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Plinth

· Private foundation

The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation

Its FY2023 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$245k
Granted FY2023
20
Grants FY2023
4
States reached
$105k
Largest
01What you fundRead
02The needRead
03Your edgeRead
04Your fieldRead
01What you fund
0196% classified

What you funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year — across FY2021–2023.

Health$399kEducation$109kSocial Science$75kArts & Culture$40kHuman Services$38kRecreation & Sports$36kInternational$30kCrime & Legal$25kOther$0
02FY2023 · 20 grants

Where the money goes

Your grants by size, and where they go.

By grant size · FY2023

  • Under $10k12 grants · $44k
  • $10k–50k7 grants · $96k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $105k
$7,000
Median grant
4
States reached
$3.1M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
THE RIVKIN CENTER FOR OVARIAN CANCER$105,000
THE CUYAMUNGUE INSTITUTE$25,000
HAWAII STATE JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION$16,000
CHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS$15,000
KING COUNTY SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE CENTER$10,000
RENTON SCHOOLS FOUNDATION$10,000
BELLEVUE ROTARY FOUNDATION$10,000
CONGREGATIONS FOR THE HOMELESS$10,000
VILLAGE THEATRE$7,500
KLINE GALLAND FOUNDATION$7,000
HOLY NAMES ACADEMY FOUNDATION$5,700
THE OVERLAKE SCHOOL$5,000
Individual grant recipient$5,000
JUSTICE AND SOUL FOUNDATION$5,000
HO 'OLA NA PUA$2,500
02The need
03

Do your dollars go where the need is?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, then read against the area’s typical level.

show:

Your human-services grants (FY21–21, $5k) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Your grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%TUKWILA CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION: $5k → 9%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount

Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty linein the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP; grantee ZIP can differ from where services are delivered.

US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are actually delivered. Need from public data — U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA — shown as context about the area, never attributed to your giving.

03Your edge
repeat funding

Who you back again

Which organizations you funded more than once, and which you funded a single time. Each grantee is matched to its own filings.

78%of every dollar goes to organizations you’ve funded before.
$631k · 15 repeat orgs$176k to everyone else

And the relationships you keep tend to grow: grantees you re-up on have seen median revenue of +77% since the first grant, against +28% for the ones you funded once.

15 repeat relationships — 12 still active in FY2023, 3 since wound down; 7 grantees were first funded in FY2023 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

15
29

Total granted

$631k
$150k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+77%
+28%

Still filing today

80%
69%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2023, 89% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $26k went to new ones.

50%100%’21’22’23
RenewedFirst-time

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

’21’22’23
EducationHealthArts & CultureYouth DevelopmentHuman ServicesRecreation & SportsOther

First-time = a grantee’s first year in your filing window; renewed = funded in an earlier year too. As a portfolio matures the renewed share naturally climbs — once funded, an org stays “renewable” — so the signal is the years that buck it (a new-grantee intake wave). 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

  • CI
    CUYAMUNGUE INSTITUTE
    3× · 2021–2023 · $75k · revenue +7% · 60% of their budget
  • TO
    THE OVERLAKE SCHOOL
    3× · 2021–2023 · $47k · revenue +109%
  • HS
    HAWAII STATE JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION IN
    3× · 2021–2023 · $36k · revenue +202%

Funded once

  • OF
    OHSU FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2021 · $20k
  • PA
    PERFORMING ARTS CENTER EASTSIDEgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $10k · revenue +610%
  • OH
    OVERLAKE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2021 · $10k · revenue +20%

Repeat = funded in two or more distinct years; growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Your field

The map has a center of gravity: the average direction from the rest of the sector toward the organizations the foundation funds — the shape of its giving. Scoring every nonprofit along that direction surfaces the ones that look most like the portfolio. These are the closest matchesthat aren’t grantees — a resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Seattle University

Seattle University is dedicated to educating the whole person, to professional formation, and to empowering leaders for a just and humane world.

—
2
University Cooperative School

We take a joyful, community-oriented approach to raising engaged citizens, deep learners, and brave adventurers with the skills, creativity, and heart needed to better the world.

—
3
Emergency Medical Services at the University of Washington
Health
4
Bellevue College Foundation

Bellevue college foundation brings together people and resources across the community to invest in bc students, faculty, and staff to realize their goals and dreams.

Education
5
The Community Foundation of South Puget Sound

To grow a lasting culture of generosity and well-being in the South Puget Sound through connection, leadership, and investment.

Philanthropy
6
School's Out Washington

School's out washington (sowa) drives positive systemic change so that all washington's children and youth, particularly those furthest from justice, have access to a robust ecosystem of high-quality expanded learning programs.

Youth Development
7
Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Seattle Chapter

Arcs foundation advances science and technology in the united states by providing financial awards to academically outstanding u.s. citizens studying to complete degrees in science, engineering and medical research.

Education
8
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences educates and trains health care professionals emphasizing service among rural and medically under-served communities throughout the Northwest.

Education
9
Rotary Foundation of the South Puget Sound Rotary Club
Education
10
Impact Public Schools

The mission of Impact Public Schools is to prepare a diverse student population to succeed in college and impact communities as the next generation of equity-driven, innovative leaders. (Continued on Schedule O)Impact Public Schools makes…

Education
11
Washington State University Foundation

The mission of the Foundation is to promote, accept, and maximize private support for programs, initiatives, and properties of Washington State University and its regional campuses. The Foundation also prudently manages, invests, and…

Education
12
Washington Research Foundation
Health

For reference, the grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Overlake Hospital Foundation and the most unlike its peers is Hawaii State Junior Golf Association in. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.

For each theme you fund, this compares how the sector’s money is shifting with how your own giving is shifting.

← shrinkinggrowing →↓ leaning in → pulling backsteadyFaith-Based Healthcare Syst…Supportive Housing ServicesIndependent SchoolsYouth Support and Empowerme…Idaho Statewide AssociationsCommunity Arts & Performance
the sector your giving your giving is ahead of the sector the sector’s ahead of you· dot size = how much the theme matters to each side
Ordered by the change in your giving — leaning in on top, pulling back at the bottom. The bar between the two dots is how out of step you are with the sector. Hover any row for detail.

Sector change and giving change are each shown relative to their own range, growing (right) or shrinking (left); both normalized, so inflation isn’t mistaken for growth.

Your grantees are a median of 30 years old; the field is 15. You back the established end — and your money leans older still.

THE FIELDby orgYOUR GRANTEESby number23%0%<5yr15%6%5–10yr19%12%10–20yr18%42%20–35yr12%21%35–55yr13%18%55yr+
THE FIELDby orgYOUR MONEYby value23%0%<5yr15%3%5–10yr19%4%10–20yr18%67%20–35yr12%16%35–55yr13%10%55yr+

The field is 23% startups (under 5 years old) — 0% of your grantees by number, and just 0% of your money.

Closures · last 5 years

The orgs you fund almost never close — 0.0% lost their exemption, against 13% of the field you don’t fund.

orgs you fund
0.0%0/41
the rest of the field
13%
3,040/22,964

Age = years since IRS exemption (a founding proxy). “Closed” = auto-revocation for 3 years of non-filing — a floor on closure, not proof, and bigger established orgs lapse least. Association, not causation.

04the grantee network

39 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each one resolved to its own IRS returns and tracked year by year — your grant beside their revenue from every source. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

Counted here: distinct organizations you funded across 2017–2025, not grant rows in a single year — so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 39 of the 53 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile; the rest are funded organizations whose filings we could not track year by year.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
13
Early backer (in before they grew)
38/39
Grantees still filing
27/39
Grew since you first funded

Where your money sits — by cause, then by grantee

RIVKIN CENTER FOR OVARIAN CANCER — $330,000 · HealthRIVKIN CENTER FOR OVARIAN CANCER+3 more — $13,500 · HealthCUYAMUNGUE INSTITUTE — $75,000 · OtherCUYAMUNGUE INSTITUTECHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK — $30,000 · OtherCHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORKOHSU FOUNDATION — $20,000 · OtherOHSU FOUNDATIONKing County Sexual Assault Resource Center — $20,000 · OtherKing County Sexual Assault Resource Cent…BELLEVUE ROTARY FOUNDATION — $16,250 · OtherBELLEVUE ROTARY FOUNDATIONKLINE GALLAND FOUNDATION — $10,000 · OtherNORTHWEST HARVEST EMM — $10,000 · OtherPROVIDENCE CHILDREN'S HEALTH FOUNDATION — $10,000 · OtherTHE OVERLAKE HOSPITAL — $10,000 · OtherOREGON FOOD BANK — $10,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipient — $10,000 · OtherPROVIDENCE FESTIVAL OF TREES — $10,000 · Other+24 more — $68,700 · Other+24 moreTHE OVERLAKE SCHOOL — $47,000 · EducationTHE OVERLA…RENTON SCHOOLS FOUNDATION — $20,000 · EducationRENTON SCH…JUSTICE AND SOUL FOUNDATION — $5,000 · EducationJUSTICE AN…UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND — $3,000 · Education+1 more — $1,000 · EducationVILLAGE THEATRE — $20,000 · Arts & CulturePERFORMING ARTS CENTER EASTSIDE — $10,000 · Arts & CultureA CONTEMPORARY THEATRE INC — $5,000 · Arts & CultureNORTHWEST AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM — $5,000 · Arts & CultureHAWAII STATE JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION IN — $36,000 · Recreation & SportsWORLD VISION INC — $25,000 · InternationalTHE ROSE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR CHILDREN — $5,000 · InternationalCONGREGATIONS FOR THE HOMELESS — $10,000 · Housing & Shelter
Health$343,500Other$299,950Education$76,000Arts & Culture$40,000Recreation & Sports$36,000International$30,000Housing & Shelter$10,000

Each org by its size and your share of it — top-left is where you’re load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ your share of their budgetRIVKIN CENTER FOR OVARIAN CANCER — $330,000 over 3y, 10% of budgetCUYAMUNGUE INSTITUTE — $75,000 over 3y, 60% of budgetTHE OVERLAKE SCHOOL — $47,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetHAWAII STATE JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION IN — $36,000 over 3y, 1.3% of budgetCHILDREN'S MIRACLE NETWORK — $30,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD VISION INC — $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetRENTON SCHOOLS FOUNDATION — $20,000 over 2y, 4.4% of budgetVILLAGE THEATRE — $20,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetKing County Sexual Assault Resource Center — $20,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetBELLEVUE ROTARY FOUNDATION — $16,250 over 3y, 4.9% of budgetCONGREGATIONS FOR THE HOMELESS — $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPERFORMING ARTS CENTER EASTSIDE — $10,000 over 1y, 3.8% of budgetOVERLAKE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION — $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNORTHWEST HARVEST EMM — $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPROVIDENCE CHILDREN'S HEALTH FOUNDATION — $10,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetOREGON FOOD BANK — $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCIS OF GREATER KING COUNTY DBA COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS — $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetCHILDREN AND YOUTH JUSTICE CENTER — $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetTukwila Childrens Foundation — $5,000 over 1y, 2.9% of budgetA CONTEMPORARY THEATRE INC — $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetJumpstart Labs Inc DBA Jewish JUMPSTART JSLABS — $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetJUSTICE AND SOUL FOUNDATION — $5,000 over 1y, 1.7% of budgetThe Breakfast Group — $5,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetHO'OLA NA PUA — $5,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTHE ROSE INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR CHILDREN — $5,000 over 1y, 3.0% of budgetNORTHWEST AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM — $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetRENTON REGIONAL COMMUNITY FNDN — $3,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND — $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetOCEAN BEACH HOSPITAL FOUNDATION — $2,500 over 1y, 6.0% of budgetGeneration Alive — $2,250 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetWomen Helping Women Fund — $2,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetCAMP RAINBOW GOLD INC — $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetISLAND HOSPITAL FOUNDATION — $1,750 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE BELLEVUE POLICE FOUNDATION — $1,500 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetACU FOUNDATION — $1,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetIdaho FFA Foundation Inc — $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetWOODINVILLE ROTARY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION — $1,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetST JUDE HOSPITAL — $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFINANCIAL BEGINNINGS WASHINGTON — $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budget
Go grantee by grantee — a decade per org, and how each moved after you funded them

A decade per grantee — revenue shaded, your grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

The grantmakers whose grantees overlap with yours far more than size alone predicts. Each orbits closer the stronger the alignment; the arcs between them show where they also fund each other. Here it reads as a tightly interlocked camp — most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Seattle FoundationPuget Sound Energy Fo…United Way of King Co…The Norcliffe Foundat…M J Murdock Charitabl…Bernier McCaw Foundat…Renton Regional Commu…Apex FoundationMedina FoundationCredit Unions in the …Gs Donor Advised Phil…Baird Foundation Inc
Seattle FoundationWA33.3× affinity17 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Seattle Foundation · Puget Sound Energy Foundation · United Way of King County · The Norcliffe Foundation · M J Murdock Charitable Trust · Bernier McCaw Foundation · Renton Regional Community Fndn · Apex Foundation · Medina Foundation · Credit Unions in the State of Washington · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · Baird Foundation Inc

Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. A research starting point: overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

Government reliance of your grantees

Every dot is one organization The Lester and Bernice Smith Foundation funds. Left–right is the share of its income from government; up–down is the share from you. Bigger dots raise more. Filter to federal or a single department — and drag the year to watch it move.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%4%15%34%60%your share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 21%
  • Oregon Food Bank — 21% of income from government
  • University of Portland — 1% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
1get no government money at all
11report 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

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 your grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first — a floor, not 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 12–24 months.

On method. Every financial figure here is read directly from IRS e-file XML — your own 990/990-PF and the multi-year returns of the 53 grantees we resolved across every year we hold, several hundred filings in all (a different count from the grant rows on the cover, which are one fiscal year)— each linked to its source. Grantee achievements and outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III); we read these as association with sustained funding — the foundation is one of several forces — suppress low-confidence name matches rather than guess, and say so where a figure rests on a single grant or filing. Not everything on this page is a filed figure, and the difference matters. Filed is what you reported on your 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. How we build these →

Generated from your IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2023, released 2023. Filings run roughly 12–24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

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 camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home
State money flows
the interactive map of money crossing state lines