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The Ciel Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Ciel 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.

$2k
Granted FY2025still arriving
2
Grants FY2025still arriving
1
States reached
$2k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0189% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2025.

Religion$10kEnvironment$3kCivil Rights$2kHuman Services$1kAnimals$760Housing & Shelter$700Food & Nutrition$500International$500Other$0
02FY2025 · 2 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$1,580
Median grant
1
States reached
$368k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship$1,580
Immigrant Resources Immediate Suppo$500
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 (FY20–24, $550) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, 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%Opportunity council: $100 → 12%Opportunity council: $100 → 12%Opportunity Council: $100 → 12%Opportunity Council: $100 → 12%Homes Now: $50 → 12%Animals as Natural Therapy: $50 → 12%Animals as Natural Therapy: $50 → 12%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

WA
MN
NY
OR
IA
OH
PA
NJ
CA
VA
AR
DC
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.

84%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$17k · 32 repeat orgs$3k to everyone else

32 repeat relationships: 1 still active in FY2025, 31 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

32
13

Total granted

$17k
$3k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+36%
+66%

Still filing today

66%
38%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 76% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $500 went to new ones.

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

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

’20’21’22’23’24’25
Human ServicesEnvironmentEducationAnimalsInternationalFood & NutritionOther
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

  • IF
    INSTITUTE FOR WASHINGTONS FUTURE
    2× · 2020–2021 · $1k · revenue +11%
  • AT
    Alternatives to Hunger Bellingham Food Bank
    5× · 2020–2025 · $500 · revenue +48%
  • OC
    OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL
    5× · 2020–2025 · $400 · revenue +77%

Funded once

  • AF
    AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE
    2× · 2024–2025 · $1k
  • AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INCgraduated
    2× · 2024–2025 · $1k · revenue +66%
  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    2× · 2024–2025 · $100
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
Fsc I&P

Fsc i&p promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests. this mission aligns with the forest stewardship council (fsc), its network of offices, and other organizations.…

Philanthropy
2
Rainforest Trust

Rainforest trust saves endangered wildlife and protects our planet by creating rainforest reserves through partnerships, community engagement, and donor support.

International
3
Washington Wild

Washington wild protects and restores wild lands and waters in washington state through advocacy, education and civic engagement.

Animals
4
Washington Wildlife & Recreation Coalition

Creating a greener, healthier, more equitable, and better Washington for all through community outreach, network building, and advocacy for conservation and outdoor recreation funding.

—
5
Cowiche Canyon Conservancy

Protecting our shrub-steppe and connecting people to this vanishing landscape.

—
6
Western Rivers Conservancy

Western rivers conservancy's mission is to protect outstanding river ecosystems in the western united states. continued on schedule o.we acquire land to conserve critical habitat, provide public access for compatible use and enjoyment, and…

Environment
7
Earthcorps

To cultivate leaders and community partnerships to advance environmental justice.

International
8
Wildlife Conservation Network Inc

Connect conservationists and supporters, deploy resources to the field, provide conservationists with tools and support they need to succeed.

Animals
9
Nw Energy Coalition

The NW Energy Coalition is an alliance of over 100 environmental, civic, and human service organizations, utilities, and businesses in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia, plus many individual members. The NW Energy…

—
10
Oregon Agricultural Trust

Oregon agricultural trust partners with farmers and ranchers to protect agricultural lands for the benefit of oregons economy, communities, and landscapes.

Environment
11
Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council

The Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council is a local nonprofit organization that strives to enhance and restore habitat for fish and wildlife our community and for future generations. Our Board of Directors consists of seven members with…

Environment
12
American Flood Coalition Inc

To drive transformational adaptation to protect communities across the country from higher seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding.

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Amnesty International of the Usa Inc; the most unlike its peers is Homesnow. 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

27 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. 27 of the 47 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)
2
Early backer (in before they grew)
27/27
Grantees still filing
23/27
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

BELLINGHAM UNITARIAN FELLOWSHIP: $10,260 · OtherBELLINGHAM UNITARIAN FELLOWSHIPAMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE: $1,200 · OtherAMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEEINSTITUTE FOR WASHINGTONS FUTURE: $1,200 · OtherINSTITUTE FOR WASHINGTONS FUTURE+28 more: $3,645 · Other+28 moreAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC: $1,000 · Civil RightsRE SOURCES: $400 · EnvironmentWHATCOM LAND TRUST: $310 · EnvironmentCONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION: $150 · EnvironmentGREENPEACE FUND INC: $100 · EnvironmentOPPORTUNITY COUNCIL: $400 · Human ServicesANIMALS AS NATURAL THERAPY: $100 · Human ServicesAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $100 · Human ServicesHOMESNOW: $50 · Human ServicesWHATCOM HUMANE SOCIETY: $350 · AnimalsNOOKSACK SALMON ENHANCEMENT ASSOCIATION: $150 · AnimalsHUMANE FARMING ASSOCIATION: $150 · AnimalsAlternatives to Hunger Bellingham Food Bank: $500 · Food & NutritionMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $300 · InternationalAMNESTY INTERNATIONAL OF THE USA INC: $100 · InternationalHEIFER PROJECT INTERNATIONAL: $100 · International
Other$16,305Civil Rights$1,000Environment$960Human Services$650Animals$650Food & Nutrition$500International$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 budgetINSTITUTE FOR WASHINGTONS FUTURE: $1,200 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC: $1,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAlternatives to Hunger Bellingham Food Bank: $500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetOPPORTUNITY COUNCIL: $400 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetRE SOURCES: $400 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetWHATCOM HUMANE SOCIETY: $350 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetWHATCOM LAND TRUST: $310 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $300 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetWASHINGTON TRAILS ASSOCIATION: $225 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetANTIOCH COLLEGE CORPORATION: $200 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetInterfaith Coalition of Whatcom County: $200 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION: $150 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetNOOKSACK SALMON ENHANCEMENT ASSOCIATION: $150 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetHUMANE FARMING ASSOCIATION: $150 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetWILD WHATCOM: $150 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetKULSHAN COMMUNITY LAND TRUST: $100 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAMNESTY INTERNATIONAL OF THE USA INC: $100 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetGREENPEACE FUND INC: $100 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $100 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetHEIFER PROJECT INTERNATIONAL: $100 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetANIMALS AS NATURAL THERAPY: $100 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $100 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCEDAR TREE MONTESSORI SCHOOL: $100 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetHOMESNOW: $50 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION: $50 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWHATCOM FAMILY & COMMUNITY NETWORK: $50 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNORTHWEST INDIAN COLLEGE: $50 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.

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.

Whatcom Community Fou…The Norcliffe Foundat…Puget Sound Energy Fo…The Dudley FoundationMary H Storer Foundat…Chuckanut Health Foun…First Fed FoundationLucky Seven FoundationSeattle FoundationMount Baker FoundationRiverstyx FoundationPeaceHealth
Whatcom Community FoundationWA34.5× affinity14 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Whatcom Community Foundation · The Norcliffe Foundation · Puget Sound Energy Foundation · The Dudley Foundation · Mary H Storer Foundation · Chuckanut Health Foundation · First Fed Foundation · Lucky Seven Foundation · Seattle Foundation · Mount Baker Foundation · Riverstyx Foundation · PeaceHealth

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 Ciel Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Ciel 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%8%15%22%30%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    7report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–30%
    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 Ciel Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to The Ciel 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 47 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

    Play a game based on Ciel’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