Thurston Charitable Foundation
Thurston Charitable Foundation is a private, independent foundation based in Milton, Washington. Established in 1962, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and has been tax-exempt since May 1964.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.2M
+4.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$272K
-8.1% YoY
Grant Count
96
-1.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
-7.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thurston Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $287K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include health care, the arts, education, and support for Christian churches and organizations. Recent funding focus areas also encompass philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking, along with human services.
Grantmaking
How to Apply
** The foundation contributes only to pre-selected organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation gives primarily in Washington state.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,237,856 | 2024 |
| Total Giving | $272,000 | 2024 |
| Total Assets | $4,060,000 | 2023 |
| Total Expenses | $359,000 | 2023 |
| Total Revenue | $186,000 | 2023 |
| Total Liabilities | $0 | 2023 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,237,856 | $4,062,381 | $4,236,501 |
| Revenue | $503,647 | $186,101 | $433,646 |
| Expenses | $328,086 | $359,328 | $346,375 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $276,093 | $299,838 | $275,833 |
| Net Investment Income | $451,654 | $132,611 | $370,104 |
| Distributable Amount | $286,707 | $276,063 | $299,836 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Culver Educational Foundation ($16,000), Browns Valley Family Club ($11,000), Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Cen ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alzheimer's Association LYNNWOOD, WA | VARIOUS | $1,000 |
| American Diabetes Association MERRIFIELD, VA | VARIOUS | $1,000 |
| Arizona Animal Welfare League Phoenix, AZ | VARIOUS | $1,500 |
| Animal Shelter League of Rohnert Pa Rohnert Park, CA | VARIOUS | $5,000 |
| Beacon Light Mission Wilmington, CA | VARIOUS | $4,000 |
| Bainbridge Island Museum of Art Bainbridge Island, WA | VARIOUS | $2,500 |
| Birdnote Ashville, NC | VARIOUS | $3,500 |
| Bellevue Lifespring Bellevue, WA | VARIOUS | $1,000 |
| Child Evangelism Fellowship Inc Los Angeles, CA | VARIOUS | $2,000 |
| Child Evangelism Fellowship Los Angeles, CA | VARIOUS | $6,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Robert H. Thurston – President
- Susan E. Thurston – Vice President
- Sherrie Tossell – Secretary
- Severt W. Thurston, Jr. – Treasurer
- Ellen E. Thurston – Donor
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEVERT W THURSTON JR | Treasurer | — | — |
| VERONIQUE THURSTON | Secretary | — | — |
| SUSAN E THURSTON | President | — | — |
| SHERRIE TOSSELL | Vice President | — | — |
| STEVEN A FINLEY | ASST SEC-TREAS | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Thurston Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include health care, the arts, education, and support for Christian churches and organizations. Recent funding focus areas also encompass philanthropy, voluntarism, and grantmaking, along with human services.
How do I apply for a grant from Thurston Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $500 to $22,500. **Application Process:** The foundation contributes only to pre-selected organizations and does not accept unsolicited applications. **Recent Grant Activity:** In 2007, the foundation made grants including: • $25,000 to Seattle Art Museum (Seattle, WA) • $17,500 to Bellevue Arts Museum (Bellevue, WA) • $6,000 to Overlake Hospital Medical Center (Bellevue, WA) • $4,500 to Columbia Land Trust (Vancouver, WA) • $3,000 to Performing Arts…
Where does Thurston Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation gives primarily in Washington state.
What size grants does Thurston Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Thurston Charitable Foundation awarded 96 grants totaling $272K — an average of about $3K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Thurston Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Thurston Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $287K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Thurston Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Thurston Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-6055032. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Thurston Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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