Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Dallas, TX EIN: 36-3486549

Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation is a private foundation, based in Dallas, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2021. In 2021, it awarded 1 grant totaling $17.6M. Net investment income was $1.1M.

Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation at a glance

In short: Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation gave $17.6M across 1 grant in 2021 (avg $17.6M), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2021)
$17,560,204
+59.9% vs 2020
Grants made (2021)
1
+0.0% vs 2020
Average grant
$17,560,204
+59.9% vs 2020
Median grant
$17,560,204
Primary geography
Illinois (100% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated September 2026.

How to apply to Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation

Who Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Grant Size Distribution

2 grants across all recorded years

<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M2$5M+

The most common grant size was $5M or more: 2 grants of 2 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of the 2021 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.

States

How Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation gives

  • In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$5M$10M$15M$20M1 grant2020 1 grant2021

From 2020 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $11.0M (2020) to $17.6M (2021). In 2021 it made 1 grant totaling $17.6M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
See statement attached See attached, ILGeneral$17,560,204
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2021—$929,287$17,582,416$17,560,2041$17,562,119$1,119,491$923,039
2020$435,606,149$143,212,178$14,476,717$10,983,7871—$96,153,207$17,662,229

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation reported a distributable amount of $923K for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation is led by Carl D. Thoma, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 5 officers listed in 2021 report compensation.

Officers on the 2021 filing

  • Carl D. Thoma

    President

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Margo E Thoma

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mark D Thoma

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gary S Hart

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marilynn J. Thoma

    Vice President & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2021. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation

How much does Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation give each year?

Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation gave $17.6M across 1 grant in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $11.0M across 1 grant.

Where does Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation operate?

Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation has awarded grants in Illinois.

How much is Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation reported a distributable amount of $923K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation's EIN?

Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3486549. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.

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