Thistlewood Foundation
Thistlewood Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Lafayette, LA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $357K. Net investment income was $222K.
Thistlewood Foundation at a glance
In short: Thistlewood Foundation gave $357K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $71K), mostly in Louisiana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $357,000
- +4362.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +150.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $71,400
- +1685.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $32,000
- Total assets
- $3,713,958
- -8.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Louisiana (96% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Thistlewood Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Musical Arts Society of New Orleans ($150K). Together the top 5 received $357K.
Grant Size Distribution
12 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 6 grants of 12 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Thistlewood Foundation gives
- Giving grew 138% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 201% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $8K (2024) to $460K (2023). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $357K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Musical Arts Society of New Orleans New Orleans, LA | Gen Funding, Equipment Upgrades | $150,000 |
| Ul at Lafayette College of the Arts Lafayette, LA | Funding | $150,000 |
| Moncus Park Lafayette, LA | General Funding | $32,000 |
| Society for Louisiana Irises Houston, TX | Iris Preservation, Study | $15,000 |
| Master Gardeners of Lafayette Lafayette, LA | General Funding | $10,000 |
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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 | $3,713,958 | $240,831 | $474,776 | $357,000 | 5 | $357,000 | $222,373 | $177,987 |
| 2024 | $4,075,757 | $321,814 | $87,871 | $8,000 | 2 | $8,000 | $220,647 | $179,831 |
| 2023 | $3,501,051 | $86,067 | $497,144 | $460,000 | 4 | $460,000 | $86,805 | $183,666 |
| 2022 | $3,642,311 | $107,184 | $190,876 | $150,000 | 1 | $150,000 | $83,139 | $182,384 |
| 2021 | $4,124,684 | $660,284 | $51,178 | — | — | — | $620,524 | $191,926 |
| 2020 | $3,793,580 | $33,768 | $33,788 | — | — | — | $30,892 | $167,854 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thistlewood Foundation reported a distributable amount of $178K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Thistlewood Foundation is led by Mariusz Smolij, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mariusz Smolij
President
Director → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Weilbaecher Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gordon H. Brooks
Director
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Oren Smith
Director
Secretary & Treasurer → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jim Leonard
Treasurer-Fo
Treasurer-Cu → Treasurer-Fo, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Virginia A. Stuller
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ashley Moore
Treasurer-Cu
On filings since 2024
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Benjamin Blanchet (2020–2023) — Treasurer-Cu
- Former: Joan Landry (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Marsden W. Bill Miller (2020–2022) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Thistlewood Foundation
How much does Thistlewood Foundation give each year?
Thistlewood Foundation gave $357K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $8K across 2 grants.
What is Thistlewood Foundation's typical grant size?
Thistlewood Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $32,000, and its average grant was $71,400, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Thistlewood Foundation give grants?
Thistlewood Foundation gives mostly in Louisiana: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lafayette, LA (3 grants).
Does Thistlewood Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 40% of Thistlewood Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Thistlewood Foundation's largest grantees?
Thistlewood Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Musical Arts Society of New Orleans ($150,000), Ul at Lafayette College of the Arts ($150,000) and Moncus Park ($32,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Thistlewood Foundation?
Thistlewood Foundation reported $3.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $357K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $178K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Thistlewood Foundation?
Thistlewood Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Lafayette, LA. It holds $3.7M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Thistlewood Foundation's EIN?
Thistlewood Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-0713334. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Thistlewood Foundation funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Thistlewood Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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