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The Okavango Private Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Okavango Private 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.

$380k
Granted FY2025still arriving
28
Grants FY2025still arriving
7
States reached
$85k
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, FY2022 to 2025.

Animals$768kEnvironment$145kHealth$80kScience & Tech$65kEducation$60kHousing & Shelter$35kCivil Rights$35kEmployment$30kOther$0
02FY2025 · 28 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k17 grants · $80k
  • $10k–50k8 grants · $115k
  • $50k–250k3 grants · $185k
$5,000
Median grant
7
States reached
$9.7M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY$85,000
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE OCEAN CLEANUP FOUNDATION$50,000
DUKE UNIVERSITY$50,000
SIEMBRA NC$25,000
BEAUTIFUL TOGETHER$25,000
THE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST USA INC$15,000
SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER$10,000
BEAUTIFUL TOGETHER$10,000
NATIONAL IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CENTER$10,000
NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS$10,000
ACLU$10,000
CAROLINAS GOLF FOUNDATION$9,600
HAW RIVER ASSEMBLY INC$5,000
SKY DOG SANCTUARY INC$5,000
MUDDY PAWS RESCUE$5,000
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 (FY23–25, $150k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 10% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%CARE FOR THE HOMELESS: $5k → 17%BEAUTIFUL TOGETHER: $50k → 9%BEAUTIFUL TOGETHER: $45k → 9%BEAUTIFUL TOGETHER: $25k → 9%BEAUTIFUL TOGETHER: $10k → 9%BEAUTIFUL TOGETHER: $5k → 9%WOMEN IN NEED: $10k → 17%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

IL
NY
CA
UT
VA
MD
TN
NC
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.

65%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$821k · 15 repeat orgs$450k to everyone else

15 repeat relationships: 10 still active in FY2025, 5 since wound down; 10 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

15
19

Total granted

$821k
$263k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

-1%
+4%

Still filing today

87%
74%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 51% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $187k went to new ones.

50%100%’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’22’23’24’25
AnimalsHuman ServicesEnvironmentPhilanthropyReligionInternationalOther
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

  • MOTE MARINE LABORATORY INC
    2× · 2023–2024 · $65k · revenue +51%
  • SD
    SKY DOG SANCTUARY INC
    4× · 2022–2025 · $50k · revenue +12%
  • MP
    Muddy Paws Rescue
    3× · 2023–2025 · $30k · revenue +79%

Funded once

  • OM
    ONE MIND
    one grant, 2023 · $50k
  • SC
    SAVE CRYSTAL RIVER INC
    one grant, 2023 · $50k · revenue -19%
  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2023 · $30k
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
Animal Care Sanctuary

Animal care sanctuary's lifesaving mission as a no kill organization envisions a community that promotes turning compassion into action for companion animals by: 1.) adopting healthy pet companions into loving homes. 2.) promoting the…

Animals
2
Animal Care and Control of New York City Inc

Animal care centers of nyc's (acc) mission is to end animal homelessness in nyc.

Animals
3
Saving Saluda Strays
Animals
4
Safe Haven for Cats

The mission of safe haven for cats is to use no-kill principles and education to save cats' lives through rescue, adoption, spay/neuter services and community programs.

Animals
5
Carolina Tiger Rescue

Carolina tiger rescue's mission is saving and protecting wildcats in captivity and in the wild.

Animals
6
Charleston Animal Society

Since its founding, our mission has always stayed the same: the prevention of cruelty to animals. in 1874, charleston animal society became the first animal organization in south carolina and one of the first in the nation and has never…

Animals
7
Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

The primary mission of the humane society is to end animal cruelty, neglect and overpopulation in south carolina.

Animals
8
A Life to Live Animal Shelter and Adoption Center

We have a no-kill mission to save the lives of homeless cats and dogs abandoned and/or placed in kill shelters, while also providing life-saving programs and services to keep pets and their people together. through outreach, education and…

—
9
Tri County Humane Society

Tri-county animal rescue is a no-kill, nonprofit animal shelter working to prevent the killing of over 573,000 unwanted pets in broward, miami-dade, and palm beach counties. tri-county has no boundaries; we go all over the u.s. whenever we…

Animals
10
Peace 4 Animals

Peace 4 animals animal welfare organization supports the conservation of endangered species worldwide. we work on campaigns to promote advocacy and education on how to protect wildlife in peril, as well as the preservation of their natural…

Animals
11
Live Free Animal Rescue

To rescue abandoned, neglected and traumatized animals and find these animals their furever homes.

Animals
12
American Humane Association

Founded in 1877, american humane association, dba american humane society (american humane) is committed to ensuring the safety, welfare and well-being of animals. our leadership programs are first to serve in promoting and nurturing the…

Animals
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Care for the Homeless; the most unlike its peers is Charity Global Inc. 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

34 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. 34 of the 45 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.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
34/34
Grantees still filing
17/34
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY: $232,575 · AnimalsBEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETYOUR WILD NEIGHBORS INC: $162,000 · AnimalsOUR WILD NEIGHBORS INCSKY DOG SANCTUARY INC: $50,000 · AnimalsSKY DOG SANCTUARY INCOLD FRIENDS SENIOR DOGS INC: $30,000 · Animals+10 more: $100,500 · Animals+10 moreMOTE MARINE LABORATORY INC: $65,000 · OtherMOTE MARINE LABORATORY INCONE MIND: $50,000 · OtherONE MINDAMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE OCEAN CLEANUP FOUNDATION: $50,000 · OtherAMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE OCEAN CLE…SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER: $30,000 · OtherSOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTERIndividual grant recipient: $30,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipientFARM SANCTUARY FUND: $12,500 · OtherJOSH'S HOPE FOUNDATION INC: $20,000 · OtherJOSH'S HOPE FOUNDATION INCBELOVED ASHEVILLE: $15,000 · Other+13 more: $98,200 · Other+13 moreBEAUTIFUL TOGETHER: $135,000 · Human ServicesBEAUTIFUL TOG…WOMEN IN NEED INC: $10,000 · Human ServicesWOMEN IN NEED…+2 more: $10,000 · Human Services+2 moreSAVE CRYSTAL RIVER INC: $50,000 · EnvironmentHAW RIVER ASSEMBLY INC: $15,000 · EnvironmentDUKE UNIVERSITY: $50,000 · EducationMuddy Paws Rescue: $30,000 · Philanthropy+1 more: $1,000 · PhilanthropySIEMBRA NC: $25,000 · Civil Rights
Animals$575,075Other$370,700Human Services$155,000Environment$65,000Education$50,000Philanthropy$31,000Civil Rights$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 budgetBEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SOCIETY: $232,575 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetOUR WILD NEIGHBORS INC: $162,000 over 3y, 94% of budgetBEAUTIFUL TOGETHER: $135,000 over 3y, 5.1% of budgetMOTE MARINE LABORATORY INC: $65,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetSKY DOG SANCTUARY INC: $50,000 over 4y, 0.7% of budgetSAVE CRYSTAL RIVER INC: $50,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetDUKE UNIVERSITY: $50,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMuddy Paws Rescue: $30,000 over 3y, 0.6% of budgetOLD FRIENDS SENIOR DOGS INC: $30,000 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetSOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER: $30,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetJOSH'S HOPE FOUNDATION INC: $20,000 over 1y, 4.8% of budgetBELOVED ASHEVILLE: $15,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetANIMAL PROTECTION SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY: $15,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetHAW RIVER ASSEMBLY INC: $15,000 over 2y, 1.3% of budgetSAVE THE MANATEE CLUB INC: $15,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetTHE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST USA INC: $15,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE BLIND SPOT ANIMAL SANCTUARY IN: $15,000 over 2y, 2.6% of budgetChristian Herald Association Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWOMEN IN NEED INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOMPASSION WITHOUT BORDERS: $10,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetFRIENDS OF KING'S COLLEGE LONDON ASSOCIATION INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNEW YORK BULLY CREW: $10,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetCAROLINAS GOLF FOUNDATION: $9,600 over 1y, 3.2% of budgetFARM SANCTUARY INC: $8,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCHARITY GLOBAL INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOALITION FOR THE HOMELESS INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetINTER-FAITH COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICE INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCARE FOR THE HOMELESS: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFROSTED FACES FOUNDATION INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNEMA FOUNDATION INC: $1,000 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.

The Duffield Family F…The Pfizer Foundation…Strowd Roses IncTriangle Community Fo…Foundation for the Ca…Duke Energy FoundationAmerican Express Foun…Network for GoodPaypal Charitable Giv…The Blackbaud Giving …Jpmorgan Chase Founda…Morgan Stanley Global…
The Duffield Family Foundation Dba Maddie's FundCA15.1× affinity5 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Duffield Family Foundation Dba Maddie's Fund · The Pfizer Foundation Inc · Strowd Roses Inc · Triangle Community Foundation Inc · Foundation for the Carolinas · Duke Energy Foundation · American Express Foundation · Network for Good · Paypal Charitable Giving Fund · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust 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 Okavango Private Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Okavango Private Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 55%
  • Save Crystal River Inc: 55% of income from government
  • Mote Marine Laboratory Inc: 4% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
2get no government money at all
4report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
1rely on government for over half their income
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 Okavango Private Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The Okavango Private 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 45 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 Okavango Private’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