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Underwood Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Underwood Family 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.

$756k
Granted FY2025still arriving
53
Grants FY2025still arriving
11
States reached
$391k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0191% classified

What it funded, over time

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

Education$1.6MPhilanthropy$1.3MReligion$705kYouth Development$657kHuman Services$218kHealth$206kPublic Benefit$191kArts & Culture$146kOther$0
02FY2025 · 53 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k36 grants · $109k
  • $10k–50k15 grants · $200k
  • $50k–250k1 grant · $56k
  • $250k+1 grant · $391k
$3,500
Median grant
11
States reached
$15M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION$390,750
ASCENTION LUTHERN CHURCH$56,450
YSS$25,000
AMES CHRISTIAN SCHOOL$16,000
BIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP$16,000
Individual grant recipient$15,500
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIV FOUNDATION$15,000
CALVARY E FREE CHURCH$15,000
THE BRIDGE HOME$15,000
KIDS ACCROSS AMERICA FOUNDATION$11,000
OBRIA MEDICAL CLINIC$11,000
FERNDALE COMMUNITY SERVICES COOPERA$10,000
FOOD BANK OF IOWA$10,000
WHATCOM LAND TRUST$10,000
FOOD AT FIRST$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 (FY17–25, $150k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 81% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%GLOBAL EYE MISSION: $1k → 11%FAITH IN ACTION FOR CASS COUNTY: $1k → 14%NGHC INC: $5k → 7%GLOBAL EYE MISSION: $1k → 11%FAITH IN ACTION FOR CASS COUNTY: $1k → 14%GARNER COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN CHILD CA: $20k → 8%NISHNA VALLEY FAMILY YMCA: $3k → 14%GLOBAL EYE MISSION: $600 → 11%FAITH IN ACTION FOR CASS COUNTY: $1k → 14%GARNER COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN CHILD CA: $2k → 8%GLOBAL EYE MISSION: $500 → 11%FAITH IN ACTION FOR CASS COUNTY: $1k → 14%GARNER COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN CHILD CA: $1k → 8%GLOBAL EYE MISSION: $250 → 11%FAITH IN ACTION FOR CASS COUNTY: $500 → 14%YMCA OF THE NORTH: $515 → 11%FAITH IN ACTION FOR CASS COUNTY: $500 → 14%YOUTH FRONTIERS: $1k → 11%WALKER AREA COMMUNITY CENTER: $6k → 14%WALKER AREA COMMUNITY CENTER: $6k → 14%WALKER AREA COMMUNITY CENTER: $6k → 14%WALKER AREA COMMUNITY CENTER: $5k → 14%WALKER AREA COMMUNITY CENTER: $5k → 14%WALKER AREA COMMUNITY CENTER: $5k → 14%WALKER AREA COMMUNITY CENTER: $5k → 14%WALKER AREA COMMUNITY CENTER: $5k → 14%WALKER AREA COMMUNITY CENTER: $3k → 14%FOOD AT FIRST: $10k → 17%FOOD AT FIRST: $10k → 17%FOOD AT FIRST: $10k → 17%FOOD AT FIRST: $6k → 17%FOOD AT FIRST: $5k → 17%FOOD AT FIRST: $5k → 17%GOOD NEIGHBOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: $2k → 17%GOOD NEIGHBOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: $2k → 17%GOOD NEIGHBOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: $2k → 17%GOOD NEIGHBOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: $2k → 17%GOOD NEIGHBOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: $2k → 17%GOOD NEIGHBOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: $2k → 17%GOOD NEIGHBOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: $2k → 17%WINGS OF REFUGE: $1k → 17%WINGS OF REFUGE: $1k → 17%WINGS OF REFUGE: $1k → 17%WINGS OF REFUGE: $500 → 17%HEARTLAND SENIOR SERVICES: $500 → 17%WINGS OF REFUGE: $500 → 17%WINGS OF REFUGE: $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
MN
IL
MA
WY
IA
IN
OH
PA
CO
NE
MO
MD
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
DC
GA
TX
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.

93%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$4.3M · 67 repeat orgs$316k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +48% since the first grant, against +5% for those funded once.

67 repeat relationships: 49 still active in FY2025, 18 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

67
46

Total granted

$4.3M
$302k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+48%
+5%

Still filing today

57%
46%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 98% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $14k 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
Human ServicesHealthEducationReligionCommunity ImprovementPhilanthropyOther
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

  • IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION
    9× · 2017–2025 · $1.2M · revenue +1%
  • AC
    AMES CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
    9× · 2017–2025 · $130k · revenue +98%
  • BIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP
    8× · 2018–2025 · $124k · revenue +51%

Funded once

  • TA
    The Ames Foundation
    one grant, 2022 · $100k · revenue -31%
  • SC
    STORY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
    one grant, 2017 · $75k
  • SA
    SHIFT ATL INC
    one grant, 2020 · $25k · revenue -62%
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
Iowa Credit Union Foundation

Founded in 1995 as the philanthropic arm of the iowa credit union league and guided by the credit union philosophy of "people helping people", the iowa credit union foundation (the foundation) works to champion financial well-being for…

Unclassified
2
United Way of North Central Iowa

Seeking to build a stronger, more caring community by forming partnerships with businesses, community experts, education & health & human service agencies to achieve targeted outcomes & sustained changes in community conditions which will…

Philanthropy
3
University of Iowa Facilities Corporation

The university of iowa facilities corporation acquires and holds property for the benefit and use of the university of iowa.

—
4
United Way of East Central Iowa

Unite the caring power of communities to invest in effective solutions to improve people's lives.

Philanthropy
5
Iowa Association of Christian Schools Foundation

The purpose of the Corporation is to service the evolving needs of nonpublic school start-ups, foster the sustainability and growth of existing schools, and to provide support, education, and collaboration opportunities to Christian…

Education
6
Iowa Association of Christian Schools

To serve non-public Christian schools in the State of Iowa.

Education
7
Common Good Iowa

Common good iowa engages iowans to create and advocate for research-based public policy that makes life better and more equitable for all who make iowa home.

—
8
Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce

Our mission is to inspire the iowa city area to be greater by: 1) elevating business, 2) investing in strategic initiatives, and 3) advocating for the economic resiliency of the greater community.

—
9
The Human Choice of Iowa

Mission is to provide women facing an unplanned pregnancy with truthful medical information and education. we are faith-based with a mission to encourage, through education and outreach, the recognition of human life from the moment of…

Human Services
10
Community Foundation for Western Iowa

The community foundation for western iowa is dedicated to creating a lasting legacy in our region by engaging our citizens and communities for durable change and fostering a culture of philanthropy. this is where giving grows.

Philanthropy
11
Iowa Farm Bureau Foundation

Building iowa's values by recognizing and responding to significantchanges in iowa - those that fundamentally affect families and communities.

Housing & Shelter
12
West Central Community Action

In partnership with state and federal government, our mission is to administer programs designed to help residents in our 10-county region of southwest iowa achieve self-sufficiency.

Human Services
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Infaith; the most unlike its peers is Luvaga 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

65 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. 65 of the 119 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.

2
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
15
Early backer (in before they grew)
64/65
Grantees still filing
46/65
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

ASCENTION LUTHERN CHURCH: $447,338 · OtherASCENTION LUTHERN CHURCHYSS: $390,000 · OtherYSSMID-IOWA COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AME: $115,805 · OtherCALVARY E FREE CHURCH: $110,506 · OtherThe Ames Foundation: $100,000 · OtherKIDS ACROSS AMERICA FOUNDATION: $88,000 · Other+73 more: $1,156,379 · Other+73 moreIOWA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION: $1,219,792 · EducationIOWA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUND…AMES CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: $129,500 · EducationAMES CHRISTIAN SCHOOLFOUNDATION FOR WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY AND ALUMNI: $50,000 · Education+3 more: $8,000 · EducationNATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST: $1,131,519 · PhilanthropyNATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRU…UNITED WAY OF STORY COUNTY INC: $120,429 · PhilanthropyUNITED WAY OF STORY COUNTY…GILBERT EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $69,090 · Philanthropy+1 more: $200 · PhilanthropyBIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP: $124,100 · ReligionKanakuk Ministries: $52,500 · ReligionSAMARITAN'S PURSE: $17,800 · ReligionINFAITH: $13,700 · Religion+1 more: $750 · ReligionFOOD AT FIRST: $45,700 · Human ServicesWalker Area Community Center: $44,500 · Human ServicesGARNER COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN CHILD CA: $23,000 · Human ServicesGOOD NEIGHBOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE INC: $13,168 · Human ServicesFAITH IN ACTION FOR CASS COUNTY: $5,600 · Human ServicesNGHC INC: $5,000 · Human Services+6 more: $12,885 · Human ServicesMID-IOWA COMMUNITY ACTION INC: $46,000 · Community ImprovementMATTHEW 25 HOUSE INC: $28,500 · Community ImprovementSHIFT ATL INC: $25,000 · Community ImprovementFERNDALE COMMUNITY SERVICES: $15,000 · Community ImprovementST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $47,800 · HealthINFORMED CHOICE OF IOWA CORPORATION: $30,000 · HealthMARY GREELEY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION: $10,950 · HealthNOAH'S BANDAGE PROJECT: $5,000 · HealthTORI'S ANGELS FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 · Health+4 more: $2,450 · Health
Other$2,408,028Education$1,407,292Philanthropy$1,321,238Religion$208,850Human Services$149,853Community Improvement$114,500Health$101,200

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 budgetIOWA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION: $1,219,792 over 9y, 0.2% of budgetNATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST: $1,131,519 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetAMES CHRISTIAN SCHOOL: $129,500 over 9y, 3.5% of budgetBIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP: $124,100 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetUNITED WAY OF STORY COUNTY INC: $120,429 over 4y, 1.4% of budgetThe Ames Foundation: $100,000 over 1y, 16% of budgetKIDS ACROSS AMERICA FOUNDATION: $88,000 over 9y, 0.2% of budgetGILBERT EDUCATION FOUNDATION: $69,090 over 9y, 22% of budgetKanakuk Ministries: $52,500 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetLuvaga Foundation: $51,000 over 3y, 54% of budgetFOUNDATION FOR WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY AND ALUMNI: $50,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetSHELTER HOUSING CORPORATION D/B/A THE BRIDGE HOME: $49,000 over 4y, 2.1% of budgetST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $47,800 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetMID-IOWA COMMUNITY ACTION INC: $46,000 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetFOOD AT FIRST: $45,700 over 6y, 3.2% of budgetFOOD BANK OF IOWA: $45,500 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetWalker Area Community Center: $44,500 over 9y, 2.0% of budgetWALKER AREA FOOD SHELF INC: $35,700 over 5y, 4.2% of budgetINFORMED CHOICE OF IOWA CORPORATION: $30,000 over 3y, 1.4% of budgetMATTHEW 25 HOUSE INC: $28,500 over 5y, 8.1% of budgetCHILDREN'S CANCER CONNECTION: $24,000 over 3y, 0.9% of budgetGARNER COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN CHILD CA: $23,000 over 3y, 5.7% of budgetGARNER FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION: $20,250 over 1y, 28% of budgetWHATCOM LAND TRUST: $20,112 over 3y, 0.4% of budgetSAMARITAN'S PURSE: $17,800 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetAccess Incorporated: $15,600 over 9y, 0.1% of budgetFERNDALE COMMUNITY SERVICES: $15,000 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetINFAITH: $13,700 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetGOOD NEIGHBOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE INC: $13,168 over 7y, 0.8% of budgetIOWA PUBLIC RADIO INC: $12,600 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetWE WILL COLLECTIVE INCORPORATED: $11,000 over 2y, 0.3% of budgetFRIENDSHIP ARK INC: $11,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetMARY GREELEY MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION: $10,950 over 9y, 0.1% of budgetSPECIAL OLYMPICS INC: $9,718 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetIOWA PBS FOUNDATION: $8,800 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF STORY COUNTY INC: $8,610 over 9y, 0.2% of budgetFAITH IN ACTION FOR CASS COUNTY: $5,600 over 6y, 0.4% of budgetTHE 300 COMMITTEE LAND TRUST INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetTORI'S ANGELS FOUNDATION INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetFALMOUTH VOLUNTEERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS INC: $5,000 over 1y, 4.1% of budgetNGHC INC: $5,000 over 1y, 4.7% of budgetATLANTIC SCHOOLS BOOSTER CLUB: $5,000 over 1y, 1.7% of budgetWINGS OF REFUGE: $4,520 over 6y, 0.1% of budgetGLOBAL EYE MISSION: $3,350 over 5y, 0.7% of budgetNishna Valley Family Young Mens Christian Association: $3,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetIOWA NATURAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION: $1,250 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMARTHAS HOUSE OF HOPE INC: $1,000 over 1y, 1.9% 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.

  • Who funds IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST ↗
  • Who funds AMES CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ↗
  • Who funds BIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP ↗
  • Who funds UNITED WAY OF STORY COUNTY INC ↗
  • Who funds The Ames Foundation ↗
  • Who funds KIDS ACROSS AMERICA FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds GILBERT EDUCATION FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds Kanakuk Ministries ↗
  • Who funds Luvaga Foundation ↗
  • Who funds FOUNDATION FOR WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY AND ALUMNI ↗
  • Who funds SHELTER HOUSING CORPORATION D/B/A THE BRIDGE HOME ↗
  • Who funds ST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC ↗
  • Who funds MID-IOWA COMMUNITY ACTION INC ↗
  • Who funds FOOD AT FIRST ↗
  • Who funds FOOD BANK OF IOWA ↗
  • Who funds Walker Area Community Center ↗
  • Who funds WALKER AREA FOOD SHELF INC ↗
  • Who funds INFORMED CHOICE OF IOWA CORPORATION ↗
  • Who funds MATTHEW 25 HOUSE INC ↗
  • Who funds SHIFT ATL INC ↗
  • Who funds CHILDREN'S CANCER CONNECTION ↗

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.

Becker Family Foundat…Community Fdn of Grea…Alliant Energy Founda…Burke Family Foundati…United Way of Story C…Prairie Meadows Race …South Story Bank Char…Christian Community F…Variety - the Childre…Servant Foundation3 Sister Non-Profit I…Athene Charitable Fou…
Becker Family FoundationIA32.7× affinity13 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Becker Family Foundation · Community Fdn of Greater Des Moines F/K/A Greater Des Moines Community Fdn · Alliant Energy Foundation Inc · Burke Family Foundation · United Way of Story County Inc · Prairie Meadows Race Track and Casino Inc · South Story Bank Charitable Foundation · Christian Community Foundation Inc · Variety - the Children's Charity of Iowa · Servant Foundation · 3 Sister Non-Profit Inc 3 Sisters Non-Profit · Athene Charitable 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 Underwood Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Underwood Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 30%4%15%34%60%funder's share of their income ↑0%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    3get no government money at all
    19report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–40%
    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 Underwood Family Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Underwood 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 119 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 Underwood 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