Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation
The Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation is a private operating foundation established in 1986 by Carl and Marilynn Thoma. Based in Dallas, Texas, the foundation operates with a dual focus on arts and education, recognizing that both enhance individuals' lives and communities. The foundation maintains significant art collection holdings and operates locations in both Dallas and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$38.5M
+4.9% YoY
Grant Count
68
+83.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$566K
-42.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on two primary areas:
Arts: The foundation promotes the study, understanding, and enjoyment of visual arts through various activities including organizing public exhibitions, lending artwork to museums and institutions for public display and private study, funding grants and scholarships for art study and research, and conducting educational programs such as lectures and symposia.
Education: Education funding is centered in the rural Southwest, primarily focusing on scholarships for students in the greater Texas panhandle region.
The foundation emphasizes leadership, innovation, and equality of opportunity across both program areas.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** $25,000 to $1,000,000+
Review Cycle
. Collections-related nonprofit grants are submitted through grants@thomafoundation.org, while fellowships and conservation grants are directed to ASAFellowships@thomafoundation.org. Three yearly grant cycles are available for collections grants.
Grant Types
How to Apply
** The foundation operates multiple grant cycles. Collections-related nonprofit grants are submitted through grants@thomafoundation.org, while fellowships and conservation grants are directed to ASAFellowships@thomafoundation.org. Three yearly grant cycles are available for collections grants.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds across multiple U.S. states with particular emphasis on:
- Arizona
- Illinois
- New Mexico
- Oklahoma
- Texas
For art-related funding, the foundation has international focus on Art of the Spanish Americas, with preference for South America.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $1,091,595,718 (2023)
Total Revenue: $156,765,718 (2023)
Total Expenses: $44,349,752 (2023)
Total Liabilities: $1.71 million (2023)
Staff: 5 employees (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
193 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Schwab Charitable ($35,100,000), Shirley Ryan Abilitylab Fka Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago ($1,000,000), Chicago Shakespeare Theater ($350,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE PRADO MUSEUM MINNEAPOLIS, MN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $12,500 |
| AMON CARTER MUSEUM OF ART FORT WORTH, TX | GENERAL & EXHIBITION SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| BARBARA MUNDY NEW ORLEANS, LA | HONARIUM | $2,000 |
| BAYLOR SCOTT FOUNDATION FORT WORTH, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BUFFALO FINE ARTS ACADEMY BUFFALO, NY | PUBLICATION GRANT | $100,000 |
| CANTOR ART MUSEUM STANFORD UNIVERSITY STANFORD, CA | PUBLICATION GRANT | $20,000 |
| CARL & MARILYNN THOMA FOUNDATION - NEXT GEN AWARDS DALLAS, TX | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| CASA OF POLK COUNTY DALLAS, OR | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Carl D. Thoma – President and Co-Founder
- Marilynn J. Thoma – Vice President, Treasurer, and Co-Founder
- Gary S. Hart – Secretary
- Margo E. Thoma – Director
- Mark D. Thoma – Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Contact Information
Dallas Headquarters:
- Address: 1925 Cedar Springs Road, Suite 205, Dallas, TX 75201
- Phone: 214-971-7770
- Email: cedarspringstours@thomafoundation.com
Santa Fe Location:
- Phone: 505-428-0681
- Email: artvaulttours@thomafoundation.com
Grant Inquiries:
- Collections-related grants: grants@thomafoundation.org
- Fellowships and conservation grants: ASAFellowships@thomafoundation.org
Website: thomafoundation.org
Grants Portal: grants.thomafoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on two primary areas: **Arts:** The foundation promotes the study, understanding, and enjoyment of visual arts through various activities including organizing public exhibitions, lending artwork to museums and institutions for public display and private study, funding grants and scholarships for art study and research, and conducting educational programs such as lectures and symposia. **Education:** Education funding is centered in the rural Southwest, primarily…
How do I apply for a grant from Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation?
**Grant Ranges:** $25,000 to $1,000,000+ **Annual Giving:** Approximately $17.6 million (2021); $36.7 million (2023) **Grant Types:** The foundation makes grants related to art collections, provides fellowships and conservation grants, and offers scholarships for education. **Application Process:** The foundation operates multiple grant cycles. Collections-related nonprofit grants are submitted through grants@thomafoundation.org, while fellowships and conservation grants are directed to ASAFell…
Where does Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds across multiple U.S. states with particular emphasis on: • Arizona • Illinois • New Mexico • Oklahoma • Texas For art-related funding, the foundation has international focus on Art of the Spanish Americas, with preference for South America.
What size grants does Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation award?
In 2024, Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation awarded 68 grants totaling $38.5M — an average of about $566K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation's EIN?
Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-5446388. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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