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Thefish Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Thefish 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.

$33k
Granted FY2025still arriving
11
Grants FY2025still arriving
3
States reached
$12k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0193% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Education$127kAnimals$32kFood & Nutrition$26kHealth$9kHuman Services$6kHousing & Shelter$3kPhilanthropy$3kRecreation & Sports$3kOther$0
02FY2025 · 11 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k10 grants · $21k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $12k
$2,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$409k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Sewall Child Development Center$11,500
Denver Dumb Friends League$6,500
Young Americans Center for Financial Education$2,500
Food Bank of the Rockies$2,500
Oregon Food Bank$2,500
University of Iowa$2,000
Individual grant recipient$1,500
Colorado Pet Pantry$1,350
Metro Caring$1,350
Lighthouse Writers Workshop$500
Rocky Mountain Feline Rescue$500
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, $3k) land where the poverty rate runs at 13%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%GIRLS WHO CODE: $500 → 17%THE BABY FOUNDATION: $2k → 11%GIRLS WHO CODE: $500 → 17%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

WA
MI
NY
OR
IA
CA
CO
AZ
HI
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.

88%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$189k · 12 repeat orgs$27k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +68% since the first grant, against +56% for those funded once.

12 repeat relationships: 7 still active in FY2025, 5 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

12
21

Total granted

$189k
$21k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+68%
+56%

Still filing today

58%
48%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 82% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $6k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
AnimalsEducationHuman ServicesHealthHousing & ShelterFood & NutritionOther
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

  • SC
    SEWALL CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
    9× · 2017–2025 · $110k · revenue +30%
  • DD
    DENVER DUMB FRIENDS LEAGUE
    8× · 2017–2025 · $23k · revenue +254%
  • FB
    FOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES
    9× · 2017–2025 · $18k · revenue +74%

Funded once

  • MH
    MENTAL HEALTH CENTER COLORADO
    one grant, 2021 · $3k
  • CV
    COLORADO VILLAGE COLLABORATIVEgraduated
    one grant, 2018 · $2k · revenue ×19
  • DS
    DENVER SCHOOL ARTS FRIENDS FOUNDATI
    one grant, 2017 · $2k
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
Colorado Center On Law and Policy

Colorado center on law and policy is an antipoverty organization advancing the rights of every coloradan.

Crime & Legal
2
Colorado Legal Services

To provide meaningful access to high quality, civil legal services in the pursuit of justice for as many low income persons and members of vulnerable populations throughout colorado as possible.

Crime & Legal
3
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless

The mission of the colorado coalition for the homeless is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for families, children, and individuals who are experiencing or at-risk of…

Human Services
4
Mental Health Center of Boulder County Inc

Partnering to improve quality of life as a nonprofit organization dedicated to mental health and wellness. healing is our purpose, help is our promise, health is our passion.

—
5
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver Inc

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

—
6
Rocky Mountain Wild

Rocky mountain wild works to protect, connect, and restore wildlife and wild lands in the southern rocky mountain region. we work to secure the biodiversity of the mountains, plains, and desert ecosystems of colorado, wyoming, utah, and…

Environment
7
Colorado Food Cluster Inc

Provide opportunities for all to thrive by offering free food resources to communities.

Food & Nutrition
8
Denver Botanic Gardens Inc

The mission of denver botanic gardens is to connect people with plants, especially plants from the rocky mountain region and similar regions around the world, providing delight and enlightenment to everyone.

Environment
9
Public Broadcasting of Colorado Inc

To deliver meaningful news, music, and cultural experiences to everyone in colorado using the power of the human voice in all its forms

Arts & Culture
10
Colorado Museum of Natural History

Be a catalyst! Ignite our community's passion for nature and science.

Arts & Culture
11
The Colorado Humane Society & Spca Inc

See schedule o.to prevent cruelty and neglect of animals within the state of colorado by:-assisting agencies in the enforcement of laws relating to cruelty and neglect of companion animals and equines-educating the public on animal welfare…

—
12
Aia Colorado

AIA Colorado,is the voice of the architecture profession in Colorado. Through advocacy, leadership development, education and resources for architects, the organization supports architecture professionals in designing a better world where…

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Colorado Gives Foundation; the most unlike its peers is The Baby Foundation Mckee Medical Center Foundation. 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

25 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. 25 of the 40 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)
24/25
Grantees still filing
16/25
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

SEWALL CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER: $110,200 · EducationSEWALL CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER+2 more: $750 · EducationREACH CHARTER SCHOOL: $10,250 · OtherREACH CHARTER SCHOOLMETRO CARING: $5,450 · OtherMETRO CARINGUNIVERSITY OF IOWA: $5,000 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF IOWAIndividual grant recipient: $3,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipie…MENTAL HEALTH CENTER COLORADO: $2,500 · OtherOREGON FOOD BANK: $2,500 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $2,200 · OtherSHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST: $2,200 · Other+16 more: $14,000 · Other+16 moreDENVER DUMB FRIENDS LEAGUE: $23,300 · AnimalsDENVER DUMB FRI…COLORADO PET PANTRY: $2,800 · AnimalsCOLORADO PET PA…OREGON COAST AQUARIUM INC: $1,500 · AnimalsORCA CONSERVANCY: $1,000 · Animals+2 more: $1,000 · AnimalsFOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES: $18,200 · Food & NutritionFOOD BANK…Mental Health Center of Denver: $5,500 · HealthBENEVOLENT HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION: $500 · HealthTHE BABY FOUNDATION MCKEE MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION: $1,500 · Human ServicesLazarus Gate: $1,500 · Human ServicesGIRLS WHO CODE INC: $1,000 · Human ServicesYOUNG AMERICANS CENTER FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION: $2,500 · Recreation & Sports
Education$110,950Other$47,100Animals$29,600Food & Nutrition$18,200Health$6,000Human Services$4,000Recreation & Sports$2,500

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

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetSEWALL CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER: $110,200 over 9y, 0.3% of budgetDENVER DUMB FRIENDS LEAGUE: $23,300 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetFOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES: $18,200 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetREACH CHARTER SCHOOL: $10,250 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetMental Health Center of Denver: $5,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetMETRO CARING: $5,450 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetCOLORADO PET PANTRY: $2,800 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetOREGON FOOD BANK: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOLORADO VILLAGE COLLABORATIVE: $1,500 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetOREGON COAST AQUARIUM INC: $1,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetLazarus Gate: $1,500 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetORCA CONSERVANCY: $1,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetHAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOLORADO GIVES FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGIRLS WHO CODE INC: $1,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE INC: $1,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetROCKY MOUNTAIN FELINE RESCUE INC: $500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMAUI HUMANE SOCIETY: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOMMUNITY FOUNDATION BOULDER COUNTY: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOLORADO WATER TRUST: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBENEVOLENT HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLIGHTHOUSE WRITERS WORKSHOP INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF DENVER: $250 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.

Colorado Gives Founda…Rose Community Founda…The Denver FoundationXcel Energy FoundationSchlessman Foundation…Otter Cares Foundatio…American Endowment Fo…American Online Givin…The Bank of America C…Network for GoodDonor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …
Colorado Gives FoundationCO24.4× affinity10 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Colorado Gives Foundation · Rose Community Foundation · The Denver Foundation · Xcel Energy Foundation · Schlessman Foundation Inc · Otter Cares Foundation AKA OTTERCARES FOUNDATION · American Endowment Foundation · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Network for Good · 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 Thefish Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Thefish 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%8%15%22%30%share of the org’s income from government →median 24%
  • Oregon Coast Aquarium Inc: 24% of income from government
  • Oregon Food Bank: 21% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
10report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–30%
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 Thefish Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Thefish 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 40 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 Thefish’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