The Needmor Fund
The Needmor Fund is a 501(c)(3) private family foundation that provides core operating grants, opportunity fund grants, and the Sanchez Award to grassroots community organizing groups across an eight-state Midwest region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1956
- HeadquartersPerrysburg, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Needmor Fund does
The Needmor Fund for Social Justice is a 501(c)(3) private family foundation established in 1956 by Duane and Virginia Secor Stranahan in Perrysburg, Ohio. It provides grants to grassroots, membership-based community organizing groups that are democratically led, engaged in direct action campaigns, and committed to leadership development in service of BIPOC and otherwise historically excluded communities. The foundation made community organizing its sole focus in the 1980s and in 2019 launched its Midwest Strategy covering eight states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin).
The foundation's core products are three grant programs: the Core Grants Program providing general operating support for up to three years, the Opportunity Fund Grants supporting one-time special projects addressing systemic racism and inequality (exemplified by $50,000 grants to Arise Chicago and Action St. Louis in 2024), and the Frank I. Sanchez Award, an annual $50,000 recognition grant established in 2019. Applications are processed through the Foundant online grantmaking system, the foundation's primary technology dependency. The foundation is governed by a board that combines founding-family members (Abbot Stranahan, Dave Ward via his wife Abby Stranahan) with non-family philanthropic and organizing experts, and operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees led by Executive Director Jhatayn Travis, who joined in fall 2022.
The foundation's revenue is generated almost entirely through investment management of an endowment with $33,905,091 in net assets at the end of 2021. Total revenue and support in 2021 totaled $4,997,609, driven primarily by $7.66M in realized gains plus $398,683 in dividend income and $30,796 in interest income, with $78,000 in family contributions. Grants awarded in 2021 totaled $770,000. The operating model is regional community-led grantmaking with no equity-issuance, fundraising rounds, or external investment structure; all grantees are U.S. nonprofit organizations, with explicit geographic restrictions excluding projects outside the United States, national organizations, and government-sponsored projects.
The Needmor Fund firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Needmor Fund
- Legal name
- The Needmor Fund for Social Justice
- Website
- https://needmorfund.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1956
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Needmor Fund is a 501(c)(3) private family foundation that provides core operating grants, opportunity fund grants, and the Sanchez Award to grassroots community organizing groups across an eight-state Midwest region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Needmor Fund industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Philanthropic Grantmaking
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)
Keywords
Where The Needmor Fund is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Perrysburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Needmor Fund business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Investment Income: The foundation generates revenue primarily through investment returns including realized gains ($7.66M in 2021), dividend income ($398,683 in 2021), and interest income ($30,796 in 2021). As a private foundation with a significant endowment ($33.9M net assets at end of 2021), investment management is the primary revenue driver.
- Contributions: The foundation receives contributions from the donor family and other sources ($78,000 in 2021). The Stranahan family's ongoing financial contributions constitute a vital resource for the foundation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
The Needmor Fund product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Needmor Fund is a private family foundation that provides grants to grassroots, membership-based community organizing groups working for racial, social, economic, and gender justice. Its core offerings are the Core Grants Program (multi-year general operating support in the eight-state Midwest region), Opportunity Fund Grants (one-time special project grants addressing systemic equity at regional/national level), and the Frank I. Sanchez Award ($50,000 annual recognition for excellence in community organizing). All applications are processed through the Foundant online grantmaking system.
Product overview
The Needmor Fund for Social Justice is a philanthropic foundation that provides grant programs as its core offerings. The organization operates three main grant products: the Core Grants Program (general operating support for community organizing groups), Opportunity Fund Grants (special one-time project grants for systemic equity work), and the Frank I. Sanchez Award (annual $50,000 recognition award). All applications are processed through the Foundant online grantmaking system. The fund focuses primarily on the eight-state Midwest region, supporting grassroots, membership-based community organizations working toward racial, social, economic, and gender justice.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Core Grants Program Provides general operating support (not restricted project funding) to grassroots, membership-based community organizing groups. Eligible organizations may receive up to three years of funding, with a two-year reapplication wait period thereafter; focus is the eight-state Midwest region (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin).
- Opportunity Fund Grants One-time support grants for large-scale efforts addressing racism, inequality, and poverty at a systemic level. Funds special projects involving multiple strategies for advancing an equity-centered narrative and shaping public policy at a regional or national level. Awards have included $50,000 grants to Arise Chicago and Action St. Louis in 2024.
- Frank I. Sanchez Award An annual one-time $50,000 grant awarded to one organization to recognize excellence in community organizing, honoring Frank Sanchez's contributions. Funds may be used for general operations or any need identified by the recipient; prior Needmor grantees are eligible.
Quantifiable outcome
- $9 million+ in owed wages and compensation recovered by grantee Arise Chicago through collaboration with nearly 50,000 workers
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Needmor Fund
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The Needmor Fund technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Needmor Fund partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Needmor Fund competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Chicago Community Trust: Regional community foundation serving the Chicago area with broad civic and economic inclusion programs. Operates in Needmor's footprint but as a community foundation rather than a private family foundation, with a wider programmatic remit.
Broad incumbents
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation: Major Michigan-based foundation with extensive racial equity and community engagement funding. Overlaps with Needmor's Midwest strategy and BIPOC-led organizing focus, but at vastly greater scale.
- Ford Foundation: One of the largest US foundations, with civic engagement and racial justice grantmaking including significant Detroit investment. A Needmor board member (Kevin Ryan) is a Ford Program Officer, making it both a partner and a competitive incumbent.
- Charles Stewart Mott Foundation: Large Flint-based foundation with broad community/economic development programs including civic engagement. A Needmor board member (Cris Doby) previously served as a Mott program officer, indicating overlap in funder ecosystem.
Direct peers
- Akonadi Foundation: Foundation supporting racial justice organizing in the Bay Area. Comparable focus on funding organizing led by communities of color, though geographically distinct from Needmor's Midwest scope.
- Solidago Foundation: Foundation funding state-level community organizing and movement infrastructure for social and economic justice. Comparable in its dedicated funding of grassroots organizing networks.
- Marguerite Casey Foundation: National foundation supporting grassroots organizing and movement-building led by historically excluded communities. Comparable in social-justice grantmaking focus and unrestricted general-support approach.
- Haymarket Foundation: Foundation supporting social change organizations with a long history of funding community organizing. Comparable scale and operating-support grantmaking model.
- Public Welfare Foundation: Private foundation focused on criminal justice, juvenile justice, and racial equity through advocacy and organizing. Comparable mission emphasis on systemic change via community-led power building.
- Woods Fund of Chicago: Chicago-based private foundation funding community organizing and policy advocacy in the Midwest. Closest comparable in mission, scale, and geography; Needmor's Executive Director Jhatayn Travis previously worked there.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Needmor Fund social profiles
Digital presenceThe Needmor Fund financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Needmor Fund leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
The Needmor Fund funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Needmor Fund M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Needmor Fund
What does The Needmor Fund do?
The Needmor Fund is a private family foundation that provides grants to grassroots, membership-based community organizing groups working for racial, social, economic, and gender justice. Its core offerings are the Core Grants Program (multi-year general operating support in the eight-state Midwest region), Opportunity Fund Grants (one-time special project grants addressing systemic equity at regional/national level), and the Frank I. Sanchez Award ($50,000 annual recognition for excellence in community organizing). All applications are processed through the Foundant online grantmaking system.
Is The Needmor Fund a public or private company?
The Needmor Fund is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Needmor Fund founded?
The Needmor Fund was founded in 1956. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Needmor Fund based?
The Needmor Fund is headquartered in Perrysburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Needmor Fund make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Investment Income is the primary driver. The others are contributions.
Who are The Needmor Fund's main competitors?
Chicago Community Trust is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Ford Foundation and Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Direct peers are Akonadi Foundation, Solidago Foundation, Marguerite Casey Foundation, Haymarket Foundation, Public Welfare Foundation and Woods Fund of Chicago.
Does The Needmor Fund have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Needmor Fund.
What industry is The Needmor Fund in?
The Needmor Fund's product category is Philanthropic Grantmaking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAN, Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.