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The Sheng Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Sheng 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.

$56k
Granted FY2025still arriving
17
Grants FY2025still arriving
5
States reached
$30k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
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 2025.

Education$192kReligion$50kFood & Nutrition$30kHealth$23kCommunity Improvement$9kHuman Services$9kInternational$7kArts & Culture$6kOther$0
02FY2025 · 17 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k16 grants · $27k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $30k
$1,000
Median grant
5
States reached
$1.5M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
NATIONAL CHUNG-HSING UNIVERSITY$29,792
CCIC - CUPERTINO$8,000
MAKE- A- WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA$3,000
CUPERTINO LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAM ORGANIZATION$2,000
MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM$2,000
GLOBALGIVING FOUNDATION INC$1,780
CA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES$1,500
FILOLI CENTER$1,500
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION$1,000
SACRED HEART COMMUNITY SERVICES$1,000
CHILDREN AT HEART FOUNDATION$1,000
CITYTEAM MINISTRIES$1,000
CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST$960
CORPORATION OF THE FINE ARTS MUSEUMS (DE YOUNG MUSEUM)$699
THE TECH INTERACTIVE$665
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.

US giving: 65% of grant dollars ($219k). The need read here covers only this US portion; the 35% that went abroad ($117k) is mapped below.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY18–25, $9k) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 47% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants spread fairly evenly across need levels.

area typical 10%AMERICAN BEIYINU ALUMNAE FOUNDATION: $2k → 14%ASIAN YOUTH CENTER: $1k → 14%TEXAS BAPTIST CHILDREN HOME: $1k → 6%TEXAS BAPTIST CHILDREN HOME: $1k → 6%HOPE OF THE VALLEY RESCUE MISSION: $1k → 14%TEXAS BAPTIST CHILDREN HOME: $500 → 6%SACRED HEART COMMUNITY SERVICES: $1k → 8%SACRED HEART COMMUNITY SERVICES: $1k → 8%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

MI
NY
CA
AZ
NC
DC
GA
TX
FL

Beyond the US: 35% of all-years giving ($117k)

2 countries, by the recipient’s country on the filing.

grant dollars sentlessmore
Taiwan$87k · 5 grants
OC$30k · 1 grant
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. International giving is mapped by the recipient’s country from the same 990 filings; comparable need data isn’t available at that grain.
03Its 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.
$277k · 29 repeat orgs$58k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +21% since the first grant, against +17% for those funded once.

29 repeat relationships: 15 still active in FY2025, 14 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

29
23

Total granted

$277k
$56k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+21%
+17%

Still filing today

76%
43%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 96% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $2k 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
Arts & CultureHuman ServicesReligionEducationHealthAnimalsOther
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

  • TG
    THE GUTHY-JACKSON RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    4× · 2018–2024 · $10k · revenue +306%
  • VG
    VILLAGE GOSPEL MISSION
    6× · 2018–2023 · $9k · revenue +112%
  • CL
    CUPERTINO LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAM COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION
    4× · 2022–2025 · $7k · revenue +192%

Funded once

  • CD
    CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF MALAKAL
    one grant, 2022 · $30k
  • BO
    BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    one grant, 2024 · $10k
  • SS
    SYIN-LU SOCIAL WELFARE FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2018 · $3k
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
American Museum of Natural History

The museum's mission statement is: "to discover, interpret, and disseminate - through scientific research and education - knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe."

Arts & Culture
2
San Jose Museum of Art Association

Nurture empathy and connection by engaging communities with socially relevant contemporary art

Arts & Culture
3
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
4
Lowell Observatory

The mission of lowell observatory is to pursue the study of astronomy, especially the study of our solar system and its evolution; to conduct pure research in astronomical phenomena; and to maintain quality public education and outreach…

Science & Tech
5
Conservation International Foundation

Ci works to spotlight and secure the critical benefits that nature provides to humanity.

Environment
6
Computer History Museum

Chm decodes technology - its computing past, digital present, and future impact on humanity.

Arts & Culture
7
Oakland Museum of California

The museum's mission is to inspire all californians to create a more vibrant future for themselves and their communities. through collections, exhibitions, education programs, and public dialogue, we inspire people of all ages and…

Arts & Culture
8
Science Museum of Minnesota

The museum's mission statement is "turn on the science: inspire learning. inform policy. improve lives."

Arts & Culture
9
The Adler Planetarium

The adler planetarium ('adler') is a not-for-profit cultural institution whose mission is to connect people to the universe and each other under the sky we all share. it aspires to be the world's premier center for engaging in astronomy…

Arts & Culture
10
Griffith Observatory Foundation

To support and promote griffith observatory as a home for science literacy, education, and public astronomy through resource development and advocacy in partnership with the community.

Science & Tech
11
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Chartered by a unanimous act of congress, the museum is america's national institution for the documentation, study, interpretation, and education of holocaust history and serves as our country's memorial to the victims of the holocaust.…

Arts & Culture
12
The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University

Stanford university is one of a select group of american universities that have achieved eminence in both undergraduate and graduate education and research - cont'd sch o.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Make-a-Wish Foundation of America; the most unlike its peers is The Guthy-Jackson Research Foundation. 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

34 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. 34 of the 55 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)
4
Early backer (in before they grew)
33/34
Grantees still filing
24/34
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

NATIONAL CHUNG-HSING UNIVERSITY: $82,603 · OtherNATIONAL CHUNG-HSING UNIVERSITYCCIC - CUPERTINO: $76,100 · OtherCCIC - CUPERTINOCATHOLIC DIOCESE OF MALAKAL: $30,000 · OtherCATHOLIC DIOCESE OF MALAKALENLIGHTENMENT FOUNDATION: $15,604 · OtherENLIGHTENMENT FOUNDATIONBOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM: $10,000 · OtherVILLAGE GOSPEL MISSION: $9,000 · Other+22 more: $39,382 · Other+22 moreCHINESE INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS INC: $12,000 · ReligionCHINESE I…THE GUTHY-JACKSON RESEARCH FOUNDATION: $9,500 · ReligionTHE GUTHY…CITYTEAM MINISTRIES: $2,651 · ReligionCITYTEAM …BIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP: $1,000 · ReligionGOSPEL OPERATION INTERNATIONAL (USA): $1,000 · Religion+1 more: $700 · ReligionCUPERTINO LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAM COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION: $6,800 · EducationCHILDREN AT HEART FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 · EducationTHE UC DAVIS FOUNDATION: $1,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: $1,000 · EducationTHIRD STREET COMMUNITY CENTER: $9,000 · Community ImprovementTEXAS BAPTIST CHILDREN'S HOME INC: $2,500 · Human ServicesSACRED HEART COMMUNITY SERVICE: $2,000 · Human ServicesAMERICAN BEIYINU ALUMNAE FOUNDATION: $2,000 · Human ServicesASIAN YOUTH CENTER: $1,059 · Human ServicesHOPE THE MISSION: $1,001 · Human ServicesAARP FOUNDATION: $400 · Human ServicesFILOLI CENTER: $3,326 · Arts & CultureCALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: $1,500 · Arts & CultureTHE TECH INTERACTIVE: $975 · Arts & CultureSAN JOSE CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY MUSEUM: $820 · Arts & CultureNATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN THE UNITED STATES: $500 · Arts & CultureSAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART: $350 · Arts & CultureTHE EXPLORATORIUM: $299 · Arts & CultureAmerican Heart Association Inc: $4,350 · HealthUNITED BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION INC: $1,350 · HealthFriends of Children with Special Needs: $1,283 · Health
Other$262,689Religion$26,851Education$13,800Community Improvement$9,000Human Services$8,960Arts & Culture$7,770Health$6,983

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 budgetCHINESE INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS INC: $12,000 over 5y, 3.3% of budgetTHE GUTHY-JACKSON RESEARCH FOUNDATION: $9,500 over 4y, 3.3% of budgetVILLAGE GOSPEL MISSION: $9,000 over 6y, 0.3% of budgetTHIRD STREET COMMUNITY CENTER: $9,000 over 6y, 0.3% of budgetCUPERTINO LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAM COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION: $6,800 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetMAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF AMERICA: $6,525 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetGLOBALGIVING FOUNDATION INC: $6,332 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetCHILDREN AT HEART FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Heart Association Inc: $4,350 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetFILOLI CENTER: $3,326 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCITYTEAM MINISTRIES: $2,651 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetMONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM FOUNDATION: $2,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTEXAS BAPTIST CHILDREN'S HOME INC: $2,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetSACRED HEART COMMUNITY SERVICE: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN BEIYINU ALUMNAE FOUNDATION: $2,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetCALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: $1,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION INC: $1,350 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetFriends of Children with Special Needs: $1,283 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetASIAN YOUTH CENTER: $1,059 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCALIFORNIA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION: $1,033 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHOPE THE MISSION: $1,001 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE UC DAVIS FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetBIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGOSPEL OPERATION INTERNATIONAL (USA): $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE TECH INTERACTIVE: $975 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSAN JOSE CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY MUSEUM: $820 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetBSF INTERNATIONAL LLC: $700 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetHappy Hollow Foundation: $600 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetNATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN THE UNITED STATES: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGIRL SCOUTS OF ORANGE COUNTY: $444 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetAARP FOUNDATION: $400 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART: $350 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE EXPLORATORIUM: $299 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.

Silicon Valley Commun…The Intuit FoundationBright Funds Foundati…United Way WorldwideShell USA Company Fou…American Online Givin…The Blackbaud Giving …Jpmorgan Chase Founda…The Bank of America C…Charities Aid Foundat…American Endowment Fo…Vanguard Charitable E…
Silicon Valley Community FoundationCA13.7× affinity6 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Silicon Valley Community Foundation · The Intuit Foundation · Bright Funds Foundation · United Way Worldwide · Shell USA Company Foundation · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Charities Aid Foundation America · American Endowment Foundation · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program

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

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    7report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–40%
    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 55 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 Sheng’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