The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation
THE SCOTT W AND BETSY D THORNTON FAMILY is a private foundation based in Park City, Utah. Its 2022 filing is marked as its final return, so it appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation gave $4.7M across 21 grants in 2022 (avg $224K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2022)
- $4,706,653
- -33.5% vs 2021
- Grants made (2022)
- 21
- -70.0% vs 2021
- Average grant
- $224,126
- +121.7% vs 2021
- Median grant
- $233,035
- Primary geography
- Colorado (100% of itemized 2022 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2022 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2022; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. It states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Because the 2022 filing is marked as final, this should not be treated as a current application process.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 981088, Park City, UT 84098
Phone: (435) 655-0512
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2022
The largest 2022 recipient was Thornton Family Charitable Fund ($4.7M across 21 grants).
Grant Size Distribution
131 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 74 grants of 131 (56%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars listed for 2022 went to recipients in Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2022 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation gives
- In 2022 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $79K (2020) to $7.1M (2021). In 2022 it made 21 grants totaling $4.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Thornton Family Charitable Fund Avon, CO | General Fund | $618,993 |
| Thornton Family Charitable Fund Avon, CO | General Fund | $501,008 |
| Thornton Family Charitable Fund Avon, CO | General Fund | $490,916 |
| Thornton Family Charitable Fund Avon, CO | General Fund | $440,346 |
| Thornton Family Charitable Fund Avon, CO | General Fund | $328,322 |
| Thornton Family Charitable Fund Avon, CO | General Fund | $265,075 |
| Thornton Family Charitable Fund Avon, CO | General Fund | $258,141 |
| Thornton Family Charitable Fund Avon, CO | General Fund | $248,240 |
| Thornton Family Charitable Fund Avon, CO | General Fund | $244,186 |
| Thornton Family Charitable Fund Avon, CO | General Fund | $240,693 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — | $16,311 | $4,740,450 | $4,706,653 | 21 | $4,706,996 | $9,549 | $46,428 |
| 2021 | $4,627,448 | $2,183,609 | $7,164,071 | $7,077,553 | 70 | $7,077,553 | $2,115,549 | $579,869 |
| 2020 | $7,594,627 | $5,259,318 | $160,427 | $78,600 | 40 | — | $163,390 | $403,550 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $46K for 2022 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2022, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $4,706,653. Grant amounts ranged from $781 to $618,993, with a median of $233,035. The largest listed grants went to the Thornton Family Charitable Fund, each for a “GENERAL FUND” purpose; the largest was $618,993.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2022 filing lists Erin Linder, Betsy D Thornton, and Ashley Mendenhall as trustees.
The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation's 2022 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2022 report compensation.
Officers on the 2022 filing
Ashley Mendenhall
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Betsy D. Thornton
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erin Linder
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2022. "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 Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation
How much does The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation give each year?
The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation gave $4.7M across 21 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2021 it gave $7.1M across 70 grants.
What is The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation's median grant in 2022 was $233,035, and its average grant was $224,126, across 21 grants on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation give grants?
The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Avon, CO (21 grants).
Does The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation's 2022 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
How do I apply for a grant from The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2022, The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $46K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation's EIN?
The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1409425. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2022.
Does The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family 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 2020–2022
Live grants for the work The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation funds
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The Scott W and Betsy D Thornton Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?