Thurston Family Foundation

The Thurston Family Foundation operates as a hybrid operating-and-grantmaking family foundation — a model that distinguishes it sharply from most private foundations of its asset class. Founded in 2013 by the Thurston family (Ray Thurston as Trustee, Wyatt and Matthew Thurston as Directors), the Foundation has grown from $3.7M in assets and $55,050 in grants its inaugural year to $53.4M in assets and $3.5M in annual giving by FY2023. The giving philosophy centers on strengthening nonprofits through both structured capacity-building programs and direct grant funding — a dual-track approach that shapes everything about how to engage with this funder.

The most critical thing first-time applicants must understand: this foundation does not operate a conventional open-proposal process. IRS filings state the application requirement as 'currently enrolled or previously participated in Foundation-sanctioned programs.' This means the typical entry point is through the Foundation's three-pillar capacity-building system — People (hiring, onboarding, leadership development), Fundamentals (communication, data systems, AI integration), and Strategy (operating plans, KPIs, OKRs) — not a cold grant submission. Organizations that have completed program work with the Foundation carry a demonstrated relationship that materially increases funding odds.

The grantee history reveals two distinct giving tracks. The first is large, relationship-based grants: Arizona Community Foundation ($3.4M across 2 grants), Women's Board of Barrow Neurological ($2M), Barrow Neurological Foundation ($600,000), and Community Foundation of Jackson Hole ($1.22M combined). These awards reflect invited, multi-year relationships. The second track is smaller, direct operational grants ($5,000–$100,000) to frontline nonprofits that the Foundation's website describes as the 'typical' range.

Geographic preference is unambiguous: Arizona receives the most grants by count (26 of 46 tracked), with Jackson Hole, Wyoming as the secondary market (11 grants). Organizations outside AZ or WY face a higher bar and should demonstrate a compelling connection to the Foundation's network or programmatic priorities. The January 2026 appointment of Ryan Flower as President & CEO and Jackson Fonder as Chief Advisor signals increasingly systematized review processes — expect a growing emphasis on measurable organizational capacity metrics in the evaluation process.

The Thurston Family Foundation's grantmaking has followed a steep upward trajectory since its 2013 founding. Annual grants paid have grown from $55,050 (FY2013) to $139,720 (FY2014), $404,202 (FY2015), $1,565,222 (FY2019), $2,655,955 (FY2020), $2,829,084 (FY2021), $3,203,200 (FY2022), and $3,430,500 (FY2023) — roughly an 8x increase from 2015 to 2023. Total assets peaked at $69.9M in FY2021, moderating to $53.4M in FY2024 as giving outpaces investment income in lower-return years.

Individual grant sizes span a remarkably wide range. Per IRS transaction data, grants range from $500 (Charlie Russell Foundation, cultural preservation) to $600,000 (Barrow Neurological Foundation, neuroscience research), with a median individual grant of approximately $31,063 and an average of $102,152 across 26 analyzed transactions. The Foundation's website describes a 'typical' range of $5,000–$100,000, which aligns with the median. However, cumulative per-recipient totals over multiple years are far larger: $3.4M to Arizona Community Foundation (2 grants), $2M to Women's Board of Barrow Neurological (2 grants), and $705,400 to Community Foundation of Jackson Hole (6 grants).

By focus area, healthcare dominates in dollar terms. Barrow Neurological-affiliated entities alone received $3M+ across multiple grants (Women's Board $2M, Barrow Neurological Foundation $600K, Barrow Women's Board $400K). Other healthcare recipients include Honor Health Foundation ($270,000), TGen Foundation ($200,000 for genomic diagnosis and treatment), and St. John's Hospital ($68,200 for employee appreciation during COVID). Conservatively, healthcare accounts for 40–50% of total tracked giving by dollar value.

Community and social services represent the next-largest category, anchored by the $705,400 Community Foundation of Jackson Hole series (community emergency response), Valley of the Sun YMCA ($256,924 across 4 grants for capital campaign and childcare), and Fresh Start Women's Foundation ($200,000 for education and resources for women). Environmental conservation (Nature Conservancy, $32,034 across 3 grants) and military/veteran support (C4 Foundation, $60,000) are smaller but recurring themes.

Geographic breakdown by grant count: Arizona 57% (26 grants), Wyoming 24% (11 grants), Montana 7% (3 grants), Virginia 7% (3 grants), California 4% (2 grants), North Carolina 2% (1 grant).

The Thurston Family Foundation sits in a cohort of Philanthropy & Grantmaking private foundations clustered around $53–54M in assets as of the most recent IRS filings. Its peer group from IRS data includes:

Estimated annual giving for peers uses the standard 5% private foundation payout minimum; actual giving may differ. Thurston Family Foundation distinguishes itself among this asset-class peer group in two critical ways. First, it has defined programmatic focus areas — healthcare and social services — versus the broader, unfocused 'Philanthropy & Grantmaking' classification shared by all peers. Second, it operates a structured nonprofit capacity-building arm (People, Fundamentals, Strategy programs) that functions as a pipeline into grantmaking, a hybrid operating model that appears unique among this peer set. For grant seekers, this means a higher barrier to entry than typical foundations of this asset size, but also less competition from cold applicants who have not engaged with the Foundation's programs.

The most significant recent development is the Foundation's leadership transformation in early 2026. In January 2026, Ryan Flower was named President & CEO — the first time a professional executive outside the Thurston family has held this title. Flower brings 25+ years of operational experience including a VP role at Grubhub. Simultaneously, Jackson Fonder — a three-time nonprofit CEO with 20+ years of military service — was appointed Chief Advisor to lead the Foundation's operating system and work directly with nonprofit leaders on execution and accountability.

In April 2026, the Foundation distributed $280,000 across 12 Arizona nonprofits, continuing its practice of smaller-denomination grants to Arizona frontline organizations supplementing the larger anchor investments. The Foundation's 2025 impact metrics report 40+ nonprofits supported, 400+ leaders trained through their programs, and $19M+ in cumulative grants awarded since founding.

Looking at IRS-filed financials: FY2023 saw $3,430,500 in grants paid (up from $3,203,200 in FY2022 and $2,829,084 in FY2021), continuing a consistent upward trend. The FY2023 filing shows $3M in new contributions received alongside $2.37M in net investment income — a notable capital infusion. FY2024 total assets declined to $53.4M from $59.3M, suggesting giving continued at a robust pace relative to investment returns. No changes among core family trustees (Ray, Wyatt, Matthew Thurston) have been reported; the Foundation remains family-controlled at the governance level with the new professional management layer beneath.

The single most important tip for applying to the Thurston Family Foundation: do not lead with a grant request. The Foundation explicitly requires that applicants be 'currently enrolled or previously participated in Foundation-sanctioned programs.' This means your first step is engaging with their capacity-building programs (People, Fundamentals, Strategy tracks) rather than submitting a proposal cold. Organizations that have completed program work with the Foundation arrive at the grant application stage with an established relationship, which is the Foundation's intended pipeline. Treat this as a relationship-first funder.

For organizations that have cleared the program-participation threshold, the application process is email-based: send to grants@thurstonfamilyfoundation.org using the exact subject line 'Grant Application - [Organization Name] - [Month Year].' Include a detailed written application describing the specific need and intended use of funds — the IRS-filed application instructions explicitly require this framing. Attach your IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter and your most recent audited financial statements or Form 990. Keep the proposal clear and specific; the Foundation is looking for operational credibility and clarity of purpose, not elaborate narrative.

Dollar-amount calibration matters considerably. The website describes a 'typical' range of $5,000–$100,000. Requesting amounts above $100,000 in a first-cycle grant — absent an existing large-grant relationship — will likely reduce your chances. The six-figure and seven-figure grants visible in IRS filings ($600,000 to Barrow Neurological, $3.4M to Arizona Community Foundation) reflect multi-year invited relationships, not open applications.

Align proposal language explicitly with the Foundation's core values: Significance (accountability and disciplined follow-through for meaningful impact), Sustainability (solutions that endure), and Win Together (collaboration and shared success). Their programs emphasize operational rigor — KPIs, OKRs, data systems. Demonstrating that your organization tracks measurable outcomes and operates with systems-based thinking speaks directly to what Foundation leadership cares about.

Arizona-based organizations serving healthcare, social services, or underserved populations represent the clearest funding opportunity. Wyoming organizations in the Jackson Hole area — particularly those connected to community health, emergency response, or youth services — are the secondary opportunity. Avoid applying for capital campaigns, construction, endowments, or debt reduction unless explicitly invited by Foundation staff.