The Norton Foundation
The Norton Foundation is a private foundation based in Glendale, Arizona. It supports organizations exempt under IRC Section 501(c)(3) that address charitable, educational, and scientific needs in the Phoenix area, Arizona, the western United States, and the United States.
The Norton Foundation at a glance
In short: The Norton Foundation gave $1.5M across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $57K), mostly in Arizona. 31% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,485,170
- +22.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- +30.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $57,122
- -6.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $43,912,054
- +45.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (8 of 26, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Arizona (63% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Norton Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 19420 N 59Th Avenue Suite B235, Glendale, AZ 85308
Phone: (602) 954-8812
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Norton Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Creighton Univercity ($300K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
117 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 77 grants of 117 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated service areas include the Phoenix area, Arizona, the western United States, and the United States. In 2024, 63% of grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona, 20% to Nebraska, and 17% to Oregon.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Norton Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 26 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $75K; repeat grants $49K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $33K repeat.
- 69% 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 grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $779K (2020) to $1.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
Ready to take the next step with The Norton Foundation?
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 | $43,912,054 | $15,617,329 | $1,701,622 | $1,485,170 | 26 | $1,491,470 | $659,094 | $1,923,437 |
| 2023 | $30,190,944 | $9,939,533 | $1,562,607 | $1,216,937 | 20 | $1,223,130 | $1,266,503 | $1,249,040 |
| 2022 | $22,018,721 | $1,893,104 | $1,550,876 | $1,028,600 | 22 | $1,028,600 | — | $1,219,232 |
| 2021 | $21,716,789 | $3,081,613 | $1,464,037 | $814,735 | 20 | $814,735 | $2,189,415 | $1,006,880 |
| 2020 | $14,210,607 | $1,139,276 | $1,633,835 | $778,500 | 29 | — | $106,834 | $838,327 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that it supports organizations dedicated to meeting charitable, educational, and scientific needs. Its 2024 grants included support for organizations whose stated missions address affordable housing, hospital and patient services, animal welfare, family homelessness, child safety, healthcare for people experiencing homelessness, and burn survivor support and prevention.
These are grantees’ stated missions, not additional mission statements from the foundation. For example, Our Coastal Village Inc. describes its work as providing relief to people in need on the central Oregon coast, primarily through affordable housing. St. Joseph’s Foundation says it supports patient care, medical education, community outreach, research, and care for people in need at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. UMOM New Day Centers says its mission is to end family homelessness, while Circle the City describes its work as delivering healthcare solutions for people facing homelessness in Maricopa County.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $1,485,170. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $300,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest listed grants were $300,000 to Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska; $250,000 to Our Coastal Village Foundation in Yachats, Oregon; and $242,000 to St. Joseph’s Foundation in Phoenix, Arizona. Other listed recipients included Arizona Humane Society and UMOM New Day Centers ($75,000 each), Andre House of Arizona ($70,000), Child Crisis Arizona ($55,000), Circle the City ($50,000), and Arizona Burn Foundation ($45,000). The listed grants were designated for operating purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Michael R. Norton and John P. Norton as co-chairmen, Melanie M. Norton as secretary, and Cheryl Oliver as president and treasurer.
The Norton Foundation is led by Cheryl Oliver, President & Treasurer since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Cheryl Oliver
President & Treasurer
Ass't Treasurer → President & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John P. Norton
Co-Chairman
Director → Co-Chairman, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael R. Norton
Co-Chairman
Director → Co-Chairman, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melanie M. Norton
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Roger L. Stevenson (2020–2023) — President & Treasurer
- Former: Doris S. Norton (2020–2021) — Director & Secretary
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Norton Foundation
How much does The Norton Foundation give each year?
The Norton Foundation gave $1.5M across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.2M across 20 grants.
What is The Norton Foundation's typical grant size?
The Norton Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $57,122, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Norton Foundation that year got $75K on average.
Where does The Norton Foundation give grants?
The Norton Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Nebraska (20%) and Oregon (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (21 grants).
Does The Norton Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Norton Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Norton Foundation's largest grantees?
The Norton Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Creighton Univercity ($300,000), Our Coastal Village Foundation ($250,000) and St Joseph's Foundation ($242,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Norton Foundation?
The Norton Foundation reported $43.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.9M (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 Norton Foundation fund?
The foundation states that it supports organizations dedicated to meeting charitable, educational, and scientific needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Norton Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it contributes only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Norton Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Norton Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
The Pakis Family Foundation
Phoenix, AZ
The Pakis Family Foundation supports charitable organizations aligned with the Arizona Community Foundation’s purposes, including work in human services, health care, civic education, community and economic development, and animal welfare. In 2025, grants ranged from $6,000 to $100,000, with a median of $20,000, and 84% of funding went to Arizona organizations. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$22.2M
Grants
34
Total Given
$923K
McKesson Foundation Inc
Dallas, TX
The McKesson Foundation funds cancer support and care, healthcare workforce pathways, and emergency response, with grants mainly supporting organizations in the United States and Canada. Its 2025 grants had a median of $100,000, though amounts ranged from $10,000 to about $2.47 million. Its filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests, while its application page describes an online application process with stated submission windows.
Assets
$1.6M
Grants
76
Total Given
$16.6M
Garcia Family Foundation
Tempe, AZ
The Garcia Family Foundation supports homelessness services and prevention, education and scholarships, and community development, with 96% of its 2024 grant dollars going to Arizona organizations. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $2.7 million, with a median of $87,500. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$61.0M
Grants
48
Total Given
$14.1M
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
Thunderbirds Charities
Phoenix, AZ
Thunderbirds Charities funds Arizona nonprofits serving Maricopa and Pinal Counties, supporting children and families, education, community quality of life, people with physical or mental challenges, and efforts addressing domestic violence, homelessness, and poverty. In 2025, grants ranged from $5,321 to $1 million, with a median award of $34,055. It accepts applications through its website.
Assets
$11.3M
Grants
150
Total Given
$11.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Arizona
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Norton Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-norton-foundation-morg_0f009905468a4b9092d486676bd5391c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_860836442_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Norton Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-norton-foundation-morg_0f009905468a4b9092d486676bd5391c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Norton Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Norton Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?