The Thelma Doelger Charitable Trust concentrates its support almost exclusively on a single medical fund dedicated to advancing surgical care and education. All recorded grants went to the Dr. Norman Shumway Endowed Family of Funds, indicating a focused interest in clinical innovation, operative excellence, and training to improve patient outcomes in cardiothoracic surgery and related fields.
Thelma Doelger Charitable Trust has concentrated its recent giving around a single named medical fund: the Dr. Norman Shumway Endowed Family of Funds. That relationship appears repeatedly across 2023, 2024, and 2025, with grants of $145,000 in 2025 and $135,000 in both 2024 and 2023. The purpose attached to those awards is consistent as well: support for continual scientific innovation, revolutionary operative care, and surgical education aimed at improving patient health. Alongside that core medical commitment, the trust also backs local organizations serving seniors, animals, wildlife, and basic-needs programs in the Bay Area. Recent recipients include Supporters of the Doelger Senior Center in Daly City, several humane societies, the San Francisco Zoological Society, and Marine Mammal Center. The pattern suggests a funder that is narrowly focused in one area while also making recurring community investments in San Mateo, San Francisco, Novato, and Sausalito. The trust’s grants are generally in the five-figure range, and the same organizations often receive support more than once across multiple years. That continuity is visible in both the medical and community-serving parts of the portfolio.
Cardiothoracic surgery is the trust’s clearest thematic priority. In 2025, it gave $145,000 to the Dr Norman Shumway Endowed Family of Funds to support scientific innovation, operative care, and surgical education; similar grants of $135,000 followed in 2024 and 2023 for the same purpose. The trust also funds senior services close to home. It awarded $90,000 in 2023 and $50,000 in 2024 to Supporters of the Doelger Senior Center for work improving the quality of life for seniors and adults in Daly City and surrounding areas. Animal welfare is another recurring area. Peninsula Humane Society, San Francisco SPCA, and Marin Humane Society each appear with repeated support for humane services, animal care, and advocacy. The portfolio also includes a $55,000 grant to San Francisco Zoological Society for wildlife and conservation education. Basic-needs support appears through St Anthony’s Foundation, Samaritan House, and Meals on Wheels of San Francisco.
Typical awards cluster in the five-figure range, with a p25 of $5,000, a median of $8,750, and a p75 of $30,000. The recent record also includes larger recurring grants in the $40,000 to $145,000 range. The pattern is strongly repeat-based: the same organizations appear across multiple years, especially the named medical fund and several Bay Area service groups. The trust does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its latest 990 year on file is 2025.
$730K
$9.2M
$536K
$1M
Most grants fall between $5K and $30K, with a median of $9K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$9K
75th Percentile
$30K
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Highly concentrated giving: repeated, substantial payments to a single grantee (mission-specific endowed fund) rather than distributed small grants across multiple organizations.
Notable grantees: Dr. Norman Shumway Endowed Family of Funds
Giving is overwhelmingly local and concentrated in California, which accounts for 97% of grants. Recipient cities in the recent record include San Mateo, San Francisco, Daly City, Novato, and Sausalito. San Mateo and San Francisco appear especially often, while Daly City is also represented through senior services. All recorded grants in the dataset went to U.S. recipients.
The trust supports a small set of recurring cause areas: cardiothoracic surgery research and education, senior services, animal welfare, wildlife and marine mammal conservation, basic-needs services, and children’s education. Recent grants include repeated support for the Dr Norman Shumway Endowed Family of Funds, senior services in Daly City, and several Bay Area humane and conservation organizations.
Yes. The same organizations appear across multiple years. The Dr Norman Shumway Endowed Family of Funds appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Supporters of the Doelger Senior Center appears in 2023 and 2024; and several animal and conservation groups also recur over multiple years.
The grant-size distribution is centered in the five-figure range. The p25 is $5,000, the median is $8,750, and the p75 is $30,000. Recent awards also include larger recurring gifts such as $40,000, $55,000, $75,000, $90,000, $135,000, and $145,000.
It gives almost entirely in California. The dataset shows 97% of grants to recipients in CA, with recent recipients in San Mateo, San Francisco, Daly City, Novato, and Sausalito.
No. The trust does not fund individuals. Its recent grants go to organizations such as the Dr Norman Shumway Endowed Family of Funds, Supporters of the Doelger Senior Center, Peninsula Humane Society, San Francisco SPCA, and Samaritan House.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR NORMAN SHUMWAY ENDOWED FAMILY OF FUNDS | SAN MATEO, CA | $145,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to improve patient health through continual scientific innovation, revolutionary operative care, and exemplary surgical education |
| MARIN HUMANE SOCIETY | NOVATO, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to improve the lives of animals and people through advocacy, education, and support |
| SAN FRANCISCO SPCA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to save and protect animals, and provide care and treatment |
| PENINSULA HUMANE SOCIETY | SAN MATEO, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to support humane service to needy animals |
| MARINE MAMMAL CENTER | SAUSALITO, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to expand knowledge about marine mammals and inspire their global conservation |
| ST ANTHONY'S FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $40,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide shelter, housing, meals, medical care, clothing and furniture, rehabilitation services, and senior services |
| SAMARITAN HOUSE | SAN MATEO, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide services to help meet the essential daily needs of low-income people within San Mateo County, California |
| CURI ODYSSEY (FORMERLY COYOTE POINT MUSEUM) | SAN MATEO, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to help children acquire the tools to deeply understand the changing world |
| SUPPORTERS OF THE DOELGER SENIOR CENTER | DALY CITY, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to improve the quality of life for seniors and adults in Daly City and surrounding areas |
| MEALS ON WHEELS OF SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide isolated homebound seniors in San Francisco with nutritious meals, daily human contact, and supportive services |
| All May See Foundation | San Francisco, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | All May See is dedicated to curing and preventing blindness, serious eye diseases, and visual impairment so that everyone in the world can see. |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA | SANTA ROSA, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place |
| HUMANE SOCIETY WILDLIFE LAND TRUST | WASHINGTON DC, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to celebrate and protect wild animals by creating permanent sanctuaries, preserving and enhancing natural habitat and confronting cruelty |
| DALY CITY YOUTH HEALTH CENTER | DALY CITY, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide services that support young people's mental and physical health and well being |
| MID-PENINSULA BOYS & GIRLS CLUB INC | SAN MATEO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to inspire and enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens |
| SAN MATEO COUNTY HEALTH FOUNDATION | SAN MATEO, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to promote and champion the health and well being of all residents of San Mateo community |
| Alive & Free | San Francisco, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support youth people unharmed by violence, and free from incarceration. |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to build courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. |
| SALVATION ARMY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $7,500 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination |
| POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE OF DALY CITY | DALY CITY, CA | $7,500 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to help the youth through healthy athletics |
| STAR VISTA - YOUTH & FAMILY ENRICHMENT SERVICES | SAN CARLOS, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to strengthen communities by empowering children, youth, adults and families to overcome challenges through education, counseling and residential services |
| SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law |
| CAMINAR | San Mateo, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide community-based services for adults with disabilities and mental health conditions |
| CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to explore, explain, and sustain life on Earth |
| Larkin Street Youth Services | San Francisco, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Larkin Street Youth Services' mission is to create a continuum of services that inspires youth to move beyond the street. |
| DALY CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY | DALY CITY, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide residents in Daly City with access to a variety of books |
| PENINSULA FAMILY SERVICE | SAN MATEO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to strengthen and maintain local families |
| LANDPATHS | Santa Rosa, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to foster a love of the land in Sonoma County |
| PENINSULA ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CHILDRENADULTS | BURLINGAME, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to enrich the lives of people with developmental disabilities and those of their families |
| SAN FRANCISCO SUICIDE PREVENTION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide emotional support, education, assistance and intervention as necessary to all persons in crisis and those impacted by them |
| SAN MATEO COUNTY HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION | REDWOOD CITY, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to enrich, excite and educate through understanding, preserving and interpreting the history of San Mateo County |
| YMCA CAMP JONES GULCH | La Honda, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to ensure that kids of all ages, and families of all configurations, experience the outdoors |
| The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank | San Francisco, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank's mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin. |
| PACIFIC SKYLINE COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA | FOSTER CITY, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to build stronger family bonds and help youth reach their full potential by instilling values that last a lifetime |
| OPERATION SANTA CLAUS | DALY CITY, CA | $4,500 | 2025 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to spread the good cheer of Santa. |
| DR NORMAN SHUMWAY ENDOWED FAMILY OF FUNDS | SAN MATEO, CA | $135,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to improve patient health through continual scientific innovation, revolutionary operative care, and exemplary surgical education |
| PENINSULA HUMANE SOCIETY | SAN MATEO, CA | $75,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to support humane service to needy animals |
| MARIN HUMANE SOCIETY | NOVATO, CA | $75,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to improve the lives of animals and people through advocacy, education, and support |
| SAN FRANCISCO SPCA | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $75,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to save and protect animals, and provide care and treatment |
| SAN FRANCISCO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $55,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to connect people with wildlife, inspire caring for nature and advance conservation action |
| SUPPORTERS OF THE DOELGER SENIOR CENTER | DALY CITY, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to improve the quality of life for seniors and adults in Daly City and surrounding areas |
| MARINE MAMMAL CENTER | SAUSALITO, CA | $40,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to expand knowledge about marine mammals and inspire their global conservation |
| ST ANTHONY'S FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $40,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide shelter, housing, meals, medical care, clothing and furniture, rehabilitation services, and senior services |
| SAMARITAN HOUSE | SAN MATEO, CA | $30,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide services to help meet the essential daily needs of low-income people within San Mateo County, California |
| MEALS ON WHEELS OF SAN FRANCISCO | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide isolated homebound seniors in San Francisco with nutritious meals, daily human contact, and supportive services |
| CURI ODYSSEY (FORMERLY COYOTE POINT MUSEUM) | SAN MATEO, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to help children acquire the tools to deeply understand the changing world |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to build courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA | SANTA ROSA, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place |
| Alive & Free | San Francisco, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution to support youth people unharmed by violence, and free from incarceration. |
| SAN MATEO COUNTY HEALTH FOUNDATION | SAN MATEO, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to promote and champion the health and well being of all residents of San Mateo community |
DR NORMAN SHUMWAY ENDOWED FAMILY OF FUNDS
$145,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to improve patient health through continual scientific innovation, revolutionary operative care, and exemplary surgical education
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to improve the lives of animals and people through advocacy, education, and support
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to save and protect animals, and provide care and treatment
PENINSULA HUMANE SOCIETY
$75,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to support humane service to needy animals
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to expand knowledge about marine mammals and inspire their global conservation
ST ANTHONY'S FOUNDATION
$40,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide shelter, housing, meals, medical care, clothing and furniture, rehabilitation services, and senior services
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide services to help meet the essential daily needs of low-income people within San Mateo County, California
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to help children acquire the tools to deeply understand the changing world
SUPPORTERS OF THE DOELGER SENIOR CENTER
$25,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to improve the quality of life for seniors and adults in Daly City and surrounding areas
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide isolated homebound seniors in San Francisco with nutritious meals, daily human contact, and supportive services
All May See Foundation
$15,000All May See is dedicated to curing and preventing blindness, serious eye diseases, and visual impairment so that everyone in the world can see.
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to celebrate and protect wild animals by creating permanent sanctuaries, preserving and enhancing natural habitat and confronting cruelty
DALY CITY YOUTH HEALTH CENTER
$10,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide services that support young people's mental and physical health and well being
MID-PENINSULA BOYS & GIRLS CLUB INC
$10,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to inspire and enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to promote and champion the health and well being of all residents of San Mateo community
Charitable Contribution to support youth people unharmed by violence, and free from incarceration.
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to build courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.
SALVATION ARMY
$7,500Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination
POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE OF DALY CITY
$7,500Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to help the youth through healthy athletics
STAR VISTA - YOUTH & FAMILY ENRICHMENT SERVICES
$5,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to strengthen communities by empowering children, youth, adults and families to overcome challenges through education, counseling and residential services
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
$5,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide community-based services for adults with disabilities and mental health conditions
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
$5,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to explore, explain, and sustain life on Earth
Larkin Street Youth Services
$5,000Larkin Street Youth Services' mission is to create a continuum of services that inspires youth to move beyond the street.
DALY CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY
$5,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide residents in Daly City with access to a variety of books
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to strengthen and maintain local families
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to foster a love of the land in Sonoma County
PENINSULA ASSOCIATION FOR RETARDED CHILDRENADULTS
$5,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to enrich the lives of people with developmental disabilities and those of their families
SAN FRANCISCO SUICIDE PREVENTION
$5,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide emotional support, education, assistance and intervention as necessary to all persons in crisis and those impacted by them
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to enrich, excite and educate through understanding, preserving and interpreting the history of San Mateo County
YMCA CAMP JONES GULCH
$5,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to ensure that kids of all ages, and families of all configurations, experience the outdoors
The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank
$5,000The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank's mission is to end hunger in San Francisco and Marin.
PACIFIC SKYLINE COUNCIL BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
$5,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to build stronger family bonds and help youth reach their full potential by instilling values that last a lifetime
OPERATION SANTA CLAUS
$4,500Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to spread the good cheer of Santa.
DR NORMAN SHUMWAY ENDOWED FAMILY OF FUNDS
$135,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to improve patient health through continual scientific innovation, revolutionary operative care, and exemplary surgical education
PENINSULA HUMANE SOCIETY
$75,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to support humane service to needy animals
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to improve the lives of animals and people through advocacy, education, and support
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to save and protect animals, and provide care and treatment
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to connect people with wildlife, inspire caring for nature and advance conservation action
SUPPORTERS OF THE DOELGER SENIOR CENTER
$50,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to improve the quality of life for seniors and adults in Daly City and surrounding areas
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to expand knowledge about marine mammals and inspire their global conservation
ST ANTHONY'S FOUNDATION
$40,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide shelter, housing, meals, medical care, clothing and furniture, rehabilitation services, and senior services
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide services to help meet the essential daily needs of low-income people within San Mateo County, California
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to provide isolated homebound seniors in San Francisco with nutritious meals, daily human contact, and supportive services
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to help children acquire the tools to deeply understand the changing world
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to build courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.
GIRL SCOUTS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
$10,000Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place
Charitable Contribution to support youth people unharmed by violence, and free from incarceration.
Charitable Contribution to support charity's mission to promote and champion the health and well being of all residents of San Mateo community