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The Stewards Fund at a glance

· Private foundation

The Stewards Fund

Its FY2021 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$2.0M
Granted FY2021
50
Grants FY2021
4
States reached
$500k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0199% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2021.

Housing & Shelter$2.1MHealth$854kHuman Services$649kYouth Development$451kFood & Nutrition$321kReligion$283kEducation$84kScience & Tech$21kOther$0
02FY2021 · 50 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2021

  • Under $10k16 grants · $69k
  • $10k–50k24 grants · $466k
  • $50k–250k8 grants · $697k
  • $250k+2 grants · $750k
$10,000
Median grant
4
States reached
$0
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
CASA$500,000
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ORANGE$250,000
HEALING TRANSITIONS$150,000
URBAN MINISTRIES OF DURHAM COUNTY$104,600
HOUSING FOR NEW HOPE$100,000
INTERFAITH COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICES$71,677
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WAKE$71,250
BIG BROTHER BIG SISTERS OF THE TRIANGLE$71,163
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ORANGE$69,233
INTERFAITH FOOD SHUTTLE$58,645
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF DURHAM & ORANGE$48,055
FAMILIES MOVING FORWARD$42,602
SENIOR PHARMASSIST$40,428
HEALING TRANSITIONS$40,000
HOUSING FOR NEW HOPE$33,814
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 (FY20–21, $220k) land where the poverty rate runs at 8%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%INTERFAITH FOOD SHUTTLE: $62k → 8%INTERFAITH FOOD SHUTTLE: $59k → 8%THE HOPE CENTER AT PULLEN: $10k → 8%THE HOPE CENTER AT PULLEN: $10k → 8%INTERFAITH FOOD SHUTTLE: $10k → 8%THE HOPE CENTER AT PULLEN: $5k → 8%INTERFAITH FOOD SHUTTLE: $5k → 8%SOUTHEAST RALEIGH PROMISE: $10k → 8%RALEIGH RESCUE MISSION: $10k → 8%THE ENCOURAGING PLACE: $5k → 8%THE GREEN CHAIR PROJECT: $12k → 8%THE GREEN CHAIR PROJECT: $12k → 8%THE GREEN CHAIR PROJECT: $10k → 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.
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.

59%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$2.9M · 21 repeat orgs$2.0M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +47% since the first grant, against +4% for those funded once.

21 repeat relationships: 21 still active in FY2021, 0 since wound down; 19 grantees were first funded in FY2021 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

21
15

Total granted

$2.9M
$1.3M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+47%
+4%

Still filing today

67%
80%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2021, 66% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $673k went to new ones.

50%100%’20’21
RenewedFirst-time

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

’20’21
Human ServicesHousing & ShelterHealthRecreation & SportsYouth DevelopmentEducationOther
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

  • HOUSING FOR NEW HOPE
    2× · 2020–2021 · $434k · revenue +50%
  • IC
    INTER-FAITH COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICE INC
    2× · 2020–2021 · $432k · revenue +0%
  • HEALING TRANSITIONS INC
    2× · 2020–2021 · $233k · revenue +32%

Funded once

  • TR
    TRIANGLE RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSERS INC
    one grant, 2020 · $400k · revenue +5%
  • HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF DURHAM INCgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $226k · revenue +62%
  • ALLIANCE MEDICAL MINISTRY INCgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $98k · revenue +39%
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
Durham Community Land Trustees Inc

Build strong communities by developing, managing, and advocating for permanent affordable housing that provides durham residents with low to moderate incomes a stable foundation for achieving economic security.

Housing & Shelter
2
Restorative Transitions Inc

Re-entry Program in Durham NC

Crime & Legal
3
Family Promise of Davie County

To help families experiencing homelessness and low-income families achieve sustainable independence through a community based response

Housing & Shelter
4
Homes of Hope Inc

Provied temporary and emergency and low income housing and secured shelter.

Housing & Shelter
5
Stepup Durham

Stepup partners with adults to transform their lives through training in life and employment skills.

Human Services
6
Raleigh County Community Action Association Inc

Raleigh county community action association, inc. empowers individuals and families to reach their highest levels of social and economical self-sufficiency, while identifying and eliminating causes of poverty. rccaa provides direct…

Human Services
7
Durham Home Inc
—
8
Wake County Continuum of Care Dba Raleigh-Wake Partnership to End and Prev

Our mission is to leverage the power of community to address systemic causes of homelessness through coordinated response, education, data, and advocacy.

Housing & Shelter
9
UrbanPromise Charlotte

Provide Charlotte's low-income children and youth with the academic, spiritual, and social development necessary to become Christian leaders determined to restore their communities.

Youth Development
10
Habitat for Humanity Cabarrus County

Guided by God, Habitat Cabarrus transforms lives and our community by uniting all of Cabarrus County around the cause of decent, affordable housing for everyone.

Housing & Shelter
11
Secu Family House At Unc Hospitals

Secu family house at unc hospitals provides an affordable, safe, nurturing home away from home for seriously ill patients, their family members, and caregivers from throughout north carolina and beyond.

Health
12
Children's Home Society of North Carolina Inc

The Children's Home Society of North Carolina's mission is to promote the right of every child to a permanent, safe, and loving family.

Human Services
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Plm Families Together Inc; the most unlike its peers is The Encouraging Place. 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

35 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. 35 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)
9
Early backer (in before they grew)
34/35
Grantees still filing
25/35
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

INTER-FAITH COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICE INC: $432,126 · OtherINTER-FAITH COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICE INCTRIANGLE RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSERS INC: $399,902 · OtherTRIANGLE RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSERS INCHABITAT FOR HUMANITY ORANGE: $392,110 · OtherHABITAT FOR HUMANITY ORANGEURBAN MINISTRIES OF DURHAM COUNTY: $275,002 · OtherURBAN MINISTRIES OF DURHAM COUNTYHABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF DURHAM INC: $225,704 · OtherHABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF DURHAM INCHABITAT FOR HUMANITY WAKE: $147,500 · OtherHABITAT FOR HUMANITY WAKEFAMILIES MOVING FORWARD: $97,446 · OtherSALVATION ARMY: $94,770 · Other+26 more: $584,760 · Other+26 moreCASA: $500,000 · Housing & ShelterCASAHOUSING FOR NEW HOPE: $434,406 · Housing & ShelterHOUSING FOR NEW HOPEPASSAGE HOME INC: $58,035 · Housing & ShelterPASSAGE HOME INCFAMILY PROMISE OF WAKE COUNTY INC: $39,550 · Housing & Shelter+1 more: $15,000 · Housing & ShelterHEALING TRANSITIONS INC: $232,500 · HealthHEALING TR…ALLIANCE MEDICAL MINISTRY INC: $98,078 · HealthALLIANCE M…SENIOR PHARMASSIST INC: $82,984 · HealthSENIOR PHA…SAMARITAN HEALTH CENTER INC: $40,228 · HealthSAMARITAN …INTER-FAITH FOOD SHUTTLE: $135,376 · Human ServicesURBAN MINISTRIES OF WAKE COUNTY INC: $57,782 · Human ServicesTHE GREEN CHAIR PROJECT: $34,142 · Human ServicesTHE HOPE CENTER AT PULLEN INC: $25,059 · Human ServicesTHE RALEIGH RESCUE MISSION INC: $10,000 · Human ServicesSE RALEIGH PROMISE INC: $10,000 · Human Services+1 more: $5,000 · Human ServicesBIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE TRIANGLE INC: $146,071 · Youth DevelopmentDURHAM CHILDREN'S INITIATIVE: $70,297 · Youth DevelopmentNEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR MINISTRIES: $42,580 · Youth DevelopmentSTUDENT U: $83,875 · EducationMeals on Wheels of Durham Inc: $55,199 · Food & Nutrition
Other$2,649,320Housing & Shelter$1,046,991Health$453,790Human Services$277,359Youth Development$258,948Education$83,875Food & Nutrition$55,199

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

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetCASA: $500,000 over 1y, 5.0% of budgetHOUSING FOR NEW HOPE: $434,406 over 2y, 12% of budgetINTER-FAITH COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICE INC: $432,126 over 2y, 11% of budgetTRIANGLE RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSERS INC: $399,902 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetHEALING TRANSITIONS INC: $232,500 over 2y, 1.8% of budgetHABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF DURHAM INC: $225,704 over 1y, 4.3% of budgetBIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE TRIANGLE INC: $146,071 over 2y, 9.8% of budgetINTER-FAITH FOOD SHUTTLE: $135,376 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetALLIANCE MEDICAL MINISTRY INC: $98,078 over 1y, 4.6% of budgetFAMILIES MOVING FORWARD: $97,446 over 2y, 3.2% of budgetSTUDENT U: $83,875 over 2y, 3.0% of budgetSENIOR PHARMASSIST INC: $82,984 over 2y, 4.0% of budgetPLM FAMILIES TOGETHER INC: $74,900 over 2y, 2.1% of budgetPASSAGE HOME INC: $58,035 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetURBAN MINISTRIES OF WAKE COUNTY INC: $57,782 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetMeals on Wheels of Durham Inc: $55,199 over 1y, 3.2% of budgetBOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF DURHAM AND ORANGE COUNTIES: $50,585 over 1y, 8.9% of budgetNEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR MINISTRIES: $42,580 over 1y, 4.7% of budgetSAMARITAN HEALTH CENTER INC: $40,228 over 2y, 1.7% of budgetFAMILY PROMISE OF WAKE COUNTY INC: $39,550 over 2y, 2.1% of budgetKIDZNOTES INC: $39,000 over 1y, 6.0% of budgetTHE GREEN CHAIR PROJECT: $34,142 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetPartners for Youth Opportunity: $30,064 over 1y, 5.4% of budgetTHE COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT FUND: $29,500 over 1y, 2.7% of budgetTHE HOPE CENTER AT PULLEN INC: $25,059 over 2y, 2.2% of budgetWake Enterprises Inc: $20,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetOAK CITY CARES INC: $15,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetTHE RALEIGH RESCUE MISSION INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetSE RALEIGH PROMISE INC: $10,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetDHIC Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetThe Encouraging Place: $5,000 over 1y, 4.3% of budgetGirls on the Run of the Triangle Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetFIGURE SKATING IN HARLEM INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetBLACK GIRLS RUN FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% 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.

Triangle Community Fo…United Way of the Gre…The Leon Levine Found…Duke University Healt…Duke UniversityDuke Energy FoundationAj Fletcher FoundationNorth Carolina Commun…Carolinas Credit Unio…Truist Foundation IncRealtor Foundation of…The Mary Duke Biddle …
Triangle Community Foundation IncNC53.8× affinity25 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Triangle Community Foundation Inc · United Way of the Greater Triangle Inc · The Leon Levine Foundation · Duke University Health System Inc · Duke University · Duke Energy Foundation · Aj Fletcher Foundation · North Carolina Community Foundation · Carolinas Credit Union Foundation · Truist Foundation Inc · Realtor Foundation of Wake County · The Mary Duke Biddle Foundation Missionpost Pmb #101

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

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%4%8%15%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
    21report 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.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to The Stewards Fund?

    Find your warmest path to The Stewards Fund 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 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 2021, released 2021. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Stewards’ 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