Skip to content
Tri-M Foundation at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Private foundation

Tri-M Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$57k
Granted FY2025still arriving
6
Grants FY2025still arriving
5
States reached
$10k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its fieldRead
04Through 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, FY2020 to 2025.

Arts & Culture$326kEducation$30k
02FY2025 · 6 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k2 grants · $16k
  • $10k–50k4 grants · $40k
$10,000
Median grant
5
States reached
$1.1M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
PENFOLD THEATRE COMPANY$10,216
PUPPETEERS OF AMERICA$10,000
THEATRE NOHGAKU$10,000
IN THE HEART OF THE BEAST PUPPET & MASK THEATRE$10,000
ANACONDA ENSEMBLE THEATRE$9,300
Individual grant recipient$7,000
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:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY20–25) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 66% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%NEBRASKA COMMUNITIES PLAYHOUSE: $10k → 13%ARENA DANCES: $10k → 11%SPRINGBOARD FOR THE ARTS: $10k → 14%ANACONDA ENSEMBLE THEATRE: $9k → 14%EGOPO: $10k → 22%ARS MINERVA: $3k → 10%MY TRUE COLORS FEST: $6k → 9%FRANKLIN STAGE COMPANY: $9k → 15%PHOENICIA FESTIVAL OF THE VOICE: $9k → 16%NEW YORK FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS: $10k → 17%TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY: $20k → 10%TILT PRODUCTION GROUP: $6k → 10%PENFOLD THEATRE COMPANY: $10k → 15%SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER CHOIR: $10k → 16%4TH WALL THEATRE: $10k → 16%HERITAGE SIGNATURE CHORALE: $10k → 14%THEATRE NOHGAKU: $10k → 11%LANDLOCKED OPERA: $10k → 17%ST LOUIS DANCE THEATRE: $7k → 21%OREGON EAST SYMPHONY: $3k → 12%THE POP UP PROJECT: $10k → 12%STAIBDANCE: $10k → 13%DANCE INITIATIVE: $5k → 6%CENTRAL CITY OPERA: $10k → 6%AMERICAN LIVES THEATRE: $2k → 16%CLEVELAND CHAMBER CHOIR: $10k → 17%STAGE LEFT THEATRE: $6k → 12%LA PETIT THEATRE: $5k → 23%ICARUS QUARTET: $10k → 19%NORWAY HOUSE: $6k → 11%FRANKLIN STAGE COMPANY: $7k → 15%ON SITE OPERA: $10k → 17%TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY: $10k → 10%PENFOLD THEATRE: $4k → 10%ARTS FOR LAWRENCE: $5k → 16%RAPID LEMON PRODUCTIONS: $10k → 19%PUPPETEERS OF AMERICA: $10k → 11%FRANKLIN STAGE COMPANY: $7k → 15%RUDE MECHANICALS A THEATRE COLLECTIVE: $10k → 10%IN THE HEART OF THE BEAST PUPPET & MASK THEATRE: $10k → 11%FRANKLIN STAGE COMPANY: $7k → 15%FRANKLIN STAGE COMPANY: $5k → 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.

Which US states its grants reach

WA
ID
MT
MN
MI
NY
OR
IN
OH
PA
CA
CO
NE
MO
MD
TN
DC
LA
GA
TX
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.
04

Where the work is directed

The same grants placed two ways: where each recipient sits, and where its stated purpose sends the money.

About 9% of Tri-M Foundation’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address.

Tri-M Foundationlessmore of its giving
Placed by recipient address
How this is measured
Recipient view: each grant at its grantee’s ZIP, mapped to a county. Directed view: each grant at the county its stated purpose names, falling back to the recipient’s county when the purpose names no place; US grants only. A county shows only if it carries the top 95% of that view’s dollars. Purposes are read from the funder’s own 990 grant descriptions.
03Its 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
Constella Arts

Constella Arts produces performances, educational presentations and digital content, along the way changing how people perceive classical music and the performing arts.

—
2
Theatre Artibus

Artibus is dedicated to strengthening community through the experience of live performance. We are a hub in Denver for intimate, original performances that explore important social themes and for building community through shared space,…

—
3
Foundation for Modern Opera
—
4
An Opera Theatre

To produce socially relevant works in order to break down the barriers of the classical art form and bring communities together.

Arts & Culture
5
State of the Arts Productions
Arts & Culture
6
Chamber Opera of Chicago
—
7
Hopera

Hopera's mission is to produce live musical performances in unique Houston Area spaces that focus on and empower Houston Area artists. Our Pint-Sized Performance concert series empowers local musicians to create original programs that are…

Arts & Culture
8
Adele Myers and Dancers

Adele Myers and Dancers is a professional national touring dance theater company that suppports Miami-based dance artists at early stages of their careers by offering a commission for new work, mentorship, and performance opportunities in…

Public Benefit
9
Theo Ubique Theatre

The mission of theo ubique theater company is to engage actors and audiences in an intimate and honest conversation with great theatrical works, including musicals, reviews, and dramas.in a cabatet setting with food service available.

Arts & Culture
10
The Russian Arts Theatre and Studio

Develop recognition of international theater

Arts & Culture
11
Nava Dance Theatre

Nava Dance Theatre uses the south Indian dance form as a medium for artistic reflection and discovery.

Arts & Culture
12
The Center for International Theatre Development
Arts & Culture
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is St Louis Dance Theatre; the most unlike its peers is Ego Po Inc. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
05the grantee network

22 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. 22 of the 38 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.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
9
Early backer (in before they grew)
22/22
Grantees still filing
14/22
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Individual grant recipient: $35,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipientTEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY: $30,000 · OtherTEXAS STATE UNIVERSITYSAN ANTONIO CHAMBER CHOIR: $10,000 · OtherON SITE OPERA INC: $10,000 · OtherTHE NEBRASKA COMMUNITIES PLAYHOUSE: $10,000 · Other4TH WALL THEATRE: $10,000 · OtherICARUS QUARTET INC: $10,000 · OtherCENTRAL CITY OPERA: $10,000 · OtherRAPID LEMON PRODUCTIONS: $10,000 · OtherLANDLOCKED OPERA INC: $10,000 · OtherANACONDA ENSEMBLE THEATRE: $9,300 · OtherPHOENICIA FESTIVAL OF THE VOICE: $9,000 · Other+8 more: $36,483 · Other+8 morePENFOLD THEATRE COMPANY: $10,216 · Arts & CulturePENFOLD THEATRE COMPANYSPRINGBOARD FOR THE ARTS: $10,000 · Arts & CultureSPRINGBOARD FOR THE ARTSRUDE MECHANICALS-A THEATRE COLLECTIVE: $10,000 · Arts & CultureRUDE MECHANICALS-A THEATRE COLLECTIVESTAIBDANCE INC: $10,000 · Arts & CultureSTAIBDANCE INCARENA DANCES INC: $10,000 · Arts & CultureARENA DANCES INCThe Heritage Signature Chorale: $10,000 · Arts & CultureThe Heritage Signature ChoraleTHE POP-UP PROJECT: $10,000 · Arts & CultureTHE POP-UP PROJECTCLEVELAND CHAMBER CHOIR: $10,000 · Arts & CultureCLEVELAND CHAMBER CHOIREGO PO INC: $10,000 · Arts & CultureEGO PO INCTHEATRE NOHGAKU INC: $10,000 · Arts & CultureTHEATRE NOHGAKU INCIN THE HEART OF THE BEAST PUPPET AND MAS: $10,000 · Arts & CultureIN THE HEART OF THE BEAST PUPPET AND MASNEW YORK FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS INC: $10,000 · Arts & CultureNEW YORK FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS INCThe Puppeteers of America Inc: $10,000 · Arts & CultureThe Puppeteers of America IncST LOUIS DANCE THEATRE: $7,000 · Arts & CultureNorway House: $5,900 · Arts & Culture+2 more: $7,775 · Arts & CulturePARTNERSHIPS FOR LAWRENCE INC: $5,100 · Community Improvement
Other$199,783Arts & Culture$150,891Community Improvement$5,100

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 budgetPENFOLD THEATRE COMPANY: $10,216 over 1y, 2.3% of budgetSPRINGBOARD FOR THE ARTS: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetRUDE MECHANICALS-A THEATRE COLLECTIVE: $10,000 over 1y, 4.7% of budgetON SITE OPERA INC: $10,000 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetSTAIBDANCE INC: $10,000 over 1y, 3.1% of budgetARENA DANCES INC: $10,000 over 1y, 7.2% of budgetThe Heritage Signature Chorale: $10,000 over 1y, 15% of budgetTHE POP-UP PROJECT: $10,000 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetCLEVELAND CHAMBER CHOIR: $10,000 over 1y, 33% of budgetTHE NEBRASKA COMMUNITIES PLAYHOUSE: $10,000 over 1y, 3.1% of budgetEGO PO INC: $10,000 over 1y, 2.9% of budgetIN THE HEART OF THE BEAST PUPPET AND MAS: $10,000 over 1y, 2.4% of budgetNEW YORK FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetThe Puppeteers of America Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 3.1% of budgetST LOUIS DANCE THEATRE: $7,000 over 1y, 1.4% of budgetNorway House: $5,900 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetPARTNERSHIPS FOR LAWRENCE INC: $5,100 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetDance Initiative Inc: $4,775 over 1y, 2.1% of budgetARS MINERVA: $3,000 over 1y, 4.1% of budgetOREGON EAST SYMPHONY: $3,000 over 1y, 1.3% 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.

National Philanthropi…American Online Givin…Donor Advised Charita…Amazonsmile FoundationFidelity Investments …
National Philanthropic TrustPA5.6× affinity5 shared granteesties to 4 of 4Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: National Philanthropic Trust · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Amazonsmile Foundation · 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 Tri-M Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Tri-M Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%3%10%23%40%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 8%
  • Oregon East Symphony: 8% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
11report 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.
04Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to Tri-M Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Tri-M 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 38 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 Tri-M’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