Thunen Family Foundation Inc
Thunen Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Berkeley, California. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in disability services, Indigenous economic participation, conservation, and other areas.
Key facts about Thunen Family Foundation Inc
In short: Thunen Family Foundation Inc gave $50K across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), mostly in California. 6% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 13-4046890
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $50,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- Average grant
- $2,941
- Median grant
- $3,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (1 of 17, 2024; small sample)
- Total assets
- $641,436
- Primary geography
- California (50% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$641K
+3.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$50K
-13.8% YoY
Grant Count
17
+6.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-18.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thunen Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $61K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Thunen Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 17 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 88% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 87% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. For example, the Center for Independent Living says it provides services, support, and advocacy to help people with disabilities participate in their communities and live self-determined lives. First Nations Development Institute says it advances the participation of tribes, tribal members, and other Indigenous peoples in the economy. The Center for Biological Diversity says it works to protect species and the lands, waters, and climate they need to survive.
Other supported organizations include Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program, whose mission is to improve the health, independence, and social integration of people with physical disabilities through sports, recreation, and fitness programs; Meals on Wheels of Alameda County, which supports programs delivering meals and wellness checks to frail, homebound seniors; and the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, which trains rescued dogs to help first responders find people buried in disasters.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 17 grants totaling $50,000. Grants ranged from $500 to $5,000, with a median grant of $3,000. Larger awards included $5,000 to UC Berkeley Foundation; $4,000 each to the Center for Independent Living, Doctors Without Borders USA, First Nations Development Institute, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, USO, Wings of America, and IBS Eshinni - Kakushinni Chair; and $3,000 to the Center for Biological Diversity.
How to Apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
Ready to take the next step with Thunen Family Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, California received 50% of grant dollars. Maryland, Colorado, New York, and the District of Columbia each received 8%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $47K (2020) to $61K (2022). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $50K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Uc Berkeley Foundation ($5K). Together the top 10 received $39K.
Grant Size Distribution
86 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 86 grants of 86 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Uc Berkeley Foundation Berkeley, CA | Charitable and for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $5,000 |
| Center for Independent Living Berkeley, CA | Charitable and for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $4,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders USA Hagerstown, MD | Charitable and for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $4,000 |
| First Nations Development Institute Longmont, CO | Charitable and for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $4,000 |
| Intrepid Fallen Heros Fund New York, NY | Charitable and for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $4,000 |
| USO Washington, DC | Charitable and for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $4,000 |
| Wings of America Albuquerque, NM | Charitable and for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $4,000 |
| IBS Eshinni - Kakushinni Chair Berkeley, CA | Charitable and for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $4,000 |
| Center for Biological Diversity Tucson, AZ | Charitable and for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $3,000 |
| Students Rising Above San Francisco, CA | Charitable and for Donee's Exempt Purpose | $2,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $641,436 | $82,858 | $63,769 | $50,000 |
| 2023 | $622,347 | $59,302 | $75,472 | $58,000 |
| 2022 | $638,517 | $14,979 | $70,863 | $61,000 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $641,436 | $622,347 | $638,517 |
| Revenue | $82,858 | $59,302 | $14,979 |
| Expenses | $63,769 | $75,472 | $70,863 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $53,250 | $66,250 | $61,250 |
| Net Investment Income | $70,918 | $45,201 | $6,431 |
| Distributable Amount | $61,271 | $56,009 | $58,259 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christopher Thunen as president and Carol Thunen as secretary and treasurer.
Thunen Family Foundation Inc is led by Christopher Thunen, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Christopher Thunen
President
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carol Thunen
Secretary & Treasurer
Secretary → Treasurer, 2021
Treasurer → Secretary & Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Garret Thunen (2020–2021) — Vice President
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.
Contact
Mailing address: 30 Brookside Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
Phone: (510) 594-1800
Frequently asked questions about Thunen Family Foundation Inc
How much does Thunen Family Foundation Inc give each year?
Thunen Family Foundation Inc gave $50K across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $58K across 16 grants.
What is Thunen Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Thunen Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $3,000, and its average grant was $2,941, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Thunen Family Foundation Inc that year got $4K on average.
Where does Thunen Family Foundation Inc give grants?
Thunen Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in California: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maryland (8%) and Colorado (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Berkeley, CA (5 grants) and San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Who are Thunen Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Thunen Family Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Uc Berkeley Foundation ($5,000), Center for Independent Living ($4,000) and Doctors Without Borders USA ($4,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Thunen Family Foundation Inc?
Thunen Family Foundation Inc reported $641K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $53K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $61K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Thunen Family Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Thunen Family Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Thunen Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Thunen Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4046890. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Thunen Family Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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