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The J Gillen Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The J Gillen 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.

$4k
Granted FY2024still arriving
1
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$4k
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.

Health$341kRecreation & Sports$214kAnimals$191kEducation$115kEnvironment$50kHousing & Shelter$37kHuman Services$34kFood & Nutrition$26kOther$0
02FY2024 · 1 grant

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$3,911
Median grant
1
States reached
$0
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
OPEN DOOR RECOVERY HOUSE$3,911
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 (FY20–24, $27k) land where the poverty rate runs at 13%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 67% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%COVENANT HOUSE: $10k → 17%LOAVES AND FISHES INC: $5k → 10%THE UNITED FOR THE FALLEN: $5k → 14%SENIOR RESOURCE ASSOCIATION: $1k → 12%SENIOR RESOURCE ASSOCIATION: $1k → 12%SENIOR RESOURCE ASSOCIATION: $1k → 12%OPEN DOOR RECOVERY HOUSE: $4k → 9%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

NY
IN
OH
NJ
MO
NC
SC
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.

91%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$945k · 19 repeat orgs$89k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +80% since the first grant, against +25% for those funded once.

19 repeat relationships: 0 still active in FY2024, 19 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

19
16

Total granted

$945k
$86k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+80%
+25%

Still filing today

47%
75%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 0% 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
Human ServicesHealthAnimalsFood & NutritionEmploymentYouth DevelopmentOther
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

  • HL
    HIGHLAND LAKES SPCA
    7× · 2017–2023 · $176k · revenue +185%
  • TR
    THE ROSE
    4× · 2017–2020 · $45k · revenue +10%
  • VL
    VITA LIVING INC
    4× · 2017–2020 · $40k · revenue +23%

Funded once

  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2018 · $10k
  • FO
    FRIENDS OF CTWCgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $10k · revenue +69%
  • CH
    COVENANT HOUSE
    one grant, 2020 · $10k · revenue +1%
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
Visiting Nurse Association of Texas

Established in 1934, vna helps older adults live with dignity and independence at home by providing in-home care, food and friendship for the ill, hungry, and homebound.

Health
2
Houston Pets Alive

Houston Pets Alive!s (HPA!) mission is to save the lives of at-risk companion cats and dogs and find them loving homes.

Animals
3
Ability Housing Inc

The mission of ability housing is to build flourishing communities where everyone has a home. its vision is a society where housing is a right, not a privilege; and all individuals have safe, affordable housing in vibrant communities. it…

Health
4
The Houston Food Bank

Houston food bank's mission is to provide food for better lives. last year we provided access to 136 million nutritious meals in 18 counties in southeast texas through our 1,600 community partners which includes food pantries, soup…

—
5
Habitat for Humanity of Okaloosa County Inc

Okaloosa habitat for humanity is a non-profit, christian organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing in okaloosa county. we provide opportunites for the community to show god's love in action. through partnership with people…

Housing & Shelter
6
Humane Society of Harris County

Humane Society of Harris County's mission remains steadfast: to provide high-quality adoption, transport, foster, Trap, neuter, release, and pet food pantry services to our community. Yet, with a fresh perspective and a renewed passion,…

—
7
Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity Inc

Our mission: charlotte county habitat for humanity, a christian housing ministry, is committed to homeownership: by a needs-based partnership with low-income charlotte county residents building safe, affordable, quality homes using…

Housing & Shelter
8
The Humane Society of Austin & Travis County Inc

The austin humane society (ahs) offers comprehensive, humane, life-saving animal services, transforming the lives of animals and those who love them. because we believe homeless animals deserve a chance to thrive in a loving environment,…

Animals
9
Target Hunger Inc

The mission of Target Hunger is to alleviate hunger and its root causes in the Houston neighborhoods we serve. Target Hunger is on the front lines of hunger every day through its food distribution system that includes multiple food…

Human Services
10
Chicago House & Social Service Agency

Provides housing and support services to individuals and families impacted by hiv/aids

Health
11
Forgotten Angels Inc

To provide quality care to children and adults with developmental disabilities in a safe, loving home environment where they are treated with respect, compassion, and dignity and provided the means, support, and encouragement to reach…

Human Services
12
Houston Hospice

Houston Hospice provides uncompromising, compassionate end-of-life care to patients and families in our community. Houston Hospice cares for patients from all races, ethnicities, religious beliefs, and payor classes, including those with…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Open Door Recovery House; the most unlike its peers is The Woodforest Charitable Foundation. 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

23 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. 23 of the 36 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)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
22/23
Grantees still filing
18/23
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE CENTRAL TX FOUNDATION: $200,000 · OtherBAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE CENTRAL TX FOUNDATIONVALPARAISO UNIVERSITY: $180,000 · OtherVALPARAISO UNIVERSITYZINA GARRISON ACADEMY: $115,000 · OtherZINA GARRISON ACADEMYTHE ROSE: $45,000 · OtherTHE ROSEFRIENDS OF CENTRAL TEXAS WATER COALITION: $40,000 · OtherFRIENDS OF CENTRAL TEXAS WATER COALITIONVITA LIVING INC: $40,000 · OtherVITA LIVING INCSPECIAL OLYMPICS LOUISIANA INC: $30,000 · Other+15 more: $95,500 · Other+15 moreHIGHLAND LAKES SPCA: $175,934 · AnimalsHIGHLAND LAKES SPCA+1 more: $6,000 · AnimalsUNITED CEREBRAL PALSY ASSOCIATION OF GREATER CLEVELAND INC: $25,000 · HealthGreater Houston Foundation for Medical Research & Education: $2,500 · HealthCOOKIES FOR KIDS CANCER A NEW JERSEY NON-PROFIT CORPORATION: $2,000 · HealthCOVENANT HOUSE: $10,000 · Human ServicesNourish Up: $5,000 · Human ServicesUNITED FOR THE FALLEN INC: $5,000 · Human ServicesOPEN DOOR RECOVERY HOUSE: $3,911 · Human ServicesSenior Resource Association Inc: $3,000 · Human ServicesTREASURE COAST FOOD BANK INC: $10,500 · Food & NutritionCentral Texas Food Bank Inc: $10,000 · Food & NutritionCHRISTIAN OUTDOOR ALLIANCE INC: $20,000 · ReligionFRIENDS OF CTWC: $10,000 · Environment
Other$745,500Animals$181,934Health$29,500Human Services$26,911Food & Nutrition$20,500Religion$20,000Environment$10,000

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 budgetHIGHLAND LAKES SPCA: $175,934 over 7y, 9.4% of budgetTHE ROSE: $45,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetVITA LIVING INC: $40,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetSPECIAL OLYMPICS LOUISIANA INC: $30,000 over 6y, 0.4% of budgetUNITED CEREBRAL PALSY ASSOCIATION OF GREATER CLEVELAND INC: $25,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetCHRISTIAN OUTDOOR ALLIANCE INC: $20,000 over 2y, 0.9% of budgetTREASURE COAST FOOD BANK INC: $10,500 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF CTWC: $10,000 over 1y, 17% of budgetCOVENANT HOUSE: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBREVARD ACHIEVEMENT CENTER INC: $10,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetCentral Texas Food Bank Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHABITAT FOR HUMANITY INC: $7,000 over 4y, 1.5% of budgetHELPING ANIMALS LIVE & OVERCOME IN: $6,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetNourish Up: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED FOR THE FALLEN INC: $5,000 over 1y, 16% of budgetHouston Area Parkinson Society: $5,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetFELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES: $4,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetOPEN DOOR RECOVERY HOUSE: $3,911 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetSenior Resource Association Inc: $3,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetMontgomery County Childrens Advocacy Center Inc: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGreater Houston Foundation for Medical Research & Education: $2,500 over 1y, 3.4% of budgetTHE WOODFOREST CHARITABLE FOUNDATION: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOOKIES FOR KIDS CANCER A NEW JERSEY NON-PROFIT CORPORATION: $2,000 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.

Greater Houston Commu…Shell USA Company Fou…The Pfizer Foundation…Paypal Charitable Giv…The Bank of America C…Morgan Stanley Global…National Philanthropi…Natl Christian Charit…Donor Advised Charita…Network for GoodVanguard Charitable E…American Online Givin…
Greater Houston Community FoundationTX11.8× affinity4 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Greater Houston Community Foundation · Shell USA Company Foundation · The Pfizer Foundation Inc · Paypal Charitable Giving Fund · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · National Philanthropic Trust · Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Network for Good · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · American Online Giving Foundation 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 J Gillen Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The J Gillen Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%1%5%11%20%funder's share of their income ↑0%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →median 39%
  • Brevard Achievement Center Inc: 39% of income from government
  • Treasure Coast Food Bank Inc: 2% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
2get no government money at all
5report 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 J Gillen Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The J Gillen 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 36 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.

Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2025) is on record and reports no grant expense, so the figures above are from FY2024, the most recent year this funder made grants.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on J Gillen’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