The Thompson Family Foundation Inc logo

The Thompson Family Foundation Inc

NEW YORK, NY EIN: 06-1194385 Website

The Thompson Family Foundation Inc. is a private foundation established in 1986 and incorporated in 1988. Based in New York City at 1 Rockefeller Plaza, Floor 21, the foundation was founded by the late Wade F.B. Thompson, co-founder and CEO of Thor Industries, a recreational vehicle manufacturer. The foundation maintains a notably low profile and operates exclusively through preselected grantmaking to charitable organizations.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$453.5M

-1.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$17.0M

+13.8% YoY

Grant Count

121

+13.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$141K

+0.6% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Thompson Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $25.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's primary giving focuses on:

  • Arts & Culture (largest funding area)
    • Cultural education programs
    • Visual arts and museums
    • Historic preservation and restoration
  • Historical Preservation
  • Health Organizations
  • Human Services
  • Education
  • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Grantmaking

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. It makes grants exclusively to preselected charitable organizations.

Grant Range

$10,000 - $25,000,000

Average Grant

$209,000

How to Apply

**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in:

  • New York (primary focus, particularly New York City)
  • Connecticut
  • Massachusetts
  • Illinois

Grantmaking reaches organizations across 13 states, with 81% of grants supporting organizations in New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois. The foundation has supported 120 unique organizations.

Grant Distribution by State

13states
+5 more states

Cities

AlbanyAnnandale On HudsonBaltimoreBarreBeaconBedfordBigforkBostonBrooklynChicagoCold Springs HarborColumbusEast HamptonElmontFishers IslandFishers IsleHartfordHudsonJacksonKansas City

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

  • Total Assets: $453.5 million (2024); $533.6 million (alternate reporting)
  • Annual Income: $361.1 million
  • Annual Giving: $21.4 million (2024)
  • Asset Growth: Grown from $98 million in 2010 to $461 million in 2023
  • Tax Status: 501(c)(3) organization; contributions are tax-deductible
  • IRS Ruling Year: 1988
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$20M$41M$61M$82M2021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$453,472,181$460,988,467$468,863,914
Revenue$13,146,477$10,525,175$16,737,927
Expenses$25,094,680$17,024,366$15,271,949
Qualifying Distributions$17,805,057$16,019,227$18,926,443
Net Investment Income$10,456,013$8,108,010$14,148,561
Distributable Amount$25,666,236$24,327,254$28,402,559

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$5M$9M$14M$18M17 grants202152 grants2022107 grants2023121 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY$1.7MAMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR W…$1.5MCITY HARVEST INC$1.3MBUSHWICK STARR$500KCANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE$350KCITY PARKS FOUNDATION$350KDANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM$300KBRIGHAM & WOMEN'S HOSPIT…$290KBARD PRISON INITATIVE$250KCASES$250K

Grant Size Distribution

167 grants across all recorded years

69<$50K23$50–100K39$100–250K16$250–500K7$500K–1M13$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Central Park Conservancy ($1,680,000), American Committee for Weizmann Institute ($1,497,500), City Harvest Inc ($1,250,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ALEX HOUSE PROJECT INC BROOKLYN, NYTO AID THE DONEE ORGANIZATION IN CARRYING OUT ITS EXEMPT FUNCTIONS.$50,000
AMERICAN ACADEMY IN ROME NEW YORK, NYTO AID THE DONEE ORGANIZATION IN CARRYING OUT ITS EXEMPT FUNCTIONS.$5,000
AMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR WEIZMANN INSTITUTE NEW YORK, NYTO AID THE DONEE ORGANIZATION IN CARRYING OUT ITS EXEMPT FUNCTIONS.$1,497,500
AVENUES FOR JUSTICE NEW YORK, NYTO AID THE DONEE ORGANIZATION IN CARRYING OUT ITS EXEMPT FUNCTIONS.$200,000
BALLET & BEYOND NYC BROOKLYN, NYTO AID THE DONEE ORGANIZATION IN CARRYING OUT ITS EXEMPT FUNCTIONS.$20,000
BARD COLLEGE ANNANDALE ON HUDSON, NYTO AID THE DONEE ORGANIZATION IN CARRYING OUT ITS EXEMPT FUNCTIONS.$25,000
BARD PRISON INITATIVE ANNANDALE ON HUDSON, NYTO AID THE DONEE ORGANIZATION IN CARRYING OUT ITS EXEMPT FUNCTIONS.$250,000
BARYSHNIKOV ARTS CENTER NEW YORK, NYTO AID THE DONEE ORGANIZATION IN CARRYING OUT ITS EXEMPT FUNCTIONS.$50,000
BEDFORD PLAYHOUSE BEDFORD, NYTO AID THE DONEE ORGANIZATION IN CARRYING OUT ITS EXEMPT FUNCTIONS.$5,000
BILLION OYSTER PROJECT NEW YORK, NYTO AID THE DONEE ORGANIZATION IN CARRYING OUT ITS EXEMPT FUNCTIONS.$25,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation is currently led by Amanda JT Riegel, daughter of founder Wade F.B. Thompson. The foundation is governed by 3 officers and trustees.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
AMANDA JT RIEGELPRESIDENT/DIRECTOR5
CHARLES AY THOMPSONVICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR5
JIM KALLMANTREASURER/DIRECTOR5

Contact Information

  • Phone: (646) 480-3532 or (212) 370-1570
  • Address: 1 Rockefeller Plaza, Floor 21, New York, NY 10020-2003 (also listed as 230 Park Ave., Ste. 1541, New York, NY 10169)
  • EIN: 06-1194385

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Thompson Family Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation's primary giving focuses on: • **Arts & Culture** (largest funding area) • Cultural education programs • Visual arts and museums • Historic preservation and restoration • **Historical Preservation** • **Health Organizations** • **Human Services** • **Education** • **Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking**

How do I apply for a grant from The Thompson Family Foundation Inc?

**Grant Activity:** • Total assets: $453.5 million (2024) • Annual giving: $21.4 million (2024) • Total giving: $17.0 million (most recent filing) • Grant range: $10,000 - $25,000,000 • Most common grant size: $10,000 • Median grant: $50,000 • Average grant: $209,000 • Total grants (2024): 40 grants totaling $21.4 million • Historical grants: 159 grants totaling $33.3 million across available records **Application Process:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. It makes grants …

Where does The Thompson Family Foundation Inc make grants?

The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • New York (primary focus, particularly New York City) • Connecticut • Massachusetts • Illinois Grantmaking reaches organizations across 13 states, with 81% of grants supporting organizations in New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois. The foundation has supported 120 unique organizations.

What size grants does The Thompson Family Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, The Thompson Family Foundation Inc awarded 121 grants totaling $17.0M — an average of about $141K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Thompson Family Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Thompson Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $25.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The Thompson Family Foundation Inc's EIN?

The Thompson Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1194385. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.

Explore Open Grants

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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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