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The Spectrum Charitable Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Spectrum Charitable 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.

$50k
Granted FY2025still arriving
13
Grants FY2025still arriving
7
States reached
$10k
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, FY2021 to 2025.

Education$69kReligion$42kFood & Nutrition$35kHealth$34kPublic Safety & Disaster$17kArts & Culture$14kInternational$13kEnvironment$8kOther$0
02FY2025 · 13 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k12 grants · $40k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $10k
$3,000
Median grant
7
States reached
$219k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK$10,000
PROJECT CURE$5,000
BOOK SMILES$5,000
AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD TRUST$5,000
EPISCOPAL RELIEF DEVELOPMENT$4,000
AMERICAN RED CROSS$3,500
SEMINARY OF THE SOUTHWEST$3,000
BROADWAY CARES$3,000
ROUND ROCK SERVING CENTER$3,000
HARVEY DANOWITZ FAMILY FUND$3,000
BREAKTHROUGH CENTRAL TEXAS$2,500
CHIHUAHUAN DESERT RESEARCH INSTITUT$2,000
ALLEGHENY COLLEGE$1,000
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 (FY24–25, $6k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $4k → 14%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $2k → 14%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

NY
PA
NJ
CO
VA
DC
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.

84%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$195k · 14 repeat orgs$39k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +56% since the first grant, against -28% for those funded once.

14 repeat relationships: 13 still active in FY2025, 1 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

14
12

Total granted

$195k
$39k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+56%
-28%

Still filing today

71%
58%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 went to new ones.

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

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

’21’22’23’24’25
EducationHealthFood & NutritionAnimalsArts & CultureHuman ServicesOther
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

  • BA
    BOOKSMILES A NEW JERSEY NONPROFIT CORPORATION
    5× · 2021–2025 · $25k · revenue ×18
  • B
    BREAKTHROUGH
    5× · 2021–2025 · $23k · revenue +73%
  • BENEVOLENT HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION
    4× · 2022–2025 · $21k · revenue +56%

Funded once

  • PC
    PROJECT CURE
    one grant, 2021 · $10k
  • CL
    CHILDREN'S LITERACY INITIATIVE
    one grant, 2021 · $10k · revenue -59%
  • HU
    HUSTON-TILLOTSON UNIVERSITYgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $5k · revenue +36%
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
Feeding Texas

To lead a unified effort for a hunger-free texas.

Community Improvement
2
Dallas International University

As a christian university, we provide education and research opportunities preparing global leaders to partner with local communities.

Education
3
The University of TexasTexas a&M Investment Management Company

To generate superior long-term investment returns to support The University of Texas and Texas A&M University systems as they provide world-class teaching, push the boundaries of discovery, and achieve excellence in patient healthcare for…

Education
4
Central Pennsylvania Food Bank

Our mission is to solve hunger in central pennsylvania by ensuring that everyone struggling with hunger has access to enough wholesome food every day. we will achieve this bold goal with the help of our generous donors, volunteers and…

Food & Nutrition
5
Banner -University Medical Group

Assist banner health complete its mission to make health care easier so life can be better by providing integrated & coordinated care & population health management.

Health
6
National Tropical Botanical Garden

To enrich life by perpetuating tropical plants, ecosystems and cultural heritage through discovery, scientific research, conservation, and education.

Environment
7
Houston Botanic Garden

To enrich life through discovery, education, and the conservation of plants and the natural environment.

Environment
8
East Texas Baptist University

East texas baptist university (etbu) was founded in 1912 as a fully accredited institution of higher education. affiliated with the baptist general convention of texas, etbu educates students by integrating biblical faith and learning to…

Education
9
Trinity University

Trinity university is an independent co-educational university whose mission is excellence in the interrelated areas of teaching, research and services.

Education
10
United Food Bank

United Food Bank unites communities to alleviate hunger.

Food & Nutrition
11
Texas Trees Foundation

The mission of texas trees foundation is to improve the health of cities and people through the transformative power of trees.

—
12
Albright College

As a diverse community of learners, we cultivate integrity, curiosity, connection and resilience.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Central Texas Food Bank Inc; the most unlike its peers is Horse Power for Life. 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

18 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. 18 of the 27 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)
18/18
Grantees still filing
12/18
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

BOOKSMILES A NEW JERSEY NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $25,000 · OtherBOOKSMILES A NEW JERSEY NONPROFIT CORPORATIONEPISCOPAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF THE SOUTHWEST: $15,000 · OtherEPISCOPAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF THE SOUTHWESTEPISCOPAL RELIEF DEVELOPMENT: $11,500 · OtherEPISCOPAL RELIEF DEVELOPMENTRound Rock Area Serving Center Inc: $11,000 · OtherRound Rock Area Serving Center IncPROJECT CURE: $10,000 · OtherPROJECT CURECHISUK EMUNA CONGREGATION: $8,500 · OtherCHISUK EMUNA CONGREGATIONBROADWAY CARESEQUITY FIGHTS AIDS INC: $8,500 · OtherBROADWAY CARESEQUITY FIGHTS AIDS INCChihuahuan Desert Research Institute: $8,000 · OtherChihuahuan Desert Research InstituteHARVEY DANOWITZ FAMILY FUND: $5,000 · OtherHUSTON-TILLOTSON UNIVERSITY: $5,000 · Other+7 more: $10,000 · Other+7 moreBREAKTHROUGH: $22,500 · EducationBREAKTHROUGHCHILDREN'S LITERACY INITIATIVE: $10,000 · EducationCHILDREN'S LITERAC…ALLEGHENY COLLEGE: $6,000 · EducationALLEGHENY COLLEGECentral Texas Food Bank Inc: $35,000 · Food & NutritionCentral Texas Fo…BENEVOLENT HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION: $21,000 · HealthBENEVOLENT …JEWISH HOME OF GREATER HARRISBURG: $2,500 · HealthJEWISH HOME…American Battlefield Trust: $12,500 · Arts & CultureAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $5,500 · Human ServicesJEWISH NATIONAL FUND (KEREN KAYEMETH LEISRAEL) INC: $3,000 · InternationalDELAWARE VALLEY GOLDEN RETRIEVER: $1,000 · Animals
Other$117,500Education$38,500Food & Nutrition$35,000Health$23,500Arts & Culture$12,500Human Services$5,500International$3,000Animals$1,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetCentral Texas Food Bank Inc: $35,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetBOOKSMILES A NEW JERSEY NONPROFIT CORPORATION: $25,000 over 5y, 2.9% of budgetBREAKTHROUGH: $22,500 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetBENEVOLENT HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION: $21,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican Battlefield Trust: $12,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetRound Rock Area Serving Center Inc: $11,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetCHILDREN'S LITERACY INITIATIVE: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBROADWAY CARESEQUITY FIGHTS AIDS INC: $8,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetChihuahuan Desert Research Institute: $8,000 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetALLEGHENY COLLEGE: $6,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $5,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetHorse Power for Life: $3,000 over 1y, 3.1% of budgetJEWISH NATIONAL FUND (KEREN KAYEMETH LEISRAEL) INC: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetJEWISH HOME OF GREATER HARRISBURG: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetDELAWARE VALLEY GOLDEN RETRIEVER: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetEl Buen Samaritano Episcopal Mission: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCASA MARIANELLA INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% 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.

United Way for Greate…St David's FoundationThe Moody FoundationAustin Community Foun…Network for GoodJpmorgan Chase Founda…National Philanthropi…American Online Givin…The Bank of America C…Vanguard Charitable E…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …
United Way for Greater AustinTX13.5× affinity4 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: United Way for Greater Austin · St David's Foundation · The Moody Foundation · Austin Community Foundation Inc · Network for Good · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund

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 Spectrum Charitable Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Spectrum Charitable 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%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from government →median 1%
  • Booksmiles a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation: 1% of 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 · 0–50%
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 Spectrum Charitable Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The Spectrum Charitable 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 27 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 Spectrum’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