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The Horn Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Horn 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.

$3.2M
Granted FY2024still arriving
61
Grants FY2024still arriving
10
States reached
$550k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0195% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Environment$15MSocial Science$5.0MEducation$3.8MArts & Culture$1.9MPublic Benefit$1.1MHealth$1.0MAnimals$762kHuman Services$715kOther$0
02FY2024 · 61 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k19 grants · $76k
  • $10k–50k25 grants · $474k
  • $50k–250k13 grants · $1.1M
  • $250k+4 grants · $1.5M
$15,000
Median grant
10
States reached
$57M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SUNDANCE INSTITUTE$550,000
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL$355,000
DUKE UNIVERSITY$315,000
THE CLIMATE REALITY PROJECT$300,000
HOWARD UNIVERSITY$200,000
NRDC$125,000
WORLD WILDLIFE FUND$100,000
THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY$100,000
STATE LEADERSHIP PROJECT$100,000
AFI$100,000
ARCHER SCHOOL FOR GIRLS$75,000
LCV EDUCATION FUND$50,000
DUKE MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH$50,000
NATIONAL BREAST CANCER COALITION$50,000
CAPTAIN PLANET FOUNDATION$50,000
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 (FY17–24, $967k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 99% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%YOUTH CARE: $1k → 12%URYADI'S VILLAGE: $10k → 12%EASTERN CONGO INITIATIVE: $5k → 11%GCAPP: $9k → 8%GEORGIA CAMPAIGN FOR ADOLESCENT POWER & POTENTIAL: $5k → 13%THE PEOPLE CONCERN: $2k → 14%GOOD FOUNDATION: $10k → 17%GOODFOUNDATION: $5k → 17%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $25k → 14%CHILDREN'S INSTITUTE: $25k → 14%CHILDREN'S INSTITUTE: $15k → 14%COVENANT HOUSE CALIFORNIA: $1k → 14%CHILDREN'S INSTITUTE: $15k → 14%CHILDREN'S INSTITUTE: $15k → 14%MOTION PICTURE TELEVISION FUND: $50k → 14%MOTION PICTURE & TELEVISION FUND: $25k → 14%MOTION PICTURE & TELEVISION FUND: $25k → 14%MOTION PICTURE & TELEVISION FUND: $25k → 14%MOTION PICTURE & TELEVISION FUND: $18k → 14%MOTION PICTURE & TELEVISION FUND: $2k → 14%WESPARK CANCER SUPPORT CENTER: $1k → 14%CHILDREN'S INSTITUTE: $25k → 14%CHILDREN'S INSTITUTE: $15k → 14%UNITED FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN: $139k → 14%UNITED FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN: $50k → 14%UNITED FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN: $50k → 14%UNITED FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN: $50k → 14%UNITED FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN: $25k → 14%UNITED FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN: $25k → 14%UNITED FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN: $25k → 14%UNITED FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN: $25k → 14%LOS ANGELES POLICE FOUNDATION: $50k → 14%LOS ANGELES POLICE FOUNDATION: $50k → 14%LOS ANGELES POLICE FOUNDATION: $50k → 14%LOS ANGELES POLICE FOUNDATION: $50k → 14%LOS ANGELES POLICE FOUNDATION: $50k → 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

WA
ID
MT
MN
IL
NY
MA
PA
CT
CA
UT
CO
NE
KY
VA
MD
TN
NC
DC
LA
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.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

94%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$30M · 84 repeat orgs$1.8M to everyone else

84 repeat relationships: 48 still active in FY2024, 36 since wound down; 13 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

84
95

Total granted

$30M
$1.4M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+24%
+28%

Still filing today

76%
68%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 87% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $404k 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 & CultureHuman ServicesAnimalsHealthOther
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

  • NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC
    6× · 2019–2024 · $8.3M · revenue +37%
  • TA
    THE ALLIANCE FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION
    8× · 2017–2024 · $4.6M · revenue +99%
  • THE HOWARD UNIVERSITY
    4× · 2021–2024 · $800k · revenue +11%

Funded once

  • N
    NRDC
    one grant, 2017 · $100k
  • GO
    GENESEE ORLEANS MINISTRY IN CONCERN
    one grant, 2020 · $100k
  • RL
    RESOURCES LEGACY FUNDgraduated
    one grant, 2019 · $100k · revenue +70%
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
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.

—
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
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
5
World Resources Institute

Wri is committed to creating change that improves people's lives and ensures the natural world can thrive. (see schedule o)wri's bold vision requires a formula for success we call "count it. change it. scale it.":- count it: our work is…

International
6
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Advance science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all. the world's largest multidisciplinary scientific society and a leading publisher of cutting-edge research through its science family of journals,…

Science & Tech
7
Friends of the Earth

Friends of the earth strives for a more healthy and just world by defendng the environment and human health while advancing social and economic justice by conducting research and education, transforming the economy so it protects the…

Environment
8
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…

—
9
American Gas Association

American gas association's (the association) mission is to develop and advocate for informed, innovative, and durable policy that fulfills our nation's energy needs, environmental aspirations and economic potential. we are committed to…

—
10
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
11
American Flood Coalition Inc

To drive transformational adaptation to protect communities across the country from higher seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding.

Environment
12
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
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is People for the American Way; the most unlike its peers is Orange Twins Rescue. 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

146 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. 146 of the 197 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)
23
Early backer (in before they grew)
144/146
Grantees still filing
98/146
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC: $8,325,000 · EnvironmentNATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INCTHE ALLIANCE FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION: $4,606,500 · EnvironmentTHE ALLIANCE FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION+19 more: $1,877,800 · Environment+19 moreSUNDANCE INSTITUTE: $3,601,500 · OtherSUNDANCE INSTITUTEHARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL: $1,384,885 · OtherHARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOLAFI: $1,250,000 · OtherAFIAUTRY NATIONAL MUSEUM: $951,000 · OtherAUTRY NATIONAL MUSEUMNATIONAL BREAST CANCER COALITION: $525,000 · OtherUNION COLLEGE: $450,000 · OtherDUKE MEMORIAL METHODIST CHURCH: $400,000 · Other+110 more: $3,043,340 · Other+110 moreTHE HOWARD UNIVERSITY: $800,000 · EducationTHE HOWARD…THE ARCHER SCHOOL FOR GIRLS INC: $625,000 · EducationTHE ARCHER…DUKE UNIVERSITY: $590,000 · EducationDUKE UNIVE…UCLA FOUNDATION: $530,000 · EducationUCLA FOUND…HARVARD-WESTLAKE SCHOOL: $175,000 · EducationHARVARD-WE…+15 more: $204,500 · Education+15 moreTHE BARACK OBAMA FOUNDATION: $775,000 · Arts & CultureGEFFEN PLAYHOUSE INC: $240,000 · Arts & CultureUTAH FILM CENTER: $200,000 · Arts & CultureFRACTURED ATLAS INC: $55,000 · Arts & Culture+9 more: $104,000 · Arts & CultureUNITED FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN: $389,000 · Human ServicesLOS ANGELES POLICE FOUNDATION: $250,000 · Human ServicesMOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION FUND: $144,000 · Human ServicesCHILDREN'S INSTITUTE INC: $110,000 · Human Services+9 more: $73,500 · Human ServicesGREATER LOS ANGELES ZOOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION: $455,000 · AnimalsWILDAID INC: $80,000 · AnimalsZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO: $75,000 · AnimalsROCKY MOUNTAIN WOLF PROJECT: $50,000 · AnimalsFRIENDS OF THE WILD SWAN: $45,000 · Animals+4 more: $31,000 · AnimalsAMERICAN SECURITY PROJECT: $200,000 · Public BenefitSTATE LEADERSHIP PROJECT: $100,000 · Public BenefitTHE NORTH CAROLINA OPEN GOVERNMENT COALITION INC: $15,000 · Public Benefit+1 more: $1,000 · Public Benefit
Environment$14,809,300Other$11,605,725Education$2,924,500Arts & Culture$1,374,000Human Services$966,500Animals$736,000Public Benefit$316,000

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 budgetNATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC: $8,325,000 over 6y, 1.1% of budgetTHE ALLIANCE FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION: $4,606,500 over 8y, 5.3% of budgetTHE HOWARD UNIVERSITY: $800,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetTHE BARACK OBAMA FOUNDATION: $775,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetTHE ARCHER SCHOOL FOR GIRLS INC: $625,000 over 8y, 0.4% of budgetDUKE UNIVERSITY: $590,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetUCLA FOUNDATION: $530,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetNATIONAL BREAST CANCER COALITION: $525,000 over 8y, 39% of budgetGREATER LOS ANGELES ZOOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION: $455,000 over 8y, 0.5% of budgetUNITED FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN: $389,000 over 8y, 1.7% of budgetPEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY: $345,000 over 8y, 1.3% of budgetNEW VENTURE FUND: $253,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetLOS ANGELES POLICE FOUNDATION: $250,000 over 5y, 0.8% of budgetGEFFEN PLAYHOUSE INC: $240,000 over 8y, 0.3% of budgetTREEPEOPLE INC: $225,000 over 8y, 0.7% of budgetEVERGREEN COLLABORATIVE: $200,000 over 2y, 2.0% of budgetUTAH FILM CENTER: $200,000 over 2y, 1.2% of budgetAMERICAN SECURITY PROJECT: $200,000 over 2y, 5.2% of budgetHEAL THE BAY: $200,000 over 8y, 0.8% of budgetHARVARD-WESTLAKE SCHOOL: $175,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetALLIANCE FOR THE WILD ROCKIES INC: $165,000 over 8y, 25% of budgetNATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION: $150,000 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetRACE TO ERASE MS: $145,000 over 6y, 4.7% of budgetMOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION FUND: $144,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetCHILDREN'S INSTITUTE INC: $110,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetTHE WILDERNESS SOCIETY: $100,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetWORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC: $100,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSTATE LEADERSHIP PROJECT: $100,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetRESOURCES LEGACY FUND: $100,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetSave The Children Federation Inc: $95,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetOCEANA INC: $95,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetHUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC: $80,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetWILDAID INC: $80,000 over 7y, 0.3% of budgetZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO: $75,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCaptain Planet Foundation Inc: $70,000 over 5y, 3.1% of budgetTHE JOHN THOMAS DYE SCHOOL: $70,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetLewy Body Dementia Association Inc: $60,000 over 2y, 1.7% of budgetFRACTURED ATLAS INC: $55,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetGLACIER NATIONAL PARK CONSERVANCY: $55,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetCHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND: $52,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCURE ADDICTION NOW CAN: $50,000 over 2y, 6.6% of budgetThe George Washington University: $50,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFOOD BANK OF CENTRAL & EASTERN NC INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA ASSOCIATIONINC: $50,000 over 1y, 2.6% of budgetGIFFORDS LAW CENTER TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE: $50,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetPS ARTS: $50,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE WILD SWAN: $45,000 over 8y, 32% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE CLEARWATER INC: $45,000 over 8y, 2.8% 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 NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC ↗
  • Who funds THE ALLIANCE FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION ↗
  • Who funds THE HOWARD UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds THE BARACK OBAMA FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds THE ARCHER SCHOOL FOR GIRLS INC ↗
  • Who funds DUKE UNIVERSITY ↗
  • Who funds UCLA FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds NATIONAL BREAST CANCER COALITION ↗
  • Who funds GREATER LOS ANGELES ZOOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION ↗
  • Who funds UNITED FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN ↗
  • Who funds PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY ↗
  • Who funds NEW VENTURE FUND ↗
  • Who funds LOS ANGELES POLICE FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds GEFFEN PLAYHOUSE INC ↗
  • Who funds TREEPEOPLE INC ↗
  • Who funds EVERGREEN COLLABORATIVE ↗
  • Who funds UTAH FILM CENTER ↗
  • Who funds AMERICAN SECURITY PROJECT ↗
  • Who funds HEAL THE BAY ↗
  • Who funds HARVARD-WESTLAKE SCHOOL ↗
  • Who funds ALLIANCE FOR THE WILD ROCKIES INC ↗
  • Who funds NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION ↗
  • Who funds RACE TO ERASE MS ↗
  • Who funds MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION FUND ↗
  • Who funds CHILDREN'S INSTITUTE INC ↗
  • Who funds THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY ↗
  • Who funds WORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC ↗
  • Who funds STATE LEADERSHIP PROJECT ↗
  • Who funds RESOURCES LEGACY FUND ↗
  • Who funds Save The Children Federation Inc ↗
  • Who funds OCEANA 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.

California Community …Jewish Community Foun…Weingart FoundationThe Katie McGrath & J…The Annenberg Foundat…Bny Mellon Charitable…Tides FoundationThe Barry and Wendy M…CGLC Charitable TrustThe Mark E Pollack Fo…The Michael and Lori …Maki Foundation
California Community FoundationCA26.7× affinity18 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: California Community Foundation · Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles · Weingart Foundation · The Katie McGrath & Jj Abrams Family Foundation · The Annenberg Foundation · Bny Mellon Charitable Gift Fund · Tides Foundation · The Barry and Wendy Meyer Foundation · CGLC Charitable Trust · The Mark E Pollack Foundation · The Michael and Lori Milken Family Foundation · Maki 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 Horn Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Horn Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 30%
  • Save the Children Federation Inc: 30% of income from government
  • City Year Inc: 11% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
2get no government money at all
28report 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.
05Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to The Horn Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The Horn 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 197 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 Horn’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