The Thomasson Foundation
The Thomasson Foundation is a private foundation based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The foundation was created in 1992 by Jeffrey and Benita Thomasson and focuses on supporting education, philanthropy, voluntarism, and human services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$167K
-46.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$389K
+5.4% YoY
Grant Count
34
-2.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$11K
+8.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Thomasson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation demonstrates a particular commitment to supporting socially conscious students and community service initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation supports the Thomasson Fellowship program at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, now in its fourth year as of 2026. Each Thomasson Fellow receives an annual scholarship during their four years at the Kelley School in recognition of their work with the Kelley Institute for Social Impact. The program recognizes socially conscious undergraduate students from Indiana who are committed to community service and social impact.
Average Grant
amount and median grant amount data are available but specific figures are not detailed in the sources
Ready to take the next step with The Thomasson Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on:
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Ohio
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Most Recent IRS 990 Filing (2023):
- Total Assets: $312,159
- Total Giving: $369,347
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $166,521 | $312,159 | $378,397 |
| Revenue | $249,019 | $311,503 | $647,042 |
| Expenses | $394,657 | $377,741 | $382,020 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $394,598 | $373,748 | $380,159 |
| Net Investment Income | $24,530 | $99,201 | $195,156 |
| Distributable Amount | $9,896 | $13,424 | $12,443 |
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
170 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cedarville University ($112,312), The Cru Foundation ($26,250), Taylor University ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANDERSON UNIVERSITY ANDERSON, SC | EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY CEDARVILLE, OH | EDUCATION | $112,312 |
| CITY STEP ORG INC NEW YORK, NY | DONATION | $750 |
| CMF INTERNATIONAL INDIANAPOLIS, IN | MISSIONS | $3,500 |
| EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE MISSION (TEAM) GRAPEVINE, TX | MISSIONS | $8,000 |
| EXODUS REFUGEE IMMIGRATION INDIANAPOLIS, IN | DONATION | $1,250 |
| FREEDOME 424 LYNCHBURG, VA | MISSIONS | $2,500 |
| GRACE COLLEGE WINONA LAKE, IN | EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| HARDING UNIVERSITY SEARCY, AR | EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| INDIANA WESLEYAN MARION, IN | EDUCATION | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders:
- Jeffrey Thomasson
- Benita Thomasson
Jeffrey H. Thomasson also serves as Secretary of the Jerry L and Barbara J Burris Foundation Inc.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFREY THOMASSON | PRES./TREAS./SECRT./DIRECT | 1 | — |
| BENITA THOMASSON | VP/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRITTANY THOMASSON PITTMAN | VP | — | — |
| J ELLIOTT THOMASSON | VP | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Thomasson Fellowship program at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business announced its fourth class of fellows in 2026. The inaugural class of Thomasson Scholars was announced in January 2023, with five Indiana freshmen direct admit students selected based on their commitment to community service and social impact. The first class of Thomasson Fellows is set to graduate in spring 2026.
Kelley School announces inaugural Thomasson Scholars, socially conscious\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Thomasson Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation demonstrates a particular commitment to supporting socially conscious students and community service initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from The Thomasson Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** • Typical awards range from $750 to $59,847 • Average grant amount and median grant amount data are available but specific figures are not detailed in the sources **Recent Activity:** The foundation supports the Thomasson Fellowship program at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, now in its fourth year as of 2026. Each Thomasson Fellow receives an annual scholarship during their four years at the Kelley School in recognition of their work with the Kelley Institute …
Where does The Thomasson Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on: • Indiana • Illinois • Ohio
What size grants does The Thomasson Foundation award?
In 2024, The Thomasson Foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $389K — an average of about $11K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Thomasson Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Thomasson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Thomasson Foundation's EIN?
The Thomasson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-1870799. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Thomasson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Boren Foundation Inc
UPLAND, IN
Assets
$19.1M
Grants
70
Total Given
$1.3M
Lupke Foundation Inc Agency
FORT WAYNE, IN
Assets
$1.4M
Grants
22
Total Given
$76K
Harold Ellison Tuw for Jones Cemetery 002189
MUNCIE, IN
Assets
$442K
Grants
1
Total Given
$9K
John Carroll Club of South Bend Inc
SOUTH BEND, IN
Assets
—
Grants
1
Total Given
$220K
Buchanan-clements Foundation Inc
COLUMBUS, IN
Assets
$261K
Grants
3
Total Given
$16K
Harold Ellison Scholarship Fund 002188
MUNCIE, IN
Assets
$1.1M
Grants
1
Total Given
$62K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with The Thomasson Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching The Thomasson Foundation to a real strategy.