Skip to content
The Farwell Foundation Inc at a glance

· Private foundation

The Farwell Foundation Inc

Its FY2022 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$3.2M
Granted FY2022
3
Grants FY2022
2
States reached
$2.6M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its fieldRead
04Through PlinthRead

Read this first · the figures below need context

81% of The Farwell Foundation Inc’s FY2022 grant dollars went to American Endowment Foundation, not to grantees.

Its money now reaches organizations through that sponsor, which does not report who recommended each grant. FY2022 names 2 organizations directly, so a portfolio cannot be read from it.

Organizations named directly on the return

16
’18
3
’19
1
’20
2
’22

Amber years are those where most dollars went to a sponsor.

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 2022.

Philanthropy$4.5MEducation$2.5MCivil Rights$953kHuman Services$405kCommunity Improvement$274kInternational$200kCrime & Legal$170kHealth$150kOther$0
02FY2022 · 3 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2022

  • $50k–250k1 grant · $97k
  • $250k+2 grants · $3.1M
$500,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$0
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
AMERICAN ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION$2,601,483
URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER MADISON$500,000
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION$97,000
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 (FY18–18, $15k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%IRWIN A AND ROBERT D GOODMAN COMMUNITY CENTER INC: $15k → 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.
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 70% of The Farwell Foundation Inc’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address. By recipient address, 66% of the giving stays in WI; by stated purpose, 28%.

The Farwell Foundation Inclessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address · 5.3% 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 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
Madison Professional Police Officers Association Inc

The madison professional police officers association represents law enforcement professionals who serve the city of madison, wisconsin, as either police officers, detectives, investigators, or sergeants.

—
2
Wisconsin Policy Forum Inc

We conduct impartial public policy research and analysis to drive informed debate and effective decision-making in the state of wisconsin.

Public Benefit
3
Downtown Madison Inc

Make downtown madison an economically strong, equitable, inclusive, and vibrant place to live, work, and visit.

—
4
American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin Inc

The american civil liberties union of wisconsin, inc. (the union") protects and promotes the civil liberties and civil rights of all people in wisconsin in a non-partisan matter.

—
5
Midwest Dairy Association

Midwest dairy works with others to give consumers an excellent dairy experience increasing sales, fostering innovation, and inspiring consumer confidence of dairy products and practices.

—
6
United Way of Dane County Inc

Unite the community to achieve measurable results that change lives.

—
7
League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Inc

The league of women voters of wisconsin (lwvwi) is a nonpartisan political organization. we encourage informed, active participation in government and work to increase understanding of major public policy issues. we influence public policy…

Civil Rights
8
Milwaukee Bar Association Inc

The mission of the milwaukee bar association is to be an inclusive, equitable and diverse organization that serves the interests of the lawyers, judges and the people of milwaukee county by working to promote the professional interests of…

—
9
Milwaukee Women Inc

Milwaukee women inc is an organization of executives determined to change the quality and composition of corporate boards to maximize the performance of public and private companies with a focus on women and women of color.

Education
10
American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa

The union works to advocate and advance a public policy agenda to support and protect the constitution of the united states and the constitution of the state of iowa. it works to maintain throughout the united states the rights of free…

—
11
United Way of Wisconsin Inc

United way of wisconsin is dedicated to supporting and enriching a strong statewide united way network that maximizes the capacity of local united ways to address human needs, improve lives and create lasting positive change across…

Philanthropy
12
Twin Cities Diversity in Practice

To attract, recruit, advance, and retain attorneys of color in the twin cities through education and collaboration with member organizations.

Community Improvement
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Madison Community Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Historic Charleston Foundation. 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

25 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. 25 of the 27 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.

2
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
7
Early backer (in before they grew)
25/25
Grantees still filing
22/25
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

AMERICAN ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION: $2,601,483 · PhilanthropyAMERICAN ENDOWMENT FOUNDATIONMADISON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $1,121,174 · PhilanthropyMADISON COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION: $2,447,538 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDA…KNOX COLLEGE: $100,000 · EducationURBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER MADISON INC: $500,000 · OtherURBAN LEAGUE OF GR…JEWISH SOCIAL SERVICES OF MADISON INC: $375,000 · OtherJEWISH SOCIAL SERV…AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION INC: $150,000 · OtherAMERICAN CIVIL LIB…COMMUNITY JUSTICE INCORPORATED: $150,000 · OtherCOMMUNITY JUSTICE …PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC: $150,000 · OtherPLANNED PARENTHOOD…+11 more: $224,408 · Other+11 moreJEWISH FEDERATION OF MADISON INC: $771,552 · ReligionJEWISH FE…AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION INC: $303,336 · Civil RightsMADISON ROTARY FOUNDATION: $150,000 · Community ImprovementMADISON NORTHSIDE PLANNING COUNCIL INC: $105,000 · Community ImprovementCENTER FOR COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP: $18,800 · Community ImprovementTHE ROTARY FOUNDATION OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL: $100,000 · InternationalThe American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Inc: $100,000 · International
Philanthropy$3,722,657Education$2,547,538Other$1,549,408Religion$771,552Civil Rights$303,336Community Improvement$273,800International$200,000

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

25%50%75%100%$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetAMERICAN ENDOWMENT FOUNDATION: $2,601,483 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION: $2,447,538 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetJEWISH FEDERATION OF MADISON INC: $771,552 over 1y, 29% of budgetURBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER MADISON INC: $500,000 over 1y, 4.8% of budgetJEWISH SOCIAL SERVICES OF MADISON INC: $375,000 over 1y, 39% of budgetAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF WISCONSIN FOUNDATION INC: $303,336 over 1y, 18% of budgetMADISON ROTARY FOUNDATION: $150,000 over 1y, 9.0% of budgetPLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC: $150,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMADISON NORTHSIDE PLANNING COUNCIL INC: $105,000 over 1y, 9.7% of budgetTHE ROTARY FOUNDATION OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL: $100,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetKNOX COLLEGE: $100,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetThe American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Inc: $100,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPORCHLIGHT INC: $40,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetSECOND HARVEST FOODBANK OF SOUTHERN WI: $40,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetOPERATION FRESH START INC: $40,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetCENTER FOR COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP: $18,800 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetIRWIN A AND ROBERT D GOODMAN COMMUNITY CENTER INC: $15,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetEND DOMESTIC ABUSE WISCONSIN THE WI COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: $15,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetDANE COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY: $15,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetWISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO ASSOCIATION INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN INC: $8,908 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION: $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.

Madison Community Fou…Alliant Energy Founda…United Way of Dane Co…Madison Gas and Elect…The Roots and Wings F…Endres Manufacturing …Trustage Foundation I…Ascendium Education S…Widen Family Foundati…The Evjue Foundation …Baird Foundation IncHerbert H Kohl Charit…
Madison Community FoundationWI28.1× affinity11 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Madison Community Foundation · Alliant Energy Foundation Inc · United Way of Dane County Inc · Madison Gas and Electric Foundation Inc · The Roots and Wings Foundation Inc · Endres Manufacturing Foundation Inc · Trustage Foundation Inc · Ascendium Education Solutions Inc · Widen Family Foundation Inc · The Evjue Foundation Inc · Baird Foundation Inc · Herbert H Kohl Charities Inc

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 Farwell Foundation Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Farwell Foundation Inc. 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%15%30%45%60%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    11report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–60%
    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.
    04Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to The Farwell Foundation Inc?

    Find your warmest path to The Farwell Foundation Inc 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 27 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 2022, released 2022. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Farwell’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