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The McLean Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The McLean 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.

$503k
Granted FY2025still arriving
1
Grants FY2025still arriving
1
States reached
$503k
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 2025.

Philanthropy$875kHealth$79kReligion$74kEducation$20kPublic Benefit$15kFood & Nutrition$15kHuman Services$12kCivil Rights$8kOther$0
02FY2025 · 1 grant

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$502,500
Median grant
1
States reached
$3.1M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Naples Children & Education Foundation$502,500
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 (FY17–23, $22k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 45% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants spread fairly evenly across need levels.

area typical 10%Guiding Eyes for the Blind: $2k → 9%Guiding Eyes For The Blind: $2k → 9%Guiding Eyes for the Blind: $2k → 9%Guiding Eyes for the Blind: $2k → 9%The Chicago Lighthouse: $2k → 14%Guiding Eyes for the Blind: $2k → 9%The Chicago Lighthouse: $2k → 14%Guiding Eyes for the Blind: $2k → 9%The Chicago Lighthouse: $2k → 14%The Chicago Lighthouse: $2k → 14%The Chicago Lighthouse: $2k → 14%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

MN
IL
NY
IA
PA
CT
CA
CO
VA
MD
DC
GA
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.

97%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.0M · 17 repeat orgs$33k to everyone else

17 repeat relationships: 1 still active in FY2025, 16 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

17
6

Total granted

$1.0M
$33k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+15%
+31%

Still filing today

76%
83%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 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
HealthPublic BenefitHuman ServicesPhilanthropyHousing & ShelterArts & 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

  • NC
    NAPLES CHILDREN FOUNDATION INC
    3× · 2023–2025 · $873k · revenue +52%
  • AL
    AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION
    5× · 2019–2023 · $23k · revenue +5%
  • AN
    AMVETS NATIONAL SERVICE FOUNDATION
    6× · 2017–2022 · $12k · revenue +15%

Funded once

  • DM
    DANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FUNDgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $20k · revenue +31%
  • AN
    American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches
    one grant, 2022 · $5k · revenue +23%
  • AF
    Avow Foundation Incgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $3k · revenue +73%
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
United States Naval Institute

Provide an independent forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to global security.

—
2
Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States Inc

The fsmb serves as the voice for state medical boards, supporting them through education, assessment, research and advocacy while providing services and initiatives that promote patient safety, quality health care and regulatory best…

Health
3
Npr Foundation

The npr foundation ("foundation") is organized and operated exclusively for the benefit of its sole supported organization, national public radio, inc. ("npr inc."). the foundation supports npr inc. through various activities such as…

—
4
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Advance science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all. the world's largest multidisciplinary scientific society and a leading publisher of cutting-edge research through its science family of journals,…

Science & Tech
5
American Gas Association

American gas association's (the association) mission is to develop and advocate for informed, innovative, and durable policy that fulfills our nation's energy needs, environmental aspirations and economic potential. we are committed to…

—
6
American Academy of Neurology

The Academy's mission is to enhance member career fulfillment and promote brain health for all.

Community Improvement
7
Internet Society Foundation

At the internet society foundation, we focus on funding initiatives that strengthen the internet in function and reach so that it can effectively serve all people. our work advances the vision of the internet society (isoc): the internet…

International
8
Banner Alzheimer's Foundation

Established in 2006, the banner alzheimer's foundation (baf) secures and stewards charitable gifts to advance the mission of banner alzheimer's institute (bai), including groundbreaking research initiatives and pioneering prevention…

Health
9
National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors

Empowering financial professionals and consumers through world-class advocacy and education.

—
10
National Public Radio Inc

National public radio, inc. ("npr") works collaboratively with member public radio station licensees ("member stations") to create a more informed public, one that is challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of…

Arts & Culture
11
National Committee for Quality Assurance

Our mission: to improve the quality of health care.our vision: better health care. better choices. better health.

Health
12
Banner -University Medical Group

Assist banner health complete its mission to make health care easier so life can be better by providing integrated & coordinated care & population health management.

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Heritage Foundation; the most unlike its peers is American Lung Association. 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

19 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. 19 of the 24 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)
0
Early backer (in before they grew)
19/19
Grantees still filing
15/19
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

NAPLES CHILDREN FOUNDATION INC: $872,500 · PhilanthropyNAPLES CHILDREN FOUNDATION INCGUIDEPOSTS FOUNDATION INC: $30,000 · OtherDANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FUND: $20,000 · OtherYoung America's Foundation: $8,000 · OtherTHE NAVIGATORS: $4,000 · OtherYoung American's Foundation: $4,000 · OtherAMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY: $9,000 · OtherMEDIA RESEARCH CENTER: $3,000 · Other+4 more: $7,000 · OtherARTHRITIS FOUNDATION INC: $23,000 · HealthAMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION: $23,000 · HealthPARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA: $8,000 · HealthAvow Foundation Inc: $3,000 · HealthThe Moody Bible Institute of Chicago: $35,000 · EducationAMVETS NATIONAL SERVICE FOUNDATION: $12,000 · Public BenefitTHE HERITAGE FOUNDATION: $10,000 · Public BenefitJUDICIAL WATCH INC: $5,000 · Public BenefitGUIDING EYES FOR THE BLIND INC: $12,000 · Human ServicesTHE CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED: $10,000 · Human ServicesAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $5,000 · Human ServicesFOOD FOR THE POOR INC: $12,500 · International
Philanthropy$872,500Other$85,000Health$57,000Education$35,000Public Benefit$27,000Human Services$27,000International$12,500

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetNAPLES CHILDREN FOUNDATION INC: $872,500 over 3y, 1.1% of budgetThe Moody Bible Institute of Chicago: $35,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetARTHRITIS FOUNDATION INC: $23,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION: $23,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetDANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FUND: $20,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetFOOD FOR THE POOR INC: $12,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetAMVETS NATIONAL SERVICE FOUNDATION: $12,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetGUIDING EYES FOR THE BLIND INC: $12,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED: $10,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetTHE HERITAGE FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY: $9,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetYoung America's Foundation: $8,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetPARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA: $8,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetJUDICIAL WATCH INC: $5,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMEDIA RESEARCH CENTER: $3,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetAvow Foundation Inc: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetST MATTHEWS HOUSE INC: $500 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.

American Endowment Fo…Morgan Stanley Global…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
American Endowment FoundationOH11× affinity4 shared granteesties to 4 of 4Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: American Endowment Foundation · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · 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 McLean Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The McLean Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 30%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%6%13%19%25%share of the org’s income from government →median 0%
  • Food for the Poor Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
3get 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 · 0–25%
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 McLean Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The McLean 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 24 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 McLean’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