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The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Private foundation

The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$12M
Granted FY2024still arriving
398
Grants FY2024still arriving
31
States reached
$413k
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 2024.

Environment$37MEducation$10MPhilanthropy$3.9MArts & Culture$3.7MCommunity Improvement$3.4MPublic Benefit$3.0MHealth$2.5MScience & Tech$2.2MOther$0
02FY2024 · 398 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k154 grants · $643k
  • $10k–50k175 grants · $3.1M
  • $50k–250k62 grants · $5.9M
  • $250k+7 grants · $2.4M
$10,000
Median grant
31
States reached
$420M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Greater Houston Community Foundation$412,792
Water Foundation$400,000
Vision Galveston Inc$400,000
US Water Alliance$315,000
Texas Agricultural Land Trust$300,000
Environmental Defense Fund Incorporated$275,000
National Wildlife Federation (Austin)$250,000
The University of Texas at Austin (EI)$212,000
Hill Country Alliance$210,000
Rocky Mountain Institute$200,000
Prairie View A&M University$175,000
Ceres Inc$175,000
The Last Kilometer Corp$160,000
Hill Country Alliance$157,000
Clean Air Task Force Inc$150,000
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 (FY18–24, $1.1M) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 92% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%Downtown Women's Center: $35k → 14%Halo for Freedom Warrior Foundation: $25k → 8%Women Inspirit Inc: $20k → 8%Halo for Freedom Warrior Foundation: $10k → 8%Women Inspirit Inc: $10k → 8%Halo for Freedom Warrior Foundation: $10k → 8%Downtown Women's Center: $20k → 14%Downtown Women's Center: $18k → 14%Downtown Women's Center: $15k → 14%Downtown Women's Center: $15k → 14%Downtown Women's Center: $11k → 14%Childrens Home Society of North Carolina: $10k → 10%Waves For Water Inc: $10k → 14%Allies for Every Child: $20k → 14%YMCA of Wilmington Inc: $30k → 12%Westside Childrens Center Inc: $13k → 14%Allies for Every Child: $11k → 14%Nile Sisters Development Initiative: $22k → 11%Allies for Every Child: $10k → 14%Nile Sisters Development Initiative: $20k → 11%Nile Sisters Development Initiative: $10k → 11%Nile Sisters Development Initiative: $10k → 11%Nile Sisters Development Initiative: $10k → 11%YMCA of Wilmington Inc: $10k → 12%YMCA of Wilmington Inc: $10k → 12%St Vincent's Episcopal House & Preschool (dba St Vincent's House): $30k → 14%Communities In Schools of Cape Fear: $30k → 12%St Vincent's House: $20k → 14%St Vincent's House: $15k → 14%Fulfillment Fund: $20k → 14%Fulfillment Fund: $11k → 14%Midnight Mission: $25k → 14%Midnight Mission: $20k → 14%Midnight Mission: $18k → 14%Midnight Mission: $15k → 14%Midnight Mission: $15k → 14%Justice Forward: $20k → 16%Fulfillment Fund: $16k → 14%Other Ones Foundation Inc: $25k → 10%Galveston Urban Ministries: $30k → 16%Swan Songs Musical Last Wishes: $25k → 10%Swan Songs Musical Last Wishes: $25k → 10%Swan Songs Musical Last Wishes: $24k → 10%Christine Alberts Swan Songs Inc: $20k → 10%Swan Songs Musical Last Wishes: $20k → 10%Christine Alberts Swan Songs Inc: $15k → 10%Christine Alberts Swan Songs Inc: $15k → 10%Texas Physicians for Social Responsibilit: $20k → 10%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

ME
WA
ID
MT
MN
IL
WI
MI
NY
MA
OR
NV
SD
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
UT
CO
MO
KY
VA
MD
AZ
NM
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
DC
HI
LA
AL
GA
TX
FL
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 16% of The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address. By recipient address, 59% of the giving stays in TX; by stated purpose, 67%.

The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundationlessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address · 4.0% directed abroad (not shown)
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.

91%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$66M · 439 repeat orgs$6.5M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +41% since the first grant, against +32% for those funded once.

439 repeat relationships: 294 still active in FY2024, 145 since wound down; 49 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

439
264

Total granted

$66M
$5.4M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+41%
+32%

Still filing today

79%
58%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 90% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $1.1M went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
EnvironmentEducationArts & CultureHealthHuman ServicesAnimalsOther
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

  • ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCORPORATED
    8× · 2017–2024 · $4.1M · revenue +202%
  • TA
    Texas A&M Foundation
    6× · 2017–2024 · $2.9M · revenue +90%
  • VG
    Vision Galveston
    5× · 2020–2024 · $2.3M · revenue +3% · 62% of their budget

Funded once

  • AI
    AUSTIN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING PROJECT The Austin Bulldog
    one grant, 2023 · $225k · revenue +2%
  • SR
    Sul Ross State Univ-Borderlands Res
    one grant, 2020 · $210k
  • BC
    Baylor College of Medicine
    one grant, 2022 · $200k · revenue +19%
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
The Climate Center

The Climate Center is a climate and energy policy nonprofit working to rapidly reduce climate pollution at scale, starting in California.

Education
3
Environmental Investigation Agency

To establish and promote programs to protect the global climate, forests, wildlife and the natural environment, through research, advocacy, and investigation.

International
4
CarbonPlan

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

Environment
5
Glasstire

Glasstire is a website about visual art in Texas. Our mission is to expand the conversation about visual art in Texas.

Arts & Culture
6
The Water Research Foundation

The purpose of the water research foundation (wrf) is a definitive research organization to advance the science of all things water to better meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. to engage exclusively in…

Environment
7
Climate Foundation

To research and develop healthy climate solutions comprising global food security, ecosystem regeneration and carbon balance in seas and soils.

Science & Tech
8
Coastal Prairie Conservancy

The Coastal Prairie Conservancy (CPC) works to sustain a resilient Texas by preserving coastal prairies, wetlands, farms, and ranches to benefit people and wildlife forever. Continued on Schedule OCPC conserves land, restores and enhances…

Environment
9
Grist Magazine Inc

Grist is an independent, non profit media organization dedicated to reporting on climate change.

Environment
10
Conservation X Labs Inc

To improve the efficacy, speed, cost, sustainability, and scaling of conservation solutions through harnessing exponential technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship to prevent human-induced extinction.

Animals
11
Houston Botanic Garden

To enrich life through discovery, education, and the conservation of plants and the natural environment.

Environment
12
Asociacion Interamericana Para La Defensa Del Ambiente

To strenghten people's ability to guarantee their individual and collective right to a healthy environment, via the development, implementation, and effective enforcement of national and international law.

Crime & Legal
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is National Center for Family Philanthropy Inc; the most unlike its peers is Texas Clean Energy Coalition. 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

576 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. 576 of the 770 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.

34
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
146
Early backer (in before they grew)
554/576
Grantees still filing
388/576
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCORPORATED: $4,070,000 · EnvironmentENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCORPORA…Save Our Springs Alliance Inc: $1,891,593 · EnvironmentSave Our Springs Alliance IncHill Country Alliance: $1,642,549 · EnvironmentHill Country AllianceWATER FOUNDATION: $1,440,000 · EnvironmentWATER FOUNDATIONUS WATER ALLIANCE: $1,028,000 · EnvironmentTEXAS HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT ALLIANCE INC: $935,875 · EnvironmentTexas Agricultural Land Trust: $700,000 · Environment+37 more: $9,271,355 · Environment+37 moreNational Wildlife Federation (Austin): $1,764,415 · OtherNational Wildlife Federation (Austin)Rocky Mountain Institute: $1,207,000 · OtherThe University of Texas at Austin (EI): $984,500 · OtherTEXAS CLEAN ENERGY COALITION: $948,000 · OtherTHE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC: $799,500 · Other+107 more: $18,172,377 · Other+107 moreTexas A&M Foundation: $2,918,032 · EducationTexas A&M Found…TEXAS TRIBUNE INC: $1,360,000 · EducationTEXAS TRIBUNE I…DUKE UNIVERSITY: $695,000 · EducationDUKE UNIVERSITYWILDWOOD SCHOOL INC: $505,896 · EducationWILDWOOD SCHOOL…The University of Texas Law School Foundation: $410,000 · EducationWilliam Marsh Rice University: $394,240 · EducationTHE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK: $380,000 · EducationYES Prep Public Schools Inc: $345,000 · Education+15 more: $2,127,197 · Education+15 moreGREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $2,538,901 · PhilanthropyUNITED WAY OF GALVESTON INC WHITE: $645,000 · PhilanthropyKICKSTART INTERNATIONAL INC: $378,000 · PhilanthropyINTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $252,120 · PhilanthropyTHE PHILANTHROPY WORKSHOP INC DBA FORWARD GLOBAL: $188,750 · Philanthropy+1 more: $95,000 · PhilanthropyVision Galveston: $2,331,500 · Community ImprovementBuild Galveston: $520,000 · Community ImprovementCOMMUNITIES UNLIMITED INC: $250,000 · Community ImprovementAUSTIN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING PROJECT The Austin Bulldog: $225,000 · Community ImprovementGREAT PLAINS INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT INC: $175,000 · Community Improvement+2 more: $170,000 · Community ImprovementHouston Advanced Research Center: $1,229,803 · Science & TechALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY LLC: $475,000 · Science & TechNATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: $335,000 · Science & TechTEXAS ENERGY POVERTY RESEARCH INSTITUTE: $250,000 · Science & TechPUBLIC CITIZEN FOUNDATION INC: $710,000 · Public BenefitPowerHouse Texas: $300,000 · Public BenefitFAIR SHOT TEXAS: $215,000 · Public BenefitFairewinds Energy Education Corp: $126,650 · Public Benefit
Environment$20,979,372Other$23,875,792Education$9,135,365Philanthropy$4,097,771Community Improvement$3,671,500Science & Tech$2,289,803Public Benefit$1,351,650

Showing the 200 largest grantees by grant value.

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

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCORPORATED: $4,070,000 over 8y, 0.4% of budgetTexas A&M Foundation: $2,918,032 over 6y, 0.9% of budgetGREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $2,538,901 over 7y, 0.3% of budgetVision Galveston: $2,331,500 over 5y, 62% of budgetSave Our Springs Alliance Inc: $1,891,593 over 7y, 51% of budgetHill Country Alliance: $1,642,549 over 8y, 30% of budgetWATER FOUNDATION: $1,440,000 over 5y, 2.1% of budgetTEXAS TRIBUNE INC: $1,360,000 over 7y, 2.8% of budgetHouston Advanced Research Center: $1,229,803 over 7y, 6.8% of budgetRocky Mountain Institute: $1,207,000 over 7y, 0.4% of budgetUS WATER ALLIANCE: $1,028,000 over 6y, 3.8% of budgetTEXAS CLEAN ENERGY COALITION: $948,000 over 4y, 90% of budgetTEXAS HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT ALLIANCE INC: $935,875 over 7y, 57% of budgetTHE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC: $799,500 over 7y, 0.2% of budgetPUBLIC CITIZEN FOUNDATION INC: $710,000 over 6y, 1.6% of budgetTexas Agricultural Land Trust: $700,000 over 6y, 6.3% of budgetDUKE UNIVERSITY: $695,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED WAY OF GALVESTON INC WHITE: $645,000 over 8y, 17% of budgetTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $641,498 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetTEXAS WATER FOUNDATION: $608,467 over 6y, 46% of budgetNIA CULTURAL CENTER: $601,728 over 5y, 26% of budgetCE BUYERS INSTITUTE: $600,000 over 3y, 4.0% of budgetBuild Galveston: $520,000 over 2y, 100% of budgetWILDWOOD SCHOOL INC: $505,896 over 5y, 0.7% of budgetWINDWARD FUND: $500,000 over 5y, 0.5% of budgetALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY LLC: $475,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetCERES INC: $460,000 over 4y, 0.5% of budgetBAYOU CITY WATERKEEPER INC: $455,000 over 5y, 22% of budgetThe University of Texas Law School Foundation: $410,000 over 5y, 0.6% of budgetWATER FINANCE EXCHANGE INC: $405,000 over 3y, 70% of budgetWilliam Marsh Rice University: $394,240 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetTHE ARTIST BOAT INC: $392,500 over 5y, 5.8% of budgetTRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY: $386,546 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK: $380,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetKICKSTART INTERNATIONAL INC: $378,000 over 8y, 2.1% of budgetSIERRA CLUB FOUNDATION: $375,000 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetTHORNE ECOLOGICAL INSTITUTE: $372,867 over 7y, 6.7% of budgetLAND TRUST ALLIANCE INC: $365,000 over 7y, 0.5% of budgetOLD BALDY FOUNDATION INC: $351,607 over 7y, 21% of budgetYES Prep Public Schools Inc: $345,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetNATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: $335,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetTHE GREAT SPRINGS PROJECT INC (AUDIT): $327,299 over 6y, 9.7% of budgetEcoRise Youth Innovations: $325,000 over 5y, 3.7% of budgetWILDERNESS WORKSHOP: $317,341 over 5y, 16% of budgetSolar United Neighbors Inc: $305,000 over 6y, 1.1% of budgetPowerHouse Texas: $300,000 over 3y, 46% of budgetTHE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE AND THE ENVIRONMENT: $300,000 over 2y, 25% of budgetCLEAN AIR TASK FORCE INC: $290,000 over 4y, 0.7% 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.

  • Who funds ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCORPORATED ↗
  • Who funds Texas A&M Foundation ↗
  • Who funds GREATER HOUSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds Vision Galveston ↗
  • Who funds Save Our Springs Alliance Inc ↗
  • Who funds Hill Country Alliance ↗
  • Who funds WATER FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds TEXAS TRIBUNE INC ↗
  • Who funds Houston Advanced Research Center ↗
  • Who funds Rocky Mountain Institute ↗
  • Who funds US WATER ALLIANCE ↗
  • Who funds TEXAS CLEAN ENERGY COALITION ↗
  • Who funds TEXAS HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT ALLIANCE INC ↗
  • Who funds THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC ↗
  • Who funds PUBLIC CITIZEN FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds Texas Agricultural Land Trust ↗
  • Who funds DUKE UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds UNITED WAY OF GALVESTON INC WHITE ↗
  • Who funds THE NATURE CONSERVANCY ↗
  • Who funds TEXAS WATER FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds NIA CULTURAL CENTER ↗
  • Who funds CE BUYERS INSTITUTE ↗
  • Who funds Build Galveston ↗
  • Who funds WILDWOOD SCHOOL INC ↗
  • Who funds WINDWARD FUND ↗
  • Who funds ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY LLC ↗
  • Who funds CERES INC ↗
  • Who funds BAYOU CITY WATERKEEPER INC ↗
  • Who funds The University of Texas Law School Foundation ↗
  • Who funds WATER FINANCE EXCHANGE INC ↗
  • Who funds William Marsh Rice University ↗
  • Who funds THE ARTIST BOAT INC ↗

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.

Jacob and Terese Hers…The Landfall Foundati…Shield-Ayres Foundati…New Hanover Community…Meadows Foundation IncHouston Endowment IncSt David's FoundationWater FoundationHarris & Eliza Kempne…Austin Community Foun…Still Water FoundationThe Moody Foundation
Jacob and Terese Hershey FoundationTX91× affinity49 shared granteesties to 9 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation · The Landfall Foundation Inc · Shield-Ayres Foundation · New Hanover Community Endowment Inc · Meadows Foundation Inc · Houston Endowment Inc · St David's Foundation · Water Foundation · Harris & Eliza Kempner Fund Inc · Austin Community Foundation Inc · Still Water Foundation · The Moody 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 Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 80%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 12%
  • Trustees of Boston University: 12% of income from government
  • Ceres Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
8get no government money at all
53report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
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 770 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 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Cynthia & George Mitchell’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