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Zellis Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Zellis 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.

$2.7M
Granted FY2024still arriving
19
Grants FY2024still arriving
8
States reached
$500k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0199% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2019 to 2024.

Health$1.7MReligion$1.2MEducation$1.1MRecreation & Sports$530kHuman Services$198kPhilanthropy$125kFood & Nutrition$80kInternational$50kOther$0
02FY2024 · 19 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • $10k–50k4 grants · $100k
  • $50k–250k11 grants · $979k
  • $250k+4 grants · $1.7M
$50,000
Median grant
8
States reached
$49M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Rheumatology Research Foundation$500,000
The University of Colorado Foundation$500,000
JEWISHcolorado$350,000
Congregation Emanuel$320,000
Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood Inc$200,000
Northwestern University$150,000
Jewish Family Service of Colorado Inc$140,000
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing$129,139
National Ramah Commission Inc$60,000
Seeds of Peace$50,000
Heart and Armor Foundation$50,000
University of California San Francisco Foundation$50,000
Hearing Health Foundation$50,000
Harold Grinspoon Foundation$50,000
CommunityHealth$50,000
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 (FY19–24, $597k) land where the poverty rate runs at 13%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 97% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%HIAS COUNCIL MIGRATION SERVICES OF PHILADELPHIA INC: $3k → 22%HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA: $15k → 8%Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: $129k → 14%Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: $100k → 14%Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: $100k → 14%ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING: $25k → 14%Jewish Family Service of Colorado Inc: $140k → 12%Jewish Family Service of Colorado Inc: $20k → 12%Jewish Family Service of Colorado Inc: $20k → 12%JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF COLORADO: $10k → 12%JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE: $5k → 12%So All May Eat Inc: $20k → 12%So All May Eat Inc: $10k → 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.

Which US states its grants reach

IL
NY
MA
PA
NJ
CA
CO
MD
DC
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.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

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

75%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$3.0M · 13 repeat orgs$1.0M to everyone else

13 repeat relationships: 10 still active in FY2024, 3 since wound down; 7 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

13
9

Total granted

$3.0M
$250k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+7%
+47%

Still filing today

85%
56%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 66% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $770k went to new ones.

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

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

’19’20’21’22’23’24
HealthHuman ServicesEducationInternationalPublic BenefitYouth DevelopmentOther
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

  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO FOUNDATION
    2× · 2023–2024 · $1.0M · revenue +3%
  • RR
    Rheumatology Research Foundation
    3× · 2022–2024 · $800k · revenue +150%
  • Northwestern University
    3× · 2022–2024 · $450k · revenue +4%

Funded once

  • IG
    Individual grant recipient
    one grant, 2020 · $100k
  • HG
    HAROLD GRINSPOON FOUNDATION (PJ LIBRARY PROGRAM)
    one grant, 2021 · $50k
  • CA
    COLORADO ACADEMYgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $35k · revenue +47%
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
Ucsf Foundation Investment Company

The organization provides professional investment management services for endowed gifts and financial assets entrusted to the ucsf foundation.

Education
2
President and Fellows of Harvard College

Undergraduate, graduate, and professional education and research across a broad array of academic domains.

Education
3
The Rand Corporation

Help improve policy and decision making through research and analysis.

Public Benefit
4
Npr Foundation

The npr foundation ("foundation") is organized and operated exclusively for the benefit of its sole supported organization, national public radio, inc. ("npr inc."). the foundation supports npr inc. through various activities such as…

—
5
National Opinion Research Center

See schedule onorc at the university of chicago conducts research and data science on critical societal issues to guide decision-making and the development of programs and public policy. our experts identify relationships and trends, and…

Social Science
6
American College of Rheumatology Inc

The american college of rheumatology is an organization of and for physicians, health professionals, and scientists that advances rheumatology through programs of education, research, advocacy and practice support that foster excellence in…

—
7
The Water Research Foundation

The purpose of the water research foundation (wrf) is a definitive research organization to advance the science of all things water to better meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. to engage exclusively in…

Environment
8
Colorado Gives Foundation

We connect people, ideas, and nonprofits to make good happen. our vision is that all of jeffco is thriving.

Philanthropy
9
Jewelers of America Inc

Jewelers of america, the most trusted and influential voice of the jewelry industry, empowers and unites its members through expert guidance and advocacy, driving excellence, integrity, and success in an ever-changing marketplace.

—
10
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research

See schedule ouniversity corporation for atmospheric research (ucar), on behalf of, and in cooperation with its member university members, is engaged in the management of long-term atmospheric and related research and educational…

Science & Tech
11
University of Virginia Investment Management Company

The university of virginia investment management company (uvimco) is organized to invest funds on behalf of the rector and visitors of the university of virginia (the university or uva) and university-associated organizations (uaos).

Education
12
National Public Radio Inc

National public radio, inc. ("npr") works collaboratively with member public radio station licensees ("member stations") to create a more informed public, one that is challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of…

Arts & Culture
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood Inc; the most unlike its peers is Hearing Loss Association of America. 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

23 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. 23 of the 32 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)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
23/23
Grantees still filing
16/23
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Rheumatology Research Foundation: $800,000 · HealthRheumatology Research Foun…ROCKY MOUNTAIN PLANNED PARENTHOOD INC: $200,000 · HealthROCKY MOUNTAIN PLANNED PAR…HEARING HEALTH FOUNDATION: $125,000 · HealthHEARING HEALTH FOUNDATIONSharsheret Inc: $62,500 · HealthUNIVERSITY OF COLORADO FOUNDATION: $1,000,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF COLORADO …UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION: $50,000 · Education+1 more: $35,000 · EducationCONGREGATION EMANUEL: $320,000 · OtherCONGREGATION EMANUELTHE HAROLD GRINSPOON FOUNDATION: $100,000 · OtherTHE HAROLD GRINSPOON …Individual grant recipient: $100,000 · OtherIndividual grant reci…TEMPLE EMANUEL (SHWAYDER CAMPAIGN): $70,000 · OtherTEMPLE EMANUEL (SHWAY…NATIONAL RAMAH COMMISSION INC: $60,000 · OtherNATIONAL RAMAH COMMIS…CommunityHealth: $50,000 · OtherHAROLD GRINSPOON FOUNDATION (PJ LIBRARY PROGRAM): $50,000 · OtherTemple Emanuel: $40,000 · OtherNational Center for Women and Information Technology: $40,000 · OtherSEEDS OF PEACE INC: $50,000 · OtherFOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES: $40,000 · Other+5 more: $62,895 · Other+5 moreJEWISHColorado: $745,000 · PhilanthropyJEWISHColorado+1 more: $25,000 · PhilanthropyALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING: $354,139 · Human ServicesALEXANDER GRA…JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF COLORADO INC: $195,000 · Human ServicesJEWISH FAMILY…SO ALL MAY EAT INC: $30,000 · Human Services+2 more: $17,500 · Human ServicesNorthwestern University: $450,000 · Recreation & SportsNorthwest…Heart and Armor Foundation: $70,000 · Public Benefit
Health$1,187,500Education$1,085,000Other$982,895Philanthropy$770,000Human Services$596,639Recreation & Sports$450,000Public Benefit$70,000

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 budgetUNIVERSITY OF COLORADO FOUNDATION: $1,000,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetRheumatology Research Foundation: $800,000 over 3y, 3.6% of budgetJEWISHColorado: $745,000 over 5y, 1.9% of budgetNorthwestern University: $450,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING: $354,139 over 4y, 6.2% of budgetROCKY MOUNTAIN PLANNED PARENTHOOD INC: $200,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetJEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF COLORADO INC: $195,000 over 5y, 0.6% of budgetHEARING HEALTH FOUNDATION: $125,000 over 4y, 0.9% of budgetTHE HAROLD GRINSPOON FOUNDATION: $100,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetHeart and Armor Foundation: $70,000 over 2y, 7.7% of budgetSharsheret Inc: $62,500 over 5y, 0.3% of budgetNATIONAL RAMAH COMMISSION INC: $60,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetSEEDS OF PEACE INC: $50,000 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION: $50,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES: $40,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetCOLORADO ACADEMY: $35,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSO ALL MAY EAT INC: $30,000 over 2y, 1.4% of budgetRose Community Foundation: $25,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetHEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA: $15,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetFRIENDS OF ROOTS: $15,000 over 2y, 2.1% of budgetDENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSunbird Initiative: $7,895 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetHIAS and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia Inc: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% 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…Jpmorgan Chase Founda…The Pfizer Foundation…The Blackbaud Giving …Vanguard Charitable E…Paypal Charitable Giv…American Online Givin…Donor Advised Charita…The Bank of America C…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
National Philanthropic TrustPA11.1× affinity7 shared granteesties to 10 of 10Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: National Philanthropic Trust · Jpmorgan Chase Foundation · The Pfizer Foundation Inc · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Paypal Charitable Giving Fund · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation 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 Zellis Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Zellis 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%5%10%15%20%share of the org’s income from government →median 4%
  • Sharsheret Inc: 4% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
1get no government money at all
7report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–20%
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 Zellis Family Foundation?

Find your warmest path to Zellis 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 32 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 Zellis 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