The Joseph H & Ellen B Thomas
The Joseph H and Ellen B Thomas Foundation is a private foundation established in 1989 and based in Pepper Pike, Ohio. The foundation operates as a grantmaking organization with no direct charitable activities, instead distributing funds to qualified institutions aligned with its philanthropic priorities.
Key facts about The Joseph H & Ellen B Thomas
- EIN
- 34-1615922
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $225,505
- Grants made (2024)
- 63
- Average grant
- $3,579
- Median grant
- $400
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (11 of 63, 2024)
- Total assets
- $3,471,950
- Primary geography
- Ohio (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Joseph H & Ellen B Thomas funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Joseph H & Ellen B Thomas's 63 itemized 2024 grants were Ohio (94%). The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (30 grants), Columbus, OH (5 grants), Chagrin Falls, OH (4 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants). None of its 63 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Community Health" (40 grants) and "For Educational Purposes" (21 grants).
Is The Joseph H & Ellen B Thomas open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 63 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $745; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $250 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 78% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−4%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 86% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Joseph H & Ellen B Thomas
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.5M
+0.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$226K
-2.9% YoY
Grant Count
63
+5.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
-7.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Joseph H & Ellen B Thomas reported a distributable amount of $261K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds educational purposes and community health initiatives. Recent grantmaking reflects a strong commitment to music education, healthcare services, and higher education institutions.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 50 grants in 2024, with recent recipients including:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations primarily in Ohio, with particular emphasis on the Cleveland area and surrounding communities.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 63 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,471,950
- Total Revenues: $247,580
- Total Expenses: $234,105
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,471,950 | $3,440,322 | $2,976,340 |
| Revenue | $247,580 | $357,701 | $636,910 |
| Expenses | $234,105 | $240,380 | $198,975 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $225,505 | $232,180 | $190,775 |
| Net Investment Income | $238,980 | $349,501 | $430,356 |
| Distributable Amount | $260,748 | $233,377 | $237,896 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
277 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include University Circle ($50,000), Cleveland Clinic ($44,905), Children's Guild ($25,950).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY CIRCLE Cleveland, OH | COMMUNITY HEALTH | $50,000 |
| CLEVELAND CLINIC Cleveland, OH | COMMUNITY HEALTH | $44,905 |
| CHILDREN'S GUILD Chagrin Falls, OH | COMMUNITY HEALTH | $25,950 |
| DENISON UNIVERSITY Granville, OH | FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES | $25,000 |
| CASE WESTERN RESERVE Cleveland, OH | FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES | $10,000 |
| UNITED WAY Cleveland, OH | COMMUNITY HEALTH | $10,000 |
| CHURCH OF THE WESTERN RESERVE Cleveland, OH | COMMUNITY HEALTH | $5,000 |
| OVERLAND SUMMER FUND Williamstown, MA | FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| PLAYHOUSE SQUARE Cleveland, OH | FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES | $5,000 |
| STPAUL'S CHURCH Cleveland Heights, OH | COMMUNITY HEALTH | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Joe Thomas has served as a Trustee of the Cleveland Institute of Music since July 1996. Both Joe and Ellen Thomas reside in Pepper Pike, Ohio, and have been actively involved in the foundation's philanthropic direction.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph H and Ellen B Thomas | Trustees | — | — |
| Virginia H Wylder | Trustee | — | — |
| Elizabeth H Leathery | Trustee | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In November 2019, the Cleveland Institute of Music dedicated its student lounge as the Ellen and Joe Thomas Student Commons in recognition of the Thomases' $600,000 gift designated for student scholarships. This gift brought their cumulative support to the conservatory to over $1.2 million, reflecting a philanthropic partnership spanning more than 25 years.
CIM Student Lounge Dedicated as the Ellen and Joe Thomas Student CommonsFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Joseph H & Ellen B Thomas fund?
The foundation primarily funds educational purposes and community health initiatives. Recent grantmaking reflects a strong commitment to music education, healthcare services, and higher education institutions.
How do I apply for a grant from The Joseph H & Ellen B Thomas?
The foundation made 50 grants in 2024, with recent recipients including: • University Circle (UCI) — $50,000 for Community Health • Cleveland Clinic Health Services Professional Association — $44,905 for Community Health • Denison University — $25,000 for Educational Purposes An additional 25 grants totaling $140,005 were distributed in 2024. The foundation has demonstrated sustained commitment to certain institutions over extended periods, including over $1.2 million in cumulative support to t…
Where does The Joseph H & Ellen B Thomas make grants?
The foundation supports organizations primarily in Ohio, with particular emphasis on the Cleveland area and surrounding communities.
What size grants does The Joseph H & Ellen B Thomas award?
In 2024, The Joseph H & Ellen B Thomas awarded 63 grants totaling $226K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Joseph H & Ellen B Thomas required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Joseph H & Ellen B Thomas reported a distributable amount of $261K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Joseph H & Ellen B Thomas's EIN?
The Joseph H & Ellen B Thomas's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-1615922. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.