Townsend Family Foundation
Townsend Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Aspen, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $264K. Net investment income was $144K.
Townsend Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Townsend Family Foundation gave $264K across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $44K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $264,199
- -6.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- -40.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $44,033
- +55.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $3,289,531
- -3.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (63% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Townsend Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The University of Chicago ($141K across 2 grants). Together the top 5 received $264K.
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 44 grants of 50 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
Cities
How Townsend Family Foundation gives
- Giving grew 203% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 142% of 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $87K (2022) to $304K (2021). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $264K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Chicago Chicago, IL | Educational - becker friedman institute townsend price theory camp | $140,599 |
| Cato Institute Washington, DC | Public Policy Research Organization - Operations | $48,400 |
| The Joffrey Ballet Chicago, IL | Arts - Dance | $25,000 |
| Institute for Justice Arlington, VA | Public Policy - Operations | $25,000 |
| The Seaquist House Foundation Mason, TX | Preservation | $25,000 |
| The University of Chicago Chicago, IL | Educational - Ucch Service Committee | $200 |
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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 | $3,289,531 | $143,949 | $273,510 | $264,199 | 6 | $270,057 | $143,949 | $189,684 |
| 2024 | $3,419,092 | $122,850 | $288,911 | $283,500 | 10 | $287,902 | $121,250 | $190,446 |
| 2023 | $3,585,153 | $62,031 | $221,944 | $216,100 | 7 | $218,165 | $62,031 | $190,439 |
| 2022 | $3,745,066 | $10,206 | $92,148 | $87,306 | 12 | $89,536 | $10,156 | $222,253 |
| 2021 | $3,827,008 | $3,006,350 | $308,489 | $304,302 | 15 | $304,302 | $6,284 | $66,368 |
| 2020 | $1,129,147 | $9,492 | $233,699 | $225,150 | 15 | — | $4,664 | $63,709 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Townsend Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $190K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Townsend Family Foundation is led by Stuart Townsend, President since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Stuart Townsend
President
Director → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Marrgwen Townsend
Treasurer & Secretary
Director → Treasurer & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Townsend Family Foundation
How much does Townsend Family Foundation give each year?
Townsend Family Foundation gave $264K across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $284K across 10 grants.
What is Townsend Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Townsend Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $44,033, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Townsend Family Foundation give grants?
Townsend Family Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (18%) and Virginia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (3 grants).
Does Townsend Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Townsend Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Townsend Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Townsend Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The University of Chicago ($140,799 across 2 grants), Cato Institute ($48,400) and The Joffrey Ballet ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 81% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Townsend Family Foundation?
Townsend Family Foundation reported $3.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $270K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $190K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Townsend Family Foundation's EIN?
Townsend Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4199459. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Townsend Family Foundation funds
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