Skip to content
The Milbank Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Milbank Foundation

Its FY2020 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$1.7M
Granted FY2020
23
Grants FY2020
13
States reached
$400k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its fieldRead
04Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
01FY2020 · 23 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2020

  • Under $10k1 grant · $9k
  • $10k–50k8 grants · $171k
  • $50k–250k13 grants · $1.1M
  • $250k+1 grant · $400k
$50,000
Median grant
13
States reached
$25M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
YALE CANCER CENTER$400,000
CENTER TO ADVANCE PALLIATIVE CARE$150,000
STATE POLICY NETWORK$125,000
MENTORTHE NATIONAL MENTORING PARTNERSHIP$100,000
OPERATION SURF$100,000
FOUNDATION FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY$100,000
VISCARDI CENTER$100,000
PARTNERSHIP TO END ADDITCION$75,000
TRAVIS MANION FOUNDATION$75,000
MYFACE$70,000
NORTHERN WESTCHESTER HOSPITAL CENTER FOUNDATION INC$50,000
NATIONAL HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE FOUNDATION$50,000
PHILANTHROPY ROUNDTABLE$50,000
PACIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE$50,000
BOARD MATCHING GIFTS$25,702
02The need
02

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 (FY20–20, $200k) land where the poverty rate runs at 8%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 13% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%ENRICHMENT AUDIO RESOURCE SERVICES: $25k → 13%VISCARDI CENTER: $100k → 6%PROGRAMS FOR EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE: $25k → 10%NATIONAL HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE FOUNDATION: $50k → 9%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
WI
NY
MA
OR
PA
NJ
CT
CA
VA
SC
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 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
Patient Access Network Foundation

As a leading charitable foundation and healthcare advocacy organization, the pan foundation is dedicated to accelerating access to treatment for those who need it most and empowering patients on their healthcare journeys. we provide…

—
2
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…

—
3
Inova Health System Foundation

Inova health system foundation is the parent of inova health system (ihs). ihs provides healthcare and related services throughout northern virginia and the greater metropolitan washington, d.c. area, including certain contiguous counties…

Health
4
Arbor Research Collaborative for Health

Arbor research collaborative for health is committed to improving patient care through research that shapes medical policies and practice. in particular, arbor research conducts health outcomes research on chronic disease and end-stage…

Health
5
National Committee for Quality Assurance

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

Health
6
Uvmc Foundation

Enhance the patient and family experience at upper valley medical center by raising community support for programs and services which help build healthy communities.

Philanthropy
7
National Center for Family Philanthropy Inc

Ncfp catalyzes the potential of philanthropic families to achieve greater impact with their giving by elevating a bold vision for family philanthropy; equipping family philanthropies with community, support, and resources; and activating a…

Philanthropy
8
Ucsf Foundation Investment Company

The organization provides professional investment management services for endowed gifts and financial assets entrusted to the ucsf foundation.

Education
9
National Taxpayers Union Foundation

National taxpayers union foundation (ntuf) provides crucial, impactful research and analysis showing americans how taxes, government spending, and regulations affect them. with our unique combination of policy expertise, outreach know-how,…

—
10
National Comprehensive Cancer Network

To define and advance quality, effective, equitable, and accessible cancer care and prevention so all people can live better lives.

Health
11
Center for American Progress

The center for american progress (cap) is an independent nonpartisan policy institute that is dedicated to improving the lives of all americans through bold, progressive ideas, as well as strong leadership and concerted action. our aim is…

Civil Rights
12
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
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Foundation for Government Accountability Inc; the most unlike its peers is Enrichment Audio Resource Services Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
03the grantee network

17 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. 17 of the 23 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.

2
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
4
Early backer (in before they grew)
16/17
Grantees still filing
12/17
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

YALE CANCER CENTER: $400,000 · OtherYALE CANCER CENTERCENTER TO ADVANCE PALLIATIVE CARE: $150,000 · OtherCENTER TO ADVANCE PALLIATIVE CAREPARTNERSHIP TO END ADDITCION: $75,000 · OtherPARTNERSHIP TO END ADDITCIONNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR FACIAL RECONSTRUCTION INC: $70,000 · OtherNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR FACIAL RECONSTRUCTION INCBOARD MATCHING GIFTS: $25,702 · Other+2 more: $35,000 · OtherTravis Manion Foundation: $75,000 · PhilanthropyTravis Manion F…THE PHILANTHROPY ROUNDTABLE: $50,000 · PhilanthropyTHE PHILANTHROP…Pacific Research Institute For Public Policy: $50,000 · PhilanthropyPacific Researc…NORTHERN WESTCHESTER HOSPITAL CENTER FOUNDATION INC: $50,000 · PhilanthropyNORTHERN WESTCH…THE VISCARDI CENTER INC: $100,000 · Human ServicesTHE VISCARDI …NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR CARE AT HOME LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION INC: $50,000 · Human ServicesNATIONAL ALLI…ENRICHMENT AUDIO RESOURCE SERVICES INC: $25,000 · Human ServicesENRICHMENT AU…PROGRAMS FOR EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE: $25,000 · Human ServicesPROGRAMS FOR …OPERATION SURF: $100,000 · HealthOPERATION…END WELL FOUNDATION: $25,000 · HealthEND WELL …VINCENT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC: $10,000 · HealthVINCENT M…STATE POLICY NETWORK: $125,000 · Civil RightsFOUNDATION FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY INC: $100,000 · Public BenefitTHE OUT FOUNDATION: $8,500 · Public BenefitTHE NATIONAL MENTORING PARTNERSHIP INC: $100,000 · Youth DevelopmentUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: $25,000 · Education
Other$755,702Philanthropy$225,000Human Services$200,000Health$135,000Civil Rights$125,000Public Benefit$108,500Youth Development$100,000Education$25,000

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 budgetSTATE POLICY NETWORK: $125,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetTHE NATIONAL MENTORING PARTNERSHIP INC: $100,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetFOUNDATION FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY INC: $100,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetOPERATION SURF: $100,000 over 1y, 26% of budgetTravis Manion Foundation: $75,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR FACIAL RECONSTRUCTION INC: $70,000 over 1y, 3.2% of budgetNATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR CARE AT HOME LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetTHE PHILANTHROPY ROUNDTABLE: $50,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetPacific Research Institute For Public Policy: $50,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetNORTHERN WESTCHESTER HOSPITAL CENTER FOUNDATION INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetENRICHMENT AUDIO RESOURCE SERVICES INC: $25,000 over 1y, 68% of budgetPROGRAMS FOR EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE: $25,000 over 1y, 2.9% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetEND WELL FOUNDATION: $25,000 over 1y, 3.1% of budgetVINCENT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetTHE OUT FOUNDATION: $8,500 over 1y, 2.8% 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.

Charities Aid Foundat…National Philanthropi…Vanguard Charitable E…American Online Givin…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Charities Aid Foundation AmericaVA9.2× affinity4 shared granteesties to 6 of 6Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Charities Aid Foundation America · National Philanthropic Trust · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · American Online Giving Foundation 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 Milbank Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Milbank Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%5%19%42%75%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
    2get 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.
    04Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to The Milbank Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to The Milbank 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 23 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 2020, released 2020. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Milbank’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