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The Severson Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Severson Family 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.

$45k
Granted FY2024still arriving
14
Grants FY2024still arriving
7
States reached
$5k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02Its granteesRead
03Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0188% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Education$111kInternational$69kFood & Nutrition$60kPhilanthropy$55kReligion$15kArts & Culture$10kHealth$7kHuman Services$6kOther$0
02FY2024 · 14 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

How this is measured
The 14 grants below total $26,200, the rows itemized in this filing. The $45,175 headline is the total grant expense on the return; the other $18,975 is giving the schedule does not break out (grants under the $5,000 itemization floor, grants to individuals, grants on other schedules). Every figure below describes the itemized rows only.
$1,000
Median grant
7
States reached
$618k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Mully Children's Family Foundation$5,000
Hospital de la Familia$5,000
Orinda Community Foundation$5,000
Orinda Network for Education$5,000
Brigham Young University$2,000
Zambia Scholarship Fund$1,000
CARE$1,000
Food Bank of Contra Costa$500
Project Hope$500
Salem High School$500
National Audubon Society$400
Charity Watch$100
Lindsay Wildlife Museum$100
Special Olympics$100
02Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

83%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$248k · 13 repeat orgs$50k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +23% since the first grant, against +21% for those funded once.

13 repeat relationships: 9 still active in FY2024, 4 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

13
28

Total granted

$248k
$44k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+23%
+21%

Still filing today

69%
39%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 72% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $6k went to new ones.

50%100%’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

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

’21’22’23’24
InternationalEducationFood & NutritionHealthEnvironmentCommunity ImprovementOther
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

  • HD
    Hospital De La Familia Foundation
    3× · 2021–2023 · $58k · revenue +131%
  • BC
    Bountiful Children's Foundation
    3× · 2021–2023 · $57k · revenue +23%
  • ON
    ORINDA NETWORK FOR EDUCATION
    3× · 2022–2024 · $15k · revenue +14%

Funded once

  • JM
    Joaquin Moraga Adobe Foundation
    one grant, 2021 · $10k
  • MC
    Mully Childrens Fund
    one grant, 2022 · $5k
  • ON
    Orinda Network for Education Foundation
    one grant, 2021 · $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.

03Its 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
MRIGlobal

To improve the lives of people through innovative scientific and engineering research.

Science & Tech
2
Health Care Without Harm

The mission of health care without harm (hcwh) is to transform health care worldwide so that it reduces its environmental footprint, becomes a community anchor for sustainability and a leader in the global movement for environmental health…

Environment
3
The Union of Concerned Scientists Inc

The union of concerned scientists puts rigorous, independent science into action, developing solutions and advocating for a healthy, safe, and just future.

International
4
The Water Research Foundation

The purpose of the water research foundation (wrf) is a definitive research organization to advance the science of all things water to better meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. to engage exclusively in…

Environment
5
California Dental Association

The california dental association is committed to the success of our members in service to their patients and the public.

Community Improvement
6
Altamed Health Services Corporation

To eliminate disparities in health care access and outcomes by providing superior quality health and human services through an integrated world-class delivery system for latino, multi-ethnic underserved communities in southern california.

Health
7
Ucsf Foundation Investment Company

The organization provides professional investment management services for endowed gifts and financial assets entrusted to the ucsf foundation.

Education
8
Conservation Farms & Ranches

Preserving and enhancing the habitat of wildlife, such as sandhill cranes, waterfowl, raptors, which habitat expenses are supported by agricultural activities.

Housing & Shelter
9
California Certified Organic Farmers Inc

Ccof advances organic agriculture for a healthy world. we accomplish our purpose through organic certification, education, advocacy and promotion. we envision a world where organic is the norm.

—
10
Association of California School Administrators

The association serves its members by creating resources that enable california school administrators to develop and apply creative leadership and management skills and in turn, improve the educational process for all students.

—
11
Western University of Health Sciences

To produce, in a humanistic tradition, health care professionals and biomedical knowledge that will enhance and extend the quality of life in our communities.

—
12
International Medical Corps

To save lives & relieve suffering through health interventions & related activities that strengthen communities affected by conflict, natural disasters & disease outbreaks.

International
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Community Foundation of Jackson Hole; the most unlike its peers is Meals On Wheels Contra Costa Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
03the grantee network

23 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. 23 of the 47 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)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
23/23
Grantees still filing
20/23
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY: $78,500 · OtherBRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITYBountiful Children's Foundation: $57,000 · OtherBountiful Children's FoundationTHE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS: $15,250 · OtherTHE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTSORINDA NETWORK FOR EDUCATION: $15,000 · OtherORINDA NETWORK FOR EDUCATIONJoaquin Moraga Adobe Foundation: $10,000 · OtherMully Children's Family Foundation: $10,000 · Other+25 more: $30,900 · Other+25 moreHospital De La Familia Foundation: $57,500 · InternationalHospital De La Familia …COOPERATIVE FOR ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF EVERYWHERE INC: $5,000 · InternationalCOOPERATIVE FOR ASSISTA…MULLY CHILDRENS FAMILY USA INC: $4,000 · InternationalMULLY CHILDRENS FAMILY …+2 more: $3,100 · InternationalOrinda Community Foundation Inc: $40,000 · Community ImprovementOrinda Commun…+1 more: $1,275 · Community ImprovementZAMBIAS SCHOLARSHIP FUND: $4,500 · EducationOPEN DISCOURSE COALITION: $1,000 · EducationInnova Preparatory School: $1,000 · EducationTHE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN INC: $500 · EducationCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JACKSON HOLE: $2,500 · PhilanthropyFOOD BANK OF CONTRA COSTA AND SOLANO: $1,674 · Food & NutritionMEALS ON WHEELS CONTRA COSTA INC: $500 · Food & NutritionBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $1,000 · HealthCONTRA COSTA CRISIS CENTER: $365 · Health
Other$216,650International$69,600Community Improvement$41,275Education$7,000Philanthropy$2,500Food & Nutrition$2,174Health$1,365

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 budgetHospital De La Familia Foundation: $57,500 over 3y, 2.7% of budgetBountiful Children's Foundation: $57,000 over 3y, 2.3% of budgetOrinda Community Foundation Inc: $40,000 over 4y, 23% of budgetORINDA NETWORK FOR EDUCATION: $15,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetCOOPERATIVE FOR ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF EVERYWHERE INC: $5,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetZAMBIAS SCHOLARSHIP FUND: $4,500 over 3y, 0.5% of budgetMULLY CHILDRENS FAMILY USA INC: $4,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JACKSON HOLE: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFOOD BANK OF CONTRA COSTA AND SOLANO: $1,674 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetHumanitarian Experience Inc: $1,600 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPROJECT HOPE - THE PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE HEALTH FOUNDATION INC: $1,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE ORINDA ASSOCIATION: $1,275 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetBLOOD CANCER UNITED INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetOPEN DISCOURSE COALITION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetInnova Preparatory School: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMEALS ON WHEELS CONTRA COSTA INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetNATIONAL PARK TRUST INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSPECIAL OLYMPICS INC: $500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCONTRA COSTA CRISIS CENTER: $365 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCORPORATED: $350 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLINDSAY WILDLIFE MUSEUM: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE MARINE MAMMAL CENTER: $100 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.

East Bay Community Fo…The Blackbaud Giving …The Depolo FoundationCerity Partners Found…McKesson Foundation I…American Endowment Fo…Morgan Stanley Global…Jpmorgan Chase Founda…Vanguard Charitable E…National Philanthropi…Paypal Charitable Giv…The Pfizer Foundation…
East Bay Community FoundationCA14.8× affinity5 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: East Bay Community Foundation · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · The Depolo Foundation · Cerity Partners Foundation · McKesson Foundation Inc · American Endowment Foundation · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · National Philanthropic Trust · Paypal Charitable Giving Fund · The Pfizer 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.

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 47 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.

Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2025) is on record and reports $70k of grant expense with no grantee named in the published copy. A private foundation itemizes every grant it makes, so a return carrying none has filed its list as an attachment that the public copy does not include. The figures above are therefore from FY2024, the most recent year this funder’s grantee list reached the public record.

Source object · view filing

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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