Thurston Foundation
Thurston Foundation Inc. is a private family foundation established in 1989 and based in Carmel, Indiana. The foundation focuses on philanthropic giving in education, human services, and community development, with a particular emphasis on supporting nonprofits and addressing social needs in the Midwest.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$18.1M
+6.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$743K
-18.5% YoY
Grant Count
39
+44.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
-43.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thurston Foundation reported a distributable amount of $939K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Food security and hunger relief
- Addiction recovery and substance abuse support
- Youth services and homeless programming
- Special needs programming
- Medical care and health services
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept applications.
Grant Range
$800–$170,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Indiana, Ohio, and North Carolina, with a strong concentration of grants to Indianapolis-based nonprofits.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $18,102,437 (2024)
- Total Annual Giving: $743,050 (2024)
- EIN: 35-1754670
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since July 1989
Historical Giving Trends:
| Year | Assets | Total Giving | Number of Grants | Median Grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $18.1M | $811,000 | 32 | $15,000 |
| 2022 | $19.2M | $367,000 | 34 | $6,000 |
| 2021 | $18.4M | $157,000 | 26 | $3,000 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $18,102,437 | $17,057,242 | $18,073,246 |
| Revenue | $1,979,666 | $151,026 | $-166,712 |
| Expenses | $935,762 | $1,167,155 | $979,809 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $801,441 | $965,749 | $863,835 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,846,848 | $343,070 | $161,395 |
| Distributable Amount | $939,331 | $927,213 | $918,689 |
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
158 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Oaks Academy ($150,000), Gleaners ($100,000), Servants at Work ($52,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 500 FESTIVAL FOUNDATION INDIANAPOLIS, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| CHILD ADVOCATES INDIANAPOLIS, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CONCERTS FOR A CAUSE CARMEL, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $14,000 |
| DOVE RECOVERY HOUSE INDIANAPOLIS, IN | ADDICTION RECOVERY | $40,000 |
| DREAM ALIVE INDIANAPOLIS, IN | YOUTH PROGRAMING | $10,000 |
| FAMILY PROMISE OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS INDIANAPOLIS, IN | HOMELESS PROGRAMS | $45,000 |
| GENNESARET FREE CLINICS INDIANAPOLIS, IN | MEDICAL CARE | $40,000 |
| GLEANERS INDIANAPOLIS, IN | HUNGER RELIEF PROGRAMS | $100,000 |
| GOODWILL FOUNDATION OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN INDIANA INDIANAPOLIS, IN | MISSION COACHES AND BARRIER BUSTER FUNDS | $10,000 |
| HOPE ACADEMY INDIANAPOLIS, IN | EDUCATION AND ADDICTION RECOVERY | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Marcia Thurston Roberts — President and Registered Agent
- Jim Thurston — Director
- Tim Thurston — Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARCIA THURSTON ROBERTS | PRESIDENT | 10 | $42,000 |
| TIM THURSTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JIM THURSTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | $10,000 |
Contact Information
Address: 5307 Woodfield Drive South, Carmel, IN 46033-8604
Phone: 317-373-1688
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Thurston Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Food security and hunger relief • Addiction recovery and substance abuse support • Youth services and homeless programming • Special needs programming • Medical care and health services
How do I apply for a grant from Thurston Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Total annual giving: $743,050 (2024) • Typical grant range: $800–$170,000 • Median grant size: $15,000 • Number of grants awarded: 32 (2023) **Recent Grant Recipients (2022):** • The Oaks Academy (Education) — $170,000 • Dove Recovery House (Addiction Recovery) — $75,000 • Gleaners (Hunger Relief Programs) — $63,000 • Servants at Work (General Support) — $55,000 • Outreach (Youth Homeless Programming) — $50,000 • Shepherd Community Center (Education) — $35,000 • Gig…
Where does Thurston Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Indiana, Ohio, and North Carolina, with a strong concentration of grants to Indianapolis-based nonprofits.
What size grants does Thurston Foundation award?
In 2024, Thurston Foundation awarded 39 grants totaling $743K — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Thurston Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Thurston Foundation reported a distributable amount of $939K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Thurston Foundation's EIN?
Thurston Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-1754670. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Thurston 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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