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The Ethan James Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Ethan James Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$11k
Granted FY2024still arriving
11
Grants FY2024still arriving
5
States reached
$3k
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, FY2017 to 2024.

Education$112kHealth$11kFood & Nutrition$8kArts & Culture$6kPublic Benefit$4kInternational$3kEnvironment$2kRecreation & Sports$2kOther$0
02FY2024 · 11 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$1,000
Median grant
5
States reached
$1.7M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
FAIRVOTE$2,500
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA LAW SCHOOL FOUNDATION$1,000
FRIENDS OF CHAMBER MUSIC$1,000
TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE$1,000
DENVER DUMB FRIENDS LEAGUE$1,000
TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE$1,000
COLORADO COLLEGE$1,000
PUBLIC BROADCASTING OF COLORADO INC$1,000
DENVER TENNIS PARK INC$500
FRIENDS OF THE DILLON RANGER DISTRICT A CO NONPROF$500
POMONA COLLEGE$475
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 (FY20–20, $3k) 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%FRIENDS OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM INC: $3k → 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.

Which US states its grants reach

IL
NY
MA
CA
CO
VA
MD
DC
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.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

85%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$125k · 9 repeat orgs$23k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +54% since the first grant, against +26% for those funded once.

9 repeat relationships: 7 still active in FY2024, 2 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

9
8

Total granted

$125k
$19k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+54%
+26%

Still filing today

100%
100%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 64% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $4k 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
EducationArts & CultureRecreation & SportsFood & NutritionHuman ServicesEnvironmentOther
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

  • TC
    THE COLORADO COLLEGE
    8× · 2017–2024 · $54k · revenue +39%
  • Trustees of Tufts College
    7× · 2017–2024 · $18k · revenue +50%
  • POMONA COLLEGE
    5× · 2020–2024 · $16k · revenue +87%

Funded once

  • KC
    KIPP Colorado Schools
    one grant, 2022 · $5k · revenue +19%
  • FB
    FOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES
    one grant, 2020 · $5k · revenue +23%
  • FRIENDS OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM INCgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $3k · revenue +361%
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
Furman University

The primary mission of furman as a liberal arts institution is to provide a distinctive education in fine arts, humanities, social sciences, mathematics and the sciences, as well as selected professional disciplines.

Education
2
Columbia College

Columbia college improves lives by providing quality education to both traditional and nontraditional students, helping them achieve their true potential.

Education
3
Aia Colorado

AIA Colorado,is the voice of the architecture profession in Colorado. Through advocacy, leadership development, education and resources for architects, the organization supports architecture professionals in designing a better world where…

—
4
University of Denver

The university of denver (du) is a higher educational institution, providing both undergraduate and graduate degrees - the mission of the university of denver is to promote learning by engaging with students (continued on schedule o)in…

Education
5
Colorado Legal Services

To provide meaningful access to high quality, civil legal services in the pursuit of justice for as many low income persons and members of vulnerable populations throughout colorado as possible.

Crime & Legal
6
Colorado Gives Foundation

We connect people, ideas, and nonprofits to make good happen. our vision is that all of jeffco is thriving.

Philanthropy
7
Augustana College

Rooted in the liberal arts & sciences & lutheran expression of the christian faith, & is committed to offering a challenging education that develops qualities of mind, spirit, & body necessary for a rewarding life of leadership & service…

Education
8
National Public Radio Inc

National public radio, inc. ("npr") works collaboratively with member public radio station licensees ("member stations") to create a more informed public, one that is challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of…

Arts & Culture
9
Npr Foundation

The npr foundation ("foundation") is organized and operated exclusively for the benefit of its sole supported organization, national public radio, inc. ("npr inc."). the foundation supports npr inc. through various activities such as…

—
10
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The mission of mit is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.

Education
11
Colorado State University Foundation

See schedule o colorado state university foundation assists in the promotion, development, and enhancement of facilities and educational programs and enhancements of faculty, students, and alumni of colorado state university (csu). this is…

Education
12
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

See schedule ouniversity corporation for atmospheric research (ucar), on behalf of, and in cooperation with its member university members, is engaged in the management of long-term atmospheric and related research and educational…

Science & Tech
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Denver Dumb Friends League; the most unlike its peers is Friends of the Dillon Ranger District. 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

20 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.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
1
Early backer (in before they grew)
20/20
Grantees still filing
15/20
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

THE COLORADO COLLEGE: $54,000 · EducationTHE COLORADO COLLEGETrustees of Tufts College: $18,000 · EducationTrustees of Tufts CollegePOMONA COLLEGE: $15,950 · EducationPOMONA COLLEGECOLORADO ACADEMY: $11,500 · EducationCOLORADO ACADEMYUNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA LAW SCHOOL FOUNDATION: $6,500 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA LAW SCHOOL FOUNDATIONKIPP Colorado Schools: $5,000 · Education+1 more: $1,000 · EducationDENVER HEALTH AND HOSPITALS FOUNDATION: $11,000 · OtherDENVER HEALT…Friends of the Dillon Ranger District: $2,000 · OtherFriends of t…Northwestern University: $1,000 · OtherNorthwestern…DENVER DUMB FRIENDS LEAGUE: $1,000 · OtherDENVER DUMB …+2 more: $1,000 · Other+2 morePUBLIC BROADCASTING OF COLORADO INC: $3,200 · Arts & CultureFRIENDS OF CHAMBER MUSIC: $3,000 · Arts & CultureROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLIC MEDIA INC: $1,000 · Arts & CultureFOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES: $5,000 · Food & NutritionFRIENDS OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM INC: $2,500 · Human ServicesFAIRVOTE: $2,500 · Civil RightsROAD TO HOPE OF HAITI: $2,500 · International
Education$111,950Other$16,000Arts & Culture$7,200Food & Nutrition$5,000Human Services$2,500Civil Rights$2,500International$2,500

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 budgetTHE COLORADO COLLEGE: $54,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetTrustees of Tufts College: $18,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetPOMONA COLLEGE: $15,950 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetCOLORADO ACADEMY: $11,500 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetDENVER HEALTH AND HOSPITALS FOUNDATION: $11,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA LAW SCHOOL FOUNDATION: $6,500 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetKIPP Colorado Schools: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPUBLIC BROADCASTING OF COLORADO INC: $3,200 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF CHAMBER MUSIC: $3,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE WORLD FOOD PROGRAM INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFAIRVOTE: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFriends of the Dillon Ranger District: $2,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetWILLIAM J BRENNAN CENTER FOR JUSTICE INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNorthwestern University: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDENVER DUMB FRIENDS LEAGUE: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLIC MEDIA INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMIGHTYCAUSE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDENVER TENNIS PARK: $500 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.

Colorado Gives Founda…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Colorado Gives FoundationCO13.1× affinity4 shared granteesties to 3 of 3Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Colorado Gives Foundation · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · 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 Ethan James Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Ethan James Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →median 13%
  • Trustees of Tufts College: 13% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
2get 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 · 0–75%
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 Ethan James Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The Ethan James 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 20 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 Ethan James’ 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