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Foundations / Kentucky

The Ginkgo Fund

Preselected recipients only Louisville, Kentucky · EIN 611166955

The Ginkgo Fund is a private foundation in Louisville, Kentucky. In tax year 2024 it gave $1.8 million in 19 grants; the typical grant was $50,000 and the largest $400,000. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.

From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.

Giving in 2024 was up from $1.6 million the year before.

16% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.

Giving by year

Tax yearGrants paidNumber of grantsAssets
2023$1.6 million21$58.3 million
2024$1.8 million19$63.5 million

How to apply

The Ginkgo Fund says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.

IRS filings on ProPublica

What The Ginkgo Fund funds

Where it gives

Its grants went to recipients in 6 states, the most to Pennsylvania.

StateGrantsAmount
Pennsylvania3$550,000
California3$457,500
Kentucky7$420,000
District of Columbia1$250,000
Rhode Island2$100,000
Massachusetts3$30,000

Grants paid in 2024

All 19 grants
RecipientPurposeAmount
Caltech
Pasadena, CA
To be used within exempt function$400,000
National Philanthropic Trust
Jenkintown, PA
To be used within exempt function$260,000
FCNL Education Fund
Washington, DC
To be used within exempt function$250,000
Friends Publishing Corporation
Philadelphia, PA
To be used within exempt function$250,000
Center for Employment Opportunities
Louisville, KY
To be used within exempt function$100,000
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana
Louisville, KY
To be used within exempt function$75,000
Home of the Innocents
Louisville, KY
To be used within exempt function$75,000
Christopher 2X Game Changers
Louisville, KY
To be used within exempt function$60,000
Caltech Y
Pasadena, CA
To be used within exempt function$50,000
Community Preparatory School
Providence, RI
To be used within exempt function$50,000
Kentuckianaworks Foundation
Louisville, KY
To be used within exempt function$50,000
Lincoln Foundation
Louisville, KY
To be used within exempt function$50,000
Nonviolence Institute
Providence, RI
To be used within exempt function$50,000
Friends General Conference
Philadelphia, PA
To be used within exempt function$40,000
Amherst College
Amherst, MA
To be used within exempt function$10,000
Phillips Academy-Andover
Andover, MA
To be used within exempt function$10,000
Union of Concerned Scientists
Cambridge, MA
To be used within exempt function$10,000
Louisville Zoo Foundation
Louisville, KY
To be used within exempt function$10,000
Pasadena Humane Society
Pasadena, CA
To be used within exempt function$7,500

Officers and trustees

As listed in Part VIII of the 2024 filing.

Questions people ask

Does The Ginkgo Fund accept grant applications?

No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.

How much does The Ginkgo Fund give?

$1.8 million in tax year 2024, across 19 grants, with a typical grant of $50,000.

Who runs The Ginkgo Fund?

Its 2024 filing lists Glenn E Thomas (President), Ann Thomas (Vice President/Secretary), Stephen B Thomas (Vice President) and Nathan H Thomas (Treasurer/Assistant Secretary).

What does The Ginkgo Fund fund?

Based on its grants, mainly education and animals.

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