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Plinth

· Private foundation

The Norman 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.

$1.3M
Granted FY2025still arriving
2
Grants FY2025still arriving
1
States reached
$676k
Largest
01What you fund
01100% classified

What you funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year — across FY20172025.

Philanthropy$1.3MEnvironment$133kHuman Services$94kHousing & Shelter$89kInternational$81kRecreation & Sports$62kHealth$58kEducation$57kOther$0
02FY2025 · 2 grants

Where the money goes

Your grants by size, and where they go.

$675,951
Median grant
1
States reached
$0
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
MARGARET RUTH RADER DAF$675,951
NORMAN 2 FUND$662,813
02The need
03

Do your dollars go where the need is?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, then read against the area’s typical level.

show:

Your human-services grants (FY17–23, $84k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of your grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%EMERGENCY FAMILY ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATION INC: $15k → 12%CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES: $10k → 10%CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES: $10k → 10%CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES: $8k → 10%EMERGENCY FAMILY ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATION INC: $5k → 12%CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES: $5k → 10%RESOURCE CENTER FOR PARENTS & CHILDREN: $5k → 21%CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES: $5k → 10%CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES: $5k → 10%RESOURCE CENTER FOR PARENTS & CHILDREN: $5k → 21%EMERGENCY FAMILY ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATION INC: $3k → 12%COVENANT HOUSE ALASKA: $5k → 10%ARTIST MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: $2k → 12%ARTIST MENTORSHIP PROGRAM: $2k → 12%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount

Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty linein the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP; grantee ZIP can differ from where services are delivered.

US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are actually delivered. Need from public data — U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA — shown as context about the area, never attributed to your giving.

03Your edge
repeat funding

Who you back again

Which organizations you funded more than once, and which you funded a single time. Each grantee is matched to its own filings.

30%of every dollar goes to organizations you’ve funded before.
$602k · 37 repeat orgs$1.4M to everyone else

And the relationships you keep tend to grow: grantees you re-up on have seen median revenue of +70% since the first grant, against +37% for the ones you funded once.

37 repeat relationships — 0 still active in FY2025, 37 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

37
16

Total granted

$602k
$61k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+70%
+37%

Still filing today

84%
81%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 0% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $1.3M went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’25
EnvironmentHuman ServicesHousing & ShelterEducationRecreation & SportsArts & CultureOther

First-time = a grantee’s first year in your filing window; renewed = funded in an earlier year too. As a portfolio matures the renewed share naturally climbs — once funded, an org stays “renewable” — so the signal is the years that buck it (a new-grantee intake wave). 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

  • WORLD BICYCLE RELIEF NFP
    7× · 2017–2023 · $54k · revenue +81%
  • CS
    Catholic Social Services
    6× · 2018–2023 · $43k · revenue +221%
  • NS
    NORDIC SKI CLUB OF FAIRBANKS
    7× · 2017–2023 · $35k · revenue +21%

Funded once

  • NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INCgraduated
    one grant, 2019 · $10k · revenue +37%
  • MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INCgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $7k · revenue +98%
  • BV
    BOULDER VALLEY WOMEN'S HEALTH CENTER INCgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $5k · revenue +61%

Repeat = funded in two or more distinct years; growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Your field

The map has a center of gravity: the average direction from the rest of the sector toward the organizations the foundation funds — the shape of its giving. Scoring every nonprofit along that direction surfaces the ones that look most like the portfolio. These are the closest matchesthat aren’t grantees — a resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
The Alaska Center

We engage, empower, and elect alaskans to stand up for our clean air and water, healthy communities, and a strong democracy.

Environment
2
Alaska Wildlife Alliance

Support ecosystem-based wildlife management by increasing public awareness of wildlife issues, responding to information requests, advocating for science-based wildlife habitat management through proposal and comment submissions, and…

Environment
3
Alaska Wilderness League

Protect alaska's wild lands and waters by inspiring broad support for federal policy action.

Environment
4
Alaska Farmers Market Association

to promote, support and advocate for Alaska agriculture

Education
5
Western Rivers Conservancy

Western rivers conservancy's mission is to protect outstanding river ecosystems in the western united states. continued on schedule o.we acquire land to conserve critical habitat, provide public access for compatible use and enjoyment, and…

Environment
6
Alaska Geographic Association

Connects people to alaska's public lands through the creation and delivery of educational products and programs.

Environment
7
Southeast Alaska Conservation Council Inc-Seacc

SEACC's mission is to protect the special places of the world's largest temperate rainforest, promote conservation, and advocate for sustainability in human use of natural resources. Inspired by the land, wildlife, cultures, and…

Environment
8
Western Conservation Foundation

Building leaders to protect the west's land, air, and water.

Environment
9
Oregon Agricultural Trust

Oregon agricultural trust partners with farmers and ranchers to protect agricultural lands for the benefit of oregons economy, communities, and landscapes.

Environment
10
The Union of Concerned Scientists Inc

The union of concerned scientists puts rigorous, independent science into action, developing solutions and advocating for a healthy, safe, and just future.

International
11
Aspen Valley Land Trust

Protecting the open land and special places of the roaring fork and middle colorado river valleys for wildlife, agriculture, and community forever.

Environment
12
Rural Alaska Community Action Program

To empower low-income alaskans through advocacy, education, affordable housing and direct services that respect our unique values and cultures.

Community Improvement

For reference, the grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Action Against Hunger - Usa and the most unlike its peers is Via Vita Health Project Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.

For each theme you fund, this compares how the sector’s money is shifting with how your own giving is shifting.

← shrinkinggrowing →↓ leaning in → pulling backsteady#7#12#6#10#17#2#16#20#11
the sector your giving your giving is ahead of the sector the sector’s ahead of you· dot size = how much the theme matters to each side
Ordered by the change in your giving — leaning in on top, pulling back at the bottom. The bar between the two dots is how out of step you are with the sector. Hover any row for detail.

Sector change and giving change are each shown relative to their own range, growing (right) or shrinking (left); both normalized, so inflation isn’t mistaken for growth.

Your grantees are a median of 43 years old; the field is 22. You back the established end — and your money leans older still.

THE FIELDby orgYOUR GRANTEESby number18%2%<5yr11%2%5–10yr17%11%10–20yr19%16%20–35yr18%47%35–55yr17%22%55yr+
THE FIELDby orgYOUR MONEYby value18%1%<5yr11%3%5–10yr17%5%10–20yr19%28%20–35yr18%42%35–55yr17%23%55yr+

The field is 18% startups (under 5 years old) — 2% of your grantees by number, and just 1% of your money.

Closures · last 5 years

The orgs you fund almost never close 2% lost their exemption, against 10% of the field you don’t fund.

orgs you fund
2%1/50
the rest of the field
10%
515/4,931

Age = years since IRS exemption (a founding proxy). “Closed” = auto-revocation for 3 years of non-filing — a floor on closure, not proof, and bigger established orgs lapse least. Association, not causation.

04the grantee network

46 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each one resolved to its own IRS returns and tracked year by year — your grant beside their revenue from every source. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

Counted here: distinct organizations you funded across 20172025, not grant rows in a single year — so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 46 of the 56 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile; the rest are funded organizations whose filings we could not track year by year.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
15
Early backer (in before they grew)
45/46
Grantees still filing
36/46
Grew since you first funded

Where your money sits — by cause, then by grantee

MARGARET RUTH RADER DAF — $675,951 · OtherMARGARET RUTH RADER DAFNORMAN 2 FUND — $662,813 · OtherNORMAN 2 FUND+26 more — $243,700 · Other+26 moreTHE COLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB — $22,500 · EnvironmentTRUSTEES FOR ALASKA — $18,000 · EnvironmentCOLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB FOUNDATION — $16,000 · EnvironmentALASKA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION — $15,000 · EnvironmentNATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC — $10,000 · Environment1000 FRIENDS OF OREGON — $8,000 · EnvironmentTHE ALASKA CENTER EDUCATION FUND — $5,000 · EnvironmentHIGH COUNTRY NEWS — $4,500 · Environment+3 more — $8,000 · EnvironmentCatholic Social Services — $42,500 · Human ServicesEMERGENCY FAMILY ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATION — $22,500 · Human ServicesALASKA WOMENS RESOURCE CENTER — $15,000 · Human ServicesRESOURCE CENTER FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN INC — $10,000 · Human ServicesCOVENANT HOUSE ALASKA — $5,000 · Human ServicesARTIST MENTORSHIP PROGRAM — $4,000 · Human ServicesFAIRBANKS RESCUE MISSION INC — $28,500 · Housing & ShelterBeans Cafe Inc — $25,000 · Housing & ShelterBOULDER SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS INC — $15,000 · Housing & ShelterPATH HOME — $11,000 · Housing & ShelterPEAR — $10,000 · Housing & ShelterWORLD BICYCLE RELIEF NFP — $54,000 · Public Safety & DisasterUNIVERSITY OF COLORADO FOUNDATION — $18,000 · EducationTHE NORTHWEST ACADEMY — $15,000 · EducationLITERACY COUNCIL OF ALASKA — $5,000 · EducationChildren's Cancer Association — $21,800 · Arts & CultureOREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY — $13,000 · Arts & Culture
Other$1,582,464Environment$107,000Human Services$99,000Housing & Shelter$89,500Public Safety & Disaster$54,000Education$38,000Arts & Culture$34,800

Each org by its size and your share of it — top-left is where you’re load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ your share of their budgetWORLD BICYCLE RELIEF NFP — $54,000 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetCatholic Social Services — $42,500 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetNORDIC SKI CLUB OF FAIRBANKS — $35,000 over 7y, 1.2% of budgetFAIRBANKS RESCUE MISSION INC — $28,500 over 6y, 0.3% of budgetBeans Cafe Inc — $25,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetTHE COLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB — $22,500 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetEMERGENCY FAMILY ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATION — $22,500 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetChildren's Cancer Association — $21,800 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetBLACK UNITED FUND OF OREGON — $21,000 over 7y, 0.3% of budgetTransition Projects Inc — $19,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetTRUSTEES FOR ALASKA — $18,000 over 3y, 0.5% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF COLORADO FOUNDATION — $18,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetACTION AGAINST HUNGER - USA — $17,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCOLORADO MOUNTAIN CLUB FOUNDATION — $16,000 over 2y, 5.5% of budgetTHE NORTHWEST ACADEMY — $15,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetALASKA WOMENS RESOURCE CENTER — $15,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetALASKA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION — $15,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetBOULDER SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS INC — $15,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetOREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY — $13,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetVIA VITA HEALTH PROJECT INC — $12,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetPATH HOME — $11,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetPEAR — $10,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetWestern Resource Advocates — $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetNATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL INC — $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetA FAMILY STORY — $10,000 over 2y, 8.7% of budgetRESOURCE CENTER FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN INC — $10,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetVINE ALASKA INC — $8,000 over 3y, 0.9% of budget1000 FRIENDS OF OREGON — $8,000 over 7y, 0.2% of budgetPORTLAND TENNIS & EDUCATION — $8,000 over 6y, 0.3% of budgetFAIRBANKS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK SERVICE INC — $6,500 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC — $6,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBOULDER VALLEY WOMEN'S HEALTH CENTER INC — $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetCOVENANT HOUSE ALASKA — $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetLITERACY COUNCIL OF ALASKA — $5,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetTHE ALASKA CENTER EDUCATION FUND — $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetAMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC — $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHIGH COUNTRY NEWS — $4,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetARTIST MENTORSHIP PROGRAM — $4,000 over 2y, 1.0% of budgetTHE BREAD LINE INC — $4,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY — $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLIFEWATER INC — $3,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCONSERVATION COLORADO EDUCATION FUND — $3,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWOUNDED WARRIOR OUTDOOR ADVENTURES INC — $2,000 over 1y, 5.1% of budgetAlaska Trails — $2,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetECO-CYCLE INC — $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPixie Project Inc — $200 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Go grantee by grantee — a decade per org, and how each moved after you funded them

A decade per grantee — revenue shaded, your grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

The grantmakers whose grantees overlap with yours far more than size alone predicts. Each orbits closer the stronger the alignment; the arcs between them show where they also fund each other. Here it reads as a tightly interlocked camp — most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Alaska Community FoundationAK28× affinity12 shared granteesties to 10 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Alaska Community Foundation · Rasmuson Foundation · The Usibelli Foundation · The Oregon Community Foundation · M J Murdock Charitable Trust · Meyer Memorial Trust · United Way of the Tanana Valley Inc · Bill Stroecker Foundation · Richard L and Diane M Block Foundation · The Harold & Arlene Schnitzer Care Foundation · Community Foundation Boulder County · Xcel Energy Foundation

Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. A research starting point: overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

Government reliance of your grantees

Every dot is one organization The Norman Foundation funds. Left–right is the share of its income from government; up–down is the share from you. Bigger dots raise more. Filter to federal, a single department, or state — and drag the year to watch it move.

2024
202122232425
no gov · 40%1%3%6%10%your share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from governmentmedian 2%
  • Transition Projects Inc29% of income from government
  • Oregon Museum of Science and Industry4% of income from government
  • Artist Mentorship Program2% of income from government
  • Pear1% of income from government
  • Black United Fund of Oregon1% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
4get no government money at all
10report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
typical government reliance, FY2025

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 your grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first — a floor, not 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 12–24 months.

On method. Every financial figure here is read directly from IRS e-file XML — your own 990/990-PF and the multi-year returns of the 56 grantees we resolved across every year we hold, several hundred filings in all (a different count from the grant rows on the cover, which are one fiscal year)— each linked to its source. Grantee achievements and outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III); we read these as association with sustained funding — the foundation is one of several forces — suppress low-confidence name matches rather than guess, and say so where a figure rests on a single grant or filing. Not everything on this page is a filed figure, and the difference matters. Filed is what you reported on your 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. How we build these →

Generated from your IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12–24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

More from the funding graph