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The Commonwealth Institute for at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Public charity

The Commonwealth Institute for

To use policy, research, and analysis to advance the well-being of Virginia communities, and improve the economic security and social opportunities of all Virginians.

$307k
Granted FY2024still arriving
17
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$35k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2018 to 2024.

Human Services$212kPublic Benefit$204kCrime & Legal$191kCivil Rights$175kCommunity Improvement$109kHealth$90kEnvironment$40kPublic Safety & Disaster$36kOther$0
02FY2024 · 17 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$15,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$4.0M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Community 5050$35,000
Peter Paul RVA$25,000
Sacred Heart Center$25,000
Virginia Community Voice$25,000
BlackHopeVA$20,000
FailSafeERA$15,521
Keeping Us Secure & Prosperous$15,000
Afrikana Institute$15,000
We R Me Foundation$15,000
Individual grant recipient$15,000
The Family One$15,000
Hebron VA Inc$15,000
COSPU$15,000
I Vote For Me$15,000
LULAC Palante Family Technology Ce$15,000
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 (FY23–24, $136k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 89% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%The Family One: $15k → 4%Real Chances Inc: $28k → 9%Hebron VA Inc: $15k → 11%Keeping Us Secure & Prosperous: $15k → 19%Hebron VA Inc: $7k → 11%Keeping Us Secure & Prosperous: $7k → 19%Peter Paul RVA: $25k → 9%Peter Paul RVA: $25k → 9%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.

70%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$800k · 17 repeat orgs$348k to everyone else

17 repeat relationships: 12 still active in FY2024, 5 since wound down; 5 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

17
10

Total granted

$800k
$248k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+19%
+208%

Still filing today

76%
80%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 67% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $100k went to new ones.

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

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

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Human ServicesCivil RightsCrime & LegalCommunity ImprovementHealthEnvironmentOther
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

  • NV
    NEW VIRGINIA MAJORITY
    2× · 2019–2020 · $121k · revenue +19%
  • PC
    PREVENT CHILD ABUSE VIRGINIA
    2× · 2021–2022 · $113k · revenue +8%
  • VP
    VIRGINIA POVERTY LAW CENTER INC
    2× · 2020–2022 · $96k · revenue +84%

Funded once

  • VF
    VOICES FOR VIRGINIA'S CHILDRENgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $50k · revenue +203%
  • VL
    VIRGINIA LEAGUE FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD INCORPORATEDgraduated
    one grant, 2019 · $40k · revenue +58%
  • CC
    CHESAPEAKE CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK INCgraduated
    one grant, 2019 · $40k · revenue +232%
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
Virginia Coalition for Progressive Values

To establish an effective, long-term and resilient political infrastructure that advocates for and delivers public policy victories which reflect the values held in common by our members.

—
2
Virginia Legal Aid Society Inc

The mission of Virginia Legal Aid Society is to resolve serious legal problems of low-income people, promote economic and family stability, reduce poverty through effective legal assistance, and to champion equal justice.

Crime & Legal
3
Virginia Community Action Partnership Inc

Virginia community action partnership (vacap) is the statewide membership association for virginia's thirty-one non-profit and public community action agencies. vacaps mission is to build the capacity and competencies of virginias…

Human Services
4
Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities

VCIC works with schools, businesses, and communities to achieve success through inclusion.

Civil Rights
5
Virginia Network for Victims and Witnesses of Crime Inc

The voice for victims of crime and those who serve them

—
6
Habitat for Humanity Virginia

Habitat for Humanity Virginia provides support to Virginia affiliates so that they can build or facilitate affordable housing by offering advocacy, organizational development, funding, and resource development

Housing & Shelter
7
Bridging the Gap in Virginia

Our mission is to empower formerly incarcerated persons, veterans, at-risk youth, substance abusers and those suffering from homelessness. We help these groups of people overcome barriers that hinder their effective transition following…

Human Services
8
Virginia Community Development Corp

VCDC delivers vital financial resources and support while collaborating with local organizations dedicated to social impact, ensuring the creation of affordable homes in vibrant neighborhoods where everyone can thrive.

Housing & Shelter
9
Virginians Organized for Interfaith

The aim is to address injustices arising fromisolation and racial and socio-economicinequity, through a process that strengthensour diverse social fabric. by strengtheninginstitutions and fostering publicrelationships, broad-based…

Community Improvement
10
Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights

VACIR is a multi-racial and multi-ethnic coalition of organizations that exists to win dignity, power and quality of life for all immigrant and refugee communities.

Human Services
11
Virginia Anti-Violence Project

Virginia Anti-Violence Project (VAVP) is dedicated to supporting and advocating for the safety and well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals, particularly those who are BIPOC and youth. As a national organization rooted in Virginia, we address…

Crime & Legal
12
The Commonwealth Institute for

To use policy, research, and analysis to advance the well-being of Virginia communities, and improve the economic security and social opportunities of all Virginians.

Public Benefit
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Virginia Organizing Inc; the most unlike its peers is Kusp. 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

22 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. 22 of the 32 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.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
8
Early backer (in before they grew)
22/22
Grantees still filing
15/22
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

PREVENT CHILD ABUSE VIRGINIA: $112,500 · OtherPREVENT CHILD ABUSE VIRGINIAPROGRESS NOW EDUCATION: $67,500 · OtherPROGRESS NOW EDUCATIONSACRED HEART CENTER INC: $50,000 · OtherSACRED HEART CENTER INCCommunity 5050: $35,000 · OtherCommunity 5050WE R ME FOUNDATION INC: $21,818 · OtherAFRIKANA INSTITUTE: $21,818 · OtherI Vote For Me: $21,818 · OtherCOALICION SOLIDARIA PRO-INMIGRANTES UNIDOS (COSPU): $21,818 · OtherBLACK HOPE VA: $20,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $15,000 · OtherLULAC Palante Family Technology Ce: $15,000 · Other+3 more: $26,818 · Other+3 moreNEW VIRGINIA MAJORITY: $121,000 · Civil RightsNEW VIRGINIA MAJORITYVOICES FOR VIRGINIA'S CHILDREN: $50,000 · Civil RightsVOICES FOR VIRGINIA'S …Virginia Civic Engagement Table: $45,500 · Civil RightsVirginia Civic Engagem…PROGRESS NOW INC: $15,000 · Civil RightsPROGRESS NOW INCVIRGINIA POVERTY LAW CENTER INC: $96,000 · Crime & LegalVIRGINIA POVERTY…LEGAL AID JUSTICE CENTER: $28,666 · Crime & LegalLEGAL AID JUSTIC…Failsafe-Era Inc: $22,339 · Crime & LegalFailsafe-Era IncNOLEF TURNS: $21,818 · Crime & LegalNOLEF TURNSPETER PAUL DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC: $50,000 · Human ServicesPETER PAUL DE…REAL CHANCES INC: $27,652 · Human ServicesREAL CHANCES …HEBRON VA INC: $21,818 · Human ServicesHEBRON VA INCKusp: $21,818 · Human ServicesKuspThe Family One: $15,000 · Human ServicesThe Family On…VIRGINIA COMMUNITY VOICE INC: $65,585 · Community ImprovementVIRGINIA ORGANIZING INC: $17,318 · Community ImprovementVIRGINIA LEAGUE FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD INCORPORATED: $40,000 · HealthCHESAPEAKE CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK INC: $40,000 · EnvironmentVIRGINIA NEW MAJORITY EDUCATION FUND: $20,000 · Education
Other$429,090Civil Rights$231,500Crime & Legal$168,823Human Services$136,288Community Improvement$82,903Health$40,000Environment$40,000Education$20,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetNEW VIRGINIA MAJORITY: $121,000 over 2y, 1.4% of budgetPREVENT CHILD ABUSE VIRGINIA: $112,500 over 2y, 1.2% of budgetVIRGINIA POVERTY LAW CENTER INC: $96,000 over 2y, 1.4% of budgetPROGRESS NOW EDUCATION: $67,500 over 3y, 1.3% of budgetVIRGINIA COMMUNITY VOICE INC: $65,585 over 3y, 3.4% of budgetPETER PAUL DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC: $50,000 over 2y, 1.2% of budgetSACRED HEART CENTER INC: $50,000 over 2y, 1.3% of budgetVOICES FOR VIRGINIA'S CHILDREN: $50,000 over 1y, 11% of budgetVirginia Civic Engagement Table: $45,500 over 2y, 3.0% of budgetVIRGINIA LEAGUE FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD INCORPORATED: $40,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetLEGAL AID JUSTICE CENTER: $28,666 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetREAL CHANCES INC: $27,652 over 1y, 93% of budgetFailsafe-Era Inc: $22,339 over 2y, 5.9% of budgetNOLEF TURNS: $21,818 over 2y, 2.0% of budgetHEBRON VA INC: $21,818 over 2y, 5.4% of budgetKusp: $21,818 over 2y, 16% of budgetVIRGINIA NEW MAJORITY EDUCATION FUND: $20,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetVIRGINIA ORGANIZING INC: $17,318 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetThe Family One: $15,000 over 1y, 14% of budgetPROGRESS NOW INC: $15,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetVirginia Interfaith Center For Public Policy: $10,000 over 1y, 1.7% 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.

Richmond Memorial Hea…The Community Foundat…Weissberg FoundationNew Venture FundRobins FoundationCharlottesville Area …Hopewell FundIf FoundationVirginia Nonprofit Ho…Eugene & Agnes E Meye…Greater Washington Co…Potomac Health Founda…
Richmond Memorial Health FoundationVA36.6× affinity15 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Richmond Memorial Health Foundation · The Community Foundation Inc · Weissberg Foundation · New Venture Fund · Robins Foundation · Charlottesville Area Community Foundation · Hopewell Fund · If Foundation · Virginia Nonprofit Housing Coalition · Eugene & Agnes E Meyer Foundation · Greater Washington Community Foundation · Potomac Health 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 Commonwealth Institute for funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Commonwealth Institute for. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get 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 · 0–40%
    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 Commonwealth Institute for?

    Find your warmest path to The Commonwealth Institute for 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 32 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 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on The Commonwealth Institute for’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