The Thorofare Foundation
The Thorofare Foundation is a private foundation based in Bluffton, South Carolina. Its 2025 filing reports grantmaking to organizations in several states; the filing does not state a specific mission.
The Thorofare Foundation at a glance
In short: The Thorofare Foundation gave $12K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $826.667), top state Maine. 13% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $12,400
- +92.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- +36.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $827
- +41.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $375,925
- -0.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 13% first-time grantees (2 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maine (30% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Thorofare Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2025 filing requires written requests with a description of the charity. It states that there are no submission deadlines and no award restrictions or limitations.
- Contact
Application contact: George Cole
Mailing address: 200 Stalling Island Street, Bluffton, SC 29910
Phone: (631) 297-8350
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Thorofare Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was ACLU Foundation ($2K). Together the top 10 received $11K.
Grant Size Distribution
73 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 73 grants of 73 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Maine (30%), South Carolina (22%), Oregon (16%), New York (16%), and California (8%), among other states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Thorofare Foundation open to new grantees?
13%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 15 grantees (13%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $350; repeat grants $900. How we count
Medians: $350 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 73% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 31% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2024) to $19K (2021). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $12K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACLU Foundation Beaverton, OR | Unrestricted | $2,000 |
| Planned Parenthood Foundation New York, NY | Unrestricted | $2,000 |
| Isle Au Haut Community Dev Corp Isle Au Haut, ME | Unrestricted | $1,500 |
| Coastal Conservation League Charleston, SC | Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Icdc West Sacramento, CA | Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| Island Institute Rockland, ME | Unrestricted | $1,000 |
| ACLU of South Carolina Charleston, SC | Unrestricted | $500 |
| Bate College Parents Fund Lewiston, ME | Unrestricted | $500 |
| Hopeful Horizons Beaufort, SC | Unrestricted | $500 |
| Planned Parenthood of New England Burlington, VT | Unrestricted | $500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $375,925 | $11,647 | $12,700 | $12,400 | 15 | $12,400 | — | $519 |
| 2024 | $376,978 | $7,146 | $6,450 | $6,450 | 11 | $6,450 | — | $519 |
| 2023 | $376,282 | $18,939 | $16,750 | $16,500 | 12 | $16,500 | — | $916 |
| 2022 | $374,093 | $16,773 | $19,707 | $18,000 | 17 | $18,000 | — | $367 |
| 2021 | $377,027 | $17,123 | $18,650 | $18,500 | 18 | $18,500 | — | $281 |
| 2020 | $378,554 | $14,222 | $16,475 | $16,300 | 17 | — | — | $280 |
| 2019 | $380,807 | $13,246 | $17,175 | $16,400 | 17 | — | $2 | $163 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Thorofare Foundation reported a distributable amount of $519 for 2025 — 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 filings do not state a mission or specific funding focus. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations working on different issues. For example, Island Institute describes its mission as navigating climate and economic change with island and coastal communities to expand opportunities and deliver solutions. Hopeful Horizons describes its work as providing safety, hope, and healing to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse, and leading efforts to end such harm.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 15 grants totaling $12,400. Grants ranged from $200 to $2,000, with a median grant of $500.
Among the larger reported grants were $2,000 each to ACLU Foundation and Planned Parenthood Foundation; $1,500 to Isle Au Haut Community Development Corporation; and $1,000 each to Coastal Conservation League, ICDC, and Island Institute. The filing lists these grants as unrestricted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists George W. Cole as director.
The Thorofare Foundation is led by George W. Cole, Director on every filing since 2019 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
George W. Cole
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Thorofare Foundation
How much does The Thorofare Foundation give each year?
The Thorofare Foundation gave $12K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $6K across 11 grants.
What is The Thorofare Foundation's typical grant size?
The Thorofare Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $827, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Thorofare Foundation that year got $350 on average.
Where does The Thorofare Foundation give grants?
The Thorofare Foundation's top state is Maine, with 30% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were South Carolina (22%) and Oregon (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Isle Au Haut, ME (3 grants) and Charleston, SC (3 grants).
Does The Thorofare Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Thorofare Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Thorofare Foundation's largest grantees?
The Thorofare Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include ACLU Foundation ($2,000), Planned Parenthood Foundation ($2,000) and Isle Au Haut Community Dev Corp ($1,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Thorofare Foundation?
The Thorofare Foundation reported $376K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $12K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $519 (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Thorofare Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filings do not state a mission or specific funding focus. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations working on different issues. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Thorofare Foundation?
The 2025 filing requires written requests with a description of the charity. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Thorofare Foundation's EIN?
The Thorofare Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 11-3522682. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 4, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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