The Thoresen Foundation concentrates sizable, local grants to a small set of nonprofits that provide youth services, recreational programming, and general operating capacity. Their largest awards support a Catholic youth/social-services network (youth athletics, camps, child development and aging-adult services), competitive/recreational aquatics, and unrestricted or endowment funding to sustain nonprofit operations. Giving appears focused on sustaining core programs and infrastructure rather than project-by-project support.
A $300,000 grant to Catholic Charities for CYO Aging Adult Services, CYO Athletics, CYO Camp, and CYO Treasure Island Child Development is a clear signal of how Thoresen Foundation gives: large, operating-oriented support tied to youth, camp, child development, and aging-adult services. The foundation’s recent record also shows sustained backing for aquatic and recreational nonprofits, including Dolphin Swimming and Boating, alongside recurring support for community organizations that rely on unrestricted or endowment funding. Across the grant list, the pattern is less about one-off projects than about keeping core programs, facilities, and staff capacity in place. Thoresen Foundation appears to favor organizations with established service models, especially those serving children, youth, families, and older adults through athletics, camps, and community-based programming. Grants also reach schools, college programs, and local nonprofits that need operating support to maintain ongoing services. The scale is notable as well: annual grants are listed at $5.2 million, with recent awards ranging from five figures into six figures. The foundation’s profile suggests a steady emphasis on sustaining institutions rather than funding short-term initiatives.
In Catholic youth and family services, Thoresen Foundation backed Catholic Charities with $300,000 for CYO Aging Adult Services, CYO Athletics, CYO Camp, and CYO Treasure Island Child Development. That single grant shows the breadth of its interest in multi-program organizations serving both children and older adults. Aquatics is another recurring theme. The foundation gave Dolphin Swimming and Boating $275,000 in 2025 and $115,000 in 2024 for operational support, following a $90,000 award in 2023. That pattern points to sustained support for competitive and community swimming and boating. Core nonprofit capacity also appears in its support for Parc, which received $210,000 in 2023, $175,000 in 2024, and $120,000 in 2025 for operational support and endowment. The same operating-support approach shows up in grants to schools and local service organizations, including Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory and Salesian Boys and Girls Club.
Typical grants cluster in a fairly broad mid-to-high range: the 25th percentile is $15,000, median grant size is $25,000, and the 75th percentile is $55,000. Recent awards, however, show a strong tilt toward larger operating gifts in the $100,000 to $300,000 range. The foundation’s pattern is recurring rather than purely one-time. Parc, Dolphin Swimming and Boating, and Fire in the Ring each appear across multiple years, often with repeat operational support. That suggests ongoing relationships with grantees rather than isolated awards. Thoresen Foundation is classified as a regular funder and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$5.2M
$39.1M
$2.8M
$1.9M
Most grants fall between $15K and $55K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$55K
About 3% of grants go to recipients in MO.
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a very small number of local organizations; emphasis on unrestricted/operational support and endowment funding rather than many small or time-limited project grants.
Notable grantees: Catholic Charities (CYO programs), Dolphin Swimming and Boating, PARC
Although headquartered in Canton, Georgia, the foundation gives most often in Missouri by grant count, while only 2% of grants go to recipients in Georgia. The recent grants list is still heavily concentrated in the United States overall, with all listed recipient-country activity in the U.S. Recipient cities appear most often in California and North Carolina, especially San Francisco, Palo Alto, Brisbane, Boone, Banner Elk, and Linville. Other recent destinations include Tampa, Jacksonville, Arlington, Long Beach, and Spruce Pine. The geographic pattern points to a national grantmaker with repeated clustering in a few metro and regional hubs.
The foundation supports organizations tied to youth athletics, camps, child development, aging-adult services, and aquatics. Recent grants also show operating support for schools, colleges, and community nonprofits, with several awards structured to sustain core programs or endowments.
Its giving is often unrestricted or operational in nature. Recent grants include operational support and operational support plus endowment, and repeated awards to the same organizations over multiple years suggest ongoing relationships rather than one-time project grants.
The grant-size distribution centers around mid-five figures: the 25th percentile is $15,000, the median is $25,000, and the 75th percentile is $55,000. Recent awards also include larger six-figure grants, including several at $100,000 or more.
By grant count, Missouri is the top state. The foundation also makes national grants, and only 2% of its grants go to recipients in Georgia, where it is headquartered.
Yes. Parc appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Dolphin Swimming and Boating appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Fire in the Ring appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That repeated pattern indicates sustained funding relationships.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphin Swimming and Boating | San Francisco, CA | $275,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| PARC | Palo Alto, CA | $120,000 | 2025 | Operational Support and Endowment |
| Appalachian Regional Healthcare System | Boone, NC | $100,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Moffitt Cancer Ctr | Tampa, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Williams YMCA | Jacksonville, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Grandfather Mtn Stewardship | Linville, NC | $100,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Fire in the Ring | Brisbane, CA | $90,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Wildlife Restoration Fdn | Arlington, VA | $90,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| The Guardsmen | San Francisco, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Lees Mcrae College | Banner Elk, NC | $50,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| St Vincent De Paul Men's Club | Long Beach, MS | $50,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Community Youth Center | Concord, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Mayland Community College | Spruce Pine, NC | $30,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Pheasants Forever | St Paul, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Banner Elk Presbyterian Church | Banner Elk, NC | $25,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| North Bay Children's Ctr | Novato, CA | $24,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Habitat for Humanity | Atlanta, GA | $20,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| The Beech Mountain Community Development Club | Elk Park, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Feeding Avery Families | Banner Elk, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Intertribal Buffalo Council | Rapid City, SD | $16,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Hebron Colony Ministries | Boone, NC | $15,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| High Fives Fdn | Truckee, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Nevada Northern Railway Fd | Ely, NV | $12,500 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Childhelp Inc | Scottsdale, AZ | $12,500 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| La Sallian Christian Bros | Memphis, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| De Paul Youth Club | Long Beach, MS | $10,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Ensemble Stage | Banner Elk, NC | $10,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Catholic Charities | San Fransisco, CA | $6,000 | 2025 | CYO Aging Adult Services, CYO Athletics, CYO Camp & CYO Treasure Island Child Development |
| Beech Mtn Historial Soc | Beech Mountain, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Le Donna D Italia | San Francisco, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Anne's Kids Inc | Newland, NC | $5,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| San Diego Model Railroad | San Diego, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | Operational Support |
| Catholic Charities | San Fransisco, CA | $300,000 | 2024 | CYO Aging Adult Services, CYO Athletics, CYO Camp & CYO Treasure Island Child Development |
| PARC | Palo Alto, CA | $175,000 | 2024 | Operational Support and Endowment |
| Dolphin Swimming and Boating | San Francisco, CA | $115,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
| Lees McRae College | Banner Elk, NC | $105,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
| San Francisco Italian Athletic Club | San Francisco, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
| Appalachian Reg Healthcare | Boone, NC | $100,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
| Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory | San Francisco, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
| Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation | Tampa, FL | $100,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
| St Vincent De Paul School | Long Beach, MS | $100,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
| Fire in the Ring | Brisbane, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
| Maryland (Mayland) Community College | Spruce Pine, NC | $80,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
| Wildlife Restore Foundation | Arlington, VA | $65,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
| Market Street Railway | San Francisco, CA | $60,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
| Williams YMCA | Jacksonville, FL | $50,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
| Community Youth Center | Concord, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
| Mountain Ambulance Foundation | Banner Elk, NC | $50,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
| College of the Ozarks | Point Lookout, MO | $50,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
| Hillsdale College | Hillsdale, MI | $50,000 | 2024 | Operational Support |
Dolphin Swimming and Boating
$275,000Operational Support
PARC
$120,000Operational Support and Endowment
Appalachian Regional Healthcare System
$100,000Operational Support
Moffitt Cancer Ctr
$100,000Operational Support
Williams YMCA
$100,000Operational Support
Grandfather Mtn Stewardship
$100,000Operational Support
Fire in the Ring
$90,000Operational Support
Wildlife Restoration Fdn
$90,000Operational Support
The Guardsmen
$50,000Operational Support
Lees Mcrae College
$50,000Operational Support
St Vincent De Paul Men's Club
$50,000Operational Support
Community Youth Center
$50,000Operational Support
Mayland Community College
$30,000Operational Support
Pheasants Forever
$30,000Operational Support
Banner Elk Presbyterian Church
$25,000Operational Support
North Bay Children's Ctr
$24,000Operational Support
Habitat for Humanity
$20,000Operational Support
The Beech Mountain Community Development Club
$20,000Operational Support
Feeding Avery Families
$20,000Operational Support
Intertribal Buffalo Council
$16,000Operational Support
Hebron Colony Ministries
$15,000Operational Support
High Fives Fdn
$15,000Operational Support
Nevada Northern Railway Fd
$12,500Operational Support
Childhelp Inc
$12,500Operational Support
La Sallian Christian Bros
$10,000Operational Support
De Paul Youth Club
$10,000Operational Support
Ensemble Stage
$10,000Operational Support
Catholic Charities
$6,000CYO Aging Adult Services, CYO Athletics, CYO Camp & CYO Treasure Island Child Development
Beech Mtn Historial Soc
$5,000Operational Support
Le Donna D Italia
$5,000Operational Support
Anne's Kids Inc
$5,000Operational Support
San Diego Model Railroad
$5,000Operational Support
Catholic Charities
$300,000CYO Aging Adult Services, CYO Athletics, CYO Camp & CYO Treasure Island Child Development
PARC
$175,000Operational Support and Endowment
Dolphin Swimming and Boating
$115,000Operational Support
Lees McRae College
$105,000Operational Support
San Francisco Italian Athletic Club
$100,000Operational Support
Appalachian Reg Healthcare
$100,000Operational Support
Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory
$100,000Operational Support
Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation
$100,000Operational Support
St Vincent De Paul School
$100,000Operational Support
Fire in the Ring
$100,000Operational Support
Maryland (Mayland) Community College
$80,000Operational Support
Wildlife Restore Foundation
$65,000Operational Support
Market Street Railway
$60,000Operational Support
Williams YMCA
$50,000Operational Support
Community Youth Center
$50,000Operational Support
Mountain Ambulance Foundation
$50,000Operational Support
College of the Ozarks
$50,000Operational Support
Hillsdale College
$50,000Operational Support