Thomas B Fordham Foundation
The Thomas B. Fordham Foundation supports the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, the nation's leader in advancing educational excellence, by providing quality research, analysis and commentary, as well as on-the-ground action and advocacy in Ohio.
Thomas B Fordham Foundation at a glance
In short: Thomas B Fordham Foundation gave $149K across 8 grants in 2024 (avg $19K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $149,358
- +14.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 8
- +33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $18,670
- -13.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $13,500
- Total assets
- $82,318,168
- +8.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Ohio (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Thomas B Fordham Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Dayton Leadership Academies ($40K). Together the top 8 received $149K.
Grant Size Distribution
37 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 37 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Thomas B Fordham Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+10%). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $130K (2023) to $162K (2020). In 2024 it made 8 grants totaling $149K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dayton Leadership Academies Dayton, OH | Support summer programming or tutoring; support teacher professional development for Responsive Classroom training and to fund extra-curricular activities. | $40,000 |
| Dayton Foundation Friends of DECA Fund Dayton, OH | Support library and classroom library resources across the DECA organization's schools; build in-house expertise in the science of reading by funding teacher development at Mt. St. Joseph University, and to provide funding for DECA's extracurricular activities | $38,000 |
| ReGeneration Schools Ohio Cincinnati, OH | TBF Sponsorship Surplus at FY end. | $16,000 |
| United Preparatory Academy Columbus, OH | TBF Sponsorship Surplus at FY end. | $14,000 |
| IDEA Greater Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH | Support Surplus at FY end. | $13,000 |
| KIPP Columbus Columbus, OH | TBF Sponsorship Surplus at FY end. | $13,000 |
| We Care Arts Kettering, OH | General support | $10,000 |
| Institute for Excellence in Education Mount Pleasant, MI | Support Board Training. | $5,358 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $82,318,168 | $2,904,104 | $2,606,540 | $149,358 | 8 | $1,577,304 |
| 2023 | $75,889,511 | $2,465,046 | $2,634,188 | $130,000 | 6 | $1,436,464 |
| 2022 | $68,013,361 | $2,482,473 | $3,225,258 | $135,000 | 7 | $1,604,316 |
| 2021 | $79,254,597 | $2,582,974 | $2,656,001 | $135,800 | 9 | $1,823,576 |
| 2020 | $69,510,863 | $1,715,313 | $2,527,016 | $162,138 | 7 | $506,500 |
About Thomas B Fordham Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Thomas B Fordham Foundation is a public charity, based in Burke, VA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $82.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 8 grants totaling $149K. Net investment income was $1.6M.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Thomas B Fordham Foundation is led by Michael J Petrilli, President & Trustee on every filing since 2020; 14 of 15 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael J Petrilli
President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$61K (2020) → $381K (2024)
Bruno V Manno
Chairman & Trustee
Trustee → Director, 2023
Director → Chairman & Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $5K (2024)
Adam B Tyner
National Research Director
Associate Director of Research → National Research Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
$127K (2024)
Caprice Young
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $6K (2024)
Chester E Finn Jr.
President Emeritus & Trustee
On filings since 2020
3.5 hrs/week
$15K (2020) → $236K (2024)
Michael W Kelly
Treasurer & Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $6K (2024)
Rod Paige
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Stefanie Sanford
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $6K (2024)
Thomas A Holton
Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$3K (2020) → $6K (2024)
Ian Rowe
Trustee
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
$3K (2021) → $6K (2024)
Amber M Northern
Senior Vice President for Research
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$9K (2020) → $284K (2024)
Chad L Aldis
Vice President for Ohio Policy & Advocacy
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$2K (2020) → $258K (2024)
Gary E LaBelle
Vice President for Finance & Operations
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$89K (2020) → $204K (2024)
Victoria Mcdougald
Chief of Staff
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
$19K (2021) → $127K (2024)
Kathryn I Mullen
Vice President for Sponsorship & Dayton
New on the 2024 filing
50 hrs/week
$188K (2024)
Former officers (5)
- Former: David Driscoll (2020–2023) — Chairman & Trustee
- Former: Kathryn Mullen-Upton (2020–2023) — Vice President for Sponsorship & Dayton
- Former: Theda L. Sampson (2023) — Director for Applications & Contracts
- Former: Brandon Wright (2022) — Editorial Director
- Former: Robert Pondiscio (2020) — Senior Fellow & Vice President of External Affairs
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 $381K, to Michael J Petrilli (President And Trustee). 14 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Thomas B Fordham Foundation
How much does Thomas B Fordham Foundation give each year?
Thomas B Fordham Foundation gave $149K across 8 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $130K across 6 grants.
What is Thomas B Fordham Foundation's typical grant size?
Thomas B Fordham Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $13,500, and its average grant was $18,670, across 8 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Thomas B Fordham Foundation give grants?
Thomas B Fordham Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Dayton, OH (2 grants), Cincinnati, OH (2 grants) and Columbus, OH (2 grants).
Does Thomas B Fordham Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 13% of Thomas B Fordham Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "TBF Sponsorship Surplus at FY end." (3 grants).
Who are Thomas B Fordham Foundation's largest grantees?
Thomas B Fordham Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Dayton Leadership Academies ($40,000), Dayton Foundation Friends of DECA Fund ($38,000) and ReGeneration Schools Ohio ($16,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Thomas B Fordham Foundation?
Thomas B Fordham Foundation reported $82.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.9M.
What is Thomas B Fordham Foundation's EIN?
Thomas B Fordham Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-6032844. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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