Harry T Thorson Foundation
The Harry T Thorson Foundation is a private foundation based in Mills, Wyoming. Its 2021 filing is marked as a final return, indicating that the foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
Harry T Thorson Foundation at a glance
In short: Harry T Thorson Foundation gave $683K across 23 grants in 2021 (avg $30K), mostly in Wyoming. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $683,353
- +431.5% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 23
- -4.2% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $29,711
- +454.6% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $500
- Primary geography
- Wyoming (92% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Harry T Thorson Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its 2021 filing is marked as a final return, so this policy should not be treated as a current application opportunity.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 9, Mills, WY 82644
Phone: (307) 265-3740
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Harry T Thorson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was University of Wyoming Foundation ($621K). Together the top 10 received $679K.
Grant Size Distribution
47 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 45 grants of 47 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2021, 92% of grant dollars went to Wyoming recipients and 8% to Colorado recipients. The filing also reports 0% for Missouri.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
Cities
How Harry T Thorson Foundation gives
- 48% of 2021 grantees were also funded in 2020. Method
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $129K (2020) to $683K (2021). In 2021 it made 23 grants totaling $683K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Wyoming Foundation Laramie, WY | Education | $621,039 |
| Erion Foundchildren's Museum of No Loveland, CO | YOUTH | $25,000 |
| All Saints Church Loveland, CO | Religious | $11,864 |
| Pathways Hospice Fort Collins, CO | Health/Human Services | $10,000 |
| Central Wyoming Hospice and Transit Casper, WY | Health/Human Services | $5,000 |
| Loveland Rotary Club Foundation Loveland, CO | CIVIC | $2,250 |
| House of Neighborly Services Loveland, CO | Health/Human Services | $1,200 |
| Alternatives to Violence Loveland, CO | Human Services | $1,000 |
| Natrona County Meals on Wheels Casper, WY | Human Services | $1,000 |
| United Way of Natrona County Casper, WY | Human Services | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2021 filing reports 23 grants; the 2020 filing reports 24.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | $307,397 | $701,537 | $683,353 | 23 | $683,353 | $300,272 | $18,091 |
| 2020 | $394,140 | $132,828 | $138,756 | $128,579 | 24 | — | $12,943 | $24,174 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harry T Thorson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $18K for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2021 grants included support for education, youth, religious organizations, health and human services, and civic causes. The University of Wyoming Foundation, the largest listed recipient, says its mission is “to lift up the University of Wyoming with the power of philanthropy.” Other grantees describe work including hospice care, domestic-violence services, meals for older and homebound residents, local charitable giving, opera performances, and affordable housing.
Grantmaking
In 2021, the foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $683,353. Grant sizes ranged from $50 to $621,039, with a median of $500. The largest grant was $621,039 to the University of Wyoming Foundation for education. Other notable grants included $25,000 to Erion Foundation Children’s Museum of Northern Colorado for youth, $11,864 to All Saints Church for religious purposes, and $10,000 to Pathways Hospice for health and human services.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2021 filing lists James D. Thorson and Mary T. Gullikson as directors.
Harry T Thorson Foundation's 2021 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2021 report compensation.
Officers on the 2021 filing
James D. Thorson
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mary T. Gullikson
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Thomas A. Thorson (2020) — Director
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 Harry T Thorson Foundation
How much does Harry T Thorson Foundation give each year?
Harry T Thorson Foundation gave $683K across 23 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $129K across 24 grants.
What is Harry T Thorson Foundation's typical grant size?
Harry T Thorson Foundation's median grant in 2021 was $500, and its average grant was $29,711, across 23 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Harry T Thorson Foundation give grants?
Harry T Thorson Foundation gives mostly in Wyoming: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Colorado (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Loveland, CO (9 grants), Fort Collins, CO (5 grants), Casper, WY (3 grants) and Laramie, WY (2 grants).
Does Harry T Thorson Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2021: none of the 23 grants with a stated purpose on Harry T Thorson Foundation's 2021 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (5 grants), "Health/Human Services" (5 grants) and "Civic" (4 grants).
Who are Harry T Thorson Foundation's largest grantees?
Harry T Thorson Foundation's largest 2021 grantees include University of Wyoming Foundation ($621,039), Erion Foundchildren's Museum of No ($25,000) and All Saints Church ($11,864), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 96% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
What does Harry T Thorson Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2021 grants included support for education, youth, religious organizations, health and human services, and civic causes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Harry T Thorson Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is Harry T Thorson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, Harry T Thorson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $18K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Harry T Thorson Foundation's EIN?
Harry T Thorson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-0255344. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.
Does Harry T Thorson Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021
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