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The Robert & Christine Emmons Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Robert & Christine Emmons Foundation

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.

$8k
Granted FY2021
4
Grants FY2021
1
States reached
$3k
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 2021.

Arts & Culture$33kEducation$20kHealth$11kHuman Services$8kFood & Nutrition$4kPhilanthropy$3kReligion$3kEnvironment$3kOther$0
02FY2021 · 4 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$2,500
Median grant
1
States reached
$240k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART$3,000
VNA HEALTH FOUNDATION$2,500
SBCC FOUNDATION$1,650
HEAL THE OCEAN$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 (FY17–20, $5k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%UNITY SHOPPE: $2k → 14%Unity Shoppe: $1k → 14%Unity Shoppe: $1k → 14%Friendship Center: $500 → 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.
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.

47%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$43k · 13 repeat orgs$47k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +67% since the first grant, against +62% for those funded once.

13 repeat relationships: 3 still active in FY2021, 10 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2021 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

13
30

Total granted

$43k
$47k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+67%
+62%

Still filing today

46%
50%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2021, 93% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $500 went to new ones.

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

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

’17’18’19’20’21
EducationHuman ServicesEnvironmentHealthArts & CulturePhilanthropyOther
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

  • US
    UNITY SHOPPE INC
    3× · 2018–2020 · $4k · revenue +79%
  • GW
    GANNA WALSKA LOTUSLAND
    2× · 2017–2018 · $2k · revenue +160%
  • DIRECT RELIEF
    2× · 2019–2020 · $2k · revenue +67%

Funded once

  • SM
    SB Museum of Art
    one grant, 2018 · $10k
  • SB
    Santa Barbara Foundation - Key Clas
    one grant, 2019 · $5k
  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2019 · $5k
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
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
2
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
3
Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara

The scholarship foundation of santa barbara inspires, encourages and supports santa barbara county students to and through college, graduate and vocational school by providing information, advising, and scholarships.

—
4
Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce

The mission of the santa barbara south coast chamber of commerce is to create a strong local economy, promote the community, provide business resources and networking opportunities and represent business to the government.

—
5
Opera Santa Barbara

See schedule 0founded in 1994, opera santa barbara is the signature provider of professional opera on the california central coast. we aspire to be a cultural leader in the santa barbara region, voicing and advancing our community's spirit…

Arts & Culture
6
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
7
Santa Barbara Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Santa barbara humane operates two campuses located in santa barbara and santa maria providing care for community-owned and homeless animals. both campuses offer affordable high quality veterinary care, compassionate behavior training…

Animals
8
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

The following three guiding principles are the foundation for all of the santa barbara museum of natural history's activities: inspiring an awe for nature and a thirst for discovery; promoting sustainability; and connecting our…

Arts & Culture
9
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper Inc

The organization was established to protect and restore the santa barbara channel and its watersheds through science-based advocacy, education, field work, community engagement, and citizen enforcement of environmental laws.

Environment
10
Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County

To provide high-quality civil legal services to vulnerable santa barbara county residents.

Crime & Legal
11
Fund for Santa Barbara Inc

Provide cash grants and free consulting to grassroots organizations in santa barbara county.

Philanthropy
12
San Diego County Bar Association

The mission of the san diego county bar association is to be the representative of the san diego county legal profession, serving the prblic and the profession by enhancing the legal system and promoting justice, professional excellence,…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Foundation for Santa Barbara City College; the most unlike its peers is Oxnard Music Advocacy Group 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

22 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. 22 of the 44 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)
7
Early backer (in before they grew)
22/22
Grantees still filing
18/22
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

SB Museum of Art: $10,000 · OtherSB Museum of ArtSANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART: $8,000 · OtherSANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ARTWestmont College Music Guild: $6,000 · OtherWestmont College Music GuildSanta Barbara Foundation - Key Clas: $5,000 · OtherSanta Barbara Foundation - Key ClasIndividual grant recipient: $5,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipientFood Bank of SB County: $3,500 · OtherFood Bank of SB CountyALL SAINTS BY THE SEA: $3,000 · OtherUnited Way of SB County: $2,200 · Other+19 more: $19,250 · Other+19 moreTHE FOUNDATION FOR SANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE: $5,950 · EducationTHE FOUNDAT…LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY: $1,500 · EducationLOYOLA MARY…LAGUNA BLANCA SCHOOL: $1,000 · EducationLAGUNA BLAN…BETA GAMMA SIGMA INC: $500 · EducationBETA GAMMA …VNA HEALTH FOUNDATION: $4,000 · HealthCouncil on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse: $1,000 · HealthSANTA BARBARA NEIGHBORHOOD CLINICS: $1,000 · HealthUNITY SHOPPE INC: $4,000 · Human ServicesFRIENDSHIP ADULT DAY CARE CENTER INC: $500 · Human ServicesDOMESTIC VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS FOR SANTA BARBARA COUNTY: $500 · Human ServicesMUSIC ACADEMY OF THE WEST: $2,000 · Arts & CultureOXNARD MUSIC ADVOCACY GROUP INC: $1,000 · Arts & CultureSANTA BARBARA MARITIME MUSEUM: $1,000 · Arts & CultureDIRECT RELIEF: $2,000 · InternationalLeading from Within: $1,000 · EnvironmentSANTA BARBARA AUDUBON SOCIETY: $500 · EnvironmentHEAL THE OCEAN INC: $500 · Environment
Other$61,950Education$8,950Health$6,000Human Services$5,000Arts & Culture$4,000International$2,000Environment$2,000

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 budgetTHE FOUNDATION FOR SANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE: $5,950 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetVNA HEALTH FOUNDATION: $4,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetUNITY SHOPPE INC: $4,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetGANNA WALSKA LOTUSLAND: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetDIRECT RELIEF: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMUSIC ACADEMY OF THE WEST: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY: $1,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetOXNARD MUSIC ADVOCACY GROUP INC: $1,000 over 1y, 6.5% of budgetCouncil on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSANTA BARBARA NEIGHBORHOOD CLINICS: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLeading from Within: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetLAGUNA BLANCA SCHOOL: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWOMEN'S FUND OF SANTA BARBARA: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSANTA BARBARA MARITIME MUSEUM: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetELINGS PARK FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFRIENDSHIP ADULT DAY CARE CENTER INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSANTA BARBARA AUDUBON SOCIETY: $500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetHEAL THE OCEAN INC: $500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetDOMESTIC VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS FOR SANTA BARBARA COUNTY: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCALM INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBETA GAMMA SIGMA INC: $500 over 2y, 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.

Hutton Foundation Dba…Santa Barbara Foundat…Mosher FoundationAnn Jackson Family Fo…Williams-Corbett Foun…The Wood-Claeyssens F…Giles 2000 Tr Dba Gil…Alice Tweed Tuohy Fou…Volentine Family Foun…June G Outhwaite Char…James S Bower Foundat…Towbes Foundation
Hutton Foundation Dba Hutton Parker FoundationCA34.5× affinity14 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Hutton Foundation Dba Hutton Parker Foundation · Santa Barbara Foundation · Mosher Foundation · Ann Jackson Family Foundation · Williams-Corbett Foundation · The Wood-Claeyssens Foundation · Giles 2000 Tr Dba Giles Family Foundation · Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation · Volentine Family Foundation · June G Outhwaite Charitable Trust JS Poucher KL Englert & CM Cooney Co-Tr · James S Bower Foundation · Towbes 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 Robert & Christine Emmons Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Robert & Christine Emmons Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%15%30%45%60%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    3report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–60%
    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 Robert & Christine Emmons Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to The Robert & Christine Emmons 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 44 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 2021, released 2021. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2024) is on record and reports no grant expense, so the figures above are from FY2021, the most recent year this funder made grants.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Robert & Christine Emmons’ filings →

    More from the funding graph

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    The regranting layer
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    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
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    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
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