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Zeff Kesher Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Zeff Kesher 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.

$1.9M
Granted FY2024still arriving
10
Grants FY2024still arriving
4
States reached
$750k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0193% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Religion$7.3MHuman Services$403kInternational$253kScience & Tech$200kEducation$137kArts & Culture$37kPhilanthropy$6kHealth$5kOther$0
02FY2024 · 10 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k1 grant · $3k
  • $10k–50k4 grants · $100k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $117k
  • $250k+3 grants · $1.7M
$50,000
Median grant
4
States reached
$35M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SHALOM HARTMAN INSTITUTE OF AMERICA$750,000
JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL NORTH AMERICA$500,000
JEWISH COLORADO$480,000
AMERICAN TECHNION SOCIETY$66,667
TEMPLE EMANUEL$50,000
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF LEKET$25,000
AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION$25,000
ADL$25,000
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE$25,000
IMPACTISRAEL INC$2,500
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 (FY17–24, $149k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 99% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%SHALOM PARK: $1k → 8%SHALOM CARES: $500 → 8%JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE: $38k → 12%JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE: $35k → 12%JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE: $25k → 12%JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE: $25k → 12%JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE: $25k → 12%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.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

92%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$3.5M · 11 repeat orgs$312k to everyone else

11 repeat relationships: 7 still active in FY2024, 4 since wound down; 1 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

11
16

Total granted

$3.5M
$309k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+7%
+23%

Still filing today

55%
56%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $3k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

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

’17’19’20’21’22’23’24
InternationalPhilanthropyArts & CultureHuman ServicesEducationHealthOther
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

  • TS
    THE SHALOM HARTMAN INSTITUTE OF NORTH AMERICA
    5× · 2020–2024 · $1.5M · revenue +52%
  • JF
    JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF COLORADO INC
    5× · 2020–2024 · $147k · revenue +62%
  • DA
    DENVER ACADEMY INC
    3× · 2017–2021 · $122k · revenue +5%

Funded once

  • JC
    JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
    one grant, 2017 · $254k
  • JA
    JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL
    one grant, 2020 · $25k
  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2019 · $8k
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
The Jewish Agency for Israel

The jewish agency binds jews across ideologies and civilizations together in a worldwide jewish family with israel at its center. it provides the global framework for aliyah, ensures global jewish safety, strengthens jewish identity and…

—
2
The Israel Innovation Fund Inc

Our vision is to reignite the zionist spirit and meet the needs of jewish civilization in the twenty-first century by connecting people around the world through the vibrancy and creativity of contemporary israeli culture.

Arts & Culture
3
Jewish Voice Ministries Intl

To proclaim the gospel, grow the messianic jewish community and engage the church concerning israel and the jewish people. this is done through education, evangelism and being a movement leader, all with excellence in order to transform…

—
4
Minneapolis Jewish Federation

Minneapolis jewish federation is a nonprofit organization that promotes a culture of philanthropy, leverages resources to meet local and global jewish needs, and facilitates community planning to ensure a thriving and secure future.

Philanthropy
5
Jewish Federation Council of Greater La

Based on jewish values, the jewish federation of greater los angeles convenes and leads the community and leverages its resources to assure the continuity of the jewish people, support a secure state of israel, care for jews in need here…

Philanthropy
6
Denver Academy of Torah

Denver academy of torah (the "school")provides education to students from kindergarten through high school. the school's mission is to nuture students to be torah-observant role models and future leaders through an intellectually rigorous…

Education
7
The Israel Institute Inc

The israel institute, inc. (the institute) enhances knowledge about modern israel by ensuring that more students have access to courses about israel during their time on campus.

International
8
The Jewish Fund

The jewish fund is organized and operates exclusively for charitable, educational, and religious purposes. the fund's primary activities are: supporting a jewish health care mission in the greater detroit area and michigan; promotion of…

Philanthropy
9
The Jewish Publication Society

Our mission has always been to enhance jewish literacy through the publication of great books.

—
10
American Israel Public Affairs Committee

To strengthen and expand the u.s.-israel relationship in ways that enhance the security of the united states and israel.

International
11
Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Committed to exceptional healthcare quality for all and actively engaged with our community, einstein drives scientific discovery and educates compassionate leaders in health and science.

Education
12
The Shalem Foundation

To promote and foster the creation of a zionist intellectual infrastructure for the state of israel, the development of a jewish national culture, and the establishment and promotion of intellectual and economic liberty.

Crime & Legal
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Jewish Funders Network; the most unlike its peers is Denver Art Museum. 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

18 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. 18 of the 30 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)
1
Early backer (in before they grew)
18/18
Grantees still filing
14/18
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

JEWISHColorado: $4,430,502 · PhilanthropyJEWISHColorado+3 more: $3,880 · PhilanthropyTHE SHALOM HARTMAN INSTITUTE OF NORTH AMERICA: $1,534,999 · InternationalTHE SHALOM HARTMAN INSTIT…AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TECHNION ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY INC: $200,000 · InternationalAMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TECH…AMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC: $175,000 · InternationalAMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION…+1 more: $2,500 · InternationalJEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL NORTH AMERICA: $1,175,307 · OtherJEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAE…JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER: $254,400 · OtherJEWISH COMMUNITY CENTERTEMPLE EMANUEL: $110,750 · OtherTEMPLE EMANUELADL: $110,000 · OtherADLAMERICAN FRIENDS OF LEKET: $75,000 · Other+8 more: $51,163 · OtherJEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF COLORADO INC: $147,470 · Human Services+1 more: $1,500 · Human ServicesDENVER ACADEMY INC: $121,500 · EducationDENVER JEWISH DAY SCHOOL: $5,000 · EducationDENVER ART MUSEUM: $34,490 · Arts & CultureRedline: $2,500 · Arts & Culture+1 more: $250 · Arts & CulturePARKINSON'S FOUNDATION INC: $1,000 · HealthST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $1,000 · Health
Philanthropy$4,434,382International$1,912,499Other$1,776,620Human Services$148,970Education$126,500Arts & Culture$37,240Health$2,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetJEWISHColorado: $4,430,502 over 7y, 12% of budgetTHE SHALOM HARTMAN INSTITUTE OF NORTH AMERICA: $1,534,999 over 5y, 3.0% of budgetAMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TECHNION ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY INC: $200,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetAMERICAN ISRAEL EDUCATION FOUNDATION INC: $175,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetJEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF COLORADO INC: $147,470 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetDENVER ACADEMY INC: $121,500 over 3y, 0.5% of budgetDENVER ART MUSEUM: $34,490 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetDENVER JEWISH DAY SCHOOL: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetRedline: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetIMPACTISRAEL INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetJGIVE-FRIENDS OF ASOR FUND USA INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMELANOMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION: $1,863 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSHALOM PARK: $1,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetJEWISH FUNDERS NETWORK: $1,200 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPARKINSON'S FOUNDATION INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetST JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetLION GLOBAL FOUNDATION: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED JEWISH APPEAL-FEDERATION OF JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF NEW YORK INC: $180 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.

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.

Rose Community Founda…The Denver FoundationColorado Gives Founda…The Chotin Family Fou…Mile High United Way …Morgan Stanley Global…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Rose Community FoundationCO15.6× affinity5 shared granteesties to 8 of 8Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Rose Community Foundation · The Denver Foundation · Colorado Gives Foundation · The Chotin Family Foundation · Mile High United Way Inc · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Amazonsmile 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 Zeff Kesher Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Zeff Kesher Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%1%4%8%15%funder's share of their income ↑0%8%15%22%30%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get 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
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–30%
    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 30 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 Zeff Kesher’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