The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation
The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation is a private foundation based in San Francisco, California. Its 2024 filing lists grants to charitable organizations and describes direct charitable activity supporting early-stage research into a low-cost energy source intended to reduce household and utility costs for disadvantaged and low-income communities in the U.S. and worldwide.
The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation at a glance
In short: The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation gave $72K across 7 grants in 2024 (avg $10K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $72,000
- -73.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 7
- -82.9% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $10,286
- +56.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $8,549,341
- +5.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (65% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 633 Battery Street 100, San Francisco, CA 94111
Phone: (415) 351-2893
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums ($25K). Together the top 7 received $72K.
Grant Size Distribution
193 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 189 grants of 193 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars were distributed to recipients in California (65%), Colorado (21%), and Delaware (14%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation gives
- Giving fell 85% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 46% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $72K (2024) to $483K (2021). In 2024 it made 7 grants totaling $72K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums San Francisco, CA | General Charitable Purpose | $25,000 |
| New Horizons Foundation Colorado Springs, CO | General Charitable Purpose | $15,000 |
| San Francisco Opera San Francisco, CA | General Charitable Purpose | $10,000 |
| New Zealand Olympic Committee Wilmington, DE | General Charitable Purpose | $10,000 |
| Neighbors for a Better SF San Rafael, CA | General Charitable Purpose | $10,000 |
| Roadds Foundation Freemont, CA | General Charitable Purpose | $1,000 |
| Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies San Jose, CA | General Charitable Purpose | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $8,549,341 | $533,210 | $223,586 | $72,000 | 7 | $173,681 | $439,825 | $379,573 |
| 2023 | $8,089,765 | $259,960 | $360,864 | $269,000 | 41 | $295,800 | $200,509 | $372,733 |
| 2022 | $7,759,327 | $77,956 | $495,181 | $378,500 | 45 | $386,050 | $61,317 | $360,224 |
| 2021 | $8,711,372 | $346,720 | $664,410 | $483,023 | 46 | $545,189 | $232,455 | $556,800 |
| 2020 | $8,719,123 | $1,080,223 | $555,472 | $410,236 | 54 | — | $1,009,385 | $387,546 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $380K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s 2024 filing describes its direct charitable activity as supporting Delta-S’s early-stage research into developing a low-cost energy source that can benefit disadvantaged and low-income communities by reducing household and utility costs.
Its 2024 grants included support for the Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums, San Francisco Opera, New Zealand Olympic Committee, and other organizations. The Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums describes its own work as operating the de Young Museum and the Legion of Honor and raising and maintaining funds for their support.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 7 grants totaling $72,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $25,000, with a median of $10,000. Its largest listed grants were $25,000 to the Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums, $15,000 to New Horizons Foundation, and $10,000 each to San Francisco Opera, New Zealand Olympic Committee, and Neighbors for a Better SF. Each was designated for general charitable purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s 2024 filing lists W Laney Thornton as president/director, Pasha D Thornton as secretary/treasurer, and Russell Hamilton as executive director.
The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation is led by Russell Hamilton, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Russell Hamilton
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
30 hrs/week
$27K (2023) → $28K (2024)
W. Laney Thornton
President & Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pasha D. Thornton
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $28K, to Russell Hamilton (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation
How much does The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation give each year?
The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation gave $72K across 7 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $269K across 41 grants.
What is The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation's typical grant size?
The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,286, across 7 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation give grants?
The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation gives mostly in California: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Colorado (21%) and Delaware (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation's largest grantees?
The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Corporation of the Fine Arts Museums ($25,000), New Horizons Foundation ($15,000) and San Francisco Opera ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 69% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation?
The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation reported $8.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $174K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $380K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation fund?
The foundation’s 2024 filing describes its direct charitable activity as supporting Delta-S’s early-stage research into developing a low-cost energy source that can benefit disadvantaged and low-income communities by reducing household and utility costs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation's EIN?
The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1660400. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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