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The Saunders Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Saunders Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$470k
Granted FY2024still arriving
22
Grants FY2024still arriving
3
States reached
$200k
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 2024.

Education$1.7MArts & Culture$1.3MHuman Services$626kHealth$579kAnimals$263kScience & Tech$229kPhilanthropy$215kHousing & Shelter$155kOther$0
02FY2024 · 22 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k7 grants · $33k
  • $10k–50k14 grants · $237k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $200k
$10,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$12M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Museum of Science and Industry$200,000
Oasis Opportunities$40,000
Champions for Children$30,000
Judeo Christian Health Clinic Inc$25,000
Voices for Children of Tampa Bay In$20,000
Eckerd College$15,000
Children's Home Network$15,000
More Health Inc$15,000
Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay Inc$15,000
Tampa Metroplitan Area YMCA Inc$12,000
Stageworks Inc$10,000
Lighthouse of Pinellas$10,000
Habitat for Humanity of Hillsboroug$10,000
Great Exploration Childrens Museum$10,000
Cornerstone Family Ministries Inc$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 (FY17–24, $379k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 80% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%SOUTHEASTERN GUIDE DOGS: $25k → 10%SOUTHEASTERN GUIDE DOGS: $25k → 10%Southeastern Guide Dogs Inc: $25k → 10%Wheelchairs 4 Kids Inc: $15k → 12%WHEELCHAIRS 4 KIDS INC: $10k → 12%Wheelchairs 4 Kids Inc: $10k → 12%Wheelchairs 4 Kids Inc: $10k → 12%WHEELCHAIRS 4 KIDS INC: $10k → 12%The Helen Gordon Davis Centre for W: $10k → 13%THE CENTRE FOR WOMEN INC: $10k → 13%Metropolitan Ministries: $30k → 13%Metropolitan Ministries: $25k → 13%A BRIGHTER COMMUNITY INC: $15k → 13%A BRIGHTER COMMUNITY INC: $15k → 13%A BRIGHTER COMMUNITY INC: $15k → 13%A Brighter Community: $15k → 13%TAMPA METROPOLITAN AREA YMCA: $10k → 13%Metropolitan Ministries: $5k → 13%Metropolitan Ministries: $5k → 13%METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES: $5k → 13%METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES: $5k → 13%Metropolitan Ministries: $5k → 13%A KID'S PLACE: $24k → 13%A Kid's Place of Tampa Bay Inc: $21k → 13%METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES: $5k → 13%A Kid's Place: $9k → 13%Metropolitan Ministries: $5k → 13%CORNERSTONE FAMILY MINISTRIES: $5k → 13%Cornerstone Family Ministries Inc: $10k → 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.
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.
04

Where the work is directed

The same grants placed two ways: where each recipient sits, and where its stated purpose sends the money.

About 7% of The Saunders Foundation’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address. By recipient address, 97% of the giving stays in FL; by stated purpose, 89%.

The Saunders Foundationlessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address · 2.8% directed abroad (not shown)
How this is measured
Recipient view: each grant at its grantee’s ZIP, mapped to a county. Directed view: each grant at the county its stated purpose names, falling back to the recipient’s county when the purpose names no place; US grants only. A county shows only if it carries the top 95% of that view’s dollars. Purposes are read from the funder’s own 990 grant descriptions.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

92%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$4.8M · 45 repeat orgs$415k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +68% since the first grant, against +55% for those funded once.

45 repeat relationships: 16 still active in FY2024, 29 since wound down; 5 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

45
22

Total granted

$4.8M
$342k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+68%
+55%

Still filing today

76%
59%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 84% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $73k went to new ones.

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

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Arts & CultureHuman ServicesHealthEducationPhilanthropyAnimalsOther
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

  • TU
    The University of Tampa Incorporated
    7× · 2017–2023 · $1.2M · revenue +77%
  • CF
    CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN INC
    8× · 2017–2024 · $183k · revenue +24%
  • TM
    TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART INC
    3× · 2017–2023 · $155k · revenue +682%

Funded once

  • TB
    TAMPA BAY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ST
    one grant, 2017 · $50k
  • FW
    FISH & WILDLIFE FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA Igraduated
    one grant, 2018 · $28k · revenue +169%
  • FW
    FLORIDA WEST COAST PUBLIC BROADCAST
    one grant, 2017 · $27k
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 Florida Center for Early Childhood Inc

The florida center supports the healthy development of young children, specializing in those with delays, disabilities or mental health challenges. our mission- "to help build and foster strong families and expand the potential of young…

Human Services
2
Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation

To develop and sustain a thriving local economy by focusing on the attraction, expansion and retention of high wage jobs and capital investment.

Community Improvement
3
Orlando Health Inc

Orlando health is a trusted leader inspiring hope through the advancement of health. our mission as a community-owned organization is to improve the health and quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve.

Health
4
Tampa Bay Partnership Inc

The tampa bay partnership is a privately funded, ceo-driven regional advocacy organization, committed to creating a unified, competitive and prosperous tampa bay.

—
5
Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc

Working in partnership with state business leaders to secure florida's future.

—
6
Florida Health Sciences Center Inc

As the region's leading safety net hospital, tampa general hospital is committed to providing area residents with excellent and compassionate health care ranging from the simplest to the most complex medical services. our shared purpose:…

Health
7
University of Florida Health Corporation

UF Health's mission is to promote health through outstanding and high-quality patient care, innovative and rigorous education in the health professions and biomedical sciences, and high-impact research across the spectrum of basic,…

—
8
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Inc

We harness the power of plants for humankind and share the joy and beauty of tropical gardening with everyone. fairchild tropical botanic garden is a museum of tropical plants within a world famous, 83-acre designed landscape. it was…

Environment
9
Orlando Health Foundation Inc

The mission of the orlando health foundation is to support the strategic priorities of orlando health through philanthropy. this is accomplished through special events and annual major and planned gift fundraising efforts.

Health
10
Variety Children's Hospital

To inspire hope and promote lifelong health by providing the best care to every child.

Health
11
Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corp Inc

To promote visitation to florida by strengthening florida's share of the global travel market with the goal of maximizing the economic impact of travel and tourism to florida.

—
12
Florida Community Health Centers Inc

Florida community health centers, inc. (fchc) is a federally qualified health center serving medically needy populations in south florida, with an emphasis on serving rural and farm worker communities.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Inc; the most unlike its peers is Tampa Museum of Art Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
05the grantee network

52 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. 52 of the 76 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)
15
Early backer (in before they grew)
52/52
Grantees still filing
40/52
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

The University of Tampa Incorporated: $1,160,000 · EducationThe University of Tampa Incorpora…OASIS Network of New Tampa Inc: $176,000 · EducationOASIS Network of New Tampa IncHillsborough Education Foundation Inc: $105,000 · EducationHillsborough Education Foundation…Eckerd College: $100,000 · EducationEckerd CollegeVIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION INC: $90,000 · EducationVIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION INC+1 more: $25,000 · EducationTampa Bay Performing Arts Center In: $200,000 · OtherTampa Bay Performing Arts Center …TAMPA BAY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER STRAZ: $100,000 · OtherTAMPA BAY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER …VOICES FOR CHILDREN OF TAMPA BAY INC: $97,500 · OtherVOICES FOR CHILDREN OF TAMPA BAY …SENIORS IN SERVICE OF TAMPA BAY INC: $80,000 · OtherGirl Scouts of West Central Florida Inc: $70,000 · OtherLowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa Inc: $125,000 · OtherLowry Park Zoological Society of …CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN INC: $182,500 · OtherCHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN INCJUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF TAMPA BAY INC: $100,000 · OtherJUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF TAMPA BAY I…+32 more: $684,184 · Other+32 moreMUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY INC: $228,700 · Arts & CultureMUSEUM OF SC…TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART INC: $155,000 · Arts & CultureTAMPA MUSEUM…THE FLORIDA ORCHESTRA: $135,000 · Arts & CultureTHE FLORIDA …FLORIDA WEST COAST PUBLIC BROADCASTING INC: $55,000 · Arts & CultureFLORIDA WEST…+4 more: $55,000 · Arts & Culture+4 moreTHE TAMPA BAY HISTORY CENTER: $505,000 · EnvironmentTHE TAMPA B…TAMPA BAY WATCH INC: $58,000 · EnvironmentTAMPA BAY W…METROPOLITAN MINISTRIES INC: $90,000 · Human ServicesSoutheastern Guide Dogs Inc: $75,000 · Human ServicesA Brighter Community Inc: $60,000 · Human ServicesWheelchairs 4 Kids Inc: $55,000 · Human ServicesA KID'S PLACE OF TAMPA BAY INC: $54,250 · Human ServicesTHE CENTRE FOR WOMEN INC: $20,000 · Human ServicesCORNERSTONE FAMILY MINISTRIES INC: $15,000 · Human Services+1 more: $10,000 · Human ServicesTAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC: $105,000 · HealthJUDEO CHRISTIAN HEALTH CLINIC INC: $75,000 · HealthLifePath Hospice Inc: $73,494 · HealthH LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC: $50,000 · HealthMORE HEALTH INC: $30,000 · HealthQUANTUM LEAP FARM INC: $20,000 · HealthTHE CHILDREN'S HOME INC: $15,000 · HealthUNITED WAY SUNCOAST INC: $100,000 · PhilanthropyChapters Health Foundation Inc: $86,200 · PhilanthropyCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF TAMPA BAY INC: $75,000 · PhilanthropySOUTHWEST FLORIDA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC: $40,000 · Philanthropy+1 more: $10,000 · Philanthropy
Education$1,656,000Other$1,639,184Arts & Culture$628,700Environment$563,000Human Services$379,250Health$368,494Philanthropy$311,200

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 budgetThe University of Tampa Incorporated: $1,160,000 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetTHE TAMPA BAY HISTORY CENTER: $505,000 over 6y, 4.3% of budgetMUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY INC: $228,700 over 2y, 3.4% of budgetCHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN INC: $182,500 over 8y, 0.5% of budgetOASIS Network of New Tampa Inc: $176,000 over 7y, 6.8% of budgetTAMPA MUSEUM OF ART INC: $155,000 over 3y, 1.8% of budgetTHE FLORIDA ORCHESTRA: $135,000 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetLowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa Inc: $125,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetHillsborough Education Foundation Inc: $105,000 over 6y, 0.4% of budgetTAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC: $105,000 over 3y, 1.3% of budgetJUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF TAMPA BAY INC: $100,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetUNITED WAY SUNCOAST INC: $100,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetEckerd College: $100,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetVOICES FOR CHILDREN OF TAMPA BAY INC: $97,500 over 6y, 13% of budgetMETROPOLITAN MINISTRIES INC: $90,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetVIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION INC: $90,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetChapters Health Foundation Inc: $86,200 over 3y, 0.6% of budgetSENIORS IN SERVICE OF TAMPA BAY INC: $80,000 over 6y, 0.7% of budgetSoutheastern Guide Dogs Inc: $75,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF TAMPA BAY INC: $75,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetJUDEO CHRISTIAN HEALTH CLINIC INC: $75,000 over 3y, 3.3% of budgetLifePath Hospice Inc: $73,494 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetGirl Scouts of West Central Florida Inc: $70,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetA Brighter Community Inc: $60,000 over 4y, 3.2% of budgetTAMPA BAY WATCH INC: $58,000 over 4y, 0.7% of budgetWheelchairs 4 Kids Inc: $55,000 over 5y, 1.9% of budgetFLORIDA WEST COAST PUBLIC BROADCASTING INC: $55,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetA KID'S PLACE OF TAMPA BAY INC: $54,250 over 3y, 0.7% of budgetH LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE INC: $50,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetLIGHTHOUSE OF PINELLAS INC: $40,000 over 4y, 0.6% of budgetSOUTHWEST FLORIDA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC: $40,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetThe Florida Aquarium Inc: $35,049 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetMORE HEALTH INC: $30,000 over 2y, 3.0% of budgetFISH & WILDLIFE FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA I: $28,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetHOLLINS UNIVERSITY CORPORATION: $25,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUNIVERSITY AREA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION INC: $20,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetQUANTUM LEAP FARM INC: $20,000 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetJOBSITE THEATRE INC: $20,000 over 4y, 1.2% of budgetTHE CENTRE FOR WOMEN INC: $20,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetFLORIDA HOUSE WASHINGTON DC INC: $16,000 over 8y, 0.4% of budgetCORNERSTONE FAMILY MINISTRIES INC: $15,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetTHE CHILDREN'S HOME INC: $15,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMUSIC WILL INC: $15,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetCORPORATION TO DEVELOP COMMUNITIES OF TAMPA INC: $12,500 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetSTAGEWORKS INC: $10,000 over 1y, 1.7% of budgetHABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY FLORIDA: $10,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetFLORIDA HOLOCAUST MUSEUM INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetFRIENDS OF JOSHUA HOUSE FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.9% 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.

Debartolo Family Foun…Vinik Family Foundati…Suncoast Credit Union…Community Foundation …Publix Super Markets …Blue Cross Blue Shiel…Frank E Duckwall Foun…The Spurlino Foundati…Rays Baseball Foundat…Pinellas Community Fo…The Florida Medical C…New York Yankees Tamp…
Debartolo Family Foundation IncFL54.4× affinity24 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Debartolo Family Foundation Inc · Vinik Family Foundation · Suncoast Credit Union Foundation · Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Inc · Publix Super Markets Charities Inc · Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida Foundation · Frank E Duckwall Foundation · The Spurlino Foundation · Rays Baseball Foundation Inc · Pinellas Community Foundation · The Florida Medical Clinic Foundation of Caring Inc · New York Yankees Tampa Foundation Inc

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 Saunders Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Saunders Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 70%1%4%8%15%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 1%
  • University Area Community Development Corporation Inc: 100% of income from government
  • Southwest Florida Community Foundation Inc: 69% of income from government
  • Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay Inc: 48% of income from government
  • Corporation to Develop Communities of Tampa Inc: 37% of income from government
  • Champions for Children Inc: 14% of income from government
  • Brookwood Florida Inc: 7% of income from government
  • The Centre for Women Inc: 6% of income from government
  • Tampa Metropolitan Area Young Men's Christian Association Inc: 4% of income from government
  • Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida I: 1% of income from government
  • United Way Suncoast Inc: 1% of income from government
  • The Children's Home Inc: 0% of income from government
  • Eckerd College: 0% of income from government
  • Lowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa Inc: 0% of income from government
  • Southeastern Guide Dogs Inc: 0% of income from government
  • The University of Tampa Incorporated: 0% of income from government
  • Metropolitan Ministries Inc: 0% of income from government
  • Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay Inc: 0% of income from government
  • Tampa Museum of Art Inc: 0% of income from government
  • Florida Holocaust Museum Inc: 0% of income from government
  • The Florida Aquarium Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
7get no government money at all
22report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
2rely 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 Saunders Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The Saunders 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 76 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 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Saunders’ 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