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The Phileona Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Phileona 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.

$1.1M
Granted FY2025still arriving
62
Grants FY2025still arriving
12
States reached
$428k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0198% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2018 to 2024.

Animals$2.3MPhilanthropy$2.2MArts & Culture$1.2MReligion$657kEnvironment$627kHealth$589kEducation$523kHuman Services$202kOther$0
02FY2025 · 62 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k41 grants · $118k
  • $10k–50k18 grants · $375k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $149k
  • $250k+1 grant · $428k
$4,500
Median grant
12
States reached
$21M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
MISSION ANIMAL HOSPITAL$427,985
MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION$98,515
ARTHRITIS NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION$50,000
TEMPLE ISRAEL$49,900
REEF RENEWAL USA$40,000
PLANNED PARENTHOOD$35,000
MORADA WAY ARTS & CULTURAL DISTRICT$30,000
MINNEAPOLIS JEWISH FEDERATION$25,000
THE EXPLORERS CLUB$25,000
WNET$25,000
PET HAVEN INC OF MINNESOTA$20,000
US SPEEDSKATING$15,000
BROADWAY CARESEQUITY FIGHTS AIDS INC$15,000
CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY AND SCHOOL$13,850
MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO$12,500
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 (FY18–25, $295k) land where the poverty rate runs at 9%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 56% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%THE HUMMINBIRD ALLIANCE: $1k → 10%THIS OLD HORSE INC: $25k → 6%SHOLOM FOUNDATION: $50k → 6%THIS OLD HORSE INC: $3k → 6%SHOLOM FOUNDATION: $50k → 6%THIS OLD HORSE INC: $3k → 6%UJAMAA PLACE: $15k → 14%UJAMAA PLACE: $8k → 14%INTERACT CENTER FOR THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS INC: $1k → 14%INTERCONGREGATION COMMUNITIES ASSOCIATION: $5k → 11%BROADWAY ADVOCACY COALITION INC: $2k → 17%THE INNOCENCE PROJECT INC: $5k → 17%THE INNOCENCE PROJECT INC: $5k → 17%THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP: $25k → 11%AVIVO: $18k → 11%AVIVO: $16k → 11%AVIVO: $12k → 11%PROJECT FOR PRIDE IN LIVING: $5k → 11%WAY TO GROW: $15k → 11%APPETITE FOR CHANGE INC: $11k → 11%APPETITE FOR CHANGE INC: $7k → 11%APPETITE FOR CHANGE INC: $7k → 11%APPETITE FOR CHANGE INC: $1k → 11%NATIVE GOVERNANCE CENTER: $5k → 11%CORNERSTONE ADVOCACY SERVICE: $2k → 11%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

VT
WA
MN
IL
NY
MA
OH
NJ
CT
RI
CA
CO
MO
MD
TN
DC
AL
GA
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.

89%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$7.1M · 108 repeat orgs$854k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +22% since the first grant, against +2% for those funded once.

108 repeat relationships: 38 still active in FY2025, 70 since wound down; 22 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

108
84

Total granted

$7.1M
$712k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+22%
+2%

Still filing today

80%
73%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 85% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $143k went to new ones.

50%100%’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Arts & CultureEducationHealthHuman ServicesEnvironmentAnimalsOther
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

  • MA
    MISSION ANIMAL HOSPITAL
    8× · 2018–2025 · $2.1M · revenue +65%
  • GT
    GUTHRIE THEATER FOUNDATION
    6× · 2019–2024 · $260k · revenue +46%
  • Nova Southeastern University Inc
    2× · 2018–2020 · $170k · revenue +39%

Funded once

  • TH
    THE HISPANIC INSTITUTE
    one grant, 2020 · $75k · revenue -37%
  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
    one grant, 2018 · $73k
  • SF
    SHALOM FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2021 · $50k
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
Minnesota Fringe Festival

Minnesota fringe connects adventurous artists with adventurous audiences by creating open, supportive forums for free and diverse artistic expression.

Arts & Culture
2
Minnesota Council on Foundations

MCF is a vibrant philanthropic community connecting, strengthening and mobilizing the power of philanthropy to advance prosperity and equity.

—
3
Minnesota Business Partnership

The minnesota business partnership's mission is to maintain a high quality of life for all minnesotans by ensuring that the state's economy remains strong, globally competitive and its prospects for growth bright by working with elected…

—
4
Twin Cities Diversity in Practice

To attract, recruit, advance, and retain attorneys of color in the twin cities through education and collaboration with member organizations.

Community Improvement
5
Arts Midwest Incorporated

Arts Midwest works collaboratively with private and public arts supporters to support, inform, and celebrate arts organizations and creative communities across the Midwest. Our mission is to build unprecedented opportunity across the…

Arts & Culture
6
Minnesota Medical Association

To be the leading voice of medicine to make minnesota the healthiest state and the best place to practice.

—
7
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.

—
8
The American Theatre Guild

The american theatre guild is dedicated to providing the experience of live theatre to foster passion, inspire creativity and empower youth within our communities.

Arts & Culture
9
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

The Television Academy is dedicated to celebrating excellence, innovation and the advancement of the telecommunications arts and sciences through recognition, education and leadership, while fostering a diverse, inclusive and accessible…

—
10
Stages

Stages makes plays and tells stories that invite everyone to live more deeply and love more boldly.

Arts & Culture
11
University of Minnesota Foundation Investment Advisors

To provide the highest level of stewardship for university donors through professional management and oversight of the university of minnesota foundation's assets by creating a focused investment environment with clarity of purpose,…

Education
12
University of New Haven

The University of New Haven is a student-centered comprehensive university with an emphasis on excellence in liberal arts and professional education. Our mission is to prepare our students to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in a…

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Minneapolis Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Motorsport Safety Foundation Corp. 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

177 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. 177 of the 220 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.

3
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
37
Early backer (in before they grew)
170/177
Grantees still filing
103/177
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

MISSION ANIMAL HOSPITAL: $2,136,185 · AnimalsMISSION ANIMAL HOSPITALSea Turtle Oversight Protection Inc: $87,000 · Animals+7 more: $155,500 · Animals+7 moreTEMPLE ISRAEL: $632,600 · OtherTEMPLE ISRAELPLANNED PARENTHOOD: $233,000 · OtherPLANNED PARENTHOODUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE: $215,769 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION…NRDC ACTION FUND INC: $206,550 · OtherNRDC ACTION FUND INCREEF RENEWAL USA: $190,000 · OtherREEF RENEWAL USAJEWISH FEDERATION OF BROWARD COUNTY: $140,000 · OtherSUSTAINABLE MARKETS FOUNDATION: $125,000 · Other+92 more: $1,238,449 · Other+92 moreMINNEAPOLIS JEWISH FEDERATION: $1,515,535 · PhilanthropyMINNEAPOLIS JEWISH FEDER…THE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION: $379,015 · PhilanthropyTHE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATI…The Constellation Fund: $156,000 · PhilanthropyThe Constellation Fund+7 more: $57,000 · PhilanthropyGUTHRIE THEATER FOUNDATION: $260,006 · Arts & CultureGUTHRIE THEAT…THEATER LATTE DA: $109,255 · Arts & CultureTHEATER LATTE…SING FOR HOPE INC: $97,000 · Arts & CultureSING FOR HOPE…NEW YORK SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL: $76,500 · Arts & CultureNEW YORK SHAK…THE HISPANIC INSTITUTE: $75,000 · Arts & CultureTHE HISPANIC …WALKER ART CENTER: $69,500 · Arts & CultureWALKER ART CE…BUG PERFORMANCE AND MEDIA ART CENTER: $55,000 · Arts & CultureMIDWAY CONTEMPORARY ART: $50,400 · Arts & Culture+30 more: $415,593 · Arts & Culture+30 moreNova Southeastern University Inc: $170,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: $104,335 · EducationUNIDOS MINNESOTA EDUCATION FUND: $65,000 · EducationWALLIN EDUCATION PARTNERS: $40,250 · EducationBreck School: $33,500 · EducationPROJECT SUCCESS: $22,000 · Education+10 more: $66,000 · EducationARTHRITIS NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION: $150,000 · HealthCHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION: $88,500 · HealthTHE PINK AGENDA INC: $41,250 · HealthPLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND INC: $40,000 · HealthWashburn Center for Children: $25,000 · Health+8 more: $24,000 · HealthSHOLOM FOUNDATION: $100,000 · Human ServicesAVIVO: $45,500 · Human ServicesTHIS OLD HORSE INC: $30,000 · Human ServicesAPPETITE FOR CHANGE INC: $26,100 · Human ServicesThe Family Partnership: $25,000 · Human ServicesUJAMAA PLACE: $22,500 · Human ServicesWAY TO GROW: $15,000 · Human ServicesTHE INNOCENCE PROJECT INC: $10,000 · Human Services+7 more: $21,000 · Human Services
Animals$2,378,685Other$2,981,368Philanthropy$2,107,550Arts & Culture$1,208,254Education$501,085Health$368,750Human Services$295,100

Showing the 200 largest grantees by grant value.

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

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetMISSION ANIMAL HOSPITAL: $2,136,185 over 8y, 6.8% of budgetMINNEAPOLIS JEWISH FEDERATION: $1,515,535 over 7y, 1.2% of budgetTHE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION: $379,015 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetGUTHRIE THEATER FOUNDATION: $260,006 over 6y, 0.2% of budgetNRDC ACTION FUND INC: $206,550 over 3y, 1.1% of budgetNova Southeastern University Inc: $170,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetThe Constellation Fund: $156,000 over 3y, 2.1% of budgetARTHRITIS NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION: $150,000 over 3y, 1.9% of budgetSUSTAINABLE MARKETS FOUNDATION: $125,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetTHEATER LATTE DA: $109,255 over 8y, 1.4% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: $104,335 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetSHOLOM FOUNDATION: $100,000 over 2y, 2.7% of budgetSING FOR HOPE INC: $97,000 over 5y, 2.7% of budgetCHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION: $88,500 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetSea Turtle Oversight Protection Inc: $87,000 over 4y, 39% of budgetINDIGENOUS PEOPLES TASK FORCE: $80,000 over 3y, 1.4% of budgetNEW YORK SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL: $76,500 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetTHE HISPANIC INSTITUTE: $75,000 over 1y, 24% of budgetWALKER ART CENTER: $69,500 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetSOS OUTREACH: $67,000 over 4y, 1.8% of budgetUNIDOS MINNESOTA EDUCATION FUND: $65,000 over 2y, 3.5% of budgetPET HAVEN INC OF MINNESOTA: $56,000 over 5y, 2.8% of budgetBUG PERFORMANCE AND MEDIA ART CENTER: $55,000 over 2y, 20% of budgetMIDWAY CONTEMPORARY ART: $50,400 over 8y, 1.4% of budgetNATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetAVIVO: $45,500 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHE PINK AGENDA INC: $41,250 over 8y, 1.5% of budgetGIRAFFE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION USA: $40,500 over 3y, 1.7% of budgetWALLIN EDUCATION PARTNERS: $40,250 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetPLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND INC: $40,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetMINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA: $37,500 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetHENNEPIN THEATRE TRUST: $37,500 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetJEWISH FEDERATION OF ORANGE COUNTY: $36,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetWILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER OF MINNESOTA: $35,000 over 4y, 0.5% of budgetBreck School: $33,500 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetTHE PLAYWRIGHTS' CENTER INC: $30,350 over 6y, 0.5% of budgetMORADA WAY ARTS & CULTURAL DISTRICT INC: $30,000 over 1y, 25% of budgetTHIS OLD HORSE INC: $30,000 over 3y, 1.9% of budgetJUXTAPOSITION ARTS INC: $29,500 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetChildren's Theatre Company and School: $28,100 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetMARINE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF THE FLORIDA KEYS INC: $27,500 over 2y, 33% of budgetFRIENDS OF STOWE VIBRANCY INC: $27,500 over 3y, 10% of budgetBROADWAY CARESEQUITY FIGHTS AIDS INC: $27,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetAPPETITE FOR CHANGE INC: $26,100 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetACHIEVE TWIN CITIES: $25,735 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetWORLD VETS: $25,500 over 2y, 2.2% of budgetTHE EXPLORERS CLUB: $25,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetWNET: $25,000 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.

  • Who funds MISSION ANIMAL HOSPITAL ↗
  • Who funds MINNEAPOLIS JEWISH FEDERATION ↗
  • Who funds THE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds GUTHRIE THEATER FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds NRDC ACTION FUND INC ↗
  • Who funds Nova Southeastern University Inc ↗
  • Who funds The Constellation Fund ↗
  • Who funds ARTHRITIS NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds SUSTAINABLE MARKETS FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds THEATER LATTE DA ↗
  • Who funds UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds SHOLOM FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds SING FOR HOPE INC ↗
  • Who funds CHILDREN'S HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds Sea Turtle Oversight Protection Inc ↗
  • Who funds INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TASK FORCE ↗
  • Who funds NEW YORK SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL ↗
  • Who funds THE HISPANIC INSTITUTE ↗
  • Who funds WALKER ART CENTER ↗
  • Who funds SOS OUTREACH ↗
  • Who funds UNIDOS MINNESOTA EDUCATION FUND ↗
  • Who funds PET HAVEN INC OF MINNESOTA ↗
  • Who funds BUG PERFORMANCE AND MEDIA ART CENTER ↗
  • Who funds MIDWAY CONTEMPORARY ART ↗
  • Who funds NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds AVIVO ↗
  • Who funds THE PINK AGENDA INC ↗
  • Who funds GIRAFFE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION USA ↗
  • Who funds WALLIN EDUCATION PARTNERS ↗
  • Who funds PLANNED PARENTHOOD ACTION FUND INC ↗
  • Who funds MINNESOTA PUBLIC RADIO AMERICAN PUBLIC MEDIA ↗
  • Who funds HENNEPIN THEATRE TRUST ↗

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 Minneapolis Found…Saint Paul & Minnesot…The McKnight Foundati…Otto Bremer TrustMinnesota Community F…Mightycause Charitabl…Target FoundationCh Robinson Worldwide…Linsmayer James B Fdn…Xcel Energy FoundationThe Head Family Found…Margaret a Cargill Fo…
The Minneapolis FoundationMN64.5× affinity50 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Minneapolis Foundation · Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation · The McKnight Foundation · Otto Bremer Trust · Minnesota Community Foundation · Mightycause Charitable Foundation · Target Foundation · Ch Robinson Worldwide Foundation · Linsmayer James B Fdn Tr-Main · Xcel Energy Foundation · The Head Family Foundation · Margaret a Cargill 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 Phileona Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Phileona Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 120%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 6%
  • National Marine Sanctuary Foundation: 88% of income from government
  • The Coral Restoration Foundation Inc: 16% of income from government
  • Burlington City Arts Foundation Inc: 6% of income from government
  • The Center for Independent Documentary Inc: 6% of income from government
  • Nova Southeastern University Inc: 2% of income from government
  • Giraffe Conservation Foundation Usa: 2% of income from government
  • Eugene O'neill Memorial Theater Center Inc: 1% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
12get no government money at all
34report 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 Phileona Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The Phileona 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 220 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 Phileona’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