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Trillium Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Trillium Family Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$496k
Granted FY2025still arriving
27
Grants FY2025still arriving
4
States reached
$50k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0192% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2019 to 2025.

Environment$625kArts & Culture$331kCommunity Improvement$165kEducation$124kHuman Services$110kCivil Rights$80kYouth Development$78kFood & Nutrition$72kOther$0
02FY2025 · 27 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k6 grants · $21k
  • $10k–50k20 grants · $425k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $50k
$10,000
Median grant
4
States reached
$9.1M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
LANDER CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK$50,000
COMUNIDADES ORGANIZANDO EL PODER Y LA ACCIN LATINA$40,000
WYOMING OUTDOOR COUNCIL$40,000
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY WYOMING$35,000
AMHERST H WILDER FOUNDATION$30,000
WYOFILE$30,000
THE CENTER FOR POPULAR RESEARCH EDUCATION AND POLICY DBA WIND RIVER FOOD SO$30,000
FRIENDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER$30,000
JUGAAD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM$25,000
NEXUS COMMUNITY PARTNERS$25,000
WIND RIVER DEVELOPMENT FUND$25,000
MN350$20,000
SAHAN JOURNAL$15,000
DEER LAKE CONSERVANCY$10,000
THE FRIENDS OF THE SAINT PAUL PUBLIC LIBRARY$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 (FY25–25, $30k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%AMHERST H WILDER FOUNDATION: $30k → 14%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.
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 6% of Trillium Family Foundation’s grant dollars are earmarked for a different county than the recipient’s own address.

Trillium Family 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 grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

67%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.0M · 22 repeat orgs$514k to everyone else

22 repeat relationships: 18 still active in FY2025, 4 since wound down; 7 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

22
22

Total granted

$1.0M
$398k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+9%
+47%

Still filing today

73%
50%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 74% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $116k went to new ones.

50%100%’19’22’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’19’22’24’25
Arts & CultureEnvironmentEducationHuman ServicesYouth DevelopmentReligionOther
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

  • WO
    WYOMING OUTDOOR COUNCIL
    4× · 2019–2025 · $120k · revenue +67%
  • AH
    AMHERST H WILDER FOUNDATION
    4× · 2019–2025 · $110k · revenue +28%
  • W
    WYOFILE
    3× · 2022–2025 · $91k · revenue +41%

Funded once

  • ND
    NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTER INCgraduated
    one grant, 2019 · $70k · revenue +434%
  • TC
    The Center for Popular Research, Education and
    one grant, 2022 · $45k
  • CO
    Comunidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción
    one grant, 2022 · $40k
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
Minnesota Land Trust

The minnesota land trust protects and restores minnesota's most vital natural lands in order to provide wildlife habitat, clean water, outdoor experiences and scenic beauty for generations to come.

Environment
2
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The minnesota chamber of commerce proactively leads the business community statewide to: advance pro-business, responsible minnesota public policy that creates jobs and grows the econony; provde member services to address evolving business…

—
3
Conservation Minnesota

Conservation minnesota's mission is to turn our shared conservation values into state priorities and provide you with the information you need to make decisions for your family, community and future.

Environment
4
Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce

Creating powerful advocacy to enhance economic vitality in the minneapolis-st. paul region.

—
5
Minnesota Business Partnership

The minnesota business partnership's mission is to maintain a high quality of life for all minnesotans by ensuring that the state's economy remains strong, globally competitive and its prospects for growth bright by working with elected…

—
6
Arts Midwest Incorporated

Arts Midwest works collaboratively with private and public arts supporters to support, inform, and celebrate arts organizations and creative communities across the Midwest. Our mission is to build unprecedented opportunity across the…

Arts & Culture
7
African Development Center

Grow businesses, build wealth and increase reinvestement in the african communities of minnesota

Human Services
8
Mn Community Measurement

Mn community measurement empowers stakeholders with meaningful information to drive improvement.

Health
9
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Inc

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits informs, promotes, connects and strengthens individual nonprofits and the nonprofit sector.

Philanthropy
10
Northwest Minnesota Arts Council

Support and enhance the development of the arts in northwestern minnesota. facilitate and encourage the creation and appreciation of the arts.

Arts & Culture
11
Lake Street Council

Lake Street Council engages, serves, and advocates for the Lake Street business community in Minneapolis to ensure the vitality and prosperity of the commercial corridor. The Lake Street Council fosters economic vitality and amplifies Lake…

Community Improvement
12
Minneapolis Downtown Council

To create an extraordinary downtown minneapolis, applying the core values of leadership, collaboration, advocacy and innovation.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Springboard for the Arts; the most unlike its peers is Lander Childrens Museum. 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

35 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. 35 of the 53 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)
11
Early backer (in before they grew)
35/35
Grantees still filing
22/35
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

LANDER CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK: $122,500 · OtherLANDER CLIMATE ACTION NETWORKTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $105,000 · OtherTHE NATURE CONSERVANCYCOMUNIDADES ORGANIZANDO EL PODER Y LA ACCIN LATINA: $80,000 · OtherCOMUNIDADES ORGANIZANDO EL PODER Y LA ACCIN LATINAThe Center for Popular Research, Education and: $45,000 · OtherThe Center for Popular Research, Education andJUGAAD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM: $45,000 · OtherJUGAAD LEADERSHIP PROGRAMComunidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción: $40,000 · OtherTHE FRIENDS OF THE SAINT PAUL PUBLIC LIBRARY: $40,000 · OtherSCHROEDER AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $35,000 · OtherTHE CENTER FOR POPULAR RESEARCH EDUCATION AND POLICY DBA WIND RIVER FOOD SO: $30,000 · OtherThe Center for Popular Research, Education and Policy DBA Wind River Food Sovereignty: $30,000 · Other+17 more: $197,950 · Other+17 moreWYOMING OUTDOOR COUNCIL: $120,000 · EnvironmentWYOMING OUTDOOR COUNCI…FRIENDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER: $90,000 · EnvironmentFRIENDS OF THE MISSISS…MN350: $70,000 · EnvironmentMN350NATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOL: $30,000 · EnvironmentNATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADE…SUGARLOAF THE NORTH SHORE STEWARDSHIP ASSOCIATION: $20,000 · EnvironmentSUGARLOAF THE NORTH SH…+2 more: $15,000 · EnvironmentWYOFILE: $91,200 · Arts & CultureWYOFILELANDER ART CENTER: $42,000 · Arts & CultureLANDER ART CENT…SCHUBERT CLUB THE: $30,000 · Arts & CultureSCHUBERT CLUB T…RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC: $28,000 · Arts & CultureRAMSEY COUNTY H…SPRINGBOARD FOR THE ARTS: $20,000 · Arts & CultureSPRINGBOARD FOR…PUBLIC ART SAINT PAUL: $10,000 · Arts & CultureTen Thousand Things Theater: $10,000 · Arts & Culture+2 more: $5,000 · Arts & CultureAMHERST H WILDER FOUNDATION: $110,000 · Human ServicesAMHERST H W…NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC: $70,000 · Human ServicesNEIGHBORHOO…LANDER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $50,000 · EducationMACALESTER COLLEGE: $30,000 · EducationMONTESSORI TRAINING CENTER OF MINNESOTA INC: $15,000 · EducationAUGSBURG UNIVERSITY: $15,000 · EducationSahan Journal: $15,000 · Education+1 more: $4,000 · EducationURBAN BOATBUILDERS INC: $30,000 · Youth DevelopmentWIND RIVER DEVELOPMENT FUND: $25,000 · Community Improvement
Other$770,450Environment$345,000Arts & Culture$236,200Human Services$180,000Education$129,000Youth Development$30,000Community Improvement$25,000

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 budgetWYOMING OUTDOOR COUNCIL: $120,000 over 4y, 1.4% of budgetAMHERST H WILDER FOUNDATION: $110,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $105,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetWYOFILE: $91,200 over 3y, 2.9% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER: $90,000 over 3y, 1.7% of budgetNEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTER INC: $70,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetMN350: $70,000 over 3y, 3.5% of budgetLANDER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 4y, 2.5% of budgetJUGAAD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM: $45,000 over 2y, 15% of budgetLANDER ART CENTER: $42,000 over 4y, 9.9% of budgetTHE FRIENDS OF THE SAINT PAUL PUBLIC LIBRARY: $40,000 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetSCHROEDER AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $35,000 over 4y, 20% of budgetSCHUBERT CLUB THE: $30,000 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetURBAN BOATBUILDERS INC: $30,000 over 3y, 1.0% of budgetMACALESTER COLLEGE: $30,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetNATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOL: $30,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetRAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC: $28,000 over 1y, 1.9% of budgetSUGARLOAF THE NORTH SHORE STEWARDSHIP ASSOCIATION: $20,000 over 2y, 0.8% of budgetSPRINGBOARD FOR THE ARTS: $20,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetMONTESSORI TRAINING CENTER OF MINNESOTA INC: $15,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetAUGSBURG UNIVERSITY: $15,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPUBLIC ART SAINT PAUL: $10,000 over 1y, 1.8% of budgetTen Thousand Things Theater: $10,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetLANDER CHILDRENS MUSEUM: $7,500 over 2y, 6.6% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE BOUNDARY WATERS WILDERNESS: $5,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetREVIVING THE ISLAMIC SISTERHOOD FOR: $5,000 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetMinnesota Council on Foundations: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPROJECT SUCCESS: $4,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetAN OPERA THEATRE: $3,000 over 1y, 2.8% of budgetGRAND CANYON MUSIC FESTIVAL INC: $2,000 over 2y, 0.9% 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.

Saint Paul & Minnesot…Fr Bigelow FoundationThe McKnight Foundati…Elmer L & Eleanor J A…The Minneapolis Found…Hardenbergh FoundationOtto Bremer TrustPohlad Family Foundat…Mortenson Family Foun…Mightycause Charitabl…Fairview FoundationLander Community Foun…
Saint Paul & Minnesota FoundationMN31.6× affinity15 shared granteesties to 10 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation · Fr Bigelow Foundation · The McKnight Foundation · Elmer L & Eleanor J Andersen Foundation · The Minneapolis Foundation · Hardenbergh Foundation · Otto Bremer Trust · Pohlad Family Foundation · Mortenson Family Foundation · Mightycause Charitable Foundation · Fairview Foundation · Lander Community Foundation

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 Trillium Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Trillium Family 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 →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    5report 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.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Trillium Family Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Trillium Family 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 53 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 Trillium Family’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