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The Zondervan Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Zondervan Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$352k
Granted FY2025still arriving
12
Grants FY2025still arriving
3
States reached
$145k
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, FY2020 to 2025.

Religion$873kHealth$168kHuman Services$149kHousing & Shelter$142kEducation$131kInternational$122kFood & Nutrition$95kArts & Culture$48kOther$0
02FY2025 · 12 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • $10k–50k11 grants · $207k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $145k
$20,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$2.3M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
CALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY$144,513
DAVID'S HOUSE$25,000
POTTER'S HOUSE$22,000
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF INGHAM AND EA$21,500
HAND2HAND$20,000
GRACE'S TABLE$20,000
SERVANTS CENTER$20,000
DWELLING PLACE OF GRAND RAPIDS$20,000
LOVE IN ACTION$18,219
ACTS HONDURAS$15,423
WORDS OF HOPE$15,000
HATIAN AMERICANS FRIENDSHIP FND$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 (FY22–24, $25k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, 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%NEWCOMERS ACCESS CENTER: $5k → 14%HOPE UNEXPECTED: $10k → 11%HOPE UNEXPECTED: $10k → 11%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

VT
WA
IL
WI
MI
OR
CA
CO
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.

87%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.5M · 20 repeat orgs$238k to everyone else

20 repeat relationships: 9 still active in FY2025, 11 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

20
18

Total granted

$1.5M
$176k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+46%
+47%

Still filing today

70%
50%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 83% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $62k went to new ones.

50%100%’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’20’21’22’23’24’25
ReligionHuman ServicesHousing & ShelterEducationInternationalHealthOther
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

  • TP
    The Potters House
    5× · 2020–2025 · $83k · revenue +72%
  • DH
    DAVID'S HOUSE
    4× · 2020–2025 · $77k · revenue +85%
  • HI
    HEALTH INTERVENTION SERVICES
    3× · 2022–2024 · $51k · revenue +4%

Funded once

  • SH
    SAFE HAVEN MINISTRIES INCgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $25k · revenue +47%
  • BI
    Branch Interfaith Hospitality Network
    one grant, 2021 · $20k · revenue -37%
  • GL
    GUIDING LIGHT MISSION INC
    one grant, 2024 · $15k · revenue +14%
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
David's House Ministries

To provide quality care, facilities and supportive services for adults with a developmental disability, traumatic brain injury or mental illness. being enabled by god, we strive to provide an intentionally christian environment and program…

Housing & Shelter
2
Ministry Center

We build bridges between people experiencing the immediate effects of poverty and homelessness to the physical and spiritual resources available to alleviate suffering and facilitate long term transformation.

Human Services
3
Grace Global Ministries Inc

Grace Global Ministries exists to assist local churches in sending global workers to fulfill the Great Commission.

International
4
His Harvest Stand

To lift people out of poverty by responding to human need with the love of christ.

Food & Nutrition
5
His Hands Ministries

The primary purpose of the organization is to bring glory to God by meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those without adequate resources.

Health
6
Servenow

Sharing Christ's Passion for the world by serving the most vulnerable through national churches and leaders.

Human Services
7
Harvest Bridge

Harvest Bridge equips South Asian Christians to serve their communities more effectively. With our assistance, people and communities in South Asia are transformed by the love of Christ.

Religion
8
But God Ministries

Sharing the love of jesus christ by building sustainable communities around the world and providing medical care to low-income households in the united states. the organization is currently building two sustainable communities in haiti and…

International
9
Grace Haven Ministries

Grace haven ministries mission is to rescue, renew, restore and return women to family and community after being set free of addiction through the power of jesus christ.

Crime & Legal
10
Bridge of Hope Ministries

Transforming lives in the Ville through access to supportive services and efficacy.

Religion
11
Habitat for Humanity of Effingham County Inc

Habitat is a christian housing ministry that works with people in need to improve the conditions in which they live by providing affordable housing.

—
12
Welcome Home Ministries

Welcome home ministries was formed in 1992 as a not-for-profit organization to provide physical, emotional, and spiritual support to individuals at their point of need. welcome home ministries works with various other not-for-profit…

Arts & Culture
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Health Intervention Services; the most unlike its peers is Kalamazoo Valley Gleaners 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

26 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2026.

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 2026, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 26 of the 41 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)
25/26
Grantees still filing
19/26
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

CALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY: $816,477 · EducationCALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARYThe Potters House: $83,423 · EducationThe Potters HouseLiving Stones Academy: $36,300 · EducationDAVID'S HOUSE: $77,000 · OtherDAVID'S HOUSEHATIAN AMERICANS FRIENDSHIP FND: $65,000 · OtherHATIAN AMERICANS FRIENDSHIP …JUBILEE CENTERS INTERNATIONAL: $45,222 · OtherJUBILEE CENTERS INTERNATIONA…WORDS OF HOPE INC: $42,000 · OtherWORDS OF HOPE INCOASIS OF HOPE: $28,000 · OtherOASIS OF HOPELOVE IN ACTION: $24,219 · OtherLOVE IN ACTIONCATHOLIC CHARITIES OF INGHAM AND EA: $21,500 · OtherREACH THE FORGOTTEN JAIL MINISTRY: $20,000 · OtherGUIDING LIGHT MISSION INC: $15,200 · OtherHAND2HAND: $20,000 · Other+11 more: $87,856 · Other+11 moreDaffodil Ministries: $34,150 · Housing & ShelterSAFE HAVEN MINISTRIES INC: $25,000 · Housing & ShelterBranch Interfaith Hospitality Network: $20,000 · Housing & ShelterDWELLING PLACE OF GRAND RAPIDS NONPROFIT: $20,000 · Housing & ShelterGRACE'S TABLE: $45,000 · Human ServicesHOPE UNEXPECTED: $20,000 · Human ServicesGeorgetown Harmony Homes: $19,871 · Human ServicesNEWCOMERS ACCESS CENTER: $5,000 · Human ServicesAMERICANS CARING TEACHING SHARING INC: $36,423 · InternationalINTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: $25,500 · InternationalHAITI MEDICAL MISSION OF WISCONSIN INC: $15,000 · InternationalSERVANTS CENTER: $48,392 · ReligionLEELANAU CHRISTIAN NEIGHBORS INC: $11,000 · ReligionEVERY GENERATION MINISTRIES INC: $8,000 · ReligionMISSION EURASIA: $5,000 · ReligionHEALTH INTERVENTION SERVICES: $51,000 · HealthGood Neighbor Health Clinic Inc: $10,000 · Health
Education$936,200Other$445,997Housing & Shelter$99,150Human Services$89,871International$76,923Religion$72,392Health$61,000

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 budgetCALVIN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY: $816,477 over 6y, 1.2% of budgetThe Potters House: $83,423 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetDAVID'S HOUSE: $77,000 over 4y, 4.3% of budgetHEALTH INTERVENTION SERVICES: $51,000 over 3y, 1.4% of budgetSERVANTS CENTER: $48,392 over 4y, 2.1% of budgetGRACE'S TABLE: $45,000 over 2y, 4.6% of budgetAMERICANS CARING TEACHING SHARING INC: $36,423 over 3y, 15% of budgetLiving Stones Academy: $36,300 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetDaffodil Ministries: $34,150 over 2y, 11% of budgetINTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: $25,500 over 3y, 16% of budgetSAFE HAVEN MINISTRIES INC: $25,000 over 1y, 1.2% of budgetBranch Interfaith Hospitality Network: $20,000 over 1y, 13% of budgetHOPE UNEXPECTED: $20,000 over 2y, 4.3% of budgetHAND2HAND: $20,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetGeorgetown Harmony Homes: $19,871 over 2y, 1.2% of budgetGUIDING LIGHT MISSION INC: $15,200 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetHAITI MEDICAL MISSION OF WISCONSIN INC: $15,000 over 2y, 9.8% of budgetLEELANAU CHRISTIAN NEIGHBORS INC: $11,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetKALAMAZOO VALLEY GLEANERS INC: $10,000 over 1y, 1.8% of budgetGood Neighbor Health Clinic Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 1.1% of budgetEVERY GENERATION MINISTRIES INC: $8,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetA ROCHA USA INC A ROCHA USA: $6,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetPregnancy Resource Center: $5,256 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetNEWCOMERS ACCESS CENTER: $5,000 over 1y, 6.2% of budgetMISSION EURASIA: $5,000 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.

Barnabas FoundationPeter C & Emajean Coo…Grand Rapids Communit…Buist FoundationChristian Community F…Douglas & Maria Devos…Dick and Betsy Devos …The Richard and Helen…Edgar and Elsa Prince…Marion & Marlene Bett…Cdv5 FoundationHeart of West Michiga…
Barnabas FoundationIL29.4× affinity12 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Barnabas Foundation · Peter C & Emajean Cook Foundation · Grand Rapids Community Foundation · Buist Foundation · Christian Community Foundation Inc · Douglas & Maria Devos Foundation · Dick and Betsy Devos Family Foundation · The Richard and Helen Devos Foundation · Edgar and Elsa Prince Foundation · Marion & Marlene Betten Foundation · Cdv5 Foundation · Heart of West Michigan United Way

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

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%1%5%11%20%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
    1get no government money at all
    3report 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 41 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 Zondervan’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