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The Victor and Susan Schaff Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Victor and Susan Schaff 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.

$500k
Granted FY2025still arriving
49
Grants FY2025still arriving
4
States reached
$100k
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, FY2023 to 2025.

Human Services$270kEnvironment$211kHousing & Shelter$148kHealth$142kFood & Nutrition$51kEducation$41kPublic Benefit$36kPhilanthropy$35kOther$0
02FY2025 · 49 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k26 grants · $98k
  • $10k–50k22 grants · $302k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $100k
$7,500
Median grant
4
States reached
$5.3M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
UNITY SHOPPE INC$100,000
CALIFORNIA NATIVE GRASSLANDS ASSN$29,500
SANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION$25,000
TRANSITION HOUSE$25,000
SANTA BARBARA RESCUE MISSION$20,000
SANTA BARBARA NEW HOUSE$20,000
CASA SERENA$15,000
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SOUTHERN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY$15,000
HELP OF CARPINTERIA INC$12,500
THE SALVATION ARMY$10,000
AHA$10,000
SANTA BARBARA BOTANICAL GARDEN$10,000
CALFLORA$10,000
COLAB FOUNDATION$10,000
MENTAL WELLNESS CENTER$10,000
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 (FY23–25, $205k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%COMMUNIFY: $5k → 14%UNITY SHOPPE INC: $100k → 14%UNITY SHOPPE INC: $50k → 14%UNITY SHOPPE INC: $50k → 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.
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.

92%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$915k · 39 repeat orgs$82k to everyone else

39 repeat relationships: 36 still active in FY2025, 3 since wound down; 12 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

39
8

Total granted

$915k
$19k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+16%
+33%

Still filing today

67%
13%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 87% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $64k went to new ones.

50%100%’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’23’24’25
EnvironmentHealthHuman ServicesHousing & ShelterFood & NutritionCrime & LegalOther
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

  • US
    UNITY SHOPPE INC
    3× · 2023–2025 · $200k · revenue +23%
  • TH
    TRANSITION HOUSE
    3× · 2023–2025 · $55k · revenue +9%
  • SB
    SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN
    3× · 2023–2025 · $50k · revenue +79%

Funded once

  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2024 · $10k
  • THE HERITAGE FOUNDATIONgraduated
    one grant, 2023 · $5k · revenue +33%
  • A
    AIPHA
    one grant, 2023 · $1k
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
The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County

To conserve natural resources, agricultural land and open spaces for present and future generations.

Environment
2
Sustainable Conservation

Sustainable Conservation advances the collaborative stewardship of Californias land, air, and water for the benefit of nature and people. For over three decades, Sustainable Conservation has built coalitions of people with different…

Environment
3
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper Inc

The organization was established to protect and restore the santa barbara channel and its watersheds through science-based advocacy, education, field work, community engagement, and citizen enforcement of environmental laws.

Environment
4
California Housing Partner Corporation

The California Housing Partnership Corporation creates and preserves affordable and sustainable homes for Californians with low incomes by providing expert financial and policy solutions to nonprofit and public partners.

Unclassified
5
Habitat for Humanity for San Luis Obispo County

Seeking to put god's love into action, habitat for humanity for san luis obispo brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.

—
6
Sonoma Botanical Garden
—
7
Santa Barbara County Trails Council

Our mission is to protect public trail access build and maintain safe and sustainable trails and promote public engagement in land stewardship and trail use for all types of outdoor recreation.

Recreation & Sports
8
Fund for Santa Barbara Inc

Provide cash grants and free consulting to grassroots organizations in santa barbara county.

Philanthropy
9
Habitat for Humanity of La Plata County Inc

To build decent, affordable homes in partnership with families in need.

—
10
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation

It is the mission of Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation to solicit, receive, invest, maintain and distribute funds for the support of charitable, scientific, and educational activities of Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

Health
11
California Institute for Biodiversity

Create and publish educational materials, conduct professional development, promote awareness, and sponsor research on the spectacular biological diversity of the State of CA.

Education
12
Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara County Inc

The housing trust fund's mission is to provide affordable housing opportunities to low, moderate and middle income residents of santa barbara county.

Philanthropy
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Santa Barbara Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Help of Carpinteria. 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

36 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. 36 of the 61 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)
36/36
Grantees still filing
24/36
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

CALIFORNIA NATIVE GRASSLANDS ASSN: $40,500 · OtherCALIFORNIA NATIVE GRASSLANDS ASSNHABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SOUTHERN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY: $35,000 · OtherHABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SOUTHERN SANTA …SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION OF SANTA BARBARA: $30,000 · OtherSCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION OF SANTA BARBARAUNITED BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SB COUNTY: $20,000 · OtherUNITED BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SB COUNTYCALFLORA: $20,000 · OtherCALFLORATHE SALVATION ARMY: $20,000 · OtherTHE SALVATION ARMYLou Grant Parent-Child Workshop: $17,000 · OtherSERCAL: $15,000 · OtherHELP OF CARPINTERIA: $12,500 · OtherAHA: $12,000 · OtherPacific Legal Foundation: $15,000 · Other+27 more: $117,199 · Other+27 moreUNITY SHOPPE INC: $200,000 · Human ServicesUNITY SHOPPE INCTHE COLAB FOUNDATION: $30,600 · Human ServicesTHE COLAB FOUNDATIONFOOD FROM THE HEART INC: $10,000 · Human Services+1 more: $5,000 · Human ServicesSANTA BARBARA NEW HOUSE: $40,000 · HealthSANTA BARBARA …Casa Serena: $35,000 · HealthCasa SerenaTEDDY BEAR CANCER FOUNDATION: $20,000 · HealthTEDDY BEAR CAN…Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse: $19,000 · HealthCouncil on Alc…MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY: $15,000 · HealthMENTAL HEALTH …SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN: $50,000 · EnvironmentSANTA BARBAR…THEODORE PAYNE FOUNDATION FOR WILD FLOWERS AND NATIVE PLANTS INC: $25,000 · EnvironmentTHEODORE PAY…California Native Plant Society: $15,000 · EnvironmentCalifornia N…HEAL THE OCEAN INC: $10,000 · EnvironmentHEAL THE OCE…VENTURA BOTANICAL GARDENS INC: $7,500 · EnvironmentVENTURA BOTA…Channel Islands Restoration: $6,000 · Environment+1 more: $2,500 · EnvironmentTRANSITION HOUSE: $55,000 · Housing & ShelterTRANSITION H…SANTA BARBARA RESCUE MISSION: $55,000 · Housing & ShelterSANTA BARBAR…SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE INC: $5,000 · Housing & ShelterSANTA BARBARA FOUNDATION: $25,000 · PhilanthropyCARPINTERIA ROTARY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION: $10,000 · PhilanthropyFoodbank of Santa Barbara County Inc: $30,000 · Food & NutritionCALIFORNIA INVASIVE PLANT COUNCIL: $2,500 · Food & Nutrition
Other$354,199Human Services$245,600Health$129,000Environment$116,000Housing & Shelter$115,000Philanthropy$35,000Food & Nutrition$32,500

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 budgetUNITY SHOPPE INC: $200,000 over 3y, 1.5% of budgetTRANSITION HOUSE: $55,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetSANTA BARBARA RESCUE MISSION: $55,000 over 3y, 0.5% of budgetSANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN: $50,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetSANTA BARBARA NEW HOUSE: $40,000 over 3y, 0.7% of budgetCasa Serena: $35,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetHABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SOUTHERN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY: $35,000 over 3y, 0.7% of budgetTHE COLAB FOUNDATION: $30,600 over 3y, 12% of budgetFoodbank of Santa Barbara County Inc: $30,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetSCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION OF SANTA BARBARA: $30,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHEODORE PAYNE FOUNDATION FOR WILD FLOWERS AND NATIVE PLANTS INC: $25,000 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetTEDDY BEAR CANCER FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetCouncil on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse: $19,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetLou Grant Parent-Child Workshop: $17,000 over 3y, 2.8% of budgetMENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY: $15,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetPacific Legal Foundation: $15,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCalifornia Native Plant Society: $15,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetHELP OF CARPINTERIA: $12,500 over 1y, 9.2% of budgetCARPINTERIA ROTARY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 2y, 21% of budgetFOOD FROM THE HEART INC: $10,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetSTORYTELLER CHILDRENS CENTER INC: $10,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetGIRLS INCORPORATED OF CARPINTERIA: $10,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetHEAL THE OCEAN INC: $10,000 over 3y, 0.5% of budgetSANTA BARBARA HUMANE SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: $10,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetVENTURA BOTANICAL GARDENS INC: $7,500 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetChannel Islands Restoration: $6,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHE HERITAGE FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE PROJECT: $3,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetPARTNERS IN HOUSING SOLUTIONS INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetFISH REEF PROJECT: $2,500 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetCARPINTERIA CHILDREN'S PROJECT: $1,000 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.

Santa Barbara Foundat…June G Outhwaite Char…Hutton Foundation Dba…Williams-Corbett Foun…The Wood-Claeyssens F…Towbes FoundationLa Centra-Sumerlin Fo…Latkin Charitable Fou…Ann Jackson Family Fo…Alice Tweed Tuohy Fou…Mosher FoundationThe B & B Foundation
Santa Barbara FoundationCA39.2× affinity17 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Santa Barbara Foundation · June G Outhwaite Charitable Trust JS Poucher KL Englert & CM Cooney Co-Tr · Hutton Foundation Dba Hutton Parker Foundation · Williams-Corbett Foundation · The Wood-Claeyssens Foundation · Towbes Foundation · La Centra-Sumerlin Foundation · Latkin Charitable Foundation · Ann Jackson Family Foundation · Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation · Mosher Foundation · The B & B 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 Victor and Susan Schaff Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Victor and Susan Schaff Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%2%6%14%25%funder's share of their income ↑0%15%30%45%60%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    13report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–60%
    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 Victor and Susan Schaff Family Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to The Victor and Susan Schaff Family 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 61 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 Victor and Susan Schaff Family’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