Joseph H Thompson Fund
The Joseph H Thompson Fund is a private foundation based in Pasadena, California, established in 1959. Operating as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, it functions as a grantmaking foundation focused on supporting charitable causes across multiple sectors.
Key facts about Joseph H Thompson Fund
- EIN
- 34-6520252
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $197,750
- Grants made (2024)
- 51
- Average grant
- $3,877
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $2,339,304
- Primary geography
- Colorado (41% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation operates on an invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Joseph H Thompson Fund funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Joseph H Thompson Fund's 51 itemized 2024 grants were Colorado (41%), Texas (21%) and Maine (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (11 grants), Denver, CO (9 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Nashville, TN (2 grants). 41% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Art Museum" (4 grants).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.3M
+11.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$198K
+50.4% YoY
Grant Count
51
+30.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
+15.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joseph H Thompson Fund reported a distributable amount of $226K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Science education and teacher support
- Renewable energy
- Community and school gardens
- Environmental education
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on an invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
$3,000
Average Grant
amount: $375–$23,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Joseph H Thompson Fund?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking extends primarily to Colorado, Texas, and Maine, with notable activity in the New England region.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 51 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $2.11–$2.34 million
- Annual revenue: $308,154
- Annual expenses: $192,697–$193,000
- Total liabilities: $0
- Giving rate: 7.6% of assets
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since July 1959. The organization files Form 990-PF annually with the IRS.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,339,304 | $2,105,825 | $1,992,298 |
| Revenue | $523,722 | $308,154 | $47,533 |
| Expenses | $296,201 | $192,697 | $209,140 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $253,100 | $165,269 | $182,215 |
| Net Investment Income | $492,590 | $280,414 | $31,285 |
| Distributable Amount | $225,548 | $188,382 | $177,723 |
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
223 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Independence Institute ($23,000), Scarborough Land Conservation Trust ($15,000), Land Trust for Tennessee ($11,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| INDEPENDENCE INSTITUTE DENVER, CO | GENERAL FUND | $23,000 |
| SCARBOROUGH LAND CONSERVATION TRUST SCARBOROUGH, ME | GENERAL FUND | $15,000 |
| LAND TRUST FOR TENNESSEE NASHVILLE, TN | THE LAND TRUST FOR TENNESSEE'S MISSION IS TO PRESERVE THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF TENNESSEE'S NATURAL AND HISTORIC LANDSCAPES AND SITES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. | $11,500 |
| ST JOHN'S SCHOOL HOUSTON, TX | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, QUADRANGLE CLUB, AND SIMS SCHOLARSHIP FUND | $10,375 |
| REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ANN ARBOR, MI | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| SECOND WIND FUND INC LAKEWOOD, CO | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| KICKSTART KIDS CHARITABLE DONATION HOUSTON, TX | PROVIDE IN-SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT TEACHES CHARACTER THROUGH KARATE TO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. | $9,500 |
| UNIVERSITY OF DENVER COLORADO SEMINARY DENVER, CO | ATHLETIC DIRECTOR'S DISCRETIONARY FUND, ANNUAL FUND, ENDOWMENT FUND, AND DANIELS COLLEGE OF BUSINESS | $9,500 |
| ST MARY'S ACADEMY ENGLEWOOD, CO | ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN, COMMUNITY CENTER CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, AND ANNUAL CAMPAIGN | $7,500 |
| HISTORIC SAVANNAH FOUNDATION SAVANNAH, GA | GENERAL FUND | $7,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY CLARK TALBOT | PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| WILLIAM J CLARK JR | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| CATHERINE CLARK SHOPNECK | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| LACEY NEUHAUS DORN | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| ELIZABETH NEUHAUS ARMSTRONG | VICE PRESIDENT | 0.5 | — |
| JOAN T NEUHAUS-SCHAAN | VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY & TREASURER | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has maintained active grantmaking in recent years, with grant announcements appearing in local news outlets. Recent recipients have included educational institutions and community service organizations, particularly in Maine and New Hampshire.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Joseph H Thompson Fund fund?
The foundation does not maintain a publicly stated mission statement. However, its grantmaking priorities include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Science education and teacher support • Renewable energy • Community and school gardens • Environmental education
How do I apply for a grant from Joseph H Thompson Fund?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Median grant size: $3,000 • Grant range: $1,000–$23,000 • Average grant amount: $375–$23,000 • Annual giving: Approximately $177,875–$197,750 (varies by year) • Number of grants: Approximately 37 grants annually **Application Process:** The foundation operates on an invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. **Recent Grant Activity:** Recent grants have been awarded to organizations including Pine Tree Camp ($15,000), the Children's Museum of Ne…
Where does Joseph H Thompson Fund make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking extends primarily to Colorado, Texas, and Maine, with notable activity in the New England region.
What size grants does Joseph H Thompson Fund award?
In 2024, Joseph H Thompson Fund awarded 51 grants totaling $198K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Joseph H Thompson Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Joseph H Thompson Fund reported a distributable amount of $226K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Joseph H Thompson Fund's EIN?
Joseph H Thompson Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6520252. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Joseph H Thompson Fund accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. The foundation operates on an invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Joseph H Thompson Fund'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.