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Tippins Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Tippins Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$564k
Granted FY2024still arriving
86
Grants FY2024still arriving
11
States reached
$75k
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, FY2019 to 2024.

Health$755kEducation$423kHuman Services$321kInternational$278kYouth Development$138kArts & Culture$118kAnimals$112kEmployment$110kOther$0
02FY2024 · 86 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k68 grants · $168k
  • $10k–50k16 grants · $251k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $145k
$3,000
Median grant
11
States reached
$384k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGHUPMC$75,000
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH PANTHER LABWORKS$70,000
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS$30,000
BROTHER'S BROTHER FOUNDATION$25,000
UPMC CANCER CENTERS DEPT OF UROLOGY$25,000
THE SALVATION ARMY$25,000
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHWESTERN PA$20,000
PITTSBURGH OPERA$16,000
TRADE INSTITUTE OF PITTSBURGH$15,000
SWARTZ CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP$15,000
LIGHT OF LIFE MINISTRIES$10,000
BLIND AND VISION REHABILITATION$10,000
NO DOG LEFT BEHIND$10,000
WORLD RESEARCH FOUNDATION$10,000
GREATER PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK$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 (FY20–24, $209k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 98% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%LEMOYNE COMMUNITY CENTER: $1k → 12%BOULDER CREST RETREAT FOUNDATION: $1k → 7%LEMOYNE COMMUNITY CENTER: $1k → 12%BOULDER CREST RETREAT FOUNDATION: $1k → 7%LEMOYNE COMMUNITY CENTER: $1k → 12%BOULDER CREST RETREAT FOUNDATION: $1k → 7%LEMOYNE COMMUNITY CENTER: $1k → 12%BOULDER CREST RETREAT FOUNDATION: $1k → 7%LEMOYNE COMMUNITY CENTER: $1k → 12%BOULDER CREST RETREAT FOUNDATION: $1k → 7%LIGHT OF LIFE MINISTRIES: $10k → 11%LIGHT OF LIFE MINISTRIES: $10k → 11%LIGHT OF LIFE MINISTRIES: $10k → 11%LIGHT OF LIFE MINISTRIES: $10k → 11%LIGHT OF LIFE MINISTRIES: $10k → 11%JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES OF PITTSBURGH: $1k → 11%JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES OF PITTSBURGH: $1k → 11%JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES OF PITTSBURGH: $1k → 11%JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES OF PITTSBURGH: $1k → 11%JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES OF PITTSBURGH: $1k → 11%THE WATSON INSTITITUE: $5k → 11%THE WATSON INSTITITUE: $5k → 11%THE WATSON INSTITITUE: $5k → 11%THE WATSON INSTITITUE: $5k → 11%THE WATSON INSTITITUE: $5k → 11%PRESBYTERIAN SENIOR CARE: $3k → 11%PRESBYTERIAN SENIOR CARE: $3k → 11%PRESBYTERIAN SENIOR CARE: $3k → 11%PRESBYTERIAN SENIOR CARE: $3k → 11%PRESBYTERIAN SENIOR CARE: $3k → 11%OUTREACHED ARMS: $500 → 11%OUTREACHED ARMS: $500 → 11%OUTREACHED ARMS: $500 → 11%WOMEN'S CENTER & SHELTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH: $6k → 11%WOMEN'S CENTER & SHELTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH: $6k → 11%WOMEN'S CENTER & SHELTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH: $5k → 11%WOMEN'S CENTER & SHELTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH: $5k → 11%WOMEN'S CENTER & SHELTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH: $5k → 11%BLIND AND VISION REHABILITATION: $10k → 11%BLIND AND VISION REHABILITATION: $10k → 11%BLIND AND VISION REHABILITATION: $10k → 11%BLIND AND VISION REHABILITATION: $10k → 11%BLIND AND VISION REHABILITATION: $10k → 11%BETHLEHEM HAVEN: $5k → 11%BETHLEHEM HAVEN: $5k → 11%BETHLEHEM HAVEN: $5k → 11%BETHLEHEM HAVEN: $5k → 11%BETHLEHEM HAVEN: $5k → 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

ID
IL
NY
SD
IN
PA
CA
MO
VA
AZ
TN
NC
DC
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.

79%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$2.6M · 84 repeat orgs$673k to everyone else

84 repeat relationships: 78 still active in FY2024, 6 since wound down; 7 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

84
14

Total granted

$2.6M
$647k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+34%
+35%

Still filing today

61%
29%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 95% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $26k went to new ones.

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

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

’19’20’21’22’23’24
Human ServicesHealthEducationAnimalsArts & CulturePhilanthropyOther
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

  • MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC
    5× · 2020–2024 · $140k · revenue +39%
  • BB
    BROTHER'S BROTHER FOUNDATION
    5× · 2020–2024 · $125k · revenue +111%
  • TI
    TRADE INSTITUTE OF PITTSBURGH
    5× · 2020–2024 · $75k · revenue +230%

Funded once

  • S
    SEE
    one grant, 2019 · $562k
  • PF
    PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION - EMERGENCY ACTION FUND
    one grant, 2020 · $50k
  • CM
    Carnegie Mellon Universitygraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $10k · revenue +35%
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
Point Park University

Provides innovative education in a dynamic urban setting. dedicated to academic excellence and community engagement,we prepare students of diverse backgrounds with the knowledge, skill,and experience to lead meaningful lives as informed…

—
2
University of Pittsburgh

The university of pittsburgh, founded in 1787, is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the united states and one of the nation's top public research universities. for more than two centuries, the university of pittsburgh…

Education
3
Pittsburgh Mercy Health System Inc

We, pittsburgh mercy health system (pittsburgh mercy) and trinity health, serve together in the spirit of the gospel as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities. pittsburgh mercy is a member of trinity…

Health
4
Penn Highlands Healthcare Inc

Our community-based and controlled health care system exists to improve regional access to a wide array of premier primary care and advanced health services while supporting a reverence for life and the worth and dignity of each individual.

Health
5
Furman University

The primary mission of furman as a liberal arts institution is to provide a distinctive education in fine arts, humanities, social sciences, mathematics and the sciences, as well as selected professional disciplines.

Education
6
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

The western pennsylvania conservancy protects and restores exceptional places to provide our region with clean waters and healthy forests, wildlife and natural areas for the benefit of present and future generations. the conservancy…

Environment
7
The Trustees of Princeton University

Research, education and general - princeton university is a private not-for-profit, non-sectarian institution of higher learning with approximately 5,700 undergraduate and 3,300 graduate students. 2,500 students graduated in the 2024-2025…

Education
8
Delaware Valley University

See schedule o.we are inspired by the ideals of our founder who, in 1896, emphasized respect for all people and ideas, who honored knowledge with practice, progress and the common good. our historical commitment to experiential learning…

—
9
Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium Inc

To support education and research at college, university, and research libraries.

Education
10
Wrc Pennsylvania Memorial Home

Wrc pennsylvania memorial home's mission is to provide choices for generations. built on a not-for-profit foundation of caring, the organization offers residential and personal care, home and community-based services, skilled and…

Health
11
Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States Inc

The fsmb serves as the voice for state medical boards, supporting them through education, assessment, research and advocacy while providing services and initiatives that promote patient safety, quality health care and regulatory best…

Health
12
Personal Care Products Council Foundation Inc

The foundation is set up to deliver one program - look good feel better. the mission of this nationwide program is to improve the quality of life of women, men, and teens undergoing cancer treatment by offering advice on how to cope with…

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Heritage Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Canyon Heroes. 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

64 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. 64 of the 107 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)
12
Early backer (in before they grew)
61/64
Grantees still filing
50/64
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

SEE: $561,720 · OtherSEEUNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGHUPMC: $375,000 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGHUPMCUNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH PANTHER LABWORKS: $350,000 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH PANTHER LABWORKSTHE SALVATION ARMY: $125,000 · OtherUPMC CANCER CENTERS DEPT OF UROLOGY: $125,000 · OtherJUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHWESTERN PA: $80,000 · Other+64 more: $762,858 · Other+64 moreMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $140,000 · InternationalMEDECINS …BROTHER'S BROTHER FOUNDATION: $125,000 · InternationalBROTHER'S…+1 more: $2,500 · InternationalLIGHT OF LIFE MINISTRIES INC: $50,000 · Human ServicesVISABILITY: $50,000 · Human ServicesWOMEN'S CENTER AND SHELTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH: $27,000 · Human ServicesTHE WATSON INSTITUTE: $25,000 · Human ServicesBETHLEHEM HAVEN OF PITTSBURGH: $25,000 · Human ServicesPresbyterian SeniorCare: $15,000 · Human Services+4 more: $17,000 · Human ServicesECO-SOAP BANK: $50,000 · HealthPARKINSON FOUNDATION OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA: $14,500 · HealthALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC: $12,500 · HealthMAGEE-WOMENS RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND FOUNDATION: $10,000 · HealthWORLD RESEARCH FOUNDATION: $10,000 · HealthPittsburgh Action Against Rape: $8,000 · HealthVitalant Foundation: $5,000 · HealthTHE CHILDREN'S HOME OF PITTSBURGH: $5,000 · HealthQUAKER VALLEY AMBULANCE AUTHORITY: $4,000 · Health+1 more: $500 · HealthNO DOG LEFT BEHIND INC: $40,000 · AnimalsHUMANE ANIMAL RESCUE: $25,000 · AnimalsAnimal Friends Inc: $25,000 · AnimalsK9S FOR WARRIORS INC: $5,000 · AnimalsNATIONAL AVIARY IN PITTSBURGH INC: $4,000 · Animals+2 more: $3,000 · AnimalsPITTSBURGH OPERA INC: $74,500 · Arts & CulturePITTSBURGH SYMPHONY INC: $11,500 · Arts & CultureFORT LIGONIER ASSOCIATION: $5,000 · Arts & CulturePITTSBURGH HISTORY & LANDMARKS FOUNDATION: $4,500 · Arts & Culture+2 more: $5,500 · Arts & CultureTRADE INSTITUTE OF PITTSBURGH: $75,000 · Employment
Other$2,379,578International$267,500Human Services$209,000Health$119,500Animals$102,000Arts & Culture$101,000Employment$75,000

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 budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $140,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetBROTHER'S BROTHER FOUNDATION: $125,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetTRADE INSTITUTE OF PITTSBURGH: $75,000 over 5y, 1.4% of budgetPITTSBURGH OPERA INC: $74,500 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetLIGHT OF LIFE MINISTRIES INC: $50,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetECO-SOAP BANK: $50,000 over 5y, 1.0% of budgetVISABILITY: $50,000 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetGREATER PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK: $50,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetTHE HERITAGE FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetNO DOG LEFT BEHIND INC: $40,000 over 5y, 9.3% of budgetWOMEN'S CENTER AND SHELTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH: $27,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetTHE WATSON INSTITUTE: $25,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetGARY SINISE FOUNDATION: $25,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetBETHLEHEM HAVEN OF PITTSBURGH: $25,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetHUMANE ANIMAL RESCUE: $25,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetAnimal Friends Inc: $25,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetConservative Partnership Institute: $21,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetFOUNDATION FOR FREE ENTERPRISE EDUCATION: $20,680 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetPresbyterian SeniorCare: $15,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetPARKINSON FOUNDATION OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA: $14,500 over 5y, 0.6% of budgetSARAH HEINZ HOUSE ASSOCIATION: $14,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetALLEGHENY COLLEGE: $12,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetTravis Manion Foundation: $12,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC: $12,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA: $12,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetMARINE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION INC: $11,500 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetPITTSBURGH SYMPHONY INC: $11,500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetCarnegie Mellon University: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMAGEE-WOMENS RESEARCH INSTITUTE AND FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD RESEARCH FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetLIFE'SWORK OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA: $10,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetLoyalhanna Association Inc: $8,678 over 5y, 0.4% of budgetMYELIN REPAIR FOUNDATION INC: $8,000 over 4y, 0.8% of budgetPittsburgh Action Against Rape: $8,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetNORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC: $6,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFERN HOLLOW NATURE CENTER INC: $5,500 over 3y, 0.6% of budgetAngels Place Inc: $5,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetVanderbilt University: $5,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetMANCHESTER ACADEMIC CHARTER SCHOOL: $5,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetLEMOYNE COMMUNITY CENTER: $5,000 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetSenior Hearts Rescue and Renewal: $5,000 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetFORT LIGONIER ASSOCIATION: $5,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetVitalant Foundation: $5,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetK9S FOR WARRIORS INC: $5,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetBOULDER CREST FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetSHADY SIDE ACADEMY: $5,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetTHE CHILDREN'S HOME OF PITTSBURGH: $5,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetCOMMUNITY COLLEGE OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION: $5,000 over 5y, 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 MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC ↗
  • Who funds BROTHER'S BROTHER FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds TRADE INSTITUTE OF PITTSBURGH ↗
  • Who funds PITTSBURGH OPERA INC ↗
  • Who funds LIGHT OF LIFE MINISTRIES INC ↗
  • Who funds ECO-SOAP BANK ↗
  • Who funds VISABILITY ↗
  • Who funds GREATER PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK ↗
  • Who funds THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds NO DOG LEFT BEHIND INC ↗
  • Who funds WOMEN'S CENTER AND SHELTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH ↗
  • Who funds THE WATSON INSTITUTE ↗
  • Who funds GARY SINISE FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds BETHLEHEM HAVEN OF PITTSBURGH ↗
  • Who funds HUMANE ANIMAL RESCUE ↗
  • Who funds Animal Friends Inc ↗
  • Who funds Conservative Partnership Institute ↗
  • Who funds FOUNDATION FOR FREE ENTERPRISE EDUCATION ↗
  • Who funds Presbyterian SeniorCare ↗
  • Who funds PARKINSON FOUNDATION OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA ↗
  • Who funds SARAH HEINZ HOUSE ASSOCIATION ↗
  • Who funds ALLEGHENY COLLEGE ↗

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.

The Pittsburgh Founda…Hillman Family Founda…The United Way of Sou…Richard King Mellon F…Eqt FoundationThe Grable FoundationClapp G H Decd Char a…McCune Foundation Pnc…Pittsburgh Penguins F…Upmc GroupThe Jack Buncher Foun…Jewish Federation of …
The Pittsburgh FoundationPA49.4× affinity26 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Pittsburgh Foundation · Hillman Family Foundations · The United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania · Richard King Mellon Foundation · Eqt Foundation · The Grable Foundation · Clapp G H Decd Char and Ed Tr · McCune Foundation Pnc Bank Na · Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation · Upmc Group · The Jack Buncher Foundation · Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

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 Tippins Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Tippins 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%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 0%
  • K9S for Warriors Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
18report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
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 107 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 Tippins’ 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