Thurston Family Foundation logo

Thurston Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Jackson, WY EIN: 45-6504582 Website

Thurston Family Foundation is based in Jackson, Wyoming, and describes its work as strengthening nonprofits through strategic systems, partners, and funding. Its 2024 filing lists the foundation’s filing type as 990T.

Key facts about Thurston Family Foundation

In short: Thurston Family Foundation gave $2.4M across 6 grants in 2024 (avg $398K), mostly in Arizona. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
45-6504582
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$2,390,715
Grants made (2024)
6
Average grant
$398,453
Median grant
$161,429
Total assets
$53,407,722
Primary geography
Arizona (87% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$53.4M

-10.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.4M

-30.3% YoY

Grant Count

6

-25.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$398K

-7.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thurston Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Thurston Family Foundation gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−15%). 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

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s website describes its purpose as “Strengthening nonprofits through strategic systems, partners and funding.” Its testimonials describe support for organizational leadership and business practices. For example, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for Central and Northern Arizona says the foundation helped it modernize processes and strengthen its senior leadership team.

The grantees’ own missions illustrate the types of organizations it supports. Ability360 says it advocates for independence for people with disabilities and provides comprehensive programs. The foundation also made 2024 grants to organizations including the Valley of the Sun YMCA, Women’s Board of Barrow Neurologic, and Genesis City.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 6 grants totaling $2,390,715. Grant amounts ranged from $15,000 to $1,035,000, with a median of $161,428. Its largest grants were $1,035,000 to the Valley of the Sun YMCA for programs and services, and $1,002,858 to Women’s Board of Barrow Neurologic for medical research. Other 2024 grants included $302,857 to the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole for a community emergency response fund supporting vulnerable populations, $20,000 to Genesis City for education for disadvantaged youth, and $15,000 each to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for social services and Ability360 to promote the independence, health, and well-being of people with disabilities.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 87% of grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona and 13% to recipients in Wyoming.

Grant Distribution by State

6states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.

Cities

PhoenixJacksonArlingtonBig ForkScottsdaleTucsonCoronadoMooseWilmington

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M$4M26 grants2020 12 grants2021 10 grants2022 8 grants2023 6 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.4M (2024) to $3.4M (2023). In 2024 it made 6 grants totaling $2.4M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 6 recipients in 2024

Valley of the Sun YMCA: $1.0MValley of the Sun YMCA$1.0MWomen's Board of Barrow Neurologic: $1.0MWomen's Board of BarrowNeurologic$1.0MCommunity Foundation of Jackson Hol: $303KCommunity Foundation ofJackson Hol$303KGenesis City: $20KGenesis City$20KThe Society of St Vincent de Paul: $15KThe Society of St Vincent dePaul$15KAbility360: $15KAbility360$15K

The largest 2024 recipient was Valley of the Sun YMCA ($1.0M). Together the top 6 received $2.4M.

Grant Size Distribution

62 grants across all recorded years

33<$50K7$50–100K7$100–250K5$250–500K2$500K–1M8$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 62 (53%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Valley of the Sun YMCA Phoenix, AZPrograms and Services$1,035,000
Women's Board of Barrow Neurologic Phoenix, AZMedical research$1,002,858
Community Foundation of Jackson Hol Jackson, WYCommunity Emergency response fund supporting vunerable populations$302,857
Genesis City Phoenix, AZEducation for disadvantaged youth$20,000
The Society of St Vincent de Paul Phoenix, AZSocial Services$15,000
Ability360 Phoenix, AZPromote independence, health, and overall well-being of people with disabilities.$15,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Grants Grant total
2024 6 $2,390,715
2023 8 $3,430,500
2022 10 $3,203,200
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$10M$20M$30M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$53,407,722$59,324,082$60,278,662
Revenue$2,782,775$5,920,492$1,617,071
Expenses$2,625,697$3,503,160$3,232,816
Qualifying Distributions$2,390,715$3,430,500$3,203,200
Net Investment Income$2,742,374$2,370,913$1,506,339
Distributable Amount$2,745,939$3,000,008$3,286,290

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 17, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 7, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Amy Thurston as Trustee, and Wyatt N Thurston and Matthew R Thurston as Directors.

Thurston Family Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Matthew R Thurston

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $50K (2020) → $0 (2024)

  • Wyatt N Thurston

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    $50K (2020) → $0 (2024)

  • Amy Thurston

    Trustee

    New on the 2024 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Ray R Thurston (2020–2023) — Trustee

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 2021 IRS filing

Wyatt N Thurston — Director: $5KWyatt N ThurstonDirector$5KMatthew R Thurston — Director: $5KMatthew R ThurstonDirector$5K

The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $5K, to Wyatt N Thurston (Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 1200 Queens Lane, Jackson, WY 83001
Phone: (480) 922-4100
Website: https://thurstonfamilyfoundation.org

Frequently asked questions about Thurston Family Foundation

How much does Thurston Family Foundation give each year?

Thurston Family Foundation gave $2.4M across 6 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.4M across 8 grants.

What is Thurston Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Thurston Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $161,429, and its average grant was $398,453, across 6 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Thurston Family Foundation give grants?

Thurston Family Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Wyoming (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (5 grants).

Does Thurston Family Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Thurston Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are Thurston Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Thurston Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Valley of the Sun YMCA ($1,035,000), Women's Board of Barrow Neurologic ($1,002,858) and Community Foundation of Jackson Hol ($302,857), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 98% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Thurston Family Foundation?

Thurston Family Foundation reported $53.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.7M (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 Thurston Family Foundation fund?

The foundation’s website describes its purpose as “Strengthening nonprofits through strategic systems, partners and funding.” Its testimonials describe support for organizational leadership and business practices. For example, the Society of St. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Thurston Family Foundation?

Thurston Family Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check thurstonfamilyfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is Thurston Family Foundation's EIN?

Thurston Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-6504582. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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