Thunderbirds Charities
Thunderbirds Charities is a public charity based in Phoenix, Arizona, and the philanthropic arm of The Thunderbirds. Established in 1986, it distributes charitable funds raised through the WM Phoenix Open to support children and families, assist people in need, and improve quality of life in the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
Key facts about Thunderbirds Charities
In short: Thunderbirds Charities gave $11.0M across 150 grants in 2025 (avg $73K), mostly in Arizona. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 86-0560664
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,970,531
- Grants made (2025)
- 150
- Average grant
- $73,137
- Median grant
- $34,055
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (26 of 147, 2025)
- Total assets
- $11,267,028
- Primary geography
- Arizona (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Deadline
- For the Fall 2026 cycle, applications open August 1, 2026, and are due September 1, 2026, with decisions expected in…
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; 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.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$11.3M
+2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$11.0M
+60.9% YoY
Grant Count
150
+19.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$73K
+35.1% YoY
Is Thunderbirds Charities open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 26 of 147 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $50K; repeat grants $80K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $38K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
Thunderbirds Charities’ mission is to support children and families, assist those in need, and enhance quality of life in the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It awards grants to nonprofits addressing the five community needs listed above.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of work supported. For example, NOTMYKID describes its work as providing youth and family prevention, early intervention, and behavioral health support; Teen Lifeline says its focus is preventing teen suicide in Arizona; and Special Olympics Arizona describes providing sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities. These are the grantees’ own descriptions of their missions, not Thunderbirds Charities’ programs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Thunderbirds Charities reported 150 grants totaling $10,970,531. Grant amounts ranged from $5,321 to $1,000,000, with a median of $34,055.
Among the largest reported awards were $1,000,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of the Valley for at-risk youth and families; $702,500 to Keys to Change for domestic violence, homelessness, and poverty; and $528,750 to NOTMYKID for at-risk youth and families. Other large awards included $500,000 to The Phoenix Zoo for education, $472,500 to Banner Health Foundation for community outreach and quality of life, and $457,235 to Special Olympics Arizona for improving the lives of people with physical and mental challenges.
Applications are submitted through the organization’s website. Applicants need an email address and their organization’s IRS Tax ID number, and must be able to upload required materials, including an IRS 501(c)(3) letter. The application asks for information about the organization’s programs, population and geography served, and the proposed project’s need, activities, intended impact, timetable, measures of success, sustainability, and relationship to similar local services. The project details have a 750-word maximum; other application sections also have specified word limits.
Eligible applicants must be Arizona-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits whose status has been in effect for at least three years and that serve Greater Phoenix, defined as Maricopa and Pinal Counties. The organization does not fund individuals, political or advocacy/lobbying activities, medical or scientific research, or organizations that discriminate on specified grounds. Other stated exclusions include grantmaking organizations, endowments, fellowships, college scholarships, colleges and universities, and individual schools or their support organizations. Multi-year grants are not offered. Religious organizations may apply for activities benefiting the larger community, but sectarian activities and facilities are not supported.
Review Cycle
For the Fall 2026 cycle, applications open August 1, 2026, and are due September 1, 2026, with decisions expected in early December. For the Spring 2027 cycle, applications open February 1, 2027, and are due March 1, 2027, with decisions expected in early June. Materials must be submitted online by 5:00 p.m. MST on the deadline.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Thunderbirds Charities
Ready to take the next step with Thunderbirds Charities?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Thunderbirds Charities accepts requests from organizations serving the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area, defined as Maricopa and Pinal Counties. Its 2025 grant data reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 150 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5.5M (2022) to $11.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 150 grants totaling $11.0M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Boys and Girls Clubs of the Valley ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $4.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
662 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 427 grants of 662 (65%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boys and Girls Clubs of the Valley Phoenix, AZ | At-Risk Youth & Families | $1,000,000 |
| Keys to Change Phoenix, AZ | Domestic Violence/Homeless/Poverty | $702,500 |
| Notmykid Inc Scottsdale, AZ | At-Risk Youth & Families | $528,750 |
| The Phoenix Zoo Phoenix, AZ | Education | $500,000 |
| Banner Health Foundation Phoenix, AZ | Community Outreach/Quality of Life | $472,500 |
| Special Olympics Arizona Goodyear, AZ | Improving the lives of the physically & mentally challenged | $457,235 |
| Fresh Start Women's Foundation Phoenix, AZ | Domestic Violence/Homeless/Poverty | $259,750 |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities Phoenix, AZ | Improving the lives of the physically & mentally challenged | $250,000 |
| Barrow Neurological Foundation Phoenix, AZ | Community outreach/quality of life; improving the lives of the physically & mentally challenged | $230,107 |
| Teen Lifeline Phoenix, AZ | At-Risk Youth & Families | $201,930 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $11,267,028 | $11,425,404 | $11,107,530 | $10,970,531 |
| 2024 | $10,977,698 | $11,298,081 | $6,955,082 | $6,818,613 |
| 2023 | $6,605,824 | $8,136,388 | $7,931,665 | $7,743,884 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,267,028 | $10,977,698 | $6,605,824 |
| Revenue | $11,425,404 | $11,298,081 | $8,136,388 |
| Expenses | $11,107,530 | $6,955,082 | $7,931,665 |
| Net Investment Income | $148,018 | $99,087 | $34,592 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists George Thimsen as president and Kelly Mooney as secretary/treasurer. Directors listed are Matt Mooney, Dr. Michael Golding, Pat Williams, Melissa Goldenberg, Jessica Pacheco, Chris Camacho, Josh Swift, and Dodge Earnhardt.
Thunderbirds Charities is led by Chance Cozby, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 17 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Chance Cozby
Executive Director
Executive Director → Executive Director & Big Chief, 2022
Executive Director & Big Chief → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
George Thimsen
President
Director → President, 2025
On filings since 2024
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phil Calihan III
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Greg Hoyt
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Mooney
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Golding
Director
Director → President, 2023
President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wayne Franklin
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chris Camacho
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Brannon
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Pacheco
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pat Williams
Director
Director → President, 2024
President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dodge Earnhardt
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tom Higginbotham
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Josh Swift
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Goldenberg
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michelle Simpson
CFO
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kelly Mooney
Secretary & Treasurer
Director → Secretary & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (21)
- Former: Scott Jenkins (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Jeri Williams (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Brian Frakes (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Jim Wentworth Jr. (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Tim Chester (2023) — Director
- Former: Derrick Hall (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Molly Carson (2020–2022) — Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Scott Bradley (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Tim Woods (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Chief Jeri Williams (2022) — Director
- Former: Bob Hubbard (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: James Moffett (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jodi Noble (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: John Bridger (2020–2021) — Former Executive Director
- Former: Carlos Sugich (2021) — Director
- Former: Rustin Roach (2021) — Director
- Former: Timothy Woods (2021) — President
- Former: Andy Markham (2020) — Director
- Former: Billy Malkovich (2020) — Director
- Former: Kenny Moffatt (2020) — Director
- Former: Mike McQuad Sr. (2020) — Secretary & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 7226 N 16Th St 100, Phoenix, AZ 85020
Phone: (602) 870-0163
Website: https://thunderbirdscharities.org
Frequently asked questions about Thunderbirds Charities
How much does Thunderbirds Charities give each year?
Thunderbirds Charities gave $11.0M across 150 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $6.8M across 126 grants.
What is Thunderbirds Charities's typical grant size?
Thunderbirds Charities's median grant in 2025 was $34,055, and its average grant was $73,137, across 150 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Thunderbirds Charities that year got $50K on average.
Where does Thunderbirds Charities give grants?
Thunderbirds Charities gives mostly in Arizona: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (93 grants), Scottsdale, AZ (17 grants), Mesa, AZ (9 grants) and Tempe, AZ (7 grants).
Does Thunderbirds Charities give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 150 grants with a stated purpose on Thunderbirds Charities's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "At-Risk Youth & Families" (43 grants), "Improving the Lives of the Physically & Mentally Challenged" (29 grants) and "Education" (27 grants).
Who are Thunderbirds Charities's largest grantees?
Thunderbirds Charities's largest 2025 grantees include Boys and Girls Clubs of the Valley ($1,000,000), Keys to Change ($702,500) and Notmykid Inc ($528,750), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Thunderbirds Charities?
Thunderbirds Charities reported $11.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $11.4M.
What does Thunderbirds Charities fund?
Thunderbirds Charities’ mission is to support children and families, assist those in need, and enhance quality of life in the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It awards grants to nonprofits addressing the five community needs listed above. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Thunderbirds Charities?
Thunderbirds Charities has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check thunderbirdscharities.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Thunderbirds Charities's EIN?
Thunderbirds Charities's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0560664. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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