Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable
Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable is a private foundation based in Dallas, Texas. Its 2025 filing reports grantmaking to California-based qualified public charities for purposes carried out in Santa Barbara County and an individual recipient
Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable at a glance
In short: Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable gave $2.2M across 59 grants in 2025 (avg $38K), mostly in California. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,245,000
- +4.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 59
- -1.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $38,051
- +6.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $38,824,054
- -0.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (6 of 58, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The filing says the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It lists the Walter J & Holly O. Thomson Foundation Grant Application and Coversheet and identifies John Ostler at Bank of America N.A. as the contact. Requests are limited to California-based qualified public charities for purposes carried out within Santa Barbara County and an individual recipient, with one request per organization within a 12-month period.
- Review Cycle
- October 31.
- Deadline
- October 31.
- Contact
Application contact: John Ostler - Bank Of America N A
Mailing address: 333 S Hope St Fl 23, Los Angeles, CA 90071-1406
Phone: (213) 861-5183
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Planned Parenthood Santa Barbara ($125K). Together the top 10 received $780K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($30,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
294 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 231 grants of 294 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in California. The filing’s stated geographic restriction is California-based qualified public charities carrying out purposes within Santa Barbara County and an individual recipient
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 59 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 58 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $36K; repeat grants $38K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 88% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% 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 (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.0M (2020) to $2.5M (2022). In 2025 it made 59 grants totaling $2.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Planned Parenthood Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | Unrestricted General | $125,000 |
| Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Inc Santa Barbara, CA | Unrestricted General | $100,000 |
| SRO Housing Corporation Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted General | $100,000 |
| California Hospital Medical Center Fdn Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted General | $100,000 |
| Land Trust for SB - Sedgwick Reserve Santa Barbara, CA | Unrestricted General | $80,000 |
| Food Bank of Santa Barbara County Santa Barbara, CA | Unrestricted General | $75,000 |
| Music Academy of the West Santa Barbara, CA | Thomson Memorial | $50,000 |
| Santa Barbara Humane SPCA Santa Barbara, CA | Unrestricted General | $50,000 |
| The Midnight Mission Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted General | $50,000 |
| Los Angeles Conservancy Los Angeles, CA | Unrestricted General | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable?
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 | $38,824,054 | $2,579,495 | $2,864,367 | $2,245,000 | 59 | $2,533,451 | $2,264,533 | $2,640,555 |
| 2024 | $39,108,466 | $1,892,126 | $2,715,585 | $2,140,000 | 60 | $2,412,979 | $1,579,256 | $2,570,920 |
| 2023 | $39,894,093 | $5,420,475 | $2,773,837 | $2,140,000 | 58 | $2,391,507 | $5,114,541 | $2,338,228 |
| 2022 | $37,319,824 | $3,467,697 | $3,141,976 | $2,465,000 | 58 | $2,722,836 | $3,104,200 | $2,439,340 |
| 2021 | $36,995,469 | $4,641,264 | $2,797,887 | $2,105,000 | 59 | $2,389,655 | $4,263,339 | $2,650,865 |
| 2020 | $35,152,483 | $1,477,305 | $2,617,812 | $2,022,750 | 54 | — | $1,119,849 | $2,337,387 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable reported a distributable amount of $2.6M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 recipients illustrate the range of organizations it supports. For example, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden says its mission is to conserve native plants and habitats for people and the planet. The Midnight Mission describes its work supporting people experiencing homelessness through shelter, advocacy, education, training, and job placement. Music Academy of the West says it provides educational and performance experiences for classically trained musicians and diverse audiences.
Other 2025 grantees include the an individual recipient Conservancy, which describes its work as recognizing, preserving, and revitalizing an individual recipient County’s historic architectural and cultural resources, and an individual recipient Conservation Corps, which says it creates opportunities for young people through work, education, and support.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 59 grants totaling $2,245,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $125,000, with a median of $30,000. The largest listed grants were $125,000 to Planned Parenthood Santa Barbara; $100,000 each to Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, SRO Housing Corporation, and California Hospital Medical Center Foundation; and $80,000 to Land Trust for SB – Sedgwick Reserve. Other listed recipients included Food Bank of Santa Barbara County ($75,000), Music Academy of the West ($50,000), Santa Barbara Humane SPCA ($50,000), The Midnight Mission ($50,000), an individual recipient Conservancy ($50,000), and an individual recipient Conservation Corps ($50,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Bank of America N.A., Philip Marking, and David Anderson as co-trustees.
Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bank Of America N A
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$338K (2020) → $335K (2025)
David Anderson
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$36K (2020) → $36K (2025)
Philip Marking
Co-Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$36K (2020) → $36K (2025)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $335K, to Bank of America N a (Co-Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable
How much does Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable give each year?
Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable gave $2.2M across 59 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $2.1M across 60 grants.
What is Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable's typical grant size?
Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $38,051, across 59 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable that year got $36K on average.
Where does Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable give grants?
Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (38 grants) and Los Angeles, CA (17 grants).
Does Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable give general operating support?
Yes: 93% of Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (55 of 59) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable's largest grantees?
Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable's largest 2025 grantees include Planned Parenthood Santa Barbara ($125,000), Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Inc ($100,000) and SRO Housing Corporation ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($30,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable?
Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable reported $38.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.6M (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 Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 recipients illustrate the range of organizations it supports. For example, Santa Barbara Botanic Garden says its mission is to conserve native plants and habitats for people and the planet. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable?
The filing says the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable's EIN?
Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 30-6268353. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Santa Barbara Foundation
Santa Barbara, CA
The Santa Barbara Foundation supports a wide range of community needs in Santa Barbara County, including behavioral and physical health, food and shelter, education, conservation, and arts programs. Its 2024 grants had a median amount of $25,000, though individual awards varied widely. It invites applicants to review program opportunities and eligibility requirements and apply through each program’s stated process; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$503.6M
Grants
447
Total Given
$107.7M
Hutton Foundation
Santa Barbara, CA
The Hutton Foundation funds Santa Barbara County nonprofits in arts and culture, civic and community work, education, and health and human services, with priority for programs serving low-income and other underserved people. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median of $10,000; it accepts unsolicited requests through its grant cycles.
Assets
$107.0M
Grants
190
Total Given
$1.9M
Mosher Foundation
Santa Barbara, CA
The Mosher Foundation funds specific, measurable programs in education, healthcare, and performing arts, primarily in South Santa Barbara County. Its 2025 grants ranged from $800 to $150,000, with a median of $5,100. It uses an invitation-based process; eligible nonprofits that have not received funding may submit a one-page introductory letter, but the Foundation says it will not review new applications until 2027.
Assets
$33.0M
Grants
78
Total Given
$1.6M
Ann Jackson Family Foundation
Santa Barbara, CA
The Ann Jackson Family Foundation funds capital, operating, and program work across health and human services, arts, community infrastructure, and education, primarily for organizations serving Santa Barbara County, especially the South County. Its 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $200,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts proposals on a rolling basis, but says it does not consider unsolicited proposals from organizations serving outside Santa Barbara County unless a trustee requests one.
Assets
$91.7M
Grants
249
Total Given
$3.6M
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
The California Community Foundation supports nonprofits through discretionary and donor-directed grants, with discretionary priorities including education, health, housing and immigration, alongside other areas such as arts, civic engagement and economic opportunity. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and its work is focused on Los Angeles County; prospective discretionary applicants are asked to contact the relevant program officer before submitting a letter of intent.
Assets
$2.3B
Grants
2,174
Total Given
$326.6M
Williams-Corbett Foundation
Santa Barbara, CA
The Williams-Corbett Foundation supports California nonprofits working in areas such as mental health, education, housing, food access, and cancer care, with a strong Santa Barbara-area presence. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,674 to $40,000, with a median of $15,000. It has no grant application form; organizations may submit a request letter by March 15 or September 15.
Assets
$23.4M
Grants
79
Total Given
$1.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in Texas
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/walter-j-and-holly-o-thomson-charitable-morg_7f856264eb1a476788d2715ffebf27ad
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_306268353_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Walter J \& Holly O Thomson Charitable funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/walter-j-and-holly-o-thomson-charitable-morg_7f856264eb1a476788d2715ffebf27ad},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Walter J & Holly O Thomson Charitable down — hundreds of funders to go?