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The David S Howe Foundation at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Private foundation

The David S Howe 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.

$1.3M
Granted FY2025still arriving
30
Grants FY2025still arriving
11
States reached
$225k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0196% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Philanthropy$3.3MArts & Culture$1.0MScience & Tech$600kFood & Nutrition$465kCrime & Legal$300kHousing & Shelter$300kCivil Rights$290kHuman Services$280kOther$0
02FY2025 · 30 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k10 grants · $50k
  • $10k–50k12 grants · $305k
  • $50k–250k8 grants · $940k
$25,000
Median grant
11
States reached
$10M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
ART 21 INC$225,000
BLOCK ISLAND HOUSING INITIATIVE$200,000
HARVARD UNIVERSITY$200,000
CENTER FOR HEIRS PROPERTY PRESERVATION$100,000
BLOCK ISLAND HEALTH SERVICES$65,000
FREED SEED FEDERATION$50,000
NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER$50,000
INCREASING HOPE$50,000
PROTOCINEMA$40,000
NOFAMASS$30,000
Individual grant recipient$30,000
SEMAP (SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL PARTNERSHIP)$25,000
WESTPORT LAND CONSERVATION TRUST INC$25,000
COASTAL FOODSHED$25,000
UNITED WE DREAM NETWORK$25,000
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 (FY21–25, $185k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%SEMAP (SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL PARTNERSHIP): $25k → 11%SEMAP (SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL PARTNERSHIP): $15k → 11%SEMAP (SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL PARTNERSHIP): $15k → 11%INCREASING HOPE: $50k → 12%INCREASING HOPE: $50k → 12%INCREASING HOPE: $10k → 12%INCREASING HOPE: $10k → 12%INCREASING HOPE: $10k → 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

ME
NH
NY
MA
OH
PA
NJ
RI
CA
VA
MD
SC
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.

43%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$2.7M · 24 repeat orgs$3.6M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +46% since the first grant, against 0% for those funded once.

24 repeat relationships: 24 still active in FY2025, 0 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

24
16

Total granted

$2.7M
$3.5M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+46%
0%

Still filing today

92%
63%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 96% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $42k 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
Arts & CultureCivil RightsFood & NutritionEnvironmentPhilanthropyHuman 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

  • AI
    ART21 INC
    6× · 2020–2025 · $675k · revenue +94%
  • CF
    Center for Heirs' Property Preservation
    5× · 2020–2025 · $300k · revenue +234%
  • FS
    Freed Seed Federation Inc
    6× · 2020–2025 · $255k · revenue +46% · 69% of their budget

Funded once

  • TC
    THE CHARLENE Y WANG CHARITABLE TRUST
    one grant, 2022 · $3.3M · revenue -63% · 100% of their budget
  • TO
    THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER INCgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $150k · revenue +34% · 28% of their budget
  • BM
    BLUE MTNS PROJ DBA THE SHANDAKEN PROJECT
    one grant, 2021 · $30k
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
Open Markets Institute

The open markets institute works to help people relearn how to use competition policy to build stronger democracies, more just and equitable societies, more innovative and sustainable economies, and a more secure and peaceful world.

Education
2
Boston Architectural College

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

—
3
United States Naval Institute

Provide an independent forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to global security.

—
4
Fauna & Flora International Usa Inc

Our mission is to act to conserve threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, based on sound science and take into account human needs.

Philanthropy
5
Rhode Island School of Design

The mission of rhode island school of design, through its college and museum,is to educate its students and the public in the creation and (see schedule o)appreciation of works of art and design, to discover and transmit knowledge and to…

Education
6
White Columns Inc

White columns identifies significant emerging and under-represented visual artists and encourages their creative and professional development through the presentation of group and solo exhibitions, an online curated artists registry, and…

Arts & Culture
7
Bartlett Arboretum Association Inc

To cultivate and develop an expansive collection of trees, gardens, and plants for all to explore, enjoy and study; and to provide through education and stewardship, a greener, healthier, more beautiful environment.

Environment
8
United States Telecom Association

See schedule oustelecom exists to ensure members can compete, grow and thrive to build a world where families, enterprises and communities are connected through the power of broadband.our member companies have committed a considerable…

—
9
World Wide Web Consortium Inc

Making the web work for everyone. W3C brings together global stakeholders to develop open standards that enable a World Wide Web that connects and empowers humanity.

Science & Tech
10
Internet Society Foundation

At the internet society foundation, we focus on funding initiatives that strengthen the internet in function and reach so that it can effectively serve all people. our work advances the vision of the internet society (isoc): the internet…

International
11
The Paris Review Foundation Inc

The mission of the organization is to foster the development of creative individuals as writers and artists and to promote public appreciation of excellence in the literary and graphic arts by publishing a magazine containing fiction,…

Education
12
The American Institute of Architects

Vision: drive positive change through the power of design and focused activism.mission: aia inspires and empowers architects to improve society and transform the world.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is We the Protesters Inc; the most unlike its peers is The Charlene Y Wang Charitable Trust. 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

38 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. 38 of the 48 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.

6
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
10
Early backer (in before they grew)
38/38
Grantees still filing
21/38
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

THE CHARLENE Y WANG CHARITABLE TRUST: $3,277,078 · PhilanthropyTHE CHARLENE Y WANG CHARITABLE TRUST+3 more: $125,000 · PhilanthropyART21 INC: $675,000 · Arts & CultureART21 INCPROTOCINEMA INC: $100,000 · Arts & CulturePROTOCINEMA I…BLACK BALL PROJECTS-NFP INC: $32,500 · Arts & Culture+5 more: $65,000 · Arts & Culture+5 morePresident and Fellows of Harvard College: $600,000 · EducationPresident an…THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY: $155,000 · EducationTHE BOARD OF…WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION INC: $70,000 · EducationWIKIMEDIA FO…Freed Seed Federation Inc: $255,000 · Food & NutritionNORTHEAST ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION MA CHAPTER INC: $90,000 · Food & NutritionMAINE ORGANIC FARMERS AND GARDENERS ASSOCIATION: $40,000 · Food & NutritionCOASTAL FOODSHED: $25,000 · Food & NutritionTHE OPPORTUNITY CENTER INC: $150,000 · OtherTHE OPPORTUNITY C…Individual grant recipient: $75,000 · OtherIndividual grant …GREENWICH HOUSE POTTERY: $70,000 · OtherGREENWICH HOUSE P…NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER: $130,000 · OtherNATIONAL IMMIGRAT…UNITED WE DREAM NETWORK INC: $120,000 · OtherUNITED WE DREAM N…Increasing HOPE: $130,000 · OtherIncreasing HOPESOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL PARTNERSHIP INC: $55,000 · OtherWESTPORT LAND CONSERVATION TRUST INC: $75,000 · OtherWESTPORT LAND CON…LAND FOR GOOD INC: $50,000 · OtherBLOCK ISLAND HEALTH SERVICES INC: $80,000 · OtherBLOCK ISLAND HEAL…+17 more: $152,039 · Other+17 moreBlock Island Housing Initiative Inc: $300,000 · Housing & ShelterCenter for Heirs' Property Preservation: $300,000 · Crime & Legal
Philanthropy$3,402,078Arts & Culture$872,500Education$825,000Food & Nutrition$410,000Other$1,087,039Housing & Shelter$300,000Crime & Legal$300,000

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

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetTHE CHARLENE Y WANG CHARITABLE TRUST: $3,277,078 over 1y, 100% of budgetART21 INC: $675,000 over 6y, 6.3% of budgetPresident and Fellows of Harvard College: $600,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetBlock Island Housing Initiative Inc: $300,000 over 3y, 85% of budgetCenter for Heirs' Property Preservation: $300,000 over 5y, 2.1% of budgetFreed Seed Federation Inc: $255,000 over 6y, 69% of budgetTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY: $155,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE OPPORTUNITY CENTER INC: $150,000 over 1y, 28% of budgetIncreasing HOPE: $130,000 over 5y, 7.2% of budgetNATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER: $130,000 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetUNITED WE DREAM NETWORK INC: $120,000 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetCHARITIES AID FOUNDATION AMERICA: $105,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetPROTOCINEMA INC: $100,000 over 5y, 65% of budgetNORTHEAST ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION MA CHAPTER INC: $90,000 over 3y, 4.2% of budgetBLOCK ISLAND HEALTH SERVICES INC: $80,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetWESTPORT LAND CONSERVATION TRUST INC: $75,000 over 3y, 1.4% of budgetWIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION INC: $70,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetSOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL PARTNERSHIP INC: $55,000 over 3y, 6.6% of budgetLAND FOR GOOD INC: $50,000 over 3y, 3.0% of budgetMAINE ORGANIC FARMERS AND GARDENERS ASSOCIATION: $40,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetBLACK BALL PROJECTS-NFP INC: $32,500 over 5y, 67% of budgetCIVIL RIGHTS CORPS: $20,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetBLANK FORMS INC: $20,000 over 4y, 0.6% of budgetFILM FORUM INC: $20,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetGALAPAGOS CONSERVANCY INC: $20,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetWESTPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC: $15,000 over 3y, 1.6% of budgetNEW YORK FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetAFRICAN SERVICES COMMITTEE INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetTIDES FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSTO TE NEMA Inc: $10,000 over 2y, 15% of budgetTHE EYEBEAM ATELIER INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetBLOOMFIELD-GARFIELD CORPORATION: $7,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetWE THE PROTESTERS INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY OVERSIGHT PROJECT INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetBLOCK ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $5,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetAmerican Friends of the Centre Pompidou Inc: $4,300 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetBLOCK ISLAND CONSERVANCY INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.5% 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.

Massachusetts Society…William E Schrafft an…The Ford FoundationTides FoundationNational Philanthropi…Vanguard Charitable E…Morgan Stanley Global…Network for GoodFidelity Investments …Donor Advised Charita…American Online Givin…Amazonsmile Foundation
Massachusetts Society for Promoting AgricultureMA13.6× affinity4 shared granteesties to 10 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture · William E Schrafft and Bertha E Schrafft Charitable Trust · The Ford Foundation · Tides Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Network for Good · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · American Online Giving Foundation 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 David S Howe Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The David S Howe Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 30%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 7%
  • Coastal Foodshed: 66% of income from government
  • President and Fellows of Harvard College: 7% of income from government
  • Westport Historical Society Inc: 1% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
3get no government money at all
8report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
1rely 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.
05Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to The David S Howe Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The David S Howe 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 48 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

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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