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The Rum Fund at a glance

· Private foundation

The Rum Fund

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.

$289k
Granted FY2025still arriving
40
Grants FY2025still arriving
11
States reached
$103k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0198% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2025.

Philanthropy$629kEducation$619kArts & Culture$515kReligion$447kHealth$398kHuman Services$232kRecreation & Sports$20kAnimals$18kOther$0
02FY2025 · 40 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k34 grants · $57k
  • $10k–50k4 grants · $74k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $158k
$1,400
Median grant
11
States reached
$3.1M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Minnesota Orchestra Association$103,333
Guthrie Theater$54,167
Minneapolis Jewish Federation$25,000
Children's Theatre Company$19,842
Temple Israel$18,800
Washington University$10,000
Minnesota Hillel$7,500
The Sholom Foundation$7,200
Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research$5,000
Film Independent$5,000
Jewish Community Relations Council$3,600
University of MN Foundation$2,750
The Blake School$2,500
Minneapolis Institute of Arts$2,500
University of PA Law School$2,000
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 (FY20–25, $232k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, 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%Project Hope Charities: $500 → 13%Jewish Family and Children's Services: $7k → 11%Jewish Family and Children's Services: $7k → 11%Jewish Family and Children's Services: $7k → 11%Jewish Family and Children's Services: $2k → 11%Jewish Family and Children's Services: $2k → 11%ICA Food Shelf: $500 → 11%ICA Food Shelf: $180 → 11%ICA Food Shelf: $52 → 11%Pinky Swear Foundation: $2k → 11%Sholom Foundation: $68k → 11%Sholom Foundation: $48k → 11%Sholom Foundation: $37k → 11%Sholom Foundation: $30k → 11%The Sholom Foundation: $15k → 11%The Sholom Foundation: $7k → 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

ME
MN
IL
NY
MA
OH
PA
CA
UT
CO
MO
MD
AZ
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.

96%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$2.4M · 43 repeat orgs$90k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +30% since the first grant, against -2% for those funded once.

43 repeat relationships: 28 still active in FY2025, 15 since wound down; 11 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

43
44

Total granted

$2.4M
$79k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+30%
-2%

Still filing today

86%
59%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 95% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $12k went to new ones.

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

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

’20’21’22’23’24’25
Arts & CultureHealthEducationHuman ServicesAnimalsEnvironmentOther
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

  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION
    5× · 2020–2025 · $403k · revenue +137%
  • PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC
    5× · 2020–2024 · $273k · revenue +40%
  • MO
    MINNESOTA ORCHESTRAL ASSOCIATION
    5× · 2020–2025 · $240k · revenue +64%

Funded once

  • TC
    THE CARNEGIE HALL CORPORATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $10k · revenue +84%
  • PL
    PROJECT LYME
    one grant, 2023 · $10k · revenue -44%
  • TR
    THE RUSTIC PATHWAYS FOUNDATION INC
    one grant, 2020 · $8k · revenue -92%
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 Medical Association

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

—
2
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The mission of mit is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.

Education
3
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
4
Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States Inc

The fsmb serves as the voice for state medical boards, supporting them through education, assessment, research and advocacy while providing services and initiatives that promote patient safety, quality health care and regulatory best…

Health
5
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
6
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.

—
7
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The minnesota chamber of commerce proactively leads the business community statewide to: advance pro-business, responsible minnesota public policy that creates jobs and grows the econony; provde member services to address evolving business…

—
8
Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Mitchell hamline school of law is an independent law school that advances its mission through a combination of legal education, public service, and community engagement. it is dedicated to preparing students to practice law, while also…

Education
9
Boston Architectural College

The bac is committed to provide excellence in design education grounded in practice and accessible to diverse communities.

—
10
The Minneapolis Foundation

The foundation cultivates generosity by taking action on the greatest civic, social, and economic needs partnering with nonprofits, facilitating grantmaking, driving research and advocacy, and providing services to donors seeking to make a…

Philanthropy
11
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…

—
12
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
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Minneapolis Jewish Federation; the most unlike its peers is Friends of the Headwaters. 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

79 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. 79 of the 103 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)
75/79
Grantees still filing
45/79
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: $403,250 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA…THE BLAKE SCHOOL: $135,250 · EducationTHE BLAKE SCHOOLWASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: $50,000 · EducationWASHINGTON UNIVERSITY+8 more: $26,325 · EducationMINNEAPOLIS JEWISH FEDERATION: $466,500 · PhilanthropyMINNEAPOLIS JEWISH FED…GREATER TWIN CITIES UNITED WAY: $126,167 · PhilanthropyGREATER TWIN CITIES UN…+1 more: $1,000 · PhilanthropyTEMPLE ISRAEL: $421,053 · OtherTEMPLE ISRAELJEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL OF MINNESOTA AND THE DAKOTAS: $35,400 · OtherJEWISH COMMUNITY RELAT…+53 more: $117,673 · Other+53 moreMINNESOTA ORCHESTRAL ASSOCIATION: $239,666 · Arts & CultureMINNESOTA ORCHESTRA…Children's Theatre Company and School: $147,992 · Arts & CultureChildren's Theatre …GUTHRIE THEATER FOUNDATION: $71,167 · Arts & CultureGUTHRIE THEATER FOU…+12 more: $45,391 · Arts & Culture+12 morePLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC: $272,500 · HealthPLANNED PARENTH…ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC: $91,630 · HealthALZHEIMER'S DIS…THE MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON'S RESEARCH: $14,715 · Health+10 more: $13,250 · HealthSHOLOM FOUNDATION: $204,560 · Human ServicesJEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICE OF MINNEAPOLIS: $24,566 · Human Services+3 more: $3,032 · Human ServicesHERZL CAMP FOUNDATION: $19,700 · Religion
Education$614,825Philanthropy$593,667Other$574,126Arts & Culture$504,216Health$392,095Human Services$232,158Religion$19,700

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 budgetMINNEAPOLIS JEWISH FEDERATION: $466,500 over 6y, 0.6% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: $403,250 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetPLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA INC: $272,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetMINNESOTA ORCHESTRAL ASSOCIATION: $239,666 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetSHOLOM FOUNDATION: $204,560 over 6y, 2.6% of budgetChildren's Theatre Company and School: $147,992 over 6y, 0.6% of budgetTHE BLAKE SCHOOL: $135,250 over 6y, 0.2% of budgetGREATER TWIN CITIES UNITED WAY: $126,167 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC: $91,630 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetGUTHRIE THEATER FOUNDATION: $71,167 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetWASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: $50,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetJEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL OF MINNESOTA AND THE DAKOTAS: $35,400 over 3y, 1.3% of budgetJEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICE OF MINNEAPOLIS: $24,566 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetHERZL CAMP FOUNDATION: $19,700 over 5y, 0.7% of budgetMINNESOTA HILLEL: $14,800 over 4y, 0.5% of budgetTHE MICHAEL J FOX FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON'S RESEARCH: $14,715 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetMINNEAPOLIS SOCIETY OF FINE ARTS DBA MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ARTS: $12,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetTRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA: $12,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CARNEGIE HALL CORPORATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPROJECT LYME: $10,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetTHE RUSTIC PATHWAYS FOUNDATION INC: $7,875 over 1y, 10% of budgetMINNESOTA ZOO FOUNDATION: $7,100 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetSOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER INC: $7,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetLIVING DESERT THE: $6,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetMINNESOTA LANDSCAPE ARBORETUM FOUNDATION: $5,091 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFILM INDEPENDENT: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetORATORIO SOCIETY OF MINNESOTA: $5,000 over 5y, 2.3% of budgetUnited States Association for UNHCR: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLake Minnetonka Association: $4,750 over 6y, 0.3% of budgetSix Points Theater: $4,000 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetMINNETONKA CENTER FOR THE ARTS: $4,000 over 6y, 0.3% of budgetHILLEL AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST LOUIS: $3,960 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetPETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM FOUNDATION: $3,600 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMISSION ANIMAL HOSPITAL: $3,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budget180 DEGREES INC: $3,400 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetSUMMIT ACADEMY OIC: $3,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetABBOTT NORTHWESTERN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetINTERNATIONAL CENTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNational Law Enforcement and Firefighters Childrens Foundation: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetPRO-CHOICE MINNESOTA: $1,865 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetPINKY SWEAR FOUNDATION: $1,800 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT FOUNDATION: $1,200 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCHILDREN'S CANCER RESEARCH FUND: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY: $1,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetMinnesota Council on Foundations: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAnimal Humane Society: $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 Minneapolis Found…Saint Paul & Minnesot…Mightycause Charitabl…Mike & Linda Fiterman…Oren and Sharron Stei…Alex G & Mollie Tanke…Elmar Family Foundati…Lynne & Andrew Redlea…Stanley M & Luella G …The Head Family Found…Pohlad Family Foundat…Ch Robinson Worldwide…
The Minneapolis FoundationMN26.6× affinity13 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 · Mightycause Charitable Foundation · Mike & Linda Fiterman Family Foundation · Oren and Sharron Steinfeldt Foundation · Alex G & Mollie Tankenoff Family Foundation · Elmar Family Foundation · Lynne & Andrew Redleaf Foundation · Stanley M & Luella G Goldberg Family Foundation · The Head Family Foundation · Pohlad Family Foundation · Ch Robinson Worldwide 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 Rum Fund funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Rum Fund. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%1%4%8%15%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 0%
  • Pan-Massachusetts Challenge Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
1get no government money at all
14report 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.

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 103 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 Rum’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