The Thompson Foundation Inc
The Thompson Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Birmingham, Alabama. The foundation says it supports efforts to improve quality of life in communities served by its employees, including work in education, health and social welfare, community development, and other areas.
The Thompson Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Thompson Foundation Inc gave $893K across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $39K), mostly in Alabama. 4% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $892,545
- -18.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- -4.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $38,806
- -15.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $27,000
- Total assets
- $9,156,614
- -1.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (1 of 23, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Alabama (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Thompson Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 10367, Birmingham, AL 35202-0367
Phone: (205) 848-3973
Website: https://thompsonengineering.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Thompson Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was United Way ($152K). Together the top 10 received $756K.
Grant Size Distribution
116 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 74 grants of 116 (64%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars itemized in the 2024 filing went to recipients in Alabama. The foundation describes its broader mission as serving communities where its employees live and work.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
States
Is The Thompson Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 23 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $250; repeat grants $41K. How we count
Medians: $250 first-time, $30K repeat.
- 91% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−14%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 181% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $893K (2024) to $1.1M (2023). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $893K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| United Way Various, AL | Charitable | $152,062 |
| Religion Various, AL | Charitable | $103,000 |
| Children's Programs Various, AL | Charitable | $79,500 |
| Hunger Various, AL | Charitable | $75,000 |
| K-12 Various, AL | Charitable | $73,250 |
| Children's Healthcare Various, AL | Charitable | $62,000 |
| Higher Education Various, AL | Charitable | $59,433 |
| Environmentalparks Various, AL | Charitable | $57,500 |
| Basic Needs Various, AL | Charitable | $52,000 |
| Research Various, AL | Charitable | $42,700 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,156,614 | $1,054,425 | $1,151,330 | $892,545 | 23 | $980,884 | $389,083 | $542,484 |
| 2023 | $9,248,812 | $719,180 | $1,284,327 | $1,099,285 | 24 | $1,155,146 | $77,740 | $495,402 |
| 2022 | $9,811,081 | $1,292,972 | $1,256,284 | $1,047,103 | 24 | $1,101,113 | $159,212 | $516,843 |
| 2021 | $9,778,034 | $1,750,931 | $1,220,734 | $1,040,199 | 21 | $1,088,859 | $1,119,056 | $594,981 |
| 2020 | $9,664,591 | $293,298 | $1,166,103 | $993,273 | 24 | — | $177,632 | $502,281 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Thompson Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $542K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to support efforts that improve quality of life in communities served by its employees. It invests in organizations, programs, and activities that strengthen social frameworks, education, and community life. Its stated focus areas are education and STEM; environmental and cultural resources preservation; health and social welfare; civic and community development; and arts and recreation. The foundation also says it makes matching grants and prioritizes STEM-focused requests.
The foundation describes many supported organizations as ones its employees support through board service, fundraising, or other volunteer work. One 2024 grantee, Children’s Services Inc, describes its own mission as providing shelter for children and sponsoring a family day-care program for children and qualifying adults.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 23 grants totaling $892,545. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $152,062, with a median of $27,000. The largest listed awards included $152,062 for United Way, $103,000 for religion, $79,500 for children’s programs, $75,000 for hunger, $73,250 for K–12, and $62,000 for children’s healthcare. These filing entries identify the purposes as charitable.
Children’s Services Inc, in Anniston, Alabama, received $27,000 in 2024. The foundation’s website also describes support for scholarships and STEM programming, including a scholarship at Auburn University and a STEM Studio at ACCEL Day and Evening Academy in Mobile.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Michael D. Thompson as president; Lisa Thompson-Smith as secretary/treasurer; Lucy Thompson Marsh, Jacob Marsh, Benjamin H. Thompson, and Netagene R. Thompson as directors; and Annie Thompson Somerville as executive director.
The Thompson Foundation Inc is led by Annie Thompson Somerville, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 7 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Annie Thompson Somerville
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$64K (2020) → $67K (2024)
Michael D. Thompson
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin H. Thompson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jacob Marsh
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lucy Thompson Marsh
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Netagene R. Thompson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Thompson-Smith
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Hall Thompson Jr. (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Patricia A. Thompson (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $67K, to Annie Thompson Somerville (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Thompson Foundation Inc
How much does The Thompson Foundation Inc give each year?
The Thompson Foundation Inc gave $893K across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.1M across 24 grants.
What is The Thompson Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Thompson Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $27,000, and its average grant was $38,806, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Thompson Foundation Inc that year got $250 on average.
Where does The Thompson Foundation Inc give grants?
The Thompson Foundation Inc gives mostly in Alabama: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does The Thompson Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 23 grants with a stated purpose on The Thompson Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (23 grants).
Who are The Thompson Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Thompson Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include United Way ($152,062), Religion ($103,000) and Children's Programs ($79,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Thompson Foundation Inc?
The Thompson Foundation Inc reported $9.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $981K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $542K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Thompson Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support efforts that improve quality of life in communities served by its employees. It invests in organizations, programs, and activities that strengthen social frameworks, education, and community life. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Thompson Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it 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 The Thompson Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Thompson Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 72-1389140. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Thompson Foundation Inc 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 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Thompson Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Thompson Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-thompson-foundation-inc-morg_06bc229359954b9bbc0c847fbe2267b1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_721389140_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Thompson Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-thompson-foundation-inc-morg_06bc229359954b9bbc0c847fbe2267b1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 The Thompson Foundation Inc'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.
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