Thoresen Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,600,000 - $2,500,000
• Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $10,000 - $275,000
• Grant Median: $22,000
• Total Assets: $44,000,000
• Geographic Focus: National (multi-state)

Contact Details

Address: Canton, GA
EIN: 36-6102493
Website: http://www.thoresenfoundation.com/

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Contact information for pre-application inquiries is not publicly available.

Overview

The Thoresen Foundation was established in 1952 in Chicago, Illinois to provide contributions to worthy charitable and eleemosynary causes including scientific, educational, medical, and environmental issues. Now headquartered in Canton, Georgia, the foundation manages assets of approximately $44 million and distributes between $1.6 million and $2.5 million annually in grants. The foundation operates as a private foundation managed by two trustees: Michael Thoresen and Paul O'Connell. The foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited funding requests and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. With 32-44 grants awarded annually, the foundation supports organizations across multiple states including California, North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, and Arizona, focusing on higher education, environmental and wildlife conservation, and health-related causes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Thoresen Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with defined application cycles. Instead, the trustees identify and select organizations for operational support on a discretionary basis.

Grant Amounts:

• Median grant: $22,000
• Range: Typically $10,000 - $100,000
• Largest recent grants: Up to $275,000
• Average grant size: $52,795

Priority Areas

Based on recent grant activity and stated purposes, the foundation funds:

• Higher Education: Colleges, universities, and educational institutions
• Environment and Wildlife Conservation: Environmental stewardship organizations, wildlife preservation, and conservation initiatives including organizations like Grandfather Mountain Stewardship
• Health Associations: Medical centers, cancer research and treatment facilities (such as Moffitt Cancer Center), healthcare systems, and health-related nonprofits
• Community Services: Youth programs, recreational facilities, and community development projects
• Operational Support: The foundation primarily provides general operating support rather than project-specific funding

Geographic Focus

While based in Georgia, the foundation supports organizations nationally, with significant grant activity in:

• California (particularly San Francisco and Palo Alto areas)
• North Carolina (including Boone and Linville)
• Florida (Tampa and other communities)
• Georgia (Atlanta metro area)
• Arizona, Colorado, and Washington, D.C.

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly available. However, the foundation's stated approach indicates they do not fund:

• Unsolicited proposals from organizations unknown to the trustees
• Organizations outside their established priority areas
• Individual requests or scholarships directly to individuals

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The foundation is governed by two trustees who each receive annual compensation of $120,000:

1. Michael Thoresen - Trustee
2. Paul O'Connell - Trustee

Decision-Making Approach

The trustees exercise full discretion in selecting grant recipients. Michael Thoresen has demonstrated personal involvement in the foundation's grantmaking, including site visits to potential recipients. In one documented case, he visited Our Saviour School in Jacksonville and, after observing the need for playground equipment for older students, invited the school to submit a proposal. This suggests the foundation's grantmaking often stems from personal connections, site visits, and direct trustee observation rather than formal application processes.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Thoresen Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

Grants are awarded through:

• Trustee Discretion: The two trustees identify and select organizations for funding
• Invitation Only: Organizations are invited to submit proposals after trustees identify them
• Pre-Existing Relationships: Funding often flows to organizations known to the trustees or discovered through personal connections

Getting on Their Radar

The Our Saviour School playground grant provides insight into how organizations can come to the foundation's attention:

Personal Connections and Site Visits: Michael Thoresen discovered the need for playground equipment while visiting family members who were volunteering at Our Saviour School. During this visit, he observed the facilities and identified an unmet need. He then asked the school to form a committee to develop a proposal.

Committee-Based Proposals: When invited to submit a proposal, Our Saviour School formed a committee that included the school principal, school board members, parents, and parishioners. The committee presented three options to the foundation, demonstrating thorough planning and community involvement.

Geographic Connections: Having trustees or connections in Canton, Georgia, or in the communities where the foundation has shown activity (San Francisco, Palo Alto, Boone, Tampa) may increase visibility.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed and likely vary depending on the specific opportunity and trustee discretion. Based on the Our Saviour School example, the process from initial trustee interest to approval took approximately one year.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, so traditional success rate metrics are not relevant.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only approach. Organizations that have previously received funding may continue to be supported if they remain within the trustees' areas of interest.

Application Success Factors

While there is no public application process, the Our Saviour School case study reveals several factors that may influence funding decisions:

Trustee Observation of Need: Michael Thoresen personally observed that older students lacked playground equipment, demonstrating that trustees fund based on directly witnessed needs rather than written proposals alone.

Community Involvement: The school formed a committee representing multiple stakeholder groups (principal, school board, parents, parishioners), showing broad community support.

Multiple Options: The school presented three different proposal options, allowing trustees to choose the scope and scale that fit the foundation's capacity and vision. The foundation selected the most comprehensive option, which included landscaping and maintenance of existing facilities in addition to new equipment.

Specific, Tangible Projects: The playground project had clear deliverables (swings, tables, benches, slides, walkways, monkey bars, tunnels, and specialized equipment) that could be easily visualized and evaluated.

Operational Support Focus: Recent grants show the foundation favors operational support over restricted project funding, suggesting they prefer to support the overall mission and sustainability of organizations rather than funding isolated initiatives.

Established Organizations: Recent grant recipients include well-established institutions such as Moffitt Cancer Center, Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, and recognized conservation organizations like Grandfather Mountain Stewardship.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: Do not submit unsolicited proposals - the foundation will not respond to cold applications
• Relationship-Based Grantmaking: Funding flows through trustee relationships, site visits, and personal observations of need
• Patient Approach Required: Building visibility with trustees may take considerable time and requires natural connections rather than direct solicitation
• Multi-State Focus: Despite Georgia headquarters, the foundation funds nationally, particularly in California, North Carolina, and Florida
• Substantial Grants: With a median grant of $22,000 and grants ranging up to $275,000, this foundation makes meaningful investments when engaged
• Broad Mission Alignment: Organizations working in higher education, environmental conservation, wildlife protection, and health services align with the foundation's established priorities
• Personal Trustee Engagement: Michael Thoresen's hands-on approach at Our Saviour School suggests trustees value direct engagement and observation
• Invitation to Submit: If contacted by the foundation, respond with committee-based planning, multiple options, and clear demonstration of community support

References

• Cause IQ - Thoresen Foundation Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/thoresen-foundation,366102493/. Accessed January 2026.
• Grantmakers.io - Thoresen Foundation Profile. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/366102493-thoresen-foundation/. Accessed January 2026.
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Thoresen Foundation. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/366102493. Accessed January 2026.
• Catholic Times - "New playground is fulfillment of 'grand dream' for Our Saviour students." https://ct.dio.org/item/358-new-playground-is-fulfillment-of-grand-dream-for-our-saviour-students.html. Accessed January 2026.
• Charity Navigator - Thoresen Foundation Profile. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/366102493. Accessed January 2026.
• Foundation Directory - Thoresen Foundation. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=THOR001. Accessed January 2026.
• Thoresen Foundation website. http://www.thoresenfoundation.com/. Accessed January 2026.