The John M and Joan F Thalheimer
The John M and Joan F Thalheimer Family Charitable Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2005 and based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The foundation was created by John M. Thalheimer, a Lehigh University alumnus (Class of 1955) and successful entrepreneur who owned Thalheimer Brothers, Inc., one of the largest processors and recyclers of nonferrous scrap metal in the United States. John passed away on December 19, 2016, and Joan F. Thalheimer continues the foundation's philanthropic work.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.4M
+4.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$512K
-13.8% YoY
Grant Count
40
-13.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
-0.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John M and Joan F Thalheimer reported a distributable amount of $580K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy and voluntarism, and human services. The Thalheimers have been known to support many philanthropic endeavors in the Philadelphia region and beyond, with notable support directed toward:
- Education and Student Entrepreneurship: Supporting entrepreneurial ventures and educational initiatives
- Cardiovascular Medicine and Research: Funding education and research in cardiovascular health
- Cancer Research: Supporting cancer research and treatment initiatives
- Arts and Culture: Contributing to cultural institutions
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, with particular emphasis on the Philadelphia region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $10,444,466
- Total Annual Giving: $511,835
- EIN: 25-6882216
- Contact: c/o Cozen, 1650 Market Street, Suite 2800, Philadelphia, PA 19103; Telephone: 215-665-2000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,444,466 | $10,034,358 | $10,309,251 |
| Revenue | $971,448 | $361,247 | $370,294 |
| Expenses | $561,340 | $636,140 | $702,358 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $515,085 | $595,734 | $642,783 |
| Net Investment Income | $963,748 | $320,841 | $327,330 |
| Distributable Amount | $579,665 | $542,592 | $567,048 |
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
227 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American Epilepsy Society ($100,000), Barnes Foundation ($75,000), The Brody Jewish Center Hillel at the University of Virginia ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUND | $16,100 |
| AMERICAN EPILEPSY SOCIETY CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL FUND | $100,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION INC DALLAS, TX | GENERAL FUND | $25,000 |
| AMERICAN WHITEWATER SYLVA, NC | GENERAL FUND | $1,000 |
| ART FROM ASHES DENVER, CO | GENERAL FUND | $250 |
| BARNES FOUNDATION PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL FUND | $75,000 |
| BRADY CENTER TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL FUND | $2,500 |
| CHIEF AND CALLA BELL SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION FLAT ROCK, NC | GENERAL FUND | $3,000 |
| COLORADO COLLEGE COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | GENERAL FUND | $1,000 |
| CONGREGATION SHAARE EMETH ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL FUND | $6,785 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
John M. Thalheimer (1933–2016): Founder, Lehigh University Class of 1955, metallurgical engineering graduate. Member of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity. Joined the family business Thalheimer Brothers after graduation, became sole proprietor in 1969, and sold the business in 2012. Served on the Cardiovascular Institute Leadership Council at the University of Pennsylvania.
Joan F. Thalheimer: Co-founder and current leader of the foundation. Serves as a member of the Abramson Cancer Center Director's Leadership Council at the University of Pennsylvania.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOAN F THALHEIMER | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| GWEN T GOODKIN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| EMILY R THALHEIMER-REINER | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to support student entrepreneurship through the Thalheimer Pitch Competition at Lehigh University, which celebrates student entrepreneurs. The foundation also maintains active support for cardio-oncology research and education through its endowed professorship at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, where Dr. Bonnie Ky holds the Founders Professor of Cardio-Oncology position and directs the Thalheimer Center for Cardio-Oncology.
The 2023 Louis B. Thalheimer Translational Funding Awardees Announced - JohnsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The John M and Joan F Thalheimer fund?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy and voluntarism, and human services. The Thalheimers have been known to support many philanthropic endeavors in the Philadelphia region and beyond, with notable support directed toward: • **Education and Student Entrepreneurship**: Supporting entrepreneurial ventures and educational initiatives • **Cardiovascular Medicine and Research**: Funding education and research in cardiovascular health • **Cancer Research**: Supporting cance…
How do I apply for a grant from The John M and Joan F Thalheimer?
**Grant Amounts**: Typical awards range from $250 to $100,000. **Total Annual Giving**: $511,835 (based on most recent IRS 990 filing) **Notable Initiatives**: • The Joan F. & John M. Thalheimer '55 Student Entrepreneurship Ventures Endowed Program Fund at Lehigh University, established in 2005, has provided funding for more than 100 Lehigh students to pursue independent entrepreneurial projects through the Joan F. & John M. Thalheimer '55 EUREKA! Ventures Competition. The Thalheimers pledged a…
Where does The John M and Joan F Thalheimer make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, with particular emphasis on the Philadelphia region.
What size grants does The John M and Joan F Thalheimer award?
In 2024, The John M and Joan F Thalheimer awarded 40 grants totaling $512K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The John M and Joan F Thalheimer required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The John M and Joan F Thalheimer reported a distributable amount of $580K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The John M and Joan F Thalheimer's EIN?
The John M and Joan F Thalheimer's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6882216. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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