The Thorne Foundation
The Thorne Foundation shows consistent asset depletion with expenses exceeding minimal revenue over five years.
EIN: 136109955 · Sheldon, SC · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Expenses | $50K |
| Net Assets | $681K |
| Transparency Score | 30/100 |
Is The Thorne Foundation Legit?
Significant Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
About The Thorne Foundation
The Thorne Foundation (EIN: 136109955) is a nonprofit organization based in Sheldon, SC. The organization reported total revenue of $0 and total assets of $0 according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of The Thorne Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
The Thorne Foundation is a micro nonprofit, with 5 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2015). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -24.6%.
Key Financial Metrics (2015)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $18K |
| Total Expenses | $50K |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-32,310 |
| Total Assets | $681K |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $681K |
| Operating Margin | -183.0% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 163.5 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2015, The Thorne Foundation reported a deficit of $32K with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 163.5 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 5 years of filings (2011–2015), The Thorne Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -24.6%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +9.2% | -18.5% | -5.5% |
| 2014 | -55.2% | -1.9% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | -17.6% | +34.4% | -3.5% |
| 2012 | -20.0% | +16.2% | -0.4% |
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates The Thorne Foundation with a Mission Score of 30 out of 100 (Poor). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 100%
- programs: 0%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, The Thorne Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 100%, programs: 0%, fundraising: 0%.
Key Financial Metrics (2015)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $32K, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all five filings, indicating that officers are either unpaid volunteers or compensated through an unstated mechanism, which is positive for minimizing overhead.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of The Thorne Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent asset depletion: Assets declined from $752,231 in 2011 to $680,779 in 2015.
- Expenses consistently exceed revenue: For example, in 2015, expenses were $49,966 while revenue was only $17,656.
- Latest reported revenue is $0, indicating a potential cessation of income generation or a reporting anomaly.
- NTEE code is unknown, making it difficult to understand its charitable purpose and compare efficiency.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for The Thorne Foundation:
- Zero officer compensation reported across all filings, indicating efficient use of funds regarding executive pay.
- Minimal liabilities ($0 or $1) consistently reported, suggesting good debt management.
- Consistent filing of IRS Form 990s, demonstrating transparency in financial reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Thorne Foundation
Is The Thorne Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, The Thorne Foundation (EIN: 136109955) significant concerns. Mission Score: 30/100. 4 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does The Thorne Foundation spend its money?
Detailed spending breakdown data is not yet available for The Thorne Foundation. Check back for updated IRS 990 analysis.
Are donations to The Thorne Foundation tax-deductible?
The Thorne Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 136109955). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Where is The Thorne Foundation located?
The Thorne Foundation is headquartered in Sheldon, South Carolina and files with the IRS under EIN 136109955.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does The Thorne Foundation have?
The Thorne Foundation has 5 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends.
What is the primary purpose or mission of The Thorne Foundation, given its minimal revenue and asset-holding pattern?
Based on the provided data, the foundation appears to primarily hold and manage assets rather than actively conduct programs or fundraising. Its mission is not clear from the financial figures alone.
Why has The Thorne Foundation consistently reported expenses exceeding revenue, leading to asset decline?
The consistent trend of expenses exceeding revenue (e.g., $49,966 expenses vs. $17,656 revenue in 2015) suggests that the foundation is drawing down its principal assets to cover operational costs or distributions, rather than generating sufficient income to sustain itself.
What do the expenses primarily consist of, given the lack of program revenue and officer compensation?
Without a detailed breakdown, it's likely that expenses primarily consist of administrative costs, investment management fees, or potentially grants/distributions that are not categorized as program expenses in this summary.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for The Thorne Foundation showing financial trends over 5 years of public records:
Over 5 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2015), The Thorne Foundation's revenue has declined by 67.7%, moving from $55K to $18K. Total assets decreased by 9.5% over the same period, from $752K to $681K. Total functional expenses rose by 24.9%, from $40K to $50K. In its most recent filing year (2015), The Thorne Foundation reported a deficit of $32K, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $681K in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $681K.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $18K | $50K | $681K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $16K | $61K | $720K | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $36K | $63K | $723K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $44K | $47K | $750K | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $55K | $40K | $752K | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2015: Revenue of $18K, expenses of $50K, and assets of $681K (revenue +9.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $16K, expenses of $61K, and assets of $720K (revenue -55.2% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $36K, expenses of $63K, and assets of $723K (revenue -17.6% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $44K, expenses of $47K, and assets of $750K (revenue -20.0% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $55K, expenses of $40K, and assets of $752K.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for The Thorne Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for The Thorne Foundation is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.