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The Lyman Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Lyman Family 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.

$87k
Granted FY2025still arriving
14
Grants FY2025still arriving
2
States reached
$27k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0190% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Religion$115kAnimals$94kHousing & Shelter$74kHealth$61kArts & Culture$46kInternational$16kHuman Services$10kPhilanthropy$10kOther$0
02FY2025 · 14 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k11 grants · $38k
  • $10k–50k3 grants · $49k
$5,000
Median grant
2
States reached
$1.2M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SAN DIEGO ZOO WILDLIFE ALLIANCE$27,000
HORIZON CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP$12,000
SAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION$10,000
PROMISES2KIDS$9,000
AXEALS FOUNDATION$7,500
THE OLD GLOBE$7,156
MANCHESTER FAMILY FOUNDATION$5,000
SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY$5,000
TROJAN LEAGUE OF SD$1,000
ABRAHAM PATH INITIATION$1,000
Individual grant recipient$750
CHP 11-99 FOUNDATION$500
CUREBOUND$500
SEACREST FOUNDATION$250
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 (FY17–20, $6k) land where the poverty rate runs at 15%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 91% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%WOUNDED WARRIOR PORJECT: $300 → 14%HEALTHNETWORK FOUNDATION: $1k → 17%SOF SUPPORT: $500 → 7%HEALTHNETWORK FOUNDATION: $1k → 17%HEALTHNETWORK FOUNDATION: $1k → 17%HEALTHNETWORK FOUNDATION: $1k → 17%CHALLENGED ATHLETES FOUNDATION: $1k → 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.

Which US states its grants reach

NY
NV
OH
PA
CA
MO
VA
SC
HI
AL
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.

83%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$383k · 16 repeat orgs$77k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +7% since the first grant, against 0% for those funded once.

16 repeat relationships: 9 still active in FY2025, 7 since wound down; 5 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

16
25

Total granted

$383k
$61k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+7%
0%

Still filing today

56%
48%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 81% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $16k 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
HealthHuman ServicesArts & CulturePublic BenefitAnimalsYouth 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

  • SD
    SAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION INC
    7× · 2018–2025 · $74k · revenue +46%
  • ZS
    ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO
    3× · 2023–2025 · $59k · revenue +7%
  • C
    CUREBOUND
    5× · 2021–2025 · $13k · revenue +25%

Funded once

  • SD
    SAN DIEGO AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM
    one grant, 2022 · $6k · revenue -9%
  • The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Inc
    one grant, 2022 · $6k · revenue -9%
  • TR
    THE ROCK CHURCH
    one grant, 2021 · $5k
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
The Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation

The jonsson cancer center foundation is the single most important vehicle for raising private funds for cancer research at ucla and plays a key role in advancing cancer treatments and care. please see schedule o for additional information.

—
2
Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation

The samuel waxman cancer research foundation (the "foundation") funds innovative research to bring faster cures to patients. in addition to supporting ongoing collaborative research in specific cancers, our scientists are investigating the…

—
3
San Diego State University Foundation Sdsu Research Foundation

To support and further the research, education and community service objectives of san diego state university.

Education
4
California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy

To harness the power of the human immune system and advanced computing technologies to create and translate scientific discoveries into next generation vaccines and therapies for prevention, control and cure of chronic diseases, enabling…

Health
5
La Jolla Institute for Immunology

At la jolla institute for immunology, our scientists focus on understanding how the immune system works in order to promote human health and prevent disease. our discoveries apply to many diseases, ranging from diabetes to heart disease,…

—
6
Society for Neuroscience

Sfn's mission is to: 1. advance the understanding of the brain and the nervous system by bringing together scientists of all segments of neuroscience, by facilitating the integration of research directed at all levels of biological…

Health
7
Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine

The sanford consortium is a collaboration among five preeminent life science research institutions formed to enable renowned scientists with expertise in stem cell and regenerative medicine research to collaborate to seek transformative…

Health
8
The San Diego Foundation

The san diego foundation inspires enduring philanthropy and enables community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region.

Philanthropy
9
Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research

The foundation for sarcoidosis research (fsr) is the leading international organization dedicated to finding a cure for sarcoidosis and improving care for sarcoidosis patients through research, education, and support. since its…

Philanthropy
10
California Institute for BioMedical Research

Our mission is to build a unique institute that bridges basic research and drug discovery, and that attracts the best and brightest scientists, physicians and students to work together synergistically to find cures for neglected human…

—
11
University of California Irvine Foundation

The mission of the university of california, irvine foundation (uc irvine foundation) is to raise and manage private funds to support uc irvine's broader mission of excellence in teaching, research and public service. to this end, the uc…

Education
12
Northern California Institute for Research and Education Inc

To improve the health and well-being of veterans and the general public by supporting a world-class biomedical research program conducted by ucsf faculty at the san francisco veterans affairs health care system.

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Uc San Diego Foundation; the most unlike its peers is AxeALS 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

28 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2026.

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 2026, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 28 of the 48 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)
2
Early backer (in before they grew)
26/28
Grantees still filing
13/28
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

HORIZON CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP: $107,000 · OtherHORIZON CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIPSAN DIEGO ZOO: $34,500 · OtherSAN DIEGO ZOOTHE OLD GLOBE: $27,321 · OtherTHE OLD GLOBEaxeALS Foundation: $11,250 · OtherSTORMEYE INSTITUTE: $9,500 · Other+25 more: $89,000 · Other+25 moreSAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION INC: $74,300 · Housing & ShelterSAN DIEGO RESCUE M…ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO: $59,400 · AnimalsZOOLOGICAL SOC…+1 more: $250 · AnimalsCUREBOUND: $13,000 · HealthNEUROLAB 360: $2,800 · HealthSANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS MEDICAL DISCOVERY INSTITUTE: $2,500 · HealthSUMMIT FOR STEM CELL FOUNDATION: $1,000 · HealthBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $1,000 · Health+1 more: $250 · HealthTHE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION: $10,000 · Arts & CultureSAN DIEGO AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM: $6,000 · Arts & CultureLA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY: $2,500 · Arts & CultureSEAL-NSW FAMILY FOUNDATION: $4,500 · Public BenefitROLF BENIRSCHKE LEGACY FOUNDATION: $2,000 · Public BenefitHEALTHNETWORK FOUNDATION FKA HEALTH NET FOUNDATION INC: $4,000 · Human ServicesCHALLENGED ATHLETES INC: $1,000 · Human ServicesSOF SUPPORT INC: $500 · Human ServicesWOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT INC: $300 · Human Services
Other$278,571Housing & Shelter$74,300Animals$59,650Health$20,550Arts & Culture$18,500Public Benefit$6,500Human Services$5,800

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 budgetSAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION INC: $74,300 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO: $59,400 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCUREBOUND: $13,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetaxeALS Foundation: $11,250 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetTHE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetPROMISES2KIDS FOUNDATION: $9,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSAN DIEGO AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM: $6,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetThe American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Inc: $5,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCHP 11-99 FOUNDATION: $4,500 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetSEAL-NSW FAMILY FOUNDATION: $4,500 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetHEALTHNETWORK FOUNDATION FKA HEALTH NET FOUNDATION INC: $4,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetUC SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION: $4,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNEUROLAB 360: $2,800 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetLA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS MEDICAL DISCOVERY INSTITUTE: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetROLF BENIRSCHKE LEGACY FOUNDATION: $2,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetHAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: $1,800 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCHALLENGED ATHLETES INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSUMMIT FOR STEM CELL FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $1,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSOF SUPPORT INC: $500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT INC: $300 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetInformed Prostate Cancer Support Group: $250 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetSEACREST FOUNDATION: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHELEN WOODWARD ANIMAL CENTER: $250 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.

  • Who funds SAN DIEGO RESCUE MISSION INC ↗
  • Who funds ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO ↗
  • Who funds CUREBOUND ↗
  • Who funds axeALS Foundation ↗
  • Who funds THE SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION ↗
  • Who funds PROMISES2KIDS FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds SAN DIEGO AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM ↗
  • Who funds The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Inc ↗
  • Who funds FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES ↗
  • Who funds CHP 11-99 FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds SEAL-NSW FAMILY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds HEALTHNETWORK FOUNDATION FKA HEALTH NET FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds UC SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds NEUROLAB 360 ↗
  • Who funds LA JOLLA MUSIC SOCIETY ↗
  • Who funds SANFORD BURNHAM PREBYS MEDICAL DISCOVERY INSTITUTE ↗
  • Who funds ROLF BENIRSCHKE LEGACY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ↗
  • Who funds CHALLENGED ATHLETES INC ↗
  • Who funds SUMMIT FOR STEM CELL FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds ABRAHAM PATH INITIATIVE INC ↗
  • Who funds BLOOD CANCER UNITED INC ↗

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.

The San Diego Foundat…Jewish Community Foun…The Lisa & Steve Altm…Rancho Santa Fe Found…Sempra FoundationThe Ayco Charitable F…Gs Donor Advised Phil…The Pfizer Foundation…American Endowment Fo…Donor Advised Charita…Morgan Stanley Global…Natl Christian Charit…
The San Diego FoundationCA22.7× affinity9 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The San Diego Foundation · Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego · The Lisa & Steve Altman Family Foundation · Rancho Santa Fe Foundation · Sempra Foundation · The Ayco Charitable Foundation · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · The Pfizer Foundation Inc · American Endowment Foundation · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Natl Christian Charitable Fdn 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 Lyman Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Lyman Family 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%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →median 0%
  • Wounded Warrior Project Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get 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.

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 48 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

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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