Skip to content
Will Bracken Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Will Bracken Family Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$139k
Granted FY2024still arriving
43
Grants FY2024still arriving
7
States reached
$40k
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 2024.

Arts & Culture$447kEducation$63kReligion$41kAnimals$35kEmployment$15kInternational$8kEnvironment$7kCrime & Legal$6kOther$0
02FY2024 · 43 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k38 grants · $34k
  • $10k–50k5 grants · $105k
$250
Median grant
7
States reached
$419k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA$40,150
CARLETON COLLEGE$25,000
MACPHAIL CENTER FOR MUSIC$20,000
BEACON$10,000
WILD & FREE FOUNDATION$10,000
GUTHRIE THEATER$7,500
MINNESOTA OPERA$6,500
VOCAL ESSENCE$6,000
ALIGHT$2,000
OLD ART BUILDING LEELANAU COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER$2,000
THE ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS$1,000
MPR$1,000
TWIN CITIES RISE$1,000
MILL CITY COMMONS$1,000
UNITED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY$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 (FY17–20, $250) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 10%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 10%THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP: $150 → 11%THE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP: $100 → 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

MN
MI
NY
IN
OH
PA
CO
NM
AR
DC
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.

99%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$673k · 45 repeat orgs$8k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +33% since the first grant, against +7% for those funded once.

45 repeat relationships: 36 still active in FY2024, 9 since wound down; 6 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

45
19

Total granted

$673k
$7k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+33%
+7%

Still filing today

71%
58%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 99% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $1k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’20’21’22’23’24
Arts & CultureInternationalEducationEnvironmentEmploymentAnimalsOther
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

  • MC
    MACPHAIL CENTER FOR MUSIC
    6× · 2017–2024 · $177k · revenue +37%
  • CC
    CARLETON COLLEGE
    4× · 2017–2024 · $60k · revenue +39%
  • GT
    GUTHRIE THEATER FOUNDATION
    4× · 2017–2024 · $15k · revenue +37%

Funded once

  • A
    ARC
    one grant, 2017 · $2k
  • WORLD WILDLIFE FUND INCgraduated
    one grant, 2017 · $1k · revenue +62%
  • FO
    FRIENDS OF LIFE INCgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $1k · revenue +210%
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 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…

—
2
Minnesota Council on Foundations

MCF is a vibrant philanthropic community connecting, strengthening and mobilizing the power of philanthropy to advance prosperity and equity.

—
3
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…

—
4
Minnesota Medical Association

To be the leading voice of medicine to make minnesota the healthiest state and the best place to practice.

—
5
Minnesota Public Radio American Public Media

The mission of minnesota public radio is creating the future of public media by amplifying voices to inform, include, and inspire.

Arts & Culture
6
Minnesota Women Lawyers

To advance the success of women attorneys and strive for a just society.

—
7
Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce

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

—
8
Minneapolis Downtown Council

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

—
9
Minnesota Chamber Foundation

The organization's mission is to bring stakeholders together to promote prosperity and long-term growth of minnesota's economy.

Public Benefit
10
Twin Cities Diversity in Practice

To attract, recruit, advance, and retain attorneys of color in the twin cities through education and collaboration with member organizations.

Community Improvement
11
St Paul Transportation Management Organization

Move minnesota leads the movement for an equitable and sustainable transportation system that puts people first. we are passionate about connecting communities, ending the climate crisis, expanding access to jobs and resources, and…

Environment
12
Minnesota Environmental Partnership

The minnesota environmental partnership is a coalition that strengthens member effectiveness and builds collective power to secure a healthy environment for all minnesotans.

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Minneapolis Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Wild and Free 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

48 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. 48 of the 71 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)
10
Early backer (in before they grew)
47/48
Grantees still filing
35/48
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

MINNESOTA ORCHESTRAL ASSOCIATION: $201,300 · Arts & CultureMINNESOTA ORCHESTRAL ASSOCIATIONMACPHAIL CENTER FOR MUSIC: $177,000 · Arts & CultureMACPHAIL CENTER FOR MUSICVOCALESSENCE: $22,000 · Arts & CultureGUTHRIE THEATER FOUNDATION: $15,000 · Arts & Culture+9 more: $27,975 · Arts & Culture+9 morePLYMOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH: $40,000 · OtherPLYMOUTH CONGREGA…BEACON: $35,250 · OtherBEACONMILL CITY COMMONS: $5,200 · OtherMPR: $5,200 · OtherTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $4,000 · Other+37 more: $18,400 · Other+37 moreCARLETON COLLEGE: $60,000 · EducationCARLETON C…+3 more: $3,750 · Education+3 moreWILD AND FREE FOUNDATION: $35,000 · Animals+1 more: $100 · AnimalsRISE INCORPORATED: $11,000 · EmploymentTwin Cities Rise: $4,000 · Employment+1 more: $400 · EmploymentALIGHT: $4,000 · InternationalONEVILLAGE PARTNERS: $1,600 · InternationalThe Advocates For Human Rights: $1,200 · InternationalFRIENDS OF LIFE INC: $1,000 · InternationalWorld Savvy: $750 · InternationalGLOBAL MINNESOTA: $500 · InternationalNORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE: $6,450 · Crime & Legal
Arts & Culture$443,275Other$108,050Education$63,750Animals$35,100Employment$15,400International$9,050Crime & Legal$6,450

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 budgetMINNESOTA ORCHESTRAL ASSOCIATION: $201,300 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetMACPHAIL CENTER FOR MUSIC: $177,000 over 6y, 0.8% of budgetCARLETON COLLEGE: $60,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetWILD AND FREE FOUNDATION: $35,000 over 2y, 6.7% of budgetVOCALESSENCE: $22,000 over 6y, 0.3% of budgetGUTHRIE THEATER FOUNDATION: $15,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetThe Minnesota Opera: $13,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetRISE INCORPORATED: $11,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetFISHTOWN PRESERVATION SOCIETY INC: $10,900 over 5y, 0.8% of budgetNORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE: $6,450 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetMILL CITY COMMONS: $5,200 over 5y, 0.7% of budgetALIGHT: $4,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTwin Cities Rise: $4,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetMINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY: $2,450 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF THE TWIN CITIES: $1,700 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetONEVILLAGE PARTNERS: $1,600 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetThe Advocates For Human Rights: $1,200 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCITIZENS LEAGUE: $1,150 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetPROJECT SUCCESS: $1,050 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF LIFE INC: $1,000 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetFRANKLIN CENTER: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMINNESOTA LAND TRUST: $900 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetWorld Savvy: $750 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetMinneapolis Parks Foundation: $700 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetMinnPost: $650 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetMILL CITY FARMERS MARKET INC: $650 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetLEELANAU CONSERVANCY: $500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetGLOBAL MINNESOTA: $500 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN COMPOSERS FORUM: $450 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetBORDER PARTNERS: $400 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE HENNEPIN COUNTY LIBRARY: $300 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA: $250 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetThe Family Partnership: $250 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCOMPASSION & CHOICES: $200 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetMINNEAPOLIS REGIONAL CHAMBER DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION: $200 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF MINNESOTA FOUNDATION: $200 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTWIN CITIES HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: $200 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGREATER TWIN CITIES YOUTH SYMPHONIES: $200 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetGREEN CITIES ACCORD: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTWIN CITIES PUBLIC TELEVISION INC: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPLANNED PARENTHOOD MINNESOTA NORTH DAKOTA SOUTH DAKOTA: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWashburn Center for Children: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMINNESOTA ZOO FOUNDATION: $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 MINNESOTA ORCHESTRAL ASSOCIATION ↗
  • Who funds MACPHAIL CENTER FOR MUSIC ↗
  • Who funds CARLETON COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds WILD AND FREE FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds VOCALESSENCE ↗
  • Who funds GUTHRIE THEATER FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds The Minnesota Opera ↗
  • Who funds RISE INCORPORATED ↗
  • Who funds FISHTOWN PRESERVATION SOCIETY INC ↗
  • Who funds NORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE ↗
  • Who funds MILL CITY COMMONS ↗
  • Who funds ALIGHT ↗
  • Who funds Twin Cities Rise ↗
  • Who funds MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY ↗
  • Who funds UNITED THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF THE TWIN CITIES ↗
  • Who funds ONEVILLAGE PARTNERS ↗
  • Who funds The Advocates For Human Rights ↗
  • Who funds CITIZENS LEAGUE ↗
  • Who funds PROJECT SUCCESS ↗
  • Who funds WORLD WILDLIFE FUND INC ↗
  • Who funds FRIENDS OF LIFE INC ↗
  • Who funds FRANKLIN CENTER ↗
  • Who funds MINNESOTA LAND TRUST ↗
  • Who funds World Savvy ↗
  • Who funds Minneapolis Parks Foundation ↗
  • Who funds MinnPost ↗
  • Who funds MILL CITY FARMERS MARKET INC ↗
  • Who funds LEELANAU CONSERVANCY ↗

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…The Minneapolis Found…Mightycause Charitabl…The McKnight Foundati…Longview FoundationThe Crosswols Foundat…Lenfestey Family Foun…Mortenson Family Foun…Otto Bremer TrustHrk FoundationFr Bigelow FoundationMargaret a Cargill Fo…
Saint Paul & Minnesota FoundationMN31.5× affinity15 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation · The Minneapolis Foundation · Mightycause Charitable Foundation · The McKnight Foundation · Longview Foundation · The Crosswols Foundation · Lenfestey Family Foundation Inc · Mortenson Family Foundation · Otto Bremer Trust · Hrk Foundation · Fr Bigelow Foundation · Margaret a Cargill 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 Will Bracken Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Will Bracken Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%13%25%38%50%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    14report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–50%
    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 Will Bracken Family Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Will Bracken 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 71 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 Will Bracken 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