Skip to content
The Howard Fund at a glance

· Public charity

The Howard Fund

The fund was established as a supporting organization of the community foundation of greater chattanooga (cfgc).

$190k
Granted FY2024still arriving
4
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$115k
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$1.1MPhilanthropy$945kCommunity Improvement$410kArts & Culture$230kHuman Services$225kHealth$207kAnimals$100kHousing & Shelter$95kOther$0
02FY2024 · 4 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 4 grants below total $160,000, the rows itemized in this filing. The $190,000 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $30,000 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.

By grant size · FY2024

  • $10k–50k3 grants · $45k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $115k
$15,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$13M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
CHATTANOOGA AREA CHAMBER FOUNDATION$115,000
CHATTANOOGA PREP INC$15,000
CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OF HAMILTON COUNTY$15,000
UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHATTANOOGA$15,000
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 (FY21–24, $145k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, 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%CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OF HAMILTON COUNTY: $15k → 12%CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OF HAMILTON COUNTY: $15k → 12%NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE: $25k → 14%UNITED METHODIST NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS INC DBA THE BETHLEHEM CENTER: $50k → 12%THE NET RESOURCE FOUNDATION: $25k → 12%HELP RIGHT HERE: $15k → 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.
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.

66%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$2.1M · 12 repeat orgs$1.1M to everyone else

12 repeat relationships: 4 still active in FY2024, 8 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

12
28

Total granted

$2.1M
$1.1M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+39%
+40%

Still filing today

92%
100%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 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
Arts & CultureHuman ServicesEducationHealthPhilanthropyCommunity ImprovementOther
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

  • UW
    UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHATTANOOGA
    5× · 2017–2024 · $610k · revenue +23%
  • PP
    PREP PUBLIC SCHOOLS
    4× · 2017–2024 · $290k · revenue +541%
  • CC
    CHATTANOOGA CHAMBER FOUNDATION
    2× · 2023–2024 · $130k · revenue +76%

Funded once

  • TE
    THE ENTERPRISE CENTER INCgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $250k · revenue +233%
  • TT
    THE TIVOLI THEATRE FOUNDATION INC
    one grant, 2023 · $100k · revenue -2%
  • BS
    BAYLOR SCHOOLgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $90k · revenue +46%
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
Chattanooga Design Studio

Chattanooga design studio seeks to elevate the quality of life for all citizens through guidance, collaboration, innovation, and education that promotes livable, accessible, walkable, and humane urban design.

Community Improvement
2
Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise

Mission: to create economically diverse neighborhoods filled with financially empowered citizens and housing for all.vision: all chattanoogans can afford a safe place in a strong neighborhood to call home. belief: we believe the future of…

Housing & Shelter
3
Carter Street Corporation

Encourage economic development

Community Improvement
4
Chattanooga Technology Council Inc

Our mission is to connect chattanooga's technology sector to drive regional economic growth.

Community Improvement
5
Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation

We guide and encourage donors who are motivated toward kingdom-building generosity. our mission is carried out through four primary initiatives: providing donor-advised funds, inspiring and encouraging generosity within families along the…

Philanthropy
6
Invest Chattanooga

Invest chattanooga uses flexible, low-cost capital and strategic public-private partnerships to produce financially sustainable, mixed-income housing with deep permanent affordability that the market alone cannot deliver.

Housing & Shelter
7
Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga Inc

Family promise of greater chattanooga's mission is to provide help for homeless families with children be housed and self-sufficient.

Human Services
8
Chattacademy Community Schools Inc

The mission of chattacademy is to reimagine what public education can look like in chattanooga, tennessee. chattacademy's mission is to graduate bilingual, biliterate critical thinkers ready to make an impact on the world through top…

Education
9
Chattanooga Christian School Inc

To prepare students to lead and serve with distinction while representing christ and his kingdom in all areas of home, church, society and culture.

Education
10
Nashville Public Radio

Nashville public radio's mission is to be the most trusted & independent nashville voice, connecting our communities through non-partisan journalism, compelling storytelling, civil conversation and music discovery.

Arts & Culture
11
Choptank Community Health System Inc

Primary health care services: delivery of health care to medically underserved community

Health
12
The Chattanooga Ballet

To serve through the power of dance.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga Inc; the most unlike its peers is Hunter Museum of American Art. 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

40 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. 40 of the 41 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.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
13
Early backer (in before they grew)
40/40
Grantees still filing
29/40
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHATTANOOGA: $610,000 · PhilanthropyUNITED WAY OF GREATER CHATTANOOGAThe Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga Inc: $300,000 · PhilanthropyThe Community Foundation of Greater…CHATTANOOGA CHAMBER FOUNDATION: $130,000 · PhilanthropyCHATTANOOGA CHAMBER FOUNDATION+1 more: $35,000 · PhilanthropyPREP PUBLIC SCHOOLS: $290,000 · EducationPREP PUBLIC SCHOOLSTeach for America Inc: $160,000 · EducationTeach for America I…BAYLOR SCHOOL: $90,000 · EducationBAYLOR SCHOOLCHATTANOOGAHAMILTON COUNTY PUBLIC EDUCATION FUND: $50,000 · EducationCHATTANOOGAHAMILTON…+1 more: $10,000 · EducationHAMILTON COUNTY SCHOOLS TN DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: $470,000 · OtherHAMILTON COUNTY SCHOOLS TN …ERLANGER FOUNDATION: $50,000 · OtherERLANGER FOUNDATIONTennessee Aquarium: $100,000 · OtherTennessee AquariumTHE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND: $50,000 · OtherTHE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LANDJACKSON HOLE LAND TRUST: $33,000 · OtherHABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF GREATER CHATTANOOGA AREA INC: $40,000 · OtherChattanooga Area Food Bank Inc: $30,000 · Other+5 more: $65,000 · Other+5 moreTHE ENTERPRISE CENTER INC: $250,000 · Community ImprovementTHE ENTER…LAUNCH INC: $30,000 · Community ImprovementLAUNCH IN…CHATTANOOGA REGIONAL HOMELESS COALITION INC: $15,000 · Community ImprovementPURPOSE POINT COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER: $100,000 · Human ServicesUNITED METHODIST NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS INC: $50,000 · Human ServicesTHE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OF HAMILTON COUNTY INC: $30,000 · Human ServicesNORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE: $25,000 · Human ServicesNET RESOURCE FOUNDATION: $25,000 · Human ServicesHELP RIGHT HERE: $15,000 · Human ServicesTHE TIVOLI THEATRE FOUNDATION INC: $100,000 · Arts & CultureARTSBUILD: $50,000 · Arts & CultureCreative Discovery Museum: $25,000 · Arts & CultureTHE POP-UP PROJECT: $25,000 · Arts & CultureHunter Museum of American Art: $15,000 · Arts & CultureDYNAMO STUDIOS: $15,000 · Arts & CultureLIFESPRING COMMUNITY HEALTH: $85,000 · HealthA STEP AHEAD FOUNDATION CHATTANOOGA INC: $25,000 · HealthHELEN ROSS MCNABB CENTER INC: $25,000 · HealthMEDICOS MISSION FUND: $15,000 · HealthCamellia Foundation Inc: $7,000 · Health
Philanthropy$1,075,000Education$600,000Other$838,000Community Improvement$295,000Human Services$245,000Arts & Culture$230,000Health$157,000

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 budgetUNITED WAY OF GREATER CHATTANOOGA: $610,000 over 5y, 1.7% of budgetPREP PUBLIC SCHOOLS: $290,000 over 4y, 0.5% of budgetTHE ENTERPRISE CENTER INC: $250,000 over 1y, 13% of budgetTeach for America Inc: $160,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCHATTANOOGA CHAMBER FOUNDATION: $130,000 over 2y, 2.0% of budgetTHE TIVOLI THEATRE FOUNDATION INC: $100,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetPURPOSE POINT COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER: $100,000 over 2y, 5.2% of budgetTennessee Aquarium: $100,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetBAYLOR SCHOOL: $90,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetLIFESPRING COMMUNITY HEALTH: $85,000 over 2y, 3.7% of budgetCHATTANOOGAHAMILTON COUNTY PUBLIC EDUCATION FUND: $50,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetARTSBUILD: $50,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetUNITED METHODIST NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS INC: $50,000 over 1y, 3.0% of budgetERLANGER FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetTHE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND: $50,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF GREATER CHATTANOOGA AREA INC: $40,000 over 2y, 0.8% of budgetUNITED WAY OF SOUTHWEST GEORGIA INC: $35,000 over 1y, 3.0% of budgetJACKSON HOLE LAND TRUST: $33,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetTHE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OF HAMILTON COUNTY INC: $30,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetLAUNCH INC: $30,000 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetChattanooga Area Food Bank Inc: $30,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE: $25,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetA STEP AHEAD FOUNDATION CHATTANOOGA INC: $25,000 over 1y, 2.1% of budgetHELEN ROSS MCNABB CENTER INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNET RESOURCE FOUNDATION: $25,000 over 1y, 16% of budgetTHE POP-UP PROJECT: $25,000 over 1y, 4.5% of budgetCHAMBLISS CENTER FOR CHILDREN: $20,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetMEDICOS MISSION FUND: $15,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetCHATTANOOGA REGIONAL HOMELESS COALITION INC: $15,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetYOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF METROPOLITAN CHATTANOOGA: $15,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHunter Museum of American Art: $15,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetHELP RIGHT HERE: $15,000 over 1y, 5.6% of budgetDYNAMO STUDIOS: $15,000 over 1y, 9.3% of budgetTHE MOMENTUM NETWORK: $15,000 over 1y, 16% of budgetBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CHATTANOOGA INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetCHATTANOOGA GIRLS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY: $10,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetCamellia Foundation Inc: $7,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCHATT FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% 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.

Robert F Stone Founda…Chattanooga Christian…Benwood Foundation IncThe Community Foundat…The Maclellan Foundat…Footprint Foundation …Robert L & Kathrina H…Weldon F Osborne Foun…Lyndhurst Foundation …Hamico IncTennessee Health Foun…McKenzie Foundation D…
Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone FoundationDE66.1× affinity29 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Robert F Stone Foundation AKA Bobby Stone Foundation · Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation · Benwood Foundation Inc · The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga Inc · The Maclellan Foundation Inc · Footprint Foundation Inc · Robert L & Kathrina H Maclellan Founda Foundation · Weldon F Osborne Foundation Inc · Lyndhurst Foundation Inc · Hamico Inc · Tennessee Health Foundation Inc · McKenzie Foundation D/B/A the McKenzie 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 Howard Fund funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Howard Fund. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%5%11%20%funder's share of their income ↑0%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    25report 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 Howard Fund?

    Find your warmest path to The Howard Fund 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 41 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 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 Howard’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