Joseph H Thompson Fund

Private foundation · Grantmaker Pasadena, CA EIN: 34-6520252

The Joseph H Thompson Fund is a private foundation based in Pasadena, California. In 2024, it made 51 grants totaling $197,750 to charitable organizations, including schools, universities, land conservation groups, and other nonprofits.

Joseph H Thompson Fund at a glance

In short: Joseph H Thompson Fund gave $198K across 51 grants in 2024 (avg $4K), top state Colorado. 22% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$197,750
+50.4% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
51
+30.8% vs 2023
Average grant
$3,877
+15.0% vs 2023
Median grant
$2,000
Total assets
$2,339,304
+11.1% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
22% first-time grantees (11 of 51, 2024)
Primary geography
Colorado (41% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Joseph H Thompson Fund

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: 177 E Colorado Blvd Suite 800, Pasadena, CA 91105
Phone: (626) 441-5111

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Joseph H Thompson Fund funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Independence Institute: $23KIndependence Institute$23KScarborough Land Conservation Trust: $15KScarborough Land ConservationTrust$15KLand Trust for Tennessee: $12KLand Trust for Tennessee$12KSt John's School: $10KSt John's School$10KRegents of the University of Michigan: $10KRegents of the University ofMichigan$10KSecond Wind Fund Inc: $10KSecond Wind Fund Inc$10KKickstart Kids Charitable Donation: $10KKickstart Kids CharitableDonation$10KUniversity of Denver Colorado Seminary: $10KUniversity of Denver ColoradoSeminary$10KSt Mary's Academy: $8KSt Mary's Academy$8KHistoric Savannah Foundation: $7KHistoric Savannah Foundation$7K

The largest 2024 recipient was Independence Institute ($23K). Together the top 10 received $113K.

Grant Size Distribution

223 grants across all recorded years

223<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 223 grants of 223 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in Colorado (41%), Texas (21%), Maine (11%), Tennessee (7%), and Georgia (6%). The listed recipients also include organizations in Michigan.

Grant Distribution by State

17states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 51 itemized grants.

Cities

HoustonDenverNashvillePortlandWashingtonBoiseEnglewoodWashington DcAnn ArborBoothbayCambridgeFarmingtonLakewoodLittletonSan ClementeScarboroughAtlantaClevelandCollege StationMemphis

Is Joseph H Thompson Fund open to new grantees?

22%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 11 of 51 grantees (22%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $5K. How we count

Medians: $500 first-time, $2K repeat.

  • 63% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 37% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 112% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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

$0$50K$100K$150K$200K46 grants2020 44 grants2021 43 grants2022 39 grants2023 51 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $132K (2023) to $198K (2024). In 2024 it made 51 grants totaling $198K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Independence Institute Denver, COGeneral Fund$23,000
Scarborough Land Conservation Trust Scarborough, MEGeneral Fund$15,000
Land Trust for Tennessee Nashville, TNThe 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, TXCapital Campaign, Quadrangle Club, and Sims Scholarship Fund$10,375
Regents of the University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MIGeneral Fund$10,000
Second Wind Fund Inc Lakewood, COGeneral Fund$10,000
Kickstart Kids Charitable Donation Houston, TXProvide in-school physical education program that teaches character through karate to middle and high school students.$9,500
University of Denver Colorado Seminary Denver, COAthletic director's discretionary fund, annual fund, endowment fund, and daniels college of business$9,500
St Mary's Academy Englewood, COEndowment campaign, community center capital campaign, and annual campaign$7,500
Historic Savannah Foundation Savannah, GAGeneral Fund$7,000
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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
2024$2,339,304$523,722$296,201$197,75051$253,100$492,590$225,548
2023$2,105,825$308,154$192,697$131,50039$165,269$280,414$188,382
2022$1,992,298$47,533$209,140$146,00043$182,215$31,285$177,723
2021$2,154,906$328,434$215,154$144,00044$186,646$300,463$207,657
2020$2,003,326$61,862$186,780$139,00046—$38,884$196,616

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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2024 grants supported organizations with varied missions. For example, Scarborough Land Conservation Trust describes its work as conserving and stewarding land with natural, agricultural, scenic, or historical value; Second Wind Fund says it aims to decrease suicide among children and youth by removing financial and social barriers to treatment. Other recipients include schools and universities, a historic preservation organization, and a reproductive health organization.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the fund made 51 grants totaling $197,750. Grants ranged from $375 to $23,000, with a median of $2,000. Among the largest were $23,000 to Independence Institute, $15,000 to Scarborough Land Conservation Trust, $11,500 to the Land Trust for Tennessee, and $10,375 to St John’s School. Other recipients included Second Wind Fund ($10,000), Kickstart Kids Charitable Donation ($9,500), and Historic Savannah Foundation ($7,000).

The stated purposes included general support, conservation, school campaigns and scholarship support, and specific programs. Kickstart Kids’ grant purpose was to provide an in-school physical education program teaching character through karate to middle and high school students.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Mary Clark Talbot as president; William J Clark Jr, Catherine Clark Shopneck, and Lacey Neuhaus Dorn as trustees; Elizabeth Neuhaus Armstrong as vice president; and Joan T Neuhaus-Scha an as vice president, secretary, and treasurer.

Joseph H Thompson Fund is led by Mary Clark Talbot, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Mary Clark Talbot

    President

    Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer → Trustee, 2022

    Trustee → President, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Catherine Clark Shopneck

    Trustee

    Trustee → Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer, 2023

    Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer → Trustee, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lacey Neuhaus Dorn

    Trustee

    Trustee → Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer, 2022

    Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer → Trustee, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • William J. Clark Jr.

    Trustee

    President → Vice President, 2023

    Vice President → Trustee, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Elizabeth Neuhaus Armstrong

    Vice President

    Trustee → President, 2023

    President → Vice President, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joan T. Neuhaus-Schaan

    Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer

    Vice President → Trustee, 2023

    Trustee → Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Joseph H Thompson Fund

How much does Joseph H Thompson Fund give each year?

Joseph H Thompson Fund gave $198K across 51 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $132K across 39 grants.

What is Joseph H Thompson Fund's typical grant size?

Joseph H Thompson Fund's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $3,877, across 51 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Joseph H Thompson Fund that year got $1K on average.

Where does Joseph H Thompson Fund give grants?

Joseph H Thompson Fund's top state is Colorado, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were 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).

Does Joseph H Thompson Fund give general operating support?

Yes: 41% of Joseph H Thompson Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 51) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Art Museum" (4 grants).

Who are Joseph H Thompson Fund's largest grantees?

Joseph H Thompson Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Independence Institute ($23,000), Scarborough Land Conservation Trust ($15,000) and Land Trust for Tennessee ($11,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Joseph H Thompson Fund?

Joseph H Thompson Fund reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $253K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $226K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Joseph H Thompson Fund fund?

No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2024 grants supported organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Joseph H Thompson Fund?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

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. 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

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Joseph H Thompson Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/joseph-h-thompson-fund-morg_2ca70f9f17554690a25ebaa1468b1432

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_346520252_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Joseph H Thompson Fund funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/joseph-h-thompson-fund-morg_2ca70f9f17554690a25ebaa1468b1432},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Joseph H Thompson Fund'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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