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The Kenneth Martin & Christine Hepburn Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Kenneth Martin & Christine Hepburn 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.

$79k
Granted FY2025still arriving
12
Grants FY2025still arriving
3
States reached
$41k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0192% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Environment$250kFood & Nutrition$136kCivil Rights$68kYouth Development$38kEducation$31kCrime & Legal$30kPhilanthropy$29kRecreation & Sports$21kOther$0
02FY2025 · 12 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k9 grants · $17k
  • $10k–50k3 grants · $61k
$2,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$1.1M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
RIDGE AND VALLEY CONSERVANCY$41,060
THE FOODSHED ALLIANCE$10,000
HIGHLANDS COALITION$10,000
PRINCETON BLAIRSTOWN CENTER$6,625
DREW UNIVERSITY$4,000
TERRA COTTA CHARITIES$2,000
NJ CONSERVATION FOUNDATION$1,200
FRIENDS VILLAGE$1,200
NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY$1,000
OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE$1,000
GREAT SWAMP WATERSHED ASSOCIATION$250
BLAIRSTOWN HOSE CO NO 1$200
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 (FY19–25, $12k) land where the poverty rate runs at 5%, against an area that typically sits at 7%. 10% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 7%FRIENDS VILLAGE: $1k → 11%SCARC FOUNDATION: $100 → 6%MADISON AREA YMCA: $10k → 4%PROJECT SELF-SUFFICIENCY: $1k → 6%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

MT
NY
PA
NJ
MD
NC
DC
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.

89%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$710k · 20 repeat orgs$89k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +30% since the first grant, against +8% for those funded once.

20 repeat relationships: 8 still active in FY2025, 12 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

20
21

Total granted

$710k
$85k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+30%
+8%

Still filing today

60%
57%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 95% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $4k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
EnvironmentEducationHuman ServicesRecreation & SportsFood & NutritionArts & CultureOther
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

  • RA
    RIDGE AND VALLEY CONSERVANCY INC
    9× · 2017–2025 · $255k · revenue +32%
  • Princeton-Blairstown Center Inc
    6× · 2018–2025 · $42k · revenue +50%
  • CENTURION MINISTRIES INC
    3× · 2017–2019 · $30k · revenue +191%

Funded once

  • RH
    ROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2020 · $20k · revenue -10%
  • HB
    HAMBURG BOARD OF EDUCATION
    one grant, 2020 · $15k
  • DB
    DAILY BREAD COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY
    one grant, 2021 · $10k · revenue -27%
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
Pinelands Preservation Alliance

To preserve the pine barrens ecosystem, promote wide public engagement in their preservation, and advance acquisition of land and development rights by private and public conservation agencies.in addition to this work, the alliance has two…

Environment
2
Palisades Nature Association

To promote and sponsor, with the cooperation of the palisades interstate park commission, a sanctuary on the top of the cliffs in the new jersey section of the palisades interstate park known as greenbrook sanctuary. the association's…

Animals
3
The Adirondack Council Inc

The adirondack council ensures the ecological integrity (clean water and air, wildlife habitat, etc.), wild character (solitude, scenic beauty, etc.), and vibrant communities of new york's six-million-acre adirondack park. the adirondack…

Environment
4
Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey Inc

Conserve wildlife foundation of new jersey works to preserve rare and at-risk wildlife in new jersey through field science, habitat restoration, education, and public engagement.

Animals
5
Federation of State Conservation Voter Leagues Dba Nj League of Cons Voters

New jersey lcv is the statewide political voice for the environment. working with our allies in the community, we advocate for strong environmental policies, support our environmental justice partners in pursuing more equitable policies,…

—
6
Greenbelt Conservancy Inc

The Greenbelt Conservancy (the "Greenbelt"), the second of New York City's Flagship Parks, consists of over 2,800 acres of public and privatge land (greater than the combined acreage of Central Park and Prospect Park) in the center of…

Environment
7
Glen Foerd Conservation Corporation

Glen foerd stewards an eclectic riverfront estate for the enjoyment and educational benefit of the community. drawing from the estate's architecture, art, material culture, and history-as well as its gardens and waterways-glen foerd…

Environment
8
Public Media Nj Inc

To bring quality public television programs and resources to communities throughout new jersey and its tri-state neighbors. its content, both on-air and online, aims to reflect the diverse

Arts & Culture
9
Hackensack Riverkeeper Inc

The mission of hackensack riverkeeper is to protect, preserve, and restore the hackensack river watershed and its living resources. hackensack riverkeeper fights for clean water, open space preservation, and public access to the river for…

Environment
10
New Canaan Land Conservation Trust Inc

The mission of the new canaan land trust is to foster a connection between the new canaan community and its natural resources through the conservation and sustainable stewardship of our open space.

—
11
New York Botanical Garden

The new york botanical garden is a museum of plants and a scientific research center devoted to the study of plants and their uses. it is the garden's mission to improve public understanding of the natural world, horticulture, and the…

Environment
12
The Forest Park Conservancy

To protect and restore the ecological health of forest park and marquam nature park, maintain and enhance their extensive trails networks, promote equitable access, and inspire diverse community appreciation and stewardship of these iconic…

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Naples Botanical Garden Inc; the most unlike its peers is Friends of Fakahatchee. 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

28 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. 28 of the 45 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)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
28/28
Grantees still filing
17/28
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

THE FOODSHED ALLIANCE: $130,500 · OtherTHE FOODSHED ALLIANCEIndividual grant recipient: $80,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipientHIGHLANDS COALITION: $77,000 · OtherHIGHLANDS COALITIONCENTURION MINISTRIES INC: $30,000 · OtherCENTURION MINISTRIES INCHAMBURG BOARD OF EDUCATION: $15,000 · Other+17 more: $49,650 · Other+17 moreRIDGE AND VALLEY CONSERVANCY INC: $255,158 · EnvironmentRIDGE AND VALLEY CONSERVANCY INCNAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN INC: $15,000 · Environment+7 more: $16,950 · Environment+7 morePrinceton-Blairstown Center Inc: $41,625 · EducationDREW UNIVERSITY: $15,500 · Education+3 more: $4,250 · EducationASPHALT GREEN INC: $15,000 · Recreation & SportsADVENTURE CYCLING ASSOCIATION: $6,000 · Recreation & SportsROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION: $20,000 · PhilanthropyDAILY BREAD COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY: $10,000 · Food & NutritionFeeding Dreams Inc: $5,000 · Food & NutritionYOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF MADISON NJ: $10,000 · Human ServicesFRIENDS VILLAGE INC: $1,200 · Human ServicesPROJECT SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF SUSSEX COUNTY INC: $1,000 · Human Services+1 more: $100 · Human Services
Other$382,150Environment$287,108Education$61,375Recreation & Sports$21,000Philanthropy$20,000Food & Nutrition$15,000Human Services$12,300

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 budgetRIDGE AND VALLEY CONSERVANCY INC: $255,158 over 9y, 17% of budgetPrinceton-Blairstown Center Inc: $41,625 over 6y, 0.6% of budgetCENTURION MINISTRIES INC: $30,000 over 3y, 1.0% of budgetROBIN HOOD FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDREW UNIVERSITY: $15,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetASPHALT GREEN INC: $15,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetNAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN INC: $15,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetNEW YORK PUBLIC RADIO: $12,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetDAILY BREAD COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY: $10,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetYOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF MADISON NJ: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetOLD-GROWTH FOREST NETWORK INC: $7,000 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetADVENTURE CYCLING ASSOCIATION: $6,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetPINCHOT INSTITUTE FOR CONSERVATION: $3,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetTHE LAND CONSERVANCY OF NEW JERSEY: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCHESTER COUNTY FUTURES INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetTRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFriends of Fakahatchee: $2,000 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetCASA GUADALUPE CENTER: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetPACE CENTER FOR GIRLSINC: $1,250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLAKELAND-ANDOVER SCHOOL: $1,250 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSTEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPROJECT SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF SUSSEX COUNTY INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGreat Swamp Watershed Association: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSCARC FOUNDATION INC: $100 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.

Community Foundation …The Hyde and Watson F…Princeton Area Commun…The Pfizer Foundation…Vanguard Charitable E…The Bank of America C…National Philanthropi…Gs Donor Advised Phil…The Blackbaud Giving …Charities Aid Foundat…Jpmorgan Chase Founda…American Online Givin…
Community Foundation of New JerseyNJ17.9× affinity7 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Community Foundation of New Jersey · The Hyde and Watson Foundation · Princeton Area Community Foundation Inc · The Pfizer Foundation Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · National Philanthropic Trust · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Charities Aid Foundation America · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · 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 Kenneth Martin & Christine Hepburn Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Kenneth Martin & Christine Hepburn Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 70%1%4%8%15%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 1%
  • Naples Botanical Garden Inc: 3% of income from government
  • Pace Center for Girlsinc: 2% of income from government
  • Young Men's Christian Association of Madison Nj: 1% of income from government
  • Drew University: 0% of income from government
  • Ridge and Valley Conservancy Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
7get no government money at all
4report 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 Kenneth Martin & Christine Hepburn Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The Kenneth Martin & Christine Hepburn 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 45 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 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Kenneth Martin & Christine Hepburn’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