Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation
Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation is a public charity based in Downers Grove, Illinois. Its filings describe support for activities and organizations assisting children, veterans, and other individuals and groups in need. Its 2020 return is marked as the organization’s final return, indicating that it appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking; filing data also reports grants made in 2021.
Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation at a glance
In short: Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation gave $190K across 14 grants in 2021 (avg $14K), top state Indiana. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $189,880
- -79.1% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 14
- +75.0% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $13,563
- -88.1% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $13,500
- Primary geography
- Indiana (17% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2021; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation
- How to Apply
-
No application process or policy on unsolicited requests is stated in the available information.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2650 Warrenville Road No 700, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Phone: (331) 251-7097
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was Vitamin Angel Alliance Inc ($25K). Together the top 10 received $166K.
Grant Size Distribution
22 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 18 grants of 22 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2021 grants went to organizations in multiple states. By share of grant dollars, the largest recipient-state shares were Indiana at 17%, California at 13%, Illinois at 13%, Minnesota at 13%, and Wisconsin at 9%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation gives
- 7% of 2021 grantees were also funded in 2020. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $190K (2021) to $910K (2020). In 2021 it made 14 grants totaling $190K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin Angel Alliance Inc Santa Barbara, CA | Provide Nutritional Support for Mothers and Young Children. | $24,880 |
| Second Harvest Heartland Brooklyn Park, MN | Provide Nutritional Support for Mothers and Young Children. | $24,000 |
| Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana Inc Indianapolis, IN | Provide Nutritional Support for Mothers and Young Children. | $21,000 |
| Feeding American Eastern Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI | Provide nutritional support for mothers and young children.provide nutritional support for mothers and young children. | $18,000 |
| St Louis Area Foodbank Inc Bridgeton, MO | Provide Nutritional Support for Mothers and Young Children. | $18,000 |
| Forgotten Harvest Oak Park, MI | Provide Nutritional Support for Mothers and Young Children. | $15,000 |
| Northern Illinois Food Bank Geneva, IL | Provide Nutritional Support for Mothers and Young Children. | $15,000 |
| Mid-Ohio Foodbank Grove City, OH | Provide Nutritional Support for Mothers and Young Children. | $12,000 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository Chicago, IL | Provide Nutritional Support for Mothers and Young Children. | $9,000 |
| Greater Pittsburgh Community Foodbank Duquesne, PA | Provide Nutritional Support for Mothers and Young Children. | $9,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | $15,817 | $263,587 | $189,880 | 14 |
| 2020 | $247,777 | $1,039,762 | $1,014,236 | $909,747 | 8 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The organization’s stated mission is to “support activities and organizations that provide assistance to children, veterans and other individuals and groups in need.” Its 2020 filing describes support for charitable organizations and activities.
The 2021 grants listed in the filing were for nutritional support for mothers and young children. Among the grantees, Vitamin Angels describes its work as helping at-risk pregnant women, new mothers, and children under five access micronutrients. Second Harvest Heartland says its mission is to end hunger, while Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana describes its work as improving equitable access to nutritious food and addressing food insecurity. Other grantees describe work that includes relieving hunger and preventing nutritious food waste, distributing surplus food, and providing meals through food-bank networks.
Grantmaking
In 2021, the foundation made 14 grants totaling $189,880. Grants ranged from $6,000 to $24,880, with a median of $13,500. The largest listed grants were $24,880 to Vitamin Angel Alliance Inc., $24,000 to Second Harvest Heartland, and $21,000 to Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana Inc. Other listed grants included $18,000 to Feeding American Eastern Wisconsin and $18,000 to St. Louis Area Foodbank Inc.; $15,000 each to Forgotten Harvest and Northern Illinois Food Bank; and $12,000 to Mid-Ohio Foodbank.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2021 filing lists Gerald Melville as president, Jeff Powers as treasurer, and Allen Shelden as vice president and secretary.
Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation is led by Gerald Melville, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2021 report compensation.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Gerald Melville
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Allen Shelden
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Powers
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/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 Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation
How much does Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation give each year?
Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation gave $190K across 14 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990. In 2020 it gave $910K across 8 grants.
What is Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation's typical grant size?
Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation's median grant in 2021 was $13,500, and its average grant was $13,563, across 14 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990.
Where does Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation give grants?
Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation's top state is Indiana, with 17% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (13%) and Illinois (13%).
Does Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2021: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation's 2021 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Provide Nutritional Support for Mothers and Young Children." (13 grants).
Who are Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation's largest grantees?
Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation's largest 2021 grantees include Vitamin Angel Alliance Inc ($24,880), Second Harvest Heartland ($24,000) and Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana Inc ($21,000), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
What does Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation fund?
The organization’s stated mission is to “support activities and organizations that provide assistance to children, veterans and other individuals and groups in need.” Its 2020 filing describes support for charitable organizations and activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation?
No application process or policy on unsolicited requests is stated in the available information. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation's EIN?
Fresh Thyme Giving Tree Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-3124255. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS December 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 15, 2021)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021
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