ART AND CU…COMMON SENSE MEDIA: $200,000 · Arts & CultureCOMMON SENSE MEDIA+3 more: $55,000 · Arts & CultureMOXI THE WOLF MUSEUM OF EXPLORATION INNOVATION: $450,000 · OtherMOXI THE WOLF…Save Popponessett Bay Inc: $200,000 · OtherSave Poppones…Sojourners Inc: $100,000 · OtherSojourners In…LA GOAL: $60,000 · OtherLA GOAL+6 more: $77,000 · Other+6 moreBILL HILLARY & CHELSEA CLINTON FOUNDATION: $600,000 · HealthBILL HILL…+1 more: $5,000 · HealthEARTHJUSTICE: $50,000 · Environment350ORG: $50,000 · EnvironmentHEAL THE OCEAN INC: $5,000 · EnvironmentTHE MUTT SCOUTS INC: $18,922 · AnimalsPAWS FOR LIFE K9 RESCUE: $18,750 · AnimalsYoung Eisner Scholars: $18,750 · Human ServicesA SENSE OF HOME: $18,750 · Human Services
Education$3,493,750Arts & Culture$2,255,000Other$887,000Health$605,000Environment$105,000Animals$37,672Human Services$37,500

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 budgetARMAND HAMMER MUSEUM OF ART AND CULTURAL CENTER INC: $2,000,000 over 2y, 2.0% of budgetUC SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION: $1,050,000 over 3y, 1.4% of budgetBILL HILLARY & CHELSEA CLINTON FOUNDATION: $600,000 over 3y, 0.7% of budgetMOXI THE WOLF MUSEUM OF EXPLORATION INNOVATION: $450,000 over 3y, 4.5% of budgetAUBURN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY: $425,000 over 5y, 2.6% of budgetCOMMON SENSE MEDIA: $200,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetSave Popponessett Bay Inc: $200,000 over 2y, 20% of budgetSojourners Inc: $100,000 over 2y, 1.0% of budgetLA GOAL: $60,000 over 3y, 1.9% of budgetEARTHJUSTICE: $50,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budget350ORG: $50,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetSKIRBALL CULTURAL CENTER: $40,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetHUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWEYMOUTH COUNCIL FOR THE HUNGRY INC: $20,000 over 2y, 3.3% of budgetYoung Eisner Scholars: $18,750 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetPAWS FOR LIFE K9 RESCUE: $18,750 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetA SENSE OF HOME: $18,750 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetDetermined to Succeed: $18,750 over 1y, 2.9% of budgetSANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetROCK THE VOTE: $10,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetPLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHEAL THE OCEAN INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetThe Inkwell Theater Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 5.5% of budgetTHE RAPE FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% 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.

California Community …Gs Donor Advised Phil…Silicon Valley Commun…American Endowment Fo…Morgan Stanley Global…The Bank of America C…National Philanthropi…American Online Givin…Vanguard Charitable E…Fidelity Investments …Donor Advised Charita…Amazonsmile Foundation
California Community FoundationCA17.9× affinity7 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: California Community Foundation · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · Silicon Valley Community Foundation · American Endowment Foundation · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · National Philanthropic Trust · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · 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 Carsey Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Carsey Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 30%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%3%5%8%10%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    3get no government money at all
    3report 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 28 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 2022, released 2022. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Carsey Family’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