Thornton Foundation
Thornton Foundation maintains strong asset growth and minimal liabilities with no reported officer compensation.
EIN: 201660366 · San Marino, CA · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Is Thornton Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Thornton Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Thornton Foundation
Thornton Foundation (EIN: 201660366) is a nonprofit organization based in San Marino, CA, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $9.1M and total assets of $1 according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Thornton Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Thornton Foundation is a mid-size nonprofit that has been operating for 22 years, with 6 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2019). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 5.9%.
Key Financial Metrics (2019)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $6.3M |
| Total Expenses | $3.3M |
| Surplus / Deficit | +$3.0M |
| Total Assets | $48.9M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $48.9M |
| Operating Margin | 47.4% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 176.8 months |
Financial Health Grade: A
In 2019, Thornton Foundation reported a surplus of $3.0M with revenue exceeding expenses, holds 176.8 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 6 years of filings (2011–2019), Thornton Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +35.6% | +98.7% | +20.4% |
| 2015 | +11.7% | -8.1% | +6.0% |
| 2014 | -69.1% | +5.4% | +5.3% |
| 2013 | +105.3% | +55.1% | +40.8% |
| 2012 | +64.3% | -7.1% | +17.0% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2004 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Thornton Foundation with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Thornton Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 0%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2019)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a surplus of $3.0M, with revenue exceeding expenses.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Thornton Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings, indicating that its leadership is either unpaid or compensated through non-officer compensation channels, which is highly unusual for an organization of its size and asset base ($48,932,245 in 201912).
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 Thornton Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Lack of detailed program vs. administrative expense breakdown in provided data
- Unusually low reported assets ($1) in the latest revenue entry, potentially a data entry error or specific reporting nuance not fully explained by the provided summary
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Thornton Foundation:
- Strong and consistent asset growth, from $22,106,811 in 201112 to $48,932,245 in 201912
- Very low liabilities, consistently reported as $0 or $1
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, indicating high efficiency in executive costs
- Expenses consistently well below revenue, allowing for financial stability and growth
- Multiple IRS 990 filings available, indicating good transparency
Frequently Asked Questions about Thornton Foundation
Is Thornton Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Thornton Foundation (EIN: 201660366) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 5 strengths noted.
How does Thornton Foundation spend its money?
Thornton Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Thornton Foundation tax-deductible?
Thornton Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 201660366). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Is Thornton Foundation a good charity?
Based on the available financial data, the Thornton Foundation appears to be a financially sound organization with strong asset growth and very low liabilities. The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation is a notable positive for efficiency. However, without a detailed breakdown of program vs. administrative expenses, a full assessment of its direct charitable impact is limited.
How has the foundation's financial health changed over time?
The foundation's financial health has significantly strengthened over time. Assets grew from $22,106,811 in 201112 to $48,932,245 in 201912. Revenue has fluctuated but generally remained robust, and expenses have consistently been well below revenue, allowing for this substantial asset accumulation.
What is the significance of 0% officer compensation?
The 0% officer compensation across all filings is highly significant. It suggests that the foundation's top leadership is not drawing a salary from the organization, or their compensation is categorized differently. This can indicate a very lean administrative structure or a strong commitment to directing funds towards the mission rather than executive salaries.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Thornton Foundation showing financial trends over 6 years of public records:
Over 6 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2019), Thornton Foundation's revenue has grown by 58%, moving from $4.0M to $6.3M. Total assets increased by 121.3% over the same period, from $22.1M to $48.9M. Total functional expenses rose by 177.4%, from $1.2M to $3.3M. In its most recent filing year (2019), Thornton Foundation reported a surplus of $3.0M, with revenue exceeding expenses. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $48.9M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $48.9M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $6.3M | $3.3M | $48.9M | $1 | — | — |
| 2015 | $4.7M | $1.7M | $40.7M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $4.2M | $1.8M | $38.4M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $13.5M | $1.7M | $36.4M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $6.6M | $1.1M | $25.9M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $4.0M | $1.2M | $22.1M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2019: Revenue of $6.3M, expenses of $3.3M, and assets of $48.9M (revenue +35.6% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $4.7M, expenses of $1.7M, and assets of $40.7M (revenue +11.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $4.2M, expenses of $1.8M, and assets of $38.4M (revenue -69.1% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $13.5M, expenses of $1.7M, and assets of $36.4M (revenue +105.3% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $6.6M, expenses of $1.1M, and assets of $25.9M (revenue +64.3% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $4.0M, expenses of $1.2M, and assets of $22.1M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Thornton Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Thornton 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.