The Gat Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2004 and based in La Jolla, California. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a family foundation focused on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors and geographic regions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.9M
+5.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$484K
+13.2% YoY
Grant Count
48
+23.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-8.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gat Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $575K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with the following characteristics:
Grant Range
$34 to $92,203
Average Grant
amount: $11,597
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across 22 states, with particular concentration in:
- California
- Texas
- Florida
- Illinois
- Maryland
- New York
- Virginia
- Tennessee
- Massachusetts
- Alaska
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $11,223,176
- Total revenue: $302,047
- Total expenses: $515,956
- Total giving: $434,871
Assets (2024):
- Total assets: $11,878,538
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,878,538 | $11,223,176 | $11,437,085 |
| Revenue | $1,225,312 | $302,047 | $546,476 |
| Expenses | $569,950 | $515,956 | $560,591 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $493,597 | $434,871 | $493,417 |
| Net Investment Income | $861,080 | $733,854 | $596,754 |
| Distributable Amount | $574,680 | $528,275 | $521,892 |
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
210 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Pro Kids ($128,494), Old Globe Theatre ($100,000), North American Foundation for the University of Manchester Inc ($96,878).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY HAGERTOWN, MD | GENERAL | $13,000 |
| ARMED SERVICES YMCA OF THE USA CAMP PENDLETON, CA | GENERAL | $200 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF MONTEREY COUNTY SEASIDE, CA | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL | $100 |
| CARMEL BACH FESTIVAL CARMEL BY THE SEA, CA | GENERAL | $1,000 |
| CARRILLO ELEMENTARY PTO WESTMINSTER, CA | GENERAL | $550 |
| CHARLEY HOFFMAN FOUNDATION LAS VEGAS, NV | GENERAL | $1,500 |
| DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $8,000 |
| FEEDING AMERICA CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL | $1,000 |
| FEEDING PETS OF THE HOMELESS CARSON CITY, NV | GENERAL | $200 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by members of the Thornley family:
- Gillian M Thornley – Director and President
- Anthony S Thornley – Director, Secretary & Chief Financial Officer
- Claire M Thornley Smith – Director
- Christian A Thornley – Director
- Alexander N Thornley – Director
- Warren T Thornley – Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GILLIAN M THORNLEY | DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| ANTHONY S THORNLEY | DIRECTOR, SECRETARY & CFO | 1 | — |
| CLAIRE M THORNLEY SMITH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CHRISTIAN A THORNLEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ALEXANDER N THORNLEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WARREN T THORNLEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 4225 Executive Square, Suite 1150 La Jolla, CA 92037-9153
Phone: 858-558-9200
Tax Information:
- EIN: 56-2490647
- Tax-exempt status: May 2005
- IRS ruling year: 2005
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Gat Family Foundation?
The foundation maintains an active grantmaking program with the following characteristics: **Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $434,871 (2023) • Number of grants awarded: 80 recipients (2023) • Average grant amount: $11,597 • Grant range: $34 to $92,203 • Giving rate: 3.8% of assets **Funding Areas:** The foundation supports a diverse range of causes including: • Education • Human Services • Animal welfare and shelters • Food security and food pantries • Religious organizations and churches • Y…
Where does Gat Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across 22 states, with particular concentration in: • California • Texas • Florida • Illinois • Maryland • New York • Virginia • Tennessee • Massachusetts • Alaska
What size grants does Gat Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Gat Family Foundation awarded 48 grants totaling $484K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gat Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gat Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $575K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gat Family Foundation's EIN?
Gat Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-2490647. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gat Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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