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The Miller Family Fund at a glance

· Private foundation

The Miller Family Fund

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$51k
Granted FY2024still arriving
31
Grants FY2024still arriving
10
States reached
$5k
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.

Religion$41kArts & Culture$38kHealth$27kEducation$25kPublic Safety & Disaster$11kAnimals$10kRecreation & Sports$7kHuman Services$7kOther$0
02FY2024 · 31 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$1,000
Median grant
10
States reached
$461k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
CHP 11-99 FOUNDATION$5,000
ALL SAINTS BY THE SEA EPISCOPAL CHURCH$5,000
AMERICAN RED CROSS$2,500
Individual grant recipient$2,250
TUNNEL TO TOWER FOUNDATION$2,000
DAV -DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS$2,000
WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT$2,000
LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY$2,000
COAST GUARD FOUNDATION$2,000
THE BRAIN TUMOR NETWORK$2,000
GWENDOLYN STRONG FOUNDATION$2,000
BUCKET BRIGADE$2,000
PARKINSON'S FOUNDATION$2,000
NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION$2,000
SOLANO SHERIFF'S CADET CORP$1,500
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 (FY22–22, $1k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%CASA PACIFICA: $1k → 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

MI
NY
IA
OH
CT
CA
VA
AZ
KS
HI
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.

87%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$165k · 40 repeat orgs$24k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +31% since the first grant, against +8% for those funded once.

40 repeat relationships: 23 still active in FY2024, 17 since wound down; 7 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

40
9

Total granted

$165k
$14k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+31%
+8%

Still filing today

57%
44%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 80% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $10k 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
HealthArts & CultureHuman ServicesPhilanthropyEducationAnimalsOther
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

  • WC
    WESTMONT COLLEGE
    2× · 2018–2019 · $20k · revenue +27%
  • PM
    Phoenix Men's Arts Council
    2× · 2020–2021 · $11k · revenue +201%
  • SB
    SANTA BARBARA ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION
    6× · 2018–2024 · $9k · revenue +57%

Funded once

  • MM
    MARSHALL MATTHEWS ALS FAMILY FUND
    one grant, 2022 · $6k
  • GT
    GRANADA THEATER
    one grant, 2019 · $3k
  • 1C
    10-90 COPPERSTATE FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2021 · $2k · revenue +1%
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
Uc Santa Barbara Foundation

The uc santa barbara foundation actively works to further the goals of the university of california, santa barbara. the foundation seeks to maintain and nurture the university's quality and distinction. on behalf of the campus, the…

Education
2
Community Foundation Santa Cruz County

To promote philanthropy to make santa cruz county a better place to live, now and in the future.we bring together people, ideas, and resources to inspire philanthropy and accomplish great things.

Philanthropy
3
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
4
Marin Humane Society

Marin humane transforms lives through exceptional animal care, humane education, and advocacy. every day, marin humane inspires compassion and positive relationships between people and animals.

Animals
5
Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

Creating excellent exhibits and educational experiences that celebrate the santa barbara channel and illuminate our rich connections with the sea.

Arts & Culture
6
Santa Barbara Foundation

The mission of the santa barbara foundation (sbf) is to mobilize collective wisdom and philanthropic capital to build empathetic, inclusive and resilient communities.

Philanthropy
7
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
8
Santa Fe Community Foundation

The santa fe community foundation inspires philanthropic generosity, strengthens nonprofits, and fosters positive change to build a more vibrant, healthy, and resilient region. the foundation's vision is a thriving northern new mexico,…

Philanthropy
9
Southern California Grantmakers

Southern california grantmakers (scg) is the regional association for philanthropists and grantmakers working to make a difference in our communities and around the world. we are a leadership hub for our members to connect with each other,…

Philanthropy
10
The California Channel

To distribute public affairs and other educational information in order to create an electronic bridge between californians and their public officials, and, in the process educate a new generation of voting citizens and civic leaders who…

—
11
Santa Barbara Education Foundation

Santa Barbara Education Foundation (SBEF) provides and supports programs that enrich the academic, artistic, and personal development of all students in the Santa Barbara Unified School District.

Education
12
California Ocean Science Trust

California ocean science trust (ost) is a non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating progress towards a healthy and productive ocean future for california. created by state legislation, ost bridges the gap between cutting-edge…

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Wounded Warrior Project Inc; the most unlike its peers is 10-90 Copperstate 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

32 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. 32 of the 57 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)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
32/32
Grantees still filing
23/32
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

ALL SAINTS-BY-THE-SEA EPISCOPAL CHU: $20,000 · OtherALL SAINTS-BY-THE-SEA EPISCOPAL CHUMOXI - THE WOLF MUSEUM OF EXLPORATI: $8,000 · OtherMOXI - THE WOLF MUSEUM OF EXLPORATIALL SAINTS BY THE SEA EPISCOPAL CHURCH: $7,500 · OtherALL SAINTS BY THE SEA EPISCOPAL CHURCHSB YOUTH SAILING FOUNDATION SBYSF: $6,500 · OtherSB YOUTH SAILING FOUNDATION SBYSFMARSHALL MATTHEWS ALS FAMILY FUND: $5,500 · OtherMARSHALL MATTHEWS ALS FAMILY FUND+32 more: $49,950 · Other+32 moreCOMMUNITY ARTS MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF SANTA BARBARA INC: $11,000 · Arts & CultureCOMMUNITY ARTS M…Phoenix Men's Arts Council: $11,000 · Arts & CulturePhoenix Men's Ar…OPERA SANTA BARBARA: $3,000 · Arts & CultureOPERA SANTA BARB…NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION INC: $2,000 · Arts & CultureNAVY SEAL FOUNDA…+1 more: $200 · Arts & CultureWESTMONT COLLEGE: $20,000 · EducationWESTMONT COLL…STEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION: $3,000 · EducationSTEPHEN SILLE…NATIONAL DISASTER SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION: $4,000 · HealthNATIONAL DI…THE BRAIN TUMOR NETWORK INC: $3,500 · HealthTHE BRAIN T…GWENDOLYN STRONG FOUNDATION: $3,000 · HealthGWENDOLYN S…BLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $3,000 · HealthBLOOD CANCE…SANTA YNEZ VALLEY THERAPEUTIC RIDING PROGRAM: $2,000 · HealthSANTA YNEZ …TEDDY BEAR CANCER FOUNDATION: $2,000 · HealthTEDDY BEAR …PARKINSON'S FOUNDATION INC: $2,000 · HealthPARKINSON'S…SANTA BARBARA ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION: $9,000 · AnimalsCALAVERAS HUMANE SOCIETY: $600 · AnimalsWOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT INC: $3,000 · Human ServicesAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $2,500 · Human ServicesCasa Pacifica Centers for Children & Families: $1,000 · Human ServicesCHP 11-99 FOUNDATION: $6,000 · Membership Benefit
Other$97,450Arts & Culture$27,200Education$23,000Health$19,500Animals$9,600Human Services$6,500Membership Benefit$6,000

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 budgetWESTMONT COLLEGE: $20,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCOMMUNITY ARTS MUSIC ASSOCIATION OF SANTA BARBARA INC: $11,000 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetPhoenix Men's Arts Council: $11,000 over 2y, 2.8% of budgetSANTA BARBARA ZOOLOGICAL FOUNDATION: $9,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetCHP 11-99 FOUNDATION: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetNATIONAL DISASTER SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION: $4,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetTHE BRAIN TUMOR NETWORK INC: $3,500 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetOPERA SANTA BARBARA: $3,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetSANTA BARBARA RESCUE MISSION: $3,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetSTEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION: $3,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetGWENDOLYN STRONG FOUNDATION: $3,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $3,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE FRIENDSHIP PADDLE: $3,000 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetWOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT INC: $3,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCOAST GUARD FOUNDATION INC: $3,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSANTA YNEZ VALLEY THERAPEUTIC RIDING PROGRAM: $2,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetTEDDY BEAR CANCER FOUNDATION: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetNAVY SEAL FOUNDATION INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPARKINSON'S FOUNDATION INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDIGNITYMOVES: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetEXPLORE ECOLOGY: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetMOXI THE WOLF MUSEUM OF EXPLORATION INNOVATION: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budget10-90 COPPERSTATE FOUNDATION: $1,500 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetHAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSEAL FUTURE FOUNDATION INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCasa Pacifica Centers for Children & Families: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDowntown Streets Inc: $800 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetGALS GIVE BACK INC: $750 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetCALAVERAS HUMANE SOCIETY: $600 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetLODI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCALAVERAS COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL: $200 over 1y, 0.2% 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.

Santa Barbara Foundat…Hutton Foundation Dba…Mosher FoundationWilliams-Corbett Foun…Ann Jackson Family Fo…California Community …Patricia Bragg Founda…The Wood-Claeyssens F…The Janet Langdon Han…The Greene Family Fou…The Dolotta Family Ch…Smidt Family Foundati…
Santa Barbara FoundationCA25.4× affinity10 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Santa Barbara Foundation · Hutton Foundation Dba Hutton Parker Foundation · Mosher Foundation · Williams-Corbett Foundation · Ann Jackson Family Foundation · California Community Foundation · Patricia Bragg Foundation · The Wood-Claeyssens Foundation · The Janet Langdon Handtmann Family Foundation · The Greene Family Foundation · The Dolotta Family Charitable Foundation · Smidt Family 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 Miller Family Fund funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Miller Family Fund. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%3%5%8%10%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
2get no government money at all
7report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–10%
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 Miller Family Fund?

Find your warmest path to The Miller Family Fund 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 57 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 2024, released 2024. 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