The WC and EJ Thornton Foundation is a private foundation based in Denver, Colorado, established in 2021. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates with no employees and focuses on advancing arts and education while supporting underrepresented youth populations.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.2M
+67.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$278K
+14.0% YoY
Grant Count
30
-34.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$9K
+74.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, WC and EJ Thornton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $200K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is threefold:
- To advance the arts and education
- To provide support to youth in underrepresented populations who demonstrate ability but lack resources to excel
- To provide grants to other charitable organizations designated by the foundation
Primary funding areas include:
- Education and scholarships
- Arts and arts education
- Education support and mentoring
- Music education
- Support for high-achieving, underfunded youth
Grantmaking
The foundation has been a donor to Bold.org since March 2021, with 10 contributions totaling $150,130 and supporting 180 scholarship winners.
Grant Range
& Range:**
Average Grant
amount varies by program area ($1,000–$14,431)
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations and individuals across multiple states, including:
- Colorado (primary location)
- Texas
- Maine
- Arkansas
- Illinois
- Minnesota
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- South Dakota
- Virginia
- Washington
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets: $5,220,440 (2025)
- Total revenue: $1,131,121 (2025)
- Total expenses: $298,572 (2025)
Giving Rate:
- Annual giving rate: 8.5%
- Total giving (2024): $243,481
The foundation notes that increases in stock value allow it to continue supporting arts and education initiatives for an extended period as available funds grow.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,220,440 | $3,117,986 | $2,595,879 |
| Revenue | $1,131,121 | $50,892 | $58,309 |
| Expenses | $298,572 | $260,939 | $211,938 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $277,660 | $243,481 | $195,292 |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $200,498 | $148,229 | $119,481 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
137 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Bold ($50,000), Alexander Hamilton Scholars ($44,160), Maine College of Art and Design ($35,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| College Now Greater Cleveland Cleveland, OH | education | $7,500 |
| Bold Denver, CO | arts and education scholarships | $50,000 |
| Museum of Outdoor Arts Englewood, CO | arts | $1,000 |
| National Center for Childrens Illu Abilene, TX | literature and arts | $1,000 |
| Downtown Aurora Visual Arts Aurora, CO | arts for disadvantaged youth | $20,000 |
| Summit Artspace Akron, OH | arts | $1,000 |
| Maine Blue Collar Scholarship Found Gorham, ME | scholarships for education | $1,000 |
| Education Through Music Colorado Denver, CO | music for underfunded schools | $6,000 |
| Maine College of Art and Design Portland, ME | arts education and scholarships | $35,000 |
| 240 Strings Portland, ME | music education for children | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Christine Thornton - Executive Director (part-time, 10 hours per week, compensation: $16,683)
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christine Thornton | Exec Dir | 10 | $20,190 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does WC and EJ Thornton Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is threefold: 1. To advance the arts and education 2. To provide support to youth in underrepresented populations who demonstrate ability but lack resources to excel 3. To provide grants to other charitable organizations designated by the foundation **Primary funding areas include:** • Education and scholarships • Arts and arts education • Education support and mentoring • Music education • Support for high-achieving, underfunded youth
How do I apply for a grant from WC and EJ Thornton Foundation?
**Grant Size & Range:** • Typical awards: $1,000–$50,000 • Grant range: $1,000–$40,481 • Median grant amount: $3,500 • Average grant amount varies by program area ($1,000–$14,431) **Recent Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2025): $277,660 • Total grants awarded (2024): 93 grants • Total grants awarded (previous year): 42 grants **Notable Grantees & Programs:** • Bold.org: 60 scholarships funded ($50,000 awarded in 2025) • Alexander Hamilton Scholars: Education support for high-achieving underfu…
Where does WC and EJ Thornton Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations and individuals across multiple states, including: • Colorado (primary location) • Texas • Maine • Arkansas • Illinois • Minnesota • North Carolina • Ohio • South Dakota • Virginia • Washington
What size grants does WC and EJ Thornton Foundation award?
In 2025, WC and EJ Thornton Foundation awarded 30 grants totaling $278K — an average of about $9K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is WC and EJ Thornton Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, WC and EJ Thornton Foundation reported a distributable amount of $200K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is WC and EJ Thornton Foundation's EIN?
WC and EJ Thornton Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-1286430. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in WC and EJ Thornton Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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