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The Ruffwood Foundation at a glanceMostly funded, not a grantmaker: see who funds it →

· Private foundation

The Ruffwood 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.

$1.7M
Granted FY2025still arriving
13
Grants FY2025still arriving
5
States reached
$1.0M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0193% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Health$1.1MYouth Development$1.1MEducation$1.0MPhilanthropy$600kArts & Culture$550kPublic Benefit$450kHuman Services$256kRecreation & Sports$247kOther$0
02FY2025 · 13 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • $10k–50k8 grants · $130k
  • $50k–250k3 grants · $300k
  • $250k+2 grants · $1.3M
$20,000
Median grant
5
States reached
$28M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Mayo Clinic$1,000,000
Nascar Foundation$300,000
Super Cat Fest 4 Kids$150,000
Dawsonville History Museum Inc$100,000
Sherry White Ministries$50,000
Jeep Beach Inc$20,000
The Creative Chapter Inc$20,000
Andee's Army$20,000
Lake Lanier Association$20,000
American Cancer Society$20,000
Angels Just 4 Kids Inc$10,000
Chateau Elan Military Support Found$10,000
Angel Flight$10,000
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 (FY17–25, $218k) 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 its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%Angel Flight: $20k → 15%Jeep Beach Inc: $50k → 12%Operation Stand Down Tennessee: $3k → 14%Angel Flight: $10k → 15%Jeep Beach Inc: $50k → 12%Jeep Beach Inc: $50k → 12%Jeep Beach Inc: $20k → 12%Meals On Wheels: $5k → 13%Meals On Wheels: $5k → 13%Meals On Wheels: $3k → 13%Samuel's House: $2k → 13%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

NY
CA
MO
MD
TN
NC
SC
OK
LA
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.

74%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$3.6M · 15 repeat orgs$1.2M to everyone else

15 repeat relationships: 6 still active in FY2025, 9 since wound down; 6 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

15
17

Total granted

$3.6M
$118k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+11%
+18%

Still filing today

67%
65%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 22% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $1.1M went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Human ServicesHealthRecreation & SportsEducationEnvironmentYouth DevelopmentOther
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

  • SC
    Summit Charter School Foundation
    2× · 2022–2024 · $1.0M · revenue +303% · 53% of their budget
  • SC
    SUPER CAT FEST 4 KIDS
    3× · 2023–2025 · $450k · revenue +59% · 39% of their budget
  • JB
    JEEP BEACH INC
    4× · 2022–2025 · $170k · revenue +5%

Funded once

  • CS
    CAMP SUNSHINE INC
    one grant, 2023 · $30k · revenue +10%
  • OA
    OPERATION AIRDROP INC
    one grant, 2024 · $20k
  • CP
    Captain Planet Foundation Inc
    one grant, 2024 · $20k · revenue 0%
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
Lighthouse Family Retreat Inc

To provide respite for families caring for a child with cancer.

Health
2
Camp Sunshine At Sebago Lake Inc

Founded in 1984, camp sunshine provides retreats combining respite, recreation and support, while enabling hope and promoting joy, for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families through the various stages of a child's…

Recreation & Sports
3
Soldiers' Angels

Soldiers' angels provides aid, comfort, and resources to the military, veterans, and their families.

Public Safety & Disaster
4
Fishing for the Fight

To support families fighting cancer, people with special needs, and chronic illness by coordinating fly-fishing tournaments on exceptional waters.

Health
5
Miracle Flights

Miracle flights is a national charity that provides free commercial airline tickets for u.s. residents in need of distant medical care not available in their own communities.

—
6
Rally Foundation Inc

Rally foundation, a 501(c) (3) non profit organization, empowers volunteers across the country to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research to find better treatments with fewer long term side effects and, ultimately, cures.

Philanthropy
7
Ferrari of Atlanta - Rides to Remember Foundation

Ferrari of Atlanta hosts an annual charity event called Rides to Remember in support of local families battling childhood cancer.

Health
8
Project Camp Inc

Instilling inspiration and empowerment, while enhancing the lives of children with serious illnesses.

Health
9
Lake Lanier Rowing Club Inc

Promoting the amateur sport of rowing for youths and adults.

Recreation & Sports
10
Trackside Veteran Salute Foundation Nfp

Provide opportunity to Veterans to experiance opportunities of entertainment through motorsports to allow them to escape and bond with new friends via speacial VIP experiences.

Public Benefit
11
Aeroangel Inc

Since 2010, aeroangel has provided free private jet flights primarily for seriously ill children needing travel to and from distant, life-saving medical care. aeroangel is a unique, national aviation charity that uses only private jets…

Health
12
Indy Surviveoars Dragon Boat Racing Inc

To provide support and education to breast cancer survivors.

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Camp Sunshine Inc; the most unlike its peers is Breakthrough T1D. 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

25 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. 25 of the 39 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.

4
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
25/25
Grantees still filing
15/25
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Mayo Clinic: $1,000,000 · OtherMayo ClinicGreat American Boat Parade Inc: $80,000 · OtherJEEP BEACH INC: $170,000 · OtherJEEP BEACH INC+26 more: $436,000 · Other+26 moreBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF LANIER INC: $1,037,500 · Youth DevelopmentBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS …Summit Charter School Foundation: $1,000,000 · EducationSummit Charter Schoo…+1 more: $1,000 · EducationMOTORSPORTS CHARITIES INC: $600,000 · PhilanthropyMOTORSPORTS …+1 more: $10,000 · PhilanthropySUPER CAT FEST 4 KIDS: $450,000 · Public BenefitSUPER CAT…DAWSONVILLE HISTORY MUSEUM INC: $400,000 · Arts & CultureLAKE OF THE OZARKS SHOOTOUT INC: $151,150 · Recreation & SportsCAMP TWIN LAKES INC: $81,000 · Recreation & Sports+1 more: $5,000 · Recreation & Sports
Other$1,686,000Youth Development$1,037,500Education$1,001,000Philanthropy$610,000Public Benefit$450,000Arts & Culture$400,000Recreation & Sports$237,150

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 budgetBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF LANIER INC: $1,037,500 over 2y, 7.9% of budgetSummit Charter School Foundation: $1,000,000 over 2y, 53% of budgetMOTORSPORTS CHARITIES INC: $600,000 over 2y, 5.7% of budgetSUPER CAT FEST 4 KIDS: $450,000 over 3y, 39% of budgetDAWSONVILLE HISTORY MUSEUM INC: $400,000 over 3y, 47% of budgetJEEP BEACH INC: $170,000 over 4y, 2.7% of budgetLAKE OF THE OZARKS SHOOTOUT INC: $151,150 over 6y, 5.1% of budgetCAMP TWIN LAKES INC: $81,000 over 3y, 0.6% of budgetANDEE'S ARMY: $50,000 over 3y, 2.0% of budgetANGEL FLIGHT INC: $30,000 over 2y, 29% of budgetCAMP SUNSHINE INC: $30,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetOPERATION AIRDROP INC: $20,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetLAKE LANIER ASSOCIATION INC: $20,000 over 1y, 3.1% of budgetAMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCaptain Planet Foundation Inc: $20,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetMEALS ON WHEELS OF MIDDLE GEORGIA INC: $13,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetLAKE RACE CORP: $10,000 over 1y, 6.0% of budgetBREAKTHROUGH T1D: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budget1000 ISLAND CHARITY POKER RUN CORP: $5,000 over 1y, 3.3% of budgetOPERATION STAND DOWN TENNESSEE: $3,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSAMUEL'S HOUSE INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetReef Relief Inc: $2,000 over 1y, 0.9% of budgetFOLDS OF HONOR FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetROAD 2 RECOVERY FOUNDATION: $500 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.

Natl Christian Charit…The Bank of America C…Vanguard Charitable E…Network for GoodNational Philanthropi…Paypal Charitable Giv…American Online Givin…Fidelity Investments …Donor Advised Charita…Amazonsmile Foundation
Natl Christian Charitable Fdn IncGA7.7× affinity8 shared granteesties to 9 of 9Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Network for Good · National Philanthropic Trust · Paypal Charitable Giving Fund · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · 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 Ruffwood Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Ruffwood Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 30%4%15%34%60%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 0%
  • Sherry White Ministries Inc: 0% of income from government
  • Jeep Beach Inc: 0% of income from government
  • Samuel's House Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
3get no government money at all
6report 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 Ruffwood Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The Ruffwood 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 39 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 Ruffwood’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