Thornburg Foundation
Thornburg Foundation is a private foundation based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, founded in 1999. It supports New Mexico nonprofits through evidence-based strategic philanthropy focused on systems change, with work spanning education, water, land and agriculture, good governance, and pursuing federal funds, as well as homelessness and community funding.
Thornburg Foundation at a glance
In short: Thornburg Foundation gave $6.4M across 144 grants in 2024 (avg $45K), mostly in New Mexico. 27% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,436,684
- +10.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 144
- +2.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $44,699
- +8.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $179,398,522
- +22.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (32 of 119, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New Mexico (54% 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 Thornburg Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Organizations whose work aligns with current initiatives are invited to contact the foundation. No application materials or further process details are specified.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2300 N Ridgetop Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87506
Phone: (505) 467-7853
Website: https://thornburgfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Thornburg Foundation
Who Thornburg Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Prepared to Teach Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors ($350K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
709 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 446 grants of 709 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
New Mexico received 54% of the foundation’s 2024 grant dollars. Other leading recipient-state shares were Washington, D.C. (12%), New York (9%), California (7%), and Louisiana (3%). The foundation’s stated 25-year grant total of $67 million went to New Mexico nonprofits.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 144 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Thornburg Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 32 of 119 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $47K; repeat grants $57K. How we count
Medians: $32K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 67% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+14%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 95% 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 $5.5M (2020) to $6.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 144 grants totaling $6.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Prepared to Teach Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors New York, NY | Provide technical assistance for teacher residency programs at nm colleges of education | $225,000 |
| Catalyst Education New Orleans, LA | NM Public Education Department- Research Support | $200,000 |
| Pacific Institute for Studies in Development Environment and Security Oakland, CA | The untapped potential of water supply alternatives in nm project | $160,405 |
| NDI-NM Santa Fe, NM | General Operating | $150,000 |
| Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation Espanola, NM | Principal Licensure Work Group and Residency Advocacy Project | $136,000 |
| Ogallala Land & Water Conservancy Clovis, NM | Conserving groundwater for community survival and sustainable land use in eastern nm project | $130,000 |
| Prepared to Teach Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors New York, NY | To provide technical assistance for teacher residency programs at nm colleges of education | $125,000 |
| Campaign Legal Center Washington, DC | General Operating | $100,000 |
| Common Cause Education Fund Washington, DC | General Operating | $100,000 |
| Common Cause Education Fund Washington, DC | Democracy in a new era project work in New Mexico | $100,000 |
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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 | $179,398,522 | $15,189,769 | $8,187,818 | $6,436,684 | 144 | $7,969,108 | $6,042,445 | $8,395,143 |
| 2023 | $147,085,767 | $12,925,067 | $7,482,223 | $5,825,717 | 141 | $7,156,665 | $5,314,041 | $7,436,628 |
| 2022 | $141,633,669 | $12,636,727 | $7,624,695 | $6,231,771 | 137 | $7,307,807 | $3,472,729 | $7,064,971 |
| 2021 | $136,610,883 | $28,408,251 | $6,864,423 | $5,623,546 | 141 | $6,501,642 | $14,674,464 | $7,455,391 |
| 2020 | $115,067,484 | $6,336,504 | $6,572,103 | $5,450,500 | 146 | — | $5,584,337 | $5,911,649 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Thornburg Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.4M 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 mission is to use an evidence-based strategic approach to solve systemic problems that impact people and communities. Its stated strategic areas include K–12 education, water, land and agriculture, good governance, and pursuing federal funds. Its Community Funding program supports organizations working in human services, education, homelessness, and policy.
The foundation says its Community Funding program looks for organizations with strong leadership, good financial management, an entrepreneurial spirit, a commitment to excellence, and a record of making a difference. Its education work includes support for teacher preparation and residency programs and efforts to strengthen New Mexico’s educator ecosystem.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of grantmaking. Catalyst Education describes its work as mobilizing education expertise to strengthen schools, school systems, and education nonprofits. Rio Grande Return says it works to reclaim the Rio Grande watershed through direct reclamation and support for watershed organizations. Common Cause Education Fund describes work to promote public understanding of democracy and effective civic engagement. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 144 grants totaling $6,436,684. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $225,000, with a median grant of $25,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $225,000 to Prepared to Teach Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors for technical assistance for teacher residency programs at New Mexico colleges of education; $200,000 to Catalyst Education for research support for the New Mexico Public Education Department; and $160,405 to the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment and Security for a project on water supply alternatives in New Mexico. Other grants included $150,000 to NDI-NM for general operating support, $130,000 to Ogallala Land & Water Conservancy for groundwater conservation and sustainable land use in eastern New Mexico, and $100,000 each to Campaign Legal Center and Common Cause Education Fund for general operating support. Common Cause Education Fund also received a separate $100,000 grant for democracy project work in New Mexico.
The foundation also gave $100,000 to Water Finance Exchange, whose stated objective is to increase funding solutions for U.S. water, wastewater, and stormwater systems, with emphasis on rural and disadvantaged communities; and $100,000 to New Mexico In Depth, which describes its work as producing solutions-oriented journalism that can catalyze change.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Allan Oliver as executive director; Garrett Thornburg as president; Blair Naylor as director and vice president; Jim Minich as director and treasurer; and Fred Nathan as director and secretary. It also lists Brian Boyd, Alon Kasha, Elliot Thornburg, and Lloyd Thornburg as directors.
Thornburg Foundation is led by Allan Oliver, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Allan Oliver
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$213K (2020) → $260K (2024)
Garrett Thornburg
President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alon Kasha
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fred Nathan
Director & Secretary
Director → Director & Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lloyd Thornburg
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Blair Naylor
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brian Boyd
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elliot Thornburg
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jim Minich
Director & Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kevin Hansen (2020–2021) — Secretary & Treasurer
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 $260K, to Allan Oliver (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Thornburg Foundation
How much does Thornburg Foundation give each year?
Thornburg Foundation gave $6.4M across 144 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $5.8M across 141 grants.
What is Thornburg Foundation's typical grant size?
Thornburg Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $44,699, across 144 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Thornburg Foundation that year got $47K on average.
Where does Thornburg Foundation give grants?
Thornburg Foundation gives mostly in New Mexico: 54% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (12%) and New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Fe, NM (52 grants), Albuquerque, NM (25 grants), Washington, DC (12 grants) and New York, NY (7 grants).
Does Thornburg Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 38% of Thornburg Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (55 of 144) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Thornburg Foundation's largest grantees?
Thornburg Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Prepared to Teach Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors ($350,000 across 2 grants), Santa Fe Community Foundation ($320,234 across 6 grants) and New Mexico School for the Arts - Art Institute ($262,500 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Thornburg Foundation?
Thornburg Foundation reported $179.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $8.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8.4M (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 Thornburg Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to use an evidence-based strategic approach to solve systemic problems that impact people and communities. Its stated strategic areas include K–12 education, water, land and agriculture, good governance, and pursuing federal funds. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Thornburg Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Thornburg Foundation's EIN?
Thornburg Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-0457010. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Thornburg 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
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Thornburg Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Thornburg Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/thornburg-foundation-morg_77669719554749e38bf746e9f7814cb7
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_850457010_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Thornburg Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/thornburg-foundation-morg_77669719554749e38bf746e9f7814cb7},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Thornburg 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.
Thornburg Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?