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The James Joseph Ford Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The James Joseph Ford 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.

$41k
Granted FY2024still arriving
18
Grants FY2024still arriving
7
States reached
$5k
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, FY2018 to 2024.

Youth Development$53kHuman Services$34kHealth$26kEducation$19kRecreation & Sports$19kAnimals$15kHousing & Shelter$14kArts & Culture$10kOther$0
02FY2024 · 18 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$2,500
Median grant
7
States reached
$271k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
HEAVEN CAN WAIT ANIMAL SOCIETY$5,000
CHILDREN'S LIFESAVING FOUNDATION$5,000
CAPABILITY HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES$5,000
NSPCA$3,000
ELEVATE YOUR GAME$2,500
QUEENS ACADEMY$2,500
JACOBS HEART$2,500
OCEAN'S HARBOR HOUSE$2,500
FOSTER KINSHIP$2,500
LIVING GRACE HOMES$2,000
BRIDGE BUILDERS LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE$2,000
YMCA OF HAMPTON ROAD$1,000
SWEET POTATO COMFORT PIE$1,000
GENTLEMEN BY CHOICE$1,000
THE DR SHIRLEY LINZY YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA OF LAS VEGAS$1,000
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 (FY18–24, $59k) land where the poverty rate runs at 19%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 93% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%GENESIS & LIGHT CTR: $2k → 23%TUTWILER COMMUITY EDUCATION CENTER: $9k → 31%NEVADA YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROJECT (NYEP): $4k → 10%TUTWILER COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER: $8k → 31%COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS NEVADA: $3k → 13%TUTWILER COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTER: $3k → 31%FOSTER KINSHIP: $1k → 13%FOSTER KINSHIP: $1k → 13%FOSTER KINSHIP: $1k → 13%NEVADA BLIND CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION: $5k → 13%NEVADA BLIND CHILDREN FOUNDATION: $4k → 13%NEVADA BLIND CHILDREN FOUNDATION: $2k → 13%BOYS TOWN NEVADA: $3k → 13%LIVING GRACE HOMES: $2k → 13%CAPABILITY HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: $5k → 13%FOSTER KINSHIP: $3k → 13%FOSTER KINSHIP: $3k → 13%FOSTER KINSHIP: $3k → 13%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
MN
IL
NY
NV
NJ
CA
VA
MS
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 9% of The James Joseph Ford Foundation’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address.

The James Joseph Ford Foundationlessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address · 11% 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 grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

60%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$119k · 12 repeat orgs$79k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +64% since the first grant, against +22% for those funded once.

12 repeat relationships: 5 still active in FY2024, 7 since wound down; 13 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

12
22

Total granted

$119k
$49k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+64%
+22%

Still filing today

75%
41%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 27% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $30k went to new ones.

50%100%’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Human ServicesYouth DevelopmentAnimalsEmploymentRecreation & SportsEducationOther
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

  • NB
    NEVADA BLIND CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
    3× · 2019–2022 · $11k · revenue +167%
  • LG
    LIVING GRACE HOMESINC
    3× · 2019–2024 · $11k · revenue +127%
  • FK
    FOSTER KINSHIP
    6× · 2018–2024 · $11k · revenue +244%

Funded once

  • BA
    BAY AREA YOUTH RUGBY THE OAKLAND WA
    one grant, 2018 · $7k
  • RI
    READING IN MOTION
    one grant, 2020 · $4k
  • NY
    NEVADA YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROJECT
    one grant, 2020 · $4k · 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
Allies for Every Child Inc

All children need a childhood. Allies for Every Child brings together and strengthens families, cultivating conditions for children to succeed in life. (Continues on Schedule O)

Human Services
2
Wayfinder Family Services

The mission of Wayfinder Family Services is to ensure that children, youth and adults facing challenges always have a place to turn. Founded in 1953 as the Foundation for the Junior Blind, the organization initially enabled visually…

Human Services
3
Achievekids

Achievekids schools provide individualized and multi-disciplinary programs that deliver special education, mental health, and family support services for students ages 5 to 22 who have complex and often severe developmental, emotional, and…

Education
4
Healthy Nevada
Health
5
New Vista Ranch Inc

New vista is committed to providing people of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities, equitable opportunities, and supported living arrangements so that they may experience life to the fullest.

Human Services
6
Nevada P E P Inc

To increase opportunities for home, community and school success for children with disabilities, including those who are at risk or who have serious emotional disturbances, their families and their service providers, through education,…

Unclassified
7
Nevada Hands & Voices

To support, encourage and educate families of deaf and hard of hearing children to empower them to make choices that will enable their children to achieve their full potential.

Education
8
Eddy House

The mission of the eddy house is to provide at-risk youth the opportunity to reach their full potential as healthy individuals through a continuum of programs and services in northern nevada.

Human Services
9
Nevada Peer Support Network Inc
Health
10
Wellnest Emotional Health & Wellness

Through a holistic approach to emotional well-being, Wellnest offers hope, healing, and opportunity to the children, young adults, families, and communities we serve. Our commitment remains steadfast as we enter our second century of…

Human Services
11
Las Vegas Collegiate

To provide high quality academics to k-5 students

Education
12
La Vida Felicidad Inc

Life quality of children and families, adults, and seniors, through advocacy and individualized services in collaboration with community partnerships.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Genesis and Light Center; the most unlike its peers is April Parker Foundation Inc. 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

24 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. 24 of the 47 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)
7
Early backer (in before they grew)
24/24
Grantees still filing
16/24
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

TUTWILER COMMUNITY CENTER: $16,100 · OtherTUTWILER COMMUNITY CENTEREVERY GENERATION GIVES (EGG) PROJECT: $10,000 · OtherEVERY GENERATION GIVES (EGG) PROJECTTHE DR SHIRLEY LINZY YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA OF LAS VEGAS: $8,000 · OtherTHE DR SHIRLEY LINZY YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA OF LA…BAY AREA YOUTH RUGBY THE OAKLAND WA: $7,000 · OtherBAY AREA YOUTH RUGBY THE OAKLAND WABEST BUDDIES: $5,400 · OtherBEST BUDDIESREADING IN MOTION: $4,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $3,500 · OtherNATHAN ADELSON HOSPICE CAMP ERIN: $3,000 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF NEVADA RENO: $3,000 · OtherNSPCA: $3,000 · Other+19 more: $25,429 · Other+19 moreTutwiler Community Education Center: $19,000 · Human ServicesTutwiler Community Education CenterNEVADA BLIND CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION: $11,300 · Human ServicesNEVADA BLIND CHILDREN'S FOUNDATIONLIVING GRACE HOMESINC: $11,000 · Human ServicesLIVING GRACE HOMESINCFOSTER KINSHIP: $10,500 · Human ServicesFOSTER KINSHIPCAPABILITY HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: $5,000 · Human ServicesCAPABILITY HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICESNEVADA YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROJECT: $4,000 · Human ServicesNEVADA YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROJECTCOMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF NEVADA INC: $2,752 · Human ServicesOCEAN'S HARBOR HOUSE INC: $2,500 · Human ServicesBoys Town Nevada Inc: $2,500 · Human Services+1 more: $1,500 · Human ServicesSPREAD THE WORD NEVADA: $8,500 · Youth DevelopmentELEVATE YOUR G A M E: $2,500 · Youth DevelopmentBRIDGE BUILDERS LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE: $2,000 · Youth DevelopmentThe Childrens Lifesaving Foundation: $10,000 · Recreation & SportsREADING IN MOTION: $7,500 · Arts & CultureHEAVEN CAN WAIT ANIMAL SOCIETY: $5,000 · AnimalsTHE ANIMAL FOUNDATION: $1,600 · AnimalsProject Hope Alliance: $2,500 · Education
Other$88,429Human Services$70,052Youth Development$13,000Recreation & Sports$10,000Arts & Culture$7,500Animals$6,600Education$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$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetTutwiler Community Education Center: $19,000 over 3y, 1.9% of budgetNEVADA BLIND CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION: $11,300 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetLIVING GRACE HOMESINC: $11,000 over 3y, 1.0% of budgetFOSTER KINSHIP: $10,500 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetThe Childrens Lifesaving Foundation: $10,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetSPREAD THE WORD NEVADA: $8,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTHE DR SHIRLEY LINZY YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA OF LAS VEGAS: $8,000 over 3y, 1.5% of budgetREADING IN MOTION: $7,500 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetCAPABILITY HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHEAVEN CAN WAIT ANIMAL SOCIETY: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetNEVADA YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROJECT: $4,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetCOMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF NEVADA INC: $2,752 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetOCEAN'S HARBOR HOUSE INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetELEVATE YOUR G A M E: $2,500 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetBoys Town Nevada Inc: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetProject Hope Alliance: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBe A Mentor Inc: $2,500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetBRIDGE BUILDERS LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE: $2,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetTHE ANIMAL FOUNDATION: $1,600 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetGENESIS AND LIGHT CENTER: $1,500 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetLead with Horses: $1,500 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetSWEET POTATO COMFORT PIE: $1,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetAPRIL PARKER FOUNDATION INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetOPPORTUNITY VILLAGE: $400 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.

Mgm Resorts FoundationDermody Properties Fo…Canarelli Family Foun…Engelstad Family Foun…Nevada Community Foun…NV Energy Charitable …The Boyd Family Found…Wynn Resorts Foundati…Enterprise Holdings F…Frank and Victoria Fe…Robert S & Dorothy J …The Mel & Ruth Wolzin…
Mgm Resorts FoundationNV23.9× affinity9 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Mgm Resorts Foundation · Dermody Properties Foundation · Canarelli Family Foundation · Engelstad Family Foundation · Nevada Community Foundation Inc · NV Energy Charitable Foundation · The Boyd Family Foundation · Wynn Resorts Foundation · Enterprise Holdings Foundation · Frank and Victoria Fertitta Foundation Ltd · Robert S & Dorothy J Keyser Foundation · The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger 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 James Joseph Ford Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The James Joseph Ford Foundation. 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%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 75%
  • Ocean's Harbor House Inc: 75% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
9report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
1rely 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 James Joseph Ford Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The James Joseph Ford 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 47 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

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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