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The Quercus Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Quercus 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.

$73k
Granted FY2025still arriving
11
Grants FY2025still arriving
3
States reached
$10k
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, FY2019 to 2025.

Human Services$96kFood & Nutrition$95kInternational$89kHealth$83kCrime & Legal$43kPublic Safety & Disaster$25kHousing & Shelter$20kArts & Culture$8kOther$0
02FY2025 · 11 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k6 grants · $23k
  • $10k–50k5 grants · $50k
$5,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$1.8M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
World Central Kitchen$10,000
Catholic Charities of Diocese Oakla$10,000
Alameda County Community Food Bank$10,000
UNRWA USA National Committee$10,000
Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solan$10,000
William J Brennan Jr Center For Jus$5,000
Doctors Without Borders USA$5,000
Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project$5,000
International Rescue Committe$2,500
Bay Area Crisis Nursery$2,500
Intercept Media Inc$2,500
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 (FY19–25, $35k) land where the poverty rate runs at 13%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 57% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%Trinity Center Walnut Creek: $5k → 9%Trinity Center Walnut Creek: $5k → 9%Trinity Center Walnut Creek: $5k → 9%Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project: $5k → 17%Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project: $5k → 17%Oakland Catholic Worker: $5k → 10%Innocence Project: $5k → 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

MN
NY
CA
VA
MD
DC
HI
TX
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.

85%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$397k · 14 repeat orgs$70k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +55% since the first grant, against -11% for those funded once.

14 repeat relationships: 9 still active in FY2025, 5 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

14
10

Total granted

$397k
$58k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+55%
-11%

Still filing today

79%
80%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 83% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $13k went to new ones.

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

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

’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
InternationalHuman ServicesFood & NutritionHealthEducationEnvironmentOther
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

  • FB
    FOOD BANK OF CONTRA COSTA AND SOLANO
    6× · 2020–2025 · $60k · revenue +55%
  • BA
    BAY AREA CRISIS NURSERY
    7× · 2019–2025 · $43k · revenue +10%
  • RL
    RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME FOUNDATION
    6× · 2019–2024 · $38k · revenue +54%

Funded once

  • NP
    Nonviolent Peaceforcegraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $10k · revenue +47%
  • United States Association for UNHCR
    one grant, 2022 · $10k · revenue -59%
  • PA
    PHOENIX ARTS ASSOCIATION
    one grant, 2019 · $5k · revenue -20%
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
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
2
Actionaid Usa

Actionaid is an international network building a just, equitable, and sustainable world in solidarity with communities on the frontlines of poverty and injustice. actionaid usa is the u.s. branch of actionaid international, which works in…

Social Science
3
Food Forward Inc

Food forward fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people experiencing food insecurity, and inspiring others to do the same.

Food & Nutrition
4
Refugees International Inc

Refugees international advocates for lifesaving assistance, human rights, and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crisis.

International
5
Washington Office On Latin America

To advance human rights and social justice in the americas.

International
6
Women's Refugee Commission Inc

To improve the lives and protect the rights of women, children and youth displaced by conflict and crisis. the women's refugee commission envisions a world in which refugees are safe, healthy and reliant and seeks to drive change in…

Human Services
7
International Refugee Assistance Project Inc

Irap is a global legal aid and advocacy organization working to create a world where refugees and all people seeking safety are empowered to claim their right to freedom of movement and a path to lasting refuge. everyone should have a safe…

Human Services
8
United Food Bank

United Food Bank unites communities to alleviate hunger.

Food & Nutrition
9
Pangea Legal Services

Pangea's mission is to provide deportation defense services, advocate for policy change, and provide education and legal empowerment for our immigrant communities.

Crime & Legal
10
World Relief Corp of National Association of Evangelicals

To boldly engage the world's greatest crises in partnership with the church.

International
11
International Medical Corps

To save lives & relieve suffering through health interventions & related activities that strengthen communities affected by conflict, natural disasters & disease outbreaks.

International
12
The Global FoodBanking Network

To nourish the world's hungry through uniting and advancing food banks.

International
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Medecins Sans Frontieres Usa Inc; the most unlike its peers is Phoenix Arts Association. 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

21 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. 21 of the 26 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)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
21/21
Grantees still filing
14/21
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Catholic Charities of Diocese Oakla: $42,950 · OtherCatholic Charities of Diocese OaklaBAY AREA CRISIS NURSERY: $42,600 · OtherBAY AREA CRISIS NURSERYALAMEDA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK: $30,000 · OtherALAMEDA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOOD BANKNAMI California: $30,000 · OtherNAMI CaliforniaTreatment Advocacy Center: $25,000 · OtherTreatment Advocacy CenterWilliam J Brennan Jr Center For Jus: $12,500 · OtherWilliam J Brennan Jr Center For Jus+3 more: $12,500 · Other+3 moreMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $30,000 · InternationalMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES U…International Rescue Committee INC: $29,000 · InternationalInternational Rescue Commi…WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $20,000 · InternationalWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INCNonviolent Peaceforce: $10,000 · InternationalNonviolent PeaceforceUnited States Association for UNHCR: $10,000 · InternationalUnited States Association …UNRWA USA NATIONAL COMMITTEE INC: $10,000 · InternationalUNRWA USA NATIONAL COMMITT…FOOD BANK OF CONTRA COSTA AND SOLANO: $60,000 · Food & NutritionFOOD BANK OF CO…MAUI FOOD BANK INC: $5,000 · Food & NutritionMAUI FOOD BANK …RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME FOUNDATION: $37,500 · HealthRESTLESS LEG…BRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION: $12,500 · HealthBRIGHTFOCUS …TRINITY CENTER WALNUT CREEK: $15,000 · Human ServicesASYLUM SEEKER ADVOCACY PROJECT INC: $10,000 · Human ServicesOAKLAND CATHOLIC WORKER: $5,000 · Human ServicesTHE INNOCENCE PROJECT INC: $5,000 · Human ServicesTHE LEGACY FUNDS OF HOLY NAMES UNIVERSITY: $5,000 · EducationCLEAN WATER FUND: $5,000 · EnvironmentTHE INTERCEPT MEDIA INC: $2,500 · Arts & Culture
Other$195,550International$109,000Food & Nutrition$65,000Health$50,000Human Services$35,000Education$5,000Environment$5,000Arts & Culture$2,500

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 budgetFOOD BANK OF CONTRA COSTA AND SOLANO: $60,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetBAY AREA CRISIS NURSERY: $42,600 over 7y, 0.8% of budgetRESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME FOUNDATION: $37,500 over 6y, 1.1% of budgetALAMEDA COUNTY COMMUNITY FOOD BANK: $30,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetNAMI California: $30,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $30,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetInternational Rescue Committee INC: $29,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $20,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTRINITY CENTER WALNUT CREEK: $15,000 over 3y, 0.6% of budgetBRIGHTFOCUS FOUNDATION: $12,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetNonviolent Peaceforce: $10,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetASYLUM SEEKER ADVOCACY PROJECT INC: $10,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetUnited States Association for UNHCR: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPHOENIX ARTS ASSOCIATION: $5,000 over 1y, 6.6% of budgetMAUI FOOD BANK INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetOAKLAND CATHOLIC WORKER: $5,000 over 1y, 3.3% of budgetTHE LEGACY FUNDS OF HOLY NAMES UNIVERSITY: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE INNOCENCE PROJECT INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCLEAN WATER FUND: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% 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 San Francisco Fou…East Bay Community Fo…ImpactassetsincGs Donor Advised Phil…Vanguard Charitable E…Paypal Charitable Giv…Morgan Stanley Global…The Bank of America C…American Online Givin…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
The San Francisco FoundationCA16.7× affinity6 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The San Francisco Foundation · East Bay Community Foundation · Impactassetsinc · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Paypal Charitable Giving Fund · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · 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 Quercus Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Quercus Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    8report 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, 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 Quercus Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to The Quercus 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 26 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 Quercus’ 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