The Norton Foundation
The Norton Foundation is a private foundation based in Arizona, with locations referenced in both Glendale and Scottsdale. Established in 1996, the foundation focuses on grantmaking in education, human services, and philanthropy.
Key facts about The Norton Foundation
- EIN
- 86-0836442
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,485,170
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- Average grant
- $57,122
- Median grant
- $25,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (9 of 26, 2024)
- Total assets
- $43,912,054
- Primary geography
- Arizona (63% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Norton Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Norton Foundation's 26 itemized 2024 grants were Arizona (63%), Nebraska (20%) and Oregon (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (21 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Norton Foundation open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 26 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $68K; repeat grants $51K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $41K repeat.
- 62% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 82% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 78% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Norton Foundation
- How to evaluate The Norton Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$43.9M
+45.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
+22.0% YoY
Grant Count
26
+30.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$57K
-6.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Norton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Community Health
- Health and Wellness
Grantmaking
The Norton Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation operates on an invite-only basis for grant submissions.
Grant Range
$1,000–$510,000
Ready to take the next step with The Norton Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Arizona
- Oregon
- Nebraska
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 26 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- Total assets: $30.2–$43.9 million (figures vary by reporting year)
Annual Giving:
- 2023: $1,216,937 in total giving
- 2024: $1,485,170 in total giving
Giving Rate:
- Approximately 4.0% of assets distributed annually
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $43,912,054 | $30,190,944 | $22,018,721 |
| Revenue | $15,617,329 | $9,939,533 | $1,893,104 |
| Expenses | $1,701,622 | $1,562,607 | $1,550,876 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,491,470 | $1,223,130 | $1,028,600 |
| Net Investment Income | $659,094 | $1,266,503 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $1,923,437 | $1,249,040 | $1,219,232 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
117 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Creighton Univercity ($300,000), Our Coastal Village Foundation ($250,000), St Joseph's Foundation ($242,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CREIGHTON UNIVERCITY Omaha, NE | OPERATING | $300,000 |
| OUR COASTAL VILLAGE FOUNDATION Yachats, OR | OPERATING | $250,000 |
| ST JOSEPH'S FOUNDATION Phoenix, AZ | OPERATING | $242,000 |
| ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY Phoenix, AZ | OPERATING | $75,000 |
| ST MARY'S FOOD BANK Phoenix, AZ | OPERATING | $75,000 |
| UMOM NEW DAY CENTERS Phoenix, AZ | OPERATING | $75,000 |
| ANDRE HOUSE OF ARIZONA Phoenix, AZ | OPERATING | $70,000 |
| CHILD CRISIS ARIZONA Mesa, AZ | OPERATING | $55,000 |
| CIRCLE THE CITY Phoenix, AZ | OPERATING | $50,000 |
| ARIZONA BURN FOUNDATION INC Phoenix, AZ | OPERATING | $45,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael R Norton | Co-Chairman | 1 | — |
| John P Norton | Co-Chairman | 1 | — |
| Melanie M Norton | Secretary | 1 | — |
| Cheryl Oliver | Pres/Treas | 5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Norton Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Community Health • Health and Wellness
How do I apply for a grant from The Norton Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: approximately $1.2–$1.5 million • Number of grants awarded: 20–22 grants annually • Grant range: $1,000–$510,000 • Median grant size: $33,000–$43,000 **Application Policy:** The Norton Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation operates on an invite-only basis for grant submissions.
Where does The Norton Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Arizona • Oregon • Nebraska
What size grants does The Norton Foundation award?
In 2024, The Norton Foundation awarded 26 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $57K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Norton Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Norton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Norton Foundation's EIN?
The Norton Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0836442. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Norton Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.