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The Sylvan C Herman Foundation Inc at a glance

· Private foundation

The Sylvan C Herman Foundation Inc

Its FY2024 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 FY2024still arriving
5
Grants FY2024still arriving
2
States reached
$2.0M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead

Read this first · the figures below need context

99% of The Sylvan C Herman Foundation Inc’s FY2024 grant dollars went to Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc, not to grantees.

Its money now reaches organizations through that sponsor, which does not report who recommended each grant. FY2024 names 1 organization directly, so a portfolio cannot be read from it.

Organizations named directly on the return

4
’18
2
’19
5
’20
4
’21
3
’22
4
’23
1
’24

Amber years are those where most dollars went to a sponsor.

01What it funds
0189% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2018 to 2024.

Philanthropy$5.4MHealth$3.4MHuman Services$4kHousing & Shelter$3kEducation$1kFood & Nutrition$150Other$0
02FY2024 · 5 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k3 grants · $7k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $15k
  • $250k+1 grant · $2.0M
$2,500
Median grant
2
States reached
$87M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
MORGAN STANLEY GLOBAL IMPACT FUNDING TRUST$1,999,624
THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION$15,000
SAVE A LIMB FOUNDATION$2,500
FREDERICK RESCUE MISSION INC$2,500
HOPE CONNECTIONS$2,100
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 (FY19–21, $169k) land where the poverty rate runs at 6%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 0% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%WAY STATION: $138k → 6%WAY STATION: $25k → 6%WAY STATION: $6k → 6%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.

26%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.2M · 11 repeat orgs$3.5M to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +276% since the first grant, against +43% for those funded once.

11 repeat relationships: 3 still active in FY2024, 8 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

11
11

Total granted

$1.2M
$3.5M

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+276%
+43%

Still filing today

36%
9%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 89% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $3k went to new ones.

50%100%’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

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

’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
HealthHuman ServicesHousing & 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

  • TA
    TREATMENT ADVOCACY CENTER
    5× · 2018–2023 · $644k · revenue +50%
  • WS
    WAY STATION INC
    3× · 2019–2021 · $169k · revenue +55%
  • AM
    Active Minds Inc
    5× · 2018–2023 · $135k · revenue +340%

Funded once

  • JE
    J E Herman Public Fund
    one grant, 2022 · $2.0M
  • JE
    JOHN E HERMAN PUBLIC FUND
    one grant, 2023 · $1.3M
  • BI
    BRAINFUTURES INCORPORATEDgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $100k · revenue +43%
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
University of Maryland Facultyphysicians Inc

Under the medical service plan of the university of maryland, school of medicine, administrative support services are provided to the physician practices of the university of maryland, including but not limited to information technology,…

Health
2
University of Maryland Neurology Associates Pa

Under the medical service plan of the university of maryland school of medicine, medical services are rendered by the members of the faculty on behalf of the school of medicine in connection with their duties to provide clinical…

—
3
Family Services Inc

Family services, inc., a subsidiary of sheppard pratt, a not-for-profit behavioral health system, is dedicated to improving the quality of life of individuals and families by compassionately serving their mental health, addiction, special…

Human Services
4
Behavioral Health Partners of Frederick Inc

Behavioral health partners of frederick inc., a subsidiary of mosaic community services, inc., a not-for-profit organization that provides outpatient behavioral health care services, is dedicated to improving the quality of life of…

Health
5
Mind Share Partners

The mission of mind share partners is to build awareness, support, and acceptance for people with mental health conditions.

Human Services
6
University of Maryland Neurosurgeryassociates Pa

Under the medical service plan of the university of maryland school of medicine, medical services are rendered by the members of the faculty on behalf of the school of medicine in connection with their duties to provide clinical…

Education
7
University of Maryland Anesthesiology Associates Pa

Under the medical service plan of the university of maryland school of medicine, medical services are rendered by the members of the faculty on behalf of the school of medicine in connection with their duties to provide clinical…

—
8
University of Maryland Physicians Pa

Under the medical service plan of the university of maryland school of medicine, medical services are rendered by the members of the faculty on behalf of the school of medicine in connection with their duties to provide clinical…

—
9
Maryland General Clinical Practice Group Inc

Maryland general clinical practice group, inc. (mgcpg) provides physician services, billing, and support services for maryland general hospital (mgh).

Health
10
The Fedcap Group Inc

We are committed to improving the lives of people with barriers to economic well-being.

Employment
11
Mosaic Community Services Inc

Mosaic community services, inc., a subsidiary of sheppard pratt, a not-for-profit behavioral health system, is dedicated to improving the quality of life of individuals and families by compassionately serving their mental health,…

Community Improvement
12
University of Maryland Oncology Associates Pa

Under the medical service plan of the university of maryland school of medicine, medical services are rendered by the members of the faculty on behalf of the school of medicine in connection with their duties to provide clinical…

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Way Station Inc; the most unlike its peers is The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington Inc. 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

10 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. 10 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)
2
Early backer (in before they grew)
10/10
Grantees still filing
9/10
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

J E Herman Public Fund: $1,990,782 · OtherJ E Herman Public FundJOHN E HERMAN PUBLIC FUND: $1,304,477 · OtherJOHN E HERMAN PUBLIC FUNDCHABAD-LUBAVITCH OF MARYLAND INC: $197,416 · OtherCHABAD-LUBAVITCH OF MARYLAND INC+14 more: $156,325 · OtherMAYO CLINIC: $2,132,620 · HealthMAYO CLINICTREATMENT ADVOCACY CENTER: $643,808 · HealthTREATMENT ADVOCACY CENTERActive Minds Inc: $135,000 · Health+2 more: $101,562 · HealthMORGAN STANLEY GLOBAL IMPACT FUNDING TRUST INC: $1,999,624 · PhilanthropyMORGAN STANLEY GLOBAL IMP…+2 more: $25,103 · PhilanthropyWAY STATION INC: $168,750 · Human ServicesFREDERICK RESCUE MISSION INC: $2,500 · Housing & Shelter
Other$3,649,000Health$3,012,990Philanthropy$2,024,727Human Services$168,750Housing & Shelter$2,500

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

25%50%75%100%$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetMAYO CLINIC: $2,132,620 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetMORGAN STANLEY GLOBAL IMPACT FUNDING TRUST INC: $1,999,624 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTREATMENT ADVOCACY CENTER: $643,808 over 5y, 6.8% of budgetWAY STATION INC: $168,750 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetActive Minds Inc: $135,000 over 5y, 1.3% of budgetBRAINFUTURES INCORPORATED: $100,000 over 1y, 11% of budgetTHE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER WASHINGTON INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFREDERICK RESCUE MISSION INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHOPE CONNECTIONS FOR CANCER SUPPORT INC: $1,562 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetCHARLOTTESVILLE AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $103 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.

  • Who funds MAYO CLINIC ↗
  • Who funds MORGAN STANLEY GLOBAL IMPACT FUNDING TRUST INC ↗
  • Who funds TREATMENT ADVOCACY CENTER ↗
  • Who funds WAY STATION INC ↗
  • Who funds Active Minds Inc ↗
  • Who funds BRAINFUTURES INCORPORATED ↗
  • Who funds THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER WASHINGTON INC ↗
  • Who funds FREDERICK RESCUE MISSION INC ↗
  • Who funds HOPE CONNECTIONS FOR CANCER SUPPORT INC ↗
  • Who funds CHARLOTTESVILLE AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ↗

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.

Morgan Stanley Global…The Bank of America C…Network for GoodNational Philanthropi…Donor Advised Charita…American Online Givin…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust IncIN11.1× affinity5 shared granteesties to 7 of 7Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Network for Good · National Philanthropic Trust · 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 Sylvan C Herman Foundation Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Sylvan C Herman Foundation Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%1%4%8%15%funder's share of their income ↑0%3%5%8%10%share of the org’s income from government →median 1%
  • Way Station Inc: 1% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
1get 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 · 0–10%
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 Sylvan C Herman Foundation Inc?

Find your warmest path to The Sylvan C Herman Foundation Inc 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 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Sylvan C Herman’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