Thompson Foundation
Thompson Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Plymouth, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $3.6M. Net investment income was $35K.
Thompson Foundation at a glance
In short: Thompson Foundation gave $3.6M across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $711K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,553,490
- -44.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- -16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $710,698
- -33.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $278,127
- Total assets
- $1,159,973
- -3.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
Who Thompson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Michigan Tech Fund ($2.1M). Together the top 2 received $2.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($1,327,740), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 38 (45%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Thompson Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.7M (2023) to $13.6M (2020). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $3.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan Tech Fund Houghton, MI | Thompson Working Families Scholarship Program | $2,125,750 |
| 3 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $1,327,740 |
| Thompson Schools Foundation Plymouth, MI | Charter School Support | $100,000 |
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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 | $1,159,973 | $4,258,825 | $4,295,269 | $3,553,490 | 5 | $4,168,145 | $34,526 | $82,383 |
| 2024 | $1,196,417 | $2,767,937 | $7,120,618 | $6,377,297 | 6 | $2,737,326 | $31,803 | $61,743 |
| 2023 | $5,549,098 | $3,464,269 | $3,406,895 | $2,735,167 | 6 | $3,381,553 | $44,510 | $58,457 |
| 2022 | $5,491,724 | $4,549,161 | $4,575,437 | $3,859,369 | 11 | $4,550,842 | $29,750 | $64,808 |
| 2021 | $5,518,000 | $2,844,461 | $6,026,969 | $5,176,463 | 10 | $6,001,893 | $24,774 | $87,361 |
| 2020 | $8,700,508 | $19,525,405 | $14,328,067 | $13,562,006 | 12 | — | $85,814 | $55,944 |
| 2019 | $13,203,170 | $4,730,352 | $4,760,784 | $3,971,543 | 9 | — | $107,214 | $45,357 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thompson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $82K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Thompson Foundation is led by Robert M. Thompson, Member, President, Secretary & Trustee since 2020 (on filings since 2019); 3 of 10 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert M. Thompson
Member, President, Secretary & Trustee
Member, President & Trustee → Member, President, Secretary & Trustee, 2020
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cathy N. Kunkel
Trustee
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
$14K (2019) → $13K (2025)
John G. Cleary
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$262K (2019) → $350K (2025)
Curt Little
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
4 hrs/week
$159K (2025)
Brian J. Cooney
Trustee
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ellen Anne Thompson
Member & Trustee
Member, Vice President & Trustee → Member & Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph A. Aristeo
Trustee -
Trustee → Trustee -, 2025
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin M. Brender
Trustee
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mark A. Murray
Trustee
On filings since 2019
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vincent J. Deangelis
Trustee
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Edward M. Parks (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: James Lindstrom (2020–2022) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $350K, to John G Cleary (Vice-President/Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Thompson Foundation
How much does Thompson Foundation give each year?
Thompson Foundation gave $3.6M across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $6.4M across 6 grants.
What is Thompson Foundation's typical grant size?
Thompson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $278,127, and its average grant was $710,698, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Thompson Foundation give grants?
Thompson Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Thompson Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Thompson Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Thompson Working Families Scholarship Program" (3 grants).
How large is Thompson Foundation?
Thompson Foundation reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $82K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Thompson Foundation?
Thompson Foundation is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Plymouth, MI. It holds $1.2M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Thompson Foundation's EIN?
Thompson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3452577. 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.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 9, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 23, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Thompson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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