Thanksgiving Foundation
Thanksgiving Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2025 filing lists 53 grants totaling $393,000, with grant purposes reported as general exempt purposes.
Thanksgiving Foundation at a glance
In short: Thanksgiving Foundation gave $393K across 53 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), top state Washington. 2% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $393,000
- +9.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 53
- -3.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,415
- +13.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $7,292,950
- +1.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 2% first-time grantees (1 of 53, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Washington (46% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Thanksgiving Foundation
- 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: 1271 Avenue Of The Americas 42Nd F, New York, NY 10020-1401
Phone: (516) 508-9623
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Thanksgiving Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Indian Mountain School ($45K). Together the top 10 received $245K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($35,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
269 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 268 grants of 269 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Washington (46%), Connecticut (23%), New York (17%), Rhode Island (5%), and Massachusetts (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 53 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Thanksgiving Foundation open to new grantees?
2%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 53 grantees (2%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 91% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 87% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $200K (2021) to $398K (2023). In 2025 it made 53 grants totaling $393K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Mountain School Lakeville, CT | General Exempt Purpose | $45,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $35,000 |
| The Overlake School Redmond, WA | General Exempt Purpose | $35,000 |
| Bellevue Fire Foundation Bellevue, WA | General Exempt Purpose | $30,000 |
| Seattle Children's Hospital Seattle, WA | General Exempt Purpose | $30,000 |
| Four Winds Inc - Camp for Winds Westward Deer Harbor, WA | General Exempt Purpose | $20,000 |
| Innisfree Foundation Millbrook, NY | General Exempt Purpose | $20,000 |
| New England Sailing & Science Foundation Stonington, CT | General Exempt Purpose | $20,000 |
| St George School - TF Scholarship Middletown, RI | General Exempt Purpose | $20,000 |
| Lakeside School Seattle, WA | General Exempt Purpose | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Thanksgiving Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,292,950 | $699,546 | $575,639 | $393,000 | 53 | $514,153 | $639,998 | $593,124 |
| 2024 | $7,169,043 | $376,353 | $536,092 | $359,500 | 55 | $480,014 | $320,586 | $474,525 |
| 2023 | $7,328,804 | $189,763 | $590,882 | $397,500 | 55 | $519,261 | $137,394 | $447,584 |
| 2022 | $7,729,923 | $1,412,919 | $551,980 | $360,000 | 53 | $481,113 | $1,353,752 | $504,424 |
| 2021 | $6,868,984 | $590,906 | $388,893 | $200,000 | 53 | — | $524,934 | $509,253 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thanksgiving Foundation reported a distributable amount of $593K for 2025 — 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 2025 grants included support for education, emergency services, culture, and health-related organizations. These describe the work of recipients, not stated focus areas of the foundation: Indian Mountain School says it provides pre-K through ninth-grade education; Bellevue Fire Foundation says it supports firefighters and paramedics with equipment, training, and other programs; and the Metropolitan Museum of Art says it collects, studies, conserves, and presents works of art.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 53 grants totaling $393,000. Grants ranged from $500 to $45,000; the median grant was $2,000. The largest reported awards included $45,000 to Indian Mountain School, $35,000 each to Seattle Academy of Arts and an individual recipient and The Overlake School, and $30,000 each to Bellevue Fire Foundation and Seattle Children’s Hospital. Other awards included $20,000 to Four Winds Inc. for Camp for Winds Westward, Innisfree Foundation, New England Sailing & Science Foundation, and St George School for a scholarship.
The grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations receiving support. The Overlake School says it provides engaging educational experiences in a diverse and inclusive community. Bellevue Fire Foundation says it supports Bellevue’s firefighters and paramedics in protecting life, property, and the environment. Mystic Seaport Museum says it seeks to inspire an enduring connection to the American maritime experience. The University of Virginia Health Foundation says it supports the study and teaching of medicine and nursing and supports the university health system.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Bessemer Trust Company NA as co-trustee, Thomas Stine Peters as president, and Mark C Winmill as chairman.
Thanksgiving Foundation is led by Thomas Stine Peters, President on every filing since 2021; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thomas Stine Peters
President
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$72K (2021) → $72K (2025)
Mark C. Winmill
Chairman
On filings since 2021
50 hrs/week
$72K (2021) → $72K (2025)
Bessemer Trust Company NA
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $72K, to Thomas Stine Peters (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Thanksgiving Foundation
How much does Thanksgiving Foundation give each year?
Thanksgiving Foundation gave $393K across 53 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $360K across 55 grants.
What is Thanksgiving Foundation's typical grant size?
Thanksgiving Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $7,415, across 53 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Thanksgiving Foundation that year got $30K on average.
Where does Thanksgiving Foundation give grants?
Thanksgiving Foundation's top state is Washington, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Connecticut (23%) and New York (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants), Millerton, NY (6 grants), Seattle, WA (5 grants) and Millbrook, NY (5 grants).
Does Thanksgiving Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Thanksgiving Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (53 of 53) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Thanksgiving Foundation's largest grantees?
Thanksgiving Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Indian Mountain School ($45,000), The Overlake School ($35,000) and Bellevue Fire Foundation ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($35,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Thanksgiving Foundation?
Thanksgiving Foundation reported $7.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $514K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $593K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Thanksgiving Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for education, emergency services, culture, and health-related organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Thanksgiving Foundation?
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 Thanksgiving Foundation's EIN?
Thanksgiving Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6861874. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Thanksgiving 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 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Thanksgiving Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
The Pamela Howard Family Foundation Inc
Old Greenwich, CT
The Pamela Howard Family Foundation funds a range of causes, including journalism, housing, education, arts and culture, and ecological science, with most 2025 grant dollars going to organizations in New York and Washington, DC. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $247,000, with a median of $2,500. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$15.0M
Grants
95
Total Given
$831K
Ernst & Elfriede Frank Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The foundation supports nonprofits in education, environmental causes, historic preservation, community outreach, arts and culture, healthcare, and social services, primarily in Massachusetts and New York, with grants across the U.S. and Canada. In 2025, grants ranged from $500 to $50,000, with a median of $5,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$16.1M
Grants
151
Total Given
$914K
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation Inc
Sheffield, MA
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation funds nonprofits and individuals through community, education, environmental, social-service, arts, youth-development and scholarship programs in Berkshire County, Massachusetts; Columbia and northeast Dutchess counties, New York; and northwest Litchfield County, Connecticut. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,100 to $1,010,250, with a median of $16,768. It accepts applications for specific opportunities; deadlines and eligibility vary by fund.
Assets
$251.8M
Grants
381
Total Given
$12.8M
More similar funders
More Funders in New York
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Thanksgiving Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/thanksgiving-foundation-morg_ac25b4b82a9a44cf9d785127a7c1cca2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136861874_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Thanksgiving Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/thanksgiving-foundation-morg_ac25b4b82a9a44cf9d785127a7c1cca2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Thanksgiving Foundation'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.
Thanksgiving Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?