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The Sear Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Sear 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.

$92k
Granted FY2025still arriving
13
Grants FY2025still arriving
8
States reached
$33k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0199% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Human Services$137kArts & Culture$35kEducation$35kAnimals$28kPhilanthropy$20kHousing & Shelter$12kInternational$12kFood & Nutrition$8kOther$0
02FY2025 · 13 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k10 grants · $37k
  • $10k–50k3 grants · $55k
$5,000
Median grant
8
States reached
$686k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
GARY SINISE FOUNDATION$33,000
TUNNELS TO TOWERS FOUNDATION$12,000
NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION$10,000
TRAVIS MILLS FOUNDATION$8,000
SAMARITAN'S PURSE$5,000
TURNING POINT USA INC$5,000
VICTORY JUNCTION$5,000
DOGS FOR LIFE$4,000
DOBERMAN RESCUE LEAGUE$4,000
THE LYRIC THEATER$2,500
SPIKES K-9 FUND$1,500
HOMES FOR TROOPS INC$1,000
MARTIN COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS$700
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:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY17–25) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 97% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%TURNING POINT USA INC: $5k → 11%HOUSING 4 THE HOMELESS: $2k → 11%TUNNELS TO TOWERS FOUNDATION: $12k → 11%THE LYRIC THEATER: $3k → 10%DOGS FOR LIFE: $4k → 12%DOBERMAN RESCUE LEAGUE: $4k → 13%GARY SINISE FOUNDATION: $33k → 14%VICTORY JUNCTION: $5k → 14%SAMARITAN'S PURSE: $5k → 21%K9 HURRICANE HEROES: $2k → 4%HOPE FOR THE WARRIORS: $2k → 6%SPIKES K-9 FUND: $2k → 10%DOBERMAN RESCUE: $2k → 5%MAYFIELD GRAVES COUNTY TORNADO RELIEF FUND: $3k → 19%TRAVIS MILLS FOUNDATION: $6k → 12%TUNNELS TO TOWERS FOUNDATION: $10k → 11%THE LYRIC THEATHER: $3k → 10%DOGS FOR LIFE: $4k → 12%DOBERMAN RESCUE LEAGUE: $4k → 13%GARY SINISE FOUNDATION: $25k → 14%SAMARITAN'S PURSE: $5k → 21%TRAVIS MILLS FOUNDATION: $5k → 12%TUNNEL TO TOWERS: $5k → 11%DOGS FOR LIFE: $2k → 12%NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION: $10k → 10%TRAVIS MILLS FOUNDATION: $4k → 12%STEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION: $4k → 11%NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION: $8k → 10%TRAVIS MILLS FOUNDATION: $2k → 12%STEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION: $3k → 11%NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION: $4k → 10%TRAVIS MILLS FOUNDATION: $2k → 12%SEMPER FI FUND: $2k → 11%NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION: $3k → 10%TRAVIS MILLS FOUNDATION: $8k → 12%ALPHA PROJECT: $5k → 11%NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION: $3k → 10%TRAVIS MILLS FOUNDATION: $5k → 12%ALPHA PROJECT: $2k → 11%NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION: $2k → 10%SHELTER TO SOLDIER: $2k → 11%JACOBS & CUSHMAN SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK: $4k → 11%JACOBS & CUSHMAN SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK: $2k → 11%JACOBS & CUSHMAN SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK: $2k → 11%GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY: $4k → 11%GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY: $2k → 11%RANCHO COASTAL HUMANE SOCIETY: $2k → 11%RANCHO COASTAL HUMANE SOCIETY: $2k → 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
NH
IL
NY
MA
CA
NE
KY
VA
AZ
TN
NC
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.

88%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$273k · 15 repeat orgs$37k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +59% since the first grant, against +29% for those funded once.

15 repeat relationships: 9 still active in FY2025, 6 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

15
16

Total granted

$273k
$24k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+59%
+29%

Still filing today

87%
56%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 86% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $13k went to new ones.

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

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

’17’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
AnimalsPhilanthropyEducationPublic Safety & DisasterPublic BenefitHousing & ShelterOther
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

  • GARY SINISE FOUNDATION
    8× · 2017–2025 · $114k · revenue +196%
  • STEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION
    5× · 2021–2025 · $34k · revenue +112%
  • NAVY SEAL FOUNDATION INC
    6× · 2020–2025 · $30k · revenue +59%

Funded once

  • MG
    MAYFIELD GRAVES COUNTY TORNADO RELIEF FUND INC
    one grant, 2021 · $3k · revenue -98%
  • TL
    THE LYRIC THEATHER
    one grant, 2024 · $3k
  • SF
    SEMPER FI & AMERICA'S FUNDgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $2k · revenue +56%
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
Shield of Faith Missions

Sof is called to empower warriors to find purpose, be resilient, and live well. we develop and provide customized treatment plans for veterans through our national network of partners.

Religion
2
Leashes of Valor

Our organization's mission is to raise awareness for and provide physical aid and support to disabled us military veterans. our program covers a crucial gap in the industry-a veteran operated organization, that can assist veterans with…

Public Benefit
3
Special Forces Foundation

The special forces foundation provides immediate and ongoing support to the special forces community and their families.

Philanthropy
4
United States War Dogs Association Inc

The mission of the corporation is to provide support for the war dogs of the united states military. the organization provides care packages to war dogs and their handlers serving overseas. the organization also provides support for…

Animals
5
Fallen Soldiers March

Providing highly trained service dogs for wounded united states military veterans in need of assistance

—
6
Operational K9 Medical Team of Wisconsin
Animals
7
K9 Hurricane's Heroes Inc

K9 hurricane's heroes, a federally recognized, non-profit organization, provides "retired law enforcement and military dogs" with subsidized veterinary care so they can live a long and healthy life. often these incredible dogs are the…

Animals
8
CJ3 Foundation

Cj3 foundation provides services, support, and advocacy to united states military service members, veterans/disabled veterans, law enforcement, and emergency responders who need/require assistance, and then connecting them with resources…

Human Services
9
Semper K9 Assistance Dogs

Combat veteran-founded and operated Semper K9s mission is to enhance the quality of life for wounded members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families by providing them with custom-trained mental health mobility service dogs. Using…

Public Benefit
10
Duty First Assistance Dogs

Providing service dogs to veterans and first responders

Human Services
11
Dogs to Dog Tags Inc

D2dt creates an opportunity to save at risk, rescued, or donated dogs, train them, and place them with deserving service members who have been diagnosed with post combat stress and anxiety. the purpose is to provide the veteran, at no…

Public Benefit
12
United Service Organization Uso Council of San Diego

The primary mission of the uso san diego is to strengthen america's military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The San Diego Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Samaritan's Purse. 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 36 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)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
25/25
Grantees still filing
19/25
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

GARY SINISE FOUNDATION: $113,500 · PhilanthropyGARY SINISE FOUNDATIONLA JOLLA CHRISTMAS PARADE AND HOLIDAY FESTIVAL FOUNDATION: $4,200 · Philanthropy+2 more: $3,000 · PhilanthropyTRAVIS MILLS FOUNDATION: $13,000 · OtherTRAVIS MILLS FOUNDATIONALPHA PROJECT FOR THE HOMELESS: $8,500 · OtherALPHA PROJECT FOR THE HOM…TURNING POINT USA INC: $5,000 · OtherTURNING POINT USA INCTHE LYRIC THEATHER: $2,500 · OtherTHE LYRIC THEATER: $2,500 · OtherJACOBS & CUSHMAN SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK: $8,000 · OtherJACOBS & CUSHMAN SAN DIEG…GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY: $6,000 · OtherGOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SA…Spikes K9 Fund: $3,000 · OtherMAYFIELD GRAVES COUNTY TORNADO RELIEF FUND INC: $3,000 · OtherVICTORY JUNCTION GANG CAMP INC: $5,000 · OtherVICTORY JUNCTION GANG CAM…+11 more: $14,200 · Other+11 moreSTEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION: $34,000 · EducationSTEPHEN SILL…+1 more: $1,000 · EducationNAVY SEAL FOUNDATION INC: $30,000 · Arts & CultureNAVY SEAL …DOGS FOR LIFE INC: $10,000 · AnimalsDOGS FOR …DOBERMAN RESCUE LEAGUE INC: $8,000 · AnimalsDOBERMAN …RANCHO COASTAL HUMANE SOCIETY: $4,600 · AnimalsRANCHO CO…SHELTER TO SOLDIER INC: $2,000 · AnimalsSHELTER T…+1 more: $500 · AnimalsTRAVIS MILLS FOUNDATION: $19,000 · Public BenefitUNITED SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS INC: $1,000 · Public BenefitSAMARITAN'S PURSE: $10,000 · Religion
Philanthropy$120,700Other$70,700Education$35,000Arts & Culture$30,000Animals$25,100Public Benefit$20,000Religion$10,000

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 budgetGARY SINISE FOUNDATION: $113,500 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetSTEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION: $34,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetNAVY SEAL FOUNDATION INC: $30,000 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetTRAVIS MILLS FOUNDATION: $19,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetDOGS FOR LIFE INC: $10,000 over 3y, 0.5% of budgetSAMARITAN'S PURSE: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetALPHA PROJECT FOR THE HOMELESS: $8,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetDOBERMAN RESCUE LEAGUE INC: $8,000 over 2y, 0.9% of budgetJACOBS & CUSHMAN SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK: $8,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetGOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY: $6,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTURNING POINT USA INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetRANCHO COASTAL HUMANE SOCIETY: $4,600 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetLA JOLLA CHRISTMAS PARADE AND HOLIDAY FESTIVAL FOUNDATION: $4,200 over 4y, 2.0% of budgetSpikes K9 Fund: $3,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetMAYFIELD GRAVES COUNTY TORNADO RELIEF FUND INC: $3,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetHope For The Warriors: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHousing 4 the Homeless: $2,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetSHELTER TO SOLDIER INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetUNITED SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUC SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMission K9 Rescue Inc: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetINTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIANS & JEWS INC: $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.

Sempra FoundationThe San Diego Foundat…The Pfizer Foundation…The Blackbaud Giving …The Bank of America C…National Philanthropi…Paypal Charitable Giv…Donor Advised Charita…American Online Givin…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Sempra FoundationCA14.4× affinity5 shared granteesties to 10 of 10Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Sempra Foundation · The San Diego Foundation · The Pfizer Foundation Inc · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · National Philanthropic Trust · Paypal Charitable Giving Fund · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · American Online Giving Foundation 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 Sear Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Sear Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%5%10%15%20%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    2get no government money at all
    4report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–20%
    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 36 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 Sear’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