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The Light Foundation at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Public charity

The Light Foundation

The mission of the organization is to create a generation of successful youth by providing life-changing opportunities.

$87k
Granted FY2024still arriving
4
Grants FY2024still arriving
1
States reached
$34k
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$339kHealth$118kYouth Development$80kHuman Services$65kArts & Culture$25kHousing & Shelter$12kReligion$11kPhilanthropy$10k
02FY2024 · 4 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 4 grants below total $57,950, the rows itemized in this filing. The $87,251 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $29,301 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

  • Under $10k2 grants · $14k
  • $10k–50k2 grants · $44k
$10,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$1.9M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
WALKER SCOTTISH RITE CLINIC FOR CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE DISORDERS$34,235
SCOTTISH RITE FOUNDATION OF MISSOURI$10,000
MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY$8,700
HAVEN OF GRACE$5,015
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:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY17–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 94% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%CHILDRENS DYSLEXIA CENTERS: $11k → 8%Scottish Rite Foundation Southern Jurisdiction: $12k → 14%DEMOLAY INTERNATIONAL: $20k → 8%MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY: $59k → 11%KANSAS CITY SCOTTISH RITE CHILDRENS LANGUAGE DISOR: $6k → 15%Haven of Grace: $65k → 21%CHILDRENS DYSLEXIA CENTERS: $10k → 8%THE SUPREME COUNCIL SCOTTISH RITE: $10k → 14%SCOTTISH RITE FOUNDATION OF MISSOURI: $56k → 11%THE HAVEN OF GRACE: $7k → 21%House of the Temple Historic Preservation Foundation: $5k → 14%Maryville University: $54k → 11%HAVEN OF GRACE: $5k → 21%WALKER SCOTTISH RITE CLINIC AT MARYVILLE: $51k → 11%WALKER SCOTTISH RITE CLINIC FOR CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE DISORDERS: $34k → 21%MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY: $44k → 11%SCOTTISH RITE FOUNDATION OF MISSOURI: $25k → 21%MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY: $35k → 11%SCOTTISH RITE FOUNDATION OF MISSOURI: $25k → 21%WALKER SCOTTISH RITE CLINIC AT MARYVILLE: $28k → 11%SCOTTISH RITE VALLEY OF ST LOUIS: $11k → 21%WALKER SCOTTISH RITE CLINIC: $23k → 11%SCOTTISH RITE FOUNDATION OF MISSOURI: $10k → 21%MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY: $9k → 11%MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY: $9k → 11%MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY: $7k → 11%WOMEN'S HOPE CHORALE: $10k → 11%WOMEN'S CONCERT CHARITY: $10k → 11%WOMEN'S HOPE CHORALE: $10k → 11%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.

85%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$561k · 5 repeat orgs$98k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +33% since the first grant, against +26% for those funded once.

5 repeat relationships: 3 still active in FY2024, 2 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

5
6

Total granted

$561k
$64k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+33%
+26%

Still filing today

100%
100%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 41% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $34k 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 & CultureEducationHealthPhilanthropyHousing & ShelterOther
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

  • MU
    Maryville University - St Louis
    8× · 2017–2024 · $317k · revenue +38%
  • TH
    THE HAVEN OF GRACE
    3× · 2022–2024 · $76k · revenue +33%
  • TS
    THE SAINT LOUIS WOMENS CHORALE
    3× · 2017–2019 · $30k · revenue +92%

Funded once

  • DI
    DEMOLAY INTERNATIONAL
    one grant, 2018 · $20k · revenue -2%
  • TS
    THE SCOTTISH RITE FOUNDATION SOUTHERN JURISDICTION USA INCgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $12k · revenue +74%
  • AA
    ANCIENT & ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE VALLEY OF ST LOUIS & ITS COORDINATE
    one grant, 2018 · $11k · revenue -52%
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
Scottish Rite Foundation of Colorado

To enhance the quality of life for colorado's children and their families by supporting high quality, collaborative programs for the prevention and treatment of childhood language disorders.

Membership Benefit
2
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Nmj Valley of Hartford

Domestic fraternal organization

—
3
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Nmj Valley of Hartford

Domestic fraternal organization

—
4
Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Honolulu

None

—
5
Ritecare of Minneapolis-St Paul Inc

Endeavor to give children with speech and language disorders the opportunity to reach their full potential by providing financial grants for treatment.

Education
6
Scottish Rite Foundation of Gainc

Provide higher education scholarships and financial aid to residents of georgia attending schools in georgia. financial aid to rite care clinics for children's language disorders.

Philanthropy
7
Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Valley of Stockton

Fraternal and scottish rite charities

—
8
Scottish Rite Foundation of Wyoming

None

Membership Benefit
9
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Nmj Valley of Hartford

Domestic fraternal association

—
10
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Nmj Valley of Hartford

Domestic fraternal organization

—
11
Scottish Rite Research Society

To promote and provide an educational, cultural, and historical forum for printing, research, and distribution of articles on american constitutional government and the bill of rights, religion in america and around the world, and share…

Human Services
12
Scottish Rite Foundation of South Carolina Inc

Establishing and maintaining a fund or funds to be used along with the income there from exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary and educational purposes.

Membership Benefit
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Scottish Rite Foundation Southern Jurisdiction Usa Inc; the most unlike its peers is The Saint Louis Womens Chorale. 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

12 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.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
2
Early backer (in before they grew)
12/12
Grantees still filing
7/12
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Maryville University - St Louis: $317,229 · EducationMaryville University - St LouisTHE SCOTTISH RITE FOUNDATION SOUTHERN JURISDICTION USA INC: $12,000 · EducationSCOTTISH RITE FOUNDATION OF MISSOURI INC: $116,043 · HealthSCOTTISH RITE FOUNDATION …SCOTTISH RITE CLINIC FOR CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE DISORDERS OF ST LOUIS INC: $34,235 · HealthSCOTTISH RITE CLINIC FOR …THE HAVEN OF GRACE: $76,475 · Housing & ShelterTHE HAVEN OF …THE SAINT LOUIS WOMENS CHORALE: $30,000 · Arts & CultureTHE SAINT…DEMOLAY INTERNATIONAL: $20,000 · Arts & CultureDEMOLAY I…THE HOUSE OF THE TEMPLE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FOUNDAION INC: $5,000 · Arts & CultureTHE HOUSE…ANCIENT & ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE VALLEY OF ST LOUIS & ITS COORDINATE: $10,675 · OtherTHE SUPREME COUNCIL 33 ANC&ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE OF FREEMASONRY S JR: $10,000 · OtherSRKC GIVING: $6,100 · OtherCHILDREN'S DYSLEXIA CENTERS INC: $21,480 · Philanthropy
Education$329,229Health$150,278Housing & Shelter$76,475Arts & Culture$55,000Other$26,775Philanthropy$21,480

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 budgetMaryville University - St Louis: $317,229 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetSCOTTISH RITE FOUNDATION OF MISSOURI INC: $116,043 over 3y, 26% of budgetTHE HAVEN OF GRACE: $76,475 over 3y, 4.4% of budgetSCOTTISH RITE CLINIC FOR CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE DISORDERS OF ST LOUIS INC: $34,235 over 1y, 5.5% of budgetTHE SAINT LOUIS WOMENS CHORALE: $30,000 over 3y, 24% of budgetCHILDREN'S DYSLEXIA CENTERS INC: $21,480 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetDEMOLAY INTERNATIONAL: $20,000 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetTHE SCOTTISH RITE FOUNDATION SOUTHERN JURISDICTION USA INC: $12,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetANCIENT & ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE VALLEY OF ST LOUIS & ITS COORDINATE: $10,675 over 1y, 2.6% of budgetTHE SUPREME COUNCIL 33 ANC&ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE OF FREEMASONRY S JR: $10,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetSRKC GIVING: $6,100 over 1y, 8.8% of budgetTHE HOUSE OF THE TEMPLE HISTORIC PRESERVATION FOUNDAION INC: $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 set of overlaps that mostly run through this funder rather than between each other.

Amazonsmile Foundation
Amazonsmile FoundationWA2.7× affinity5 shared granteesties to 0 of 0Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Amazonsmile 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 Light Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Light Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%2%8%17%30%funder's share of their income ↑0%1%3%4%5%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    2report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–5%
    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 Light Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to The Light 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 12 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 Light’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