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Thomas A & Sharon K Ruder Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Thomas A & Sharon K Ruder Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$159k
Granted FY2025still arriving
15
Grants FY2025still arriving
1
States reached
$50k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0196% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2025.

Education$692kPhilanthropy$75kHuman Services$75kArts & Culture$21kFood & Nutrition$16kCivil Rights$15kYouth Development$8kRecreation & Sports$7kOther$0
02FY2025 · 15 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k9 grants · $14k
  • $10k–50k5 grants · $95k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $50k
$3,000
Median grant
1
States reached
$4.8M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
MATER DEI STUDENT INV$50,000
HANOVER COLLEGE$25,000
EVSC FOUNDATION$25,000
EVSC FOUNDATION$25,000
ST VINCENT EARLY LEARNING CENTER$10,000
ARK CRISIS CENTER$10,000
VOICES INCORP$4,000
WESSELMAN PARK NATURE SOCIETY$3,000
EVANSVILLE JUNIOR FOOTBALL$1,500
USI FOUNDATION$1,500
VANDERBURGH HUMANE SOCIETY$1,000
IU FOUNDATION$1,000
UE FOUNDATION$1,000
MATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL$500
ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL$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 (FY20–24, $4k) land where the poverty rate runs at 15%, against an area that typically sits at 15%. 98% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 15%American Red Cross: $100 → 14%YWCA: $1k → 15%YWCA: $1k → 15%YWCA: $1k → 15%YWCA: $1k → 15%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.

76%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$640k · 18 repeat orgs$206k to everyone else

18 repeat relationships: 11 still active in FY2025, 7 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

18
28

Total granted

$640k
$155k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+3%
+8%

Still filing today

50%
32%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 68% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $52k 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
EducationHuman ServicesEnvironmentPhilanthropyAnimalsArts & CultureOther
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

  • HC
    Hanover College
    6× · 2020–2025 · $296k · revenue +62%
  • EF
    EVSC FOUNDATION INC
    6× · 2020–2025 · $122k · revenue +97%
  • IT
    IVY TECH FOUNDATION INC
    3× · 2021–2023 · $4k · revenue +34%

Funded once

  • SF
    STUDENT FINANCIAL AID ASSO
    one grant, 2021 · $50k
  • EA
    EVANSVILLE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM
    one grant, 2023 · $20k · revenue -3%
  • SF
    STUDENT FINANCIAL AID ASSOCIATION
    one grant, 2022 · $14k · revenue -807%
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
Indiana University Alumni Association Inc

The indiana university alumni association activates and supports the global alumni network- encouraging alumni to grow a lifelong connection with indiana university, and inspiring their ongoing generosity toward each other and the…

—
2
Indiana State University Foundation Inc

The foundation's mission is to secure and preserve private resources for the betterment of indiana state university and its students, while providing donors with opportunities to witness and experience the results of their philanthropy.

Education
3
University of Virginia Investment Management Company

The university of virginia investment management company (uvimco) is organized to invest funds on behalf of the rector and visitors of the university of virginia (the university or uva) and university-associated organizations (uaos).

Education
4
University of Virginia Foundation

To provide administrative services to university of virginia (university) entities, university associated organizations, or other entities involved in activities which support the university. to engage in matters pertaining to real…

Education
5
Vanderbilt University

See Disclosure Above.

Education
6
Illinois College

Illinois college is a co-educational institution of higher education learning providing a four-year educational program leading to the baccalaureate degree. illinois college is a community committed to the highest standards of scholarship…

Education
7
Indiana University Health Foundation Inc

Indiana university health foundation leverages the power of philanthropy to support the iu health goal of making indiana one of the healthiest states in the nation.

Health
8
Jefferson Scholars Foundation

The jefferson scholars foundation (foundation) provides academic merit-based scholarship, fellowship and professorship support to students and faculty at the university of virginia (uva).

Philanthropy
9
Virginia Tech Foundation Inc

Virginia tech foundation, inc. (vtf) is a virginia nonstock corporation established in 1948 for the sole purpose of managing virginia tech's endowment to advance virginia tech's mission and its strategic priorities.

Education
10
Virginia Student Aid Foundation Inc

The virginia athletics foundation, through its fund-raising efforts, strives to support a preeminent intercollegiate athletics program at the university of virginia by providing student-athletes theopportunity to achieve academic and…

Education
11
Evansville Regional Economic Partnership Foundation

Promote business growth and activities in evansville, indiana.

—
12
Ohio Valley University Inc

Ohio valley university's mission is to transform lives in a christ-centered academic community that integrates higher learning, biblical faith, and service to god and humanity.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Evsc Foundation Inc; the most unlike its peers is Big Blue Boosters. 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

21 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. 21 of the 50 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)
1
Early backer (in before they grew)
20/21
Grantees still filing
12/21
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Ark Crisis Center: $55,600 · OtherArk Crisis CenterMATER DEI HIGH SCHOOL: $51,500 · OtherMATER DEI HIGH SCHOOLMATER DEI STUDENT INV: $50,000 · OtherMATER DEI STUDENT INVSTUDENT FINANCIAL AID ASSO: $50,000 · OtherSTUDENT FINANCIAL AID ASSOUE Foundation: $28,604 · OtherUE FoundationUSI FOUNDATION: $24,000 · OtherUSI FOUNDATIONST VINCENT EARLY LEARNING CENTER INC: $20,000 · OtherST VINCENT EARLY LEARNING CENTER INCVOICES INCORP: $14,500 · Other+29 more: $68,850 · Other+29 moreHanover College: $296,100 · EducationHanover CollegeSTUDENT FINANCIAL AID ASSOCIATION: $14,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE: $11,000 · Education+2 more: $4,500 · EducationEVSC FOUNDATION INC: $122,000 · PhilanthropyEVSC FOUNDATION INCStifel Charitable Inc: $75,000 · PhilanthropyStifel Charitable IncEVANSVILLE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM: $20,000 · Arts & CultureUrban Seeds Inc: $5,000 · EnvironmentWesselman Nature Society Inc: $5,000 · EnvironmentYWCA OF EVANSVILLE INDIANA INC: $4,000 · Human Services+1 more: $100 · Human ServicesVANDERBURGH COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY INC: $2,000 · Animals
Other$363,054Education$325,600Philanthropy$197,000Arts & Culture$20,000Environment$10,000Human Services$4,100Animals$2,000

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 budgetHanover College: $296,100 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetEVSC FOUNDATION INC: $122,000 over 6y, 1.0% of budgetStifel Charitable Inc: $75,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetEVANSVILLE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM: $20,000 over 1y, 6.3% of budgetST VINCENT EARLY LEARNING CENTER INC: $20,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE: $11,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTRI-STATE FOOD BANK: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetEVANSVILLE JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE: $5,500 over 4y, 7.0% of budgetUrban Seeds Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 2.4% of budgetWesselman Nature Society Inc: $5,000 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetVOICES INC: $5,000 over 1y, 5.7% of budgetYWCA OF EVANSVILLE INDIANA INC: $4,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetIVY TECH FOUNDATION INC: $3,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetVANDERBURGH COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY INC: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetHOPE OF EVANSVILLE INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetBUFFALO TRACE COUNCIL INC BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA #156: $1,650 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetIndiana University Foundation: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMEALS ON WHEELS INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $100 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 Hanover College ↗
  • Who funds EVSC FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds Stifel Charitable Inc ↗
  • Who funds EVANSVILLE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM ↗
  • Who funds ST VINCENT EARLY LEARNING CENTER INC ↗
  • Who funds STUDENT FINANCIAL AID ASSOCIATION ↗
  • Who funds UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE ↗
  • Who funds TRI-STATE FOOD BANK ↗
  • Who funds EVANSVILLE JUNIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE ↗
  • Who funds Urban Seeds Inc ↗
  • Who funds Wesselman Nature Society Inc ↗
  • Who funds VOICES INC ↗
  • Who funds YWCA OF EVANSVILLE INDIANA INC ↗
  • Who funds IVY TECH FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds VANDERBURGH COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY INC ↗
  • Who funds HOPE OF EVANSVILLE INC ↗
  • Who funds BUFFALO TRACE COUNCIL INC BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA #156 ↗
  • Who funds Indiana University Foundation ↗
  • Who funds BIG BLUE BOOSTERS ↗
  • Who funds MEALS ON WHEELS INC ↗

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.

Community Foundation …Evansville Endowment …Cecil a and Mabel Len…Koch Foundation IncBaird Foundation IncWelborn Baptist Found…Bussing-Koch Foundati…Centerpoint Energy Fo…The Bower-Suhrheinric…James R Duncan Trust …Central Indiana Commu…Lilly Endowment Inc
Community Foundation Alliance IncIN27.9× affinity11 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Community Foundation Alliance Inc · Evansville Endowment Fund Inc · Cecil a and Mabel Lene Hamman Foundation Inc · Koch Foundation Inc · Baird Foundation Inc · Welborn Baptist Foundation Inc · Bussing-Koch Foundation Inc · Centerpoint Energy Foundation Inc · The Bower-Suhrheinrich Foundation Fifth Third · James R Duncan Trust Uw Fifth Third · Central Indiana Community Foundation Inc · Lilly Endowment Inc

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 Thomas A & Sharon K Ruder Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Thomas A & Sharon K Ruder Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%3%5%8%10%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    8report 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.

    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 50 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 Thomas A & Sharon K Ruder’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