The Thorne Cox Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts, designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation has been tax-exempt since August 2014 and operates as a grantmaking foundation focused on philanthropic activities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.3M
+7.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$572K
-21.3% YoY
Grant Count
19
-9.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$30K
-13.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Thorne Cox Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $295K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Historic Buildings Preservation
- Historic Preservation
- Arts
Grantmaking
The foundation actively distributes grants across its focus areas, with recent grantmaking activity documented in 2024.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily directs its grantmaking toward organizations in:
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Colorado
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2024:
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,293,422 |
| Total Revenue | $572,654 |
| Total Expenses | $655,528 |
| Net Income | -$82,874 |
| Total Liabilities | $0 |
The foundation's expenses exceeded revenues in 2024, resulting in a net loss of $82,874.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,293,422 | $3,992,700 | $3,900,526 |
| Revenue | $572,654 | $877,368 | $841,839 |
| Expenses | $655,528 | $786,791 | $990,325 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $572,414 | $728,835 | $920,626 |
| Net Investment Income | $868,835 | $731,460 | $313,723 |
| Distributable Amount | $295,295 | $234,876 | $169,281 |
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
95 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Avenue Concept Inc ($195,000), Bay Chamber Concerts Inc ($100,000), Trustees of Dartmouth College ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Aspen Public Radio Aspen, CO | Operations budget assistance | $1,000 |
| Avenue Concept Inc Providence, RI | Operations budget assistance | $195,000 |
| Bay Chamber Concerts Inc Rockport, ME | Operations budget assistance | $100,000 |
| Boston Impact Initiative Jamaica Plain, MA | Operations budget assistance | $25,000 |
| Trustees of Dartmouth College Hanover, NH | Operations budget assistance | $50,000 |
| The William A Farnsworth Library and Art Museum Inc Rockland, ME | Operations budget assistance | $6,624 |
| Imagine North Carolina First Raleigh, NC | Operations budget assistance | $5,000 |
| Knox County Homeless Coalition Rockland, ME | Operations budget assistance | $5,000 |
| Lifeflight Foundation Camden, ME | Operations budget assistance | $5,000 |
| Living Observatory Inc Plymouth, MA | Operations budget assistance | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brinkley Thorne | President | 1 | — |
| Mazie L Cox | Vice President | 1 | — |
| Yarrow Thorne | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Dune Thorne | Treasurer | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Thorne Cox Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Historic Buildings Preservation • Historic Preservation • Arts
How do I apply for a grant from The Thorne Cox Family Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $1,000–$250,000 • Total giving in 2024: $572,149 The foundation actively distributes grants across its focus areas, with recent grantmaking activity documented in 2024.
Where does The Thorne Cox Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily directs its grantmaking toward organizations in: • Maine • Massachusetts • Colorado
What size grants does The Thorne Cox Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Thorne Cox Family Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $572K — an average of about $30K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Thorne Cox Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Thorne Cox Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $295K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Thorne Cox Family Foundation's EIN?
The Thorne Cox Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4274950. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Thorne Cox Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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