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The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$72k
Granted FY2024still arriving
7
Grants FY2024still arriving
3
States reached
$25k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0195% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2019 to 2024.

Education$524kPhilanthropy$504kEnvironment$503kArts & Culture$269kHealth$128kInternational$85kAnimals$67kReligion$63kOther$0
02FY2024 · 7 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k2 grants · $2k
  • $10k–50k5 grants · $70k
$10,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$8.5M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
CORPORATION OF THE FINE ARTS MUSEUMS$25,000
NEW HORIZONS FOUNDATION$15,000
NEIGHBORS FOR A BETTER SF$10,000
NEW ZEALAND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE$10,000
SAN FRANCISCO OPERA$10,000
ROADDS FOUNDATION$1,000
MULTIDISCIPLINARY ASSOCIATION FOR PSYCHEDELIC STUDIES$1,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY19–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 71% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%NEW ZEALAND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: $10k → 10%HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL: $10k → 8%HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE: $55k → 12%ALZAR SCHOOL: $25k → 8%NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST: $420k → 7%WILD AFRICA FUND: $15k → 9%THE ART FUND: $20k → 10%GREENBELT ALLIANCE: $24k → 10%CORPORATION OF THE FINE ARTS MUSEUMS: $25k → 10%INTERNATIONAL BIOCHAR INITIATIVE: $20k → 10%THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY: $10k → 17%UNITED CHURCH: $10k → 13%UNITED CHURCH OF CHAPEL HILL: $25k → 13%NEW HORIZONS FOUNDATION: $15k → 9%MORGAN STANLEY GLOBAL IMPACT FUNDING TRUST INC: $20k → 16%HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE: $50k → 12%ALZAR SCHOOL INC: $25k → 8%CORPORATION OF THE FINE ARTS MUSEUMS: $25k → 10%UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO: $150k → 11%US BIOCHAR INITIATIVE: $20k → 10%VIRGIN UNITE USA INC: $25k → 17%UNITED CHURCH OF CHAPEL HILL: $25k → 13%CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL: $15k → 7%HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE: $50k → 12%THE CLIMATE CENTER: $30k → 9%THE CLIMATE CENTER: $25k → 9%PCI MEDIA IMPACT INC: $20k → 17%THE CLIMATE CENTER: $25k → 9%PCI MEDIA IMPACT INC: $20k → 17%PCI MEDIA: $20k → 17%PCI MEDIA: $20k → 17%SEGL: $55k → 14%ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND: $30k → 17%CALIFORNIA TROUT: $40k → 10%SCHOOL FOR ETHICS AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP: $50k → 14%UCSF FOUNDATION: $20k → 10%UCSF FOUNDATION: $15k → 10%SCHOOL FOR ETHICS AND GLOBAL LEADERSHIP: $25k → 14%WILDAID INC: $12k → 10%AS YOU SOW: $30k → 10%ALONZO KING LINES BALLET: $40k → 10%ALONZO KING LINES BALLET: $26k → 10%ALONZO KING LINES BALLET: $15k → 10%ALONZO KING LINES BALLET: $15k → 10%PACIFIC FOREST TRUST INC: $50k → 10%PACIFIC FOREST TRUST INC: $36k → 10%PACIFIC FOREST TRUST: $25k → 10%GREENBELT ALLIANCE: $25k → 10%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

ID
NY
MA
OR
IN
PA
CT
CA
CO
VA
DE
TN
NC
DC
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

72%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.4M · 52 repeat orgs$520k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +26% since the first grant, against +21% for those funded once.

52 repeat relationships: 3 still active in FY2024, 49 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

52
43

Total granted

$1.4M
$499k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+26%
+21%

Still filing today

81%
58%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 63% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $21k went to new ones.

50%100%’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’19’20’21’22’23’24
EnvironmentArts & CultureEducationAnimalsPhilanthropyHealthOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • TP
    The Pacific Forest Trust Incorporated
    4× · 2020–2023 · $120k · revenue +616%
  • TC
    The Climate Center
    3× · 2020–2022 · $80k · revenue +354%
  • UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION
    5× · 2019–2023 · $80k · revenue +51%

Funded once

  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGOgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $150k · revenue +45%
  • S
    SEGL
    one grant, 2021 · $55k
  • ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCORPORATEDgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $30k · revenue +121%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Rainforest Trust

Rainforest trust saves endangered wildlife and protects our planet by creating rainforest reserves through partnerships, community engagement, and donor support.

International
2
The Union of Concerned Scientists Inc

The union of concerned scientists puts rigorous, independent science into action, developing solutions and advocating for a healthy, safe, and just future.

International
3
Sustainable Conservation

Sustainable Conservation advances the collaborative stewardship of Californias land, air, and water for the benefit of nature and people. For over three decades, Sustainable Conservation has built coalitions of people with different…

Environment
4
Ucsf Foundation Investment Company

The organization provides professional investment management services for endowed gifts and financial assets entrusted to the ucsf foundation.

Education
5
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory

The San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory is dedicated to the conservation of birds and their habitats through science and outreach.

Environment
6
Friends of the Earth

Friends of the earth strives for a more healthy and just world by defendng the environment and human health while advancing social and economic justice by conducting research and education, transforming the economy so it protects the…

Environment
7
Aquarium of the Pacific Corporation

The aquarium of the pacific's mission is to instill a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the pacific ocean, its inhabitants, and ecosystems.

Animals
8
California Ocean Science Trust

California ocean science trust (ost) is a non-profit organization dedicated to accelerating progress towards a healthy and productive ocean future for california. created by state legislation, ost bridges the gap between cutting-edge…

Environment
9
World Wildlife Fund Inc

Wwf's mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on earth. (continued on schedule o)

Environment
10
World Resources Institute

Wri is committed to creating change that improves people's lives and ensures the natural world can thrive. (see schedule o)wri's bold vision requires a formula for success we call "count it. change it. scale it.":- count it: our work is…

International
11
California Institute for Biodiversity

Create and publish educational materials, conduct professional development, promote awareness, and sponsor research on the spectacular biological diversity of the State of CA.

Education
12
Cdp North America Inc

Cdp north america, inc. 's ("cdp-na") vision for the future is a thriving economy that works for people and planet in the long term. we focus investors and companies on taking urgent action to build a truly sustainable economy by measuring…

Environment
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is As You Sow; the most unlike its peers is Verra. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

73 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 73 of the 103 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
14
Early backer (in before they grew)
73/73
Grantees still filing
47/73
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO: $150,000 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGOThe Pacific Forest Trust Incorporated: $119,500 · OtherThe Pacific Forest Trust Incorporate…AS YOU SOW: $60,000 · OtherAS YOU SOWSEGL: $55,000 · OtherSEGLUNITED CHURCH OF CHAPEL HILL: $50,000 · OtherUNITED CHURCH OF CHAPEL HILL+45 more: $320,553 · Other+45 moreHAMPSHIRE COLLEGE TRUSTEES: $166,000 · EducationHAMPSHIRE COLLEGE TRUSTE…The Climate Center: $80,000 · EducationThe Climate CenterUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION: $80,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA…The School for Ethics and Global Leadership: $76,000 · EducationThe School for Ethics an…ALZAR SCHOOL INC: $60,000 · EducationALZAR SCHOOL INCTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY: $30,000 · EducationTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF…+6 more: $28,000 · Education+6 moreNATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST: $420,052 · PhilanthropyNATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC…VIRGIN UNITE USA INC: $25,000 · Philanthropy+4 more: $26,000 · Philanthropy+4 moreALONZO KING LINES BALLET: $103,500 · Arts & CultureALONZO KING…CORPORATION OF THE FINE ARTS MUSEUMS: $50,000 · Arts & CultureCORPORATION…SAN FRANCISCO OPERA ASSOCIATION: $20,000 · Arts & CultureSAN FRANCIS…CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: $20,000 · Arts & CultureCALIFORNIA …SAN FRANCISCO BALLET ASSOCIATION: $20,000 · Arts & CultureSAN FRANCIS…SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY: $15,000 · Arts & CultureSAN FRANCIS…SAN FRANCISCO JAZZ ORGANIZATION: $10,000 · Arts & CultureSan Francisco Performances Inc: $9,000 · Arts & Culture+2 more: $2,000 · Arts & CultureGREENBELT ALLIANCEPEOPLE FOR OPEN SPACE: $48,500 · EnvironmentGREENBELT…ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCORPORATED: $30,000 · EnvironmentENVIRONME…The Pachamama Alliance: $25,000 · EnvironmentThe Pacha…International Biochar Initiative: $20,000 · EnvironmentInternati…CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION: $15,000 · EnvironmentCONSERVAT…PEPPERWOOD FOUNDATION: $10,000 · EnvironmentFRIENDS OF THE URBAN FOREST: $7,500 · Environment+12 more: $44,000 · Environment+12 moreCALIFORNIA TROUT INC: $41,000 · AnimalsWILD AFRICA: $15,000 · AnimalsWILDAID INC: $12,000 · AnimalsWILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK INC: $9,000 · AnimalsSAVE THE ELEPHANTS USA INC: $5,000 · AnimalsPCI-MEDIA IMPACT INC: $80,000 · International
Other$755,053Education$520,000Philanthropy$471,052Arts & Culture$249,500Environment$200,000Animals$82,000International$80,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetNATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST: $420,052 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHAMPSHIRE COLLEGE TRUSTEES: $166,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO: $150,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Pacific Forest Trust Incorporated: $119,500 over 4y, 1.0% of budgetALONZO KING LINES BALLET: $103,500 over 4y, 0.8% of budgetThe Climate Center: $80,000 over 3y, 1.2% of budgetPCI-MEDIA IMPACT INC: $80,000 over 4y, 0.9% of budgetUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION: $80,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetThe School for Ethics and Global Leadership: $76,000 over 2y, 1.1% of budgetAS YOU SOW: $60,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetALZAR SCHOOL INC: $60,000 over 2y, 0.8% of budgetCORPORATION OF THE FINE ARTS MUSEUMS: $50,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetGREENBELT ALLIANCEPEOPLE FOR OPEN SPACE: $48,500 over 2y, 1.0% of budgetCALIFORNIA TROUT INC: $41,000 over 2y, 0.4% of budgetTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY: $30,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCORPORATED: $30,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Pachamama Alliance: $25,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetVIRGIN UNITE USA INC: $25,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetUpstream USA Inc: $25,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetSAN FRANCISCO OPERA ASSOCIATION: $20,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetInternational Biochar Initiative: $20,000 over 1y, 13% of budgetCALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: $20,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetSAN FRANCISCO BALLET ASSOCIATION: $20,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetWILD AFRICA: $15,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetCONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION: $15,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY: $15,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetThe New Horizons Foundation Inc: $15,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWILDAID INC: $12,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPresident and Fellows of Harvard College: $11,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetPEPPERWOOD FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetSAN FRANCISCO JAZZ ORGANIZATION: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetNeighbors for a Better San Francisco: $10,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetCROHN'S & COLITIS FOUNDATION INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSONOMA COUNTY TOMORROW INC: $10,000 over 1y, 7.6% of budgetTHE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetOceanic Society Expeditions: $10,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetWILDLIFE CONSERVATION NETWORK INC: $9,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSan Francisco Performances Inc: $9,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetFRIENDS OF THE URBAN FOREST: $7,500 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetSONOMA LAND TRUST: $5,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetRainforest Action Network: $5,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetBay Area Ridge Trail Council: $5,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetVerra: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSan Francisco Film Society: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetMOTHERS OUT FRONT INC: $5,000 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetTen Strands: $5,000 over 4y, 0.2% of budgetGLOBAL HERITAGE FUND: $5,000 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetTIPPING POINT COMMUNITY: $5,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Flora L Thornton Foun…Marin Community Found…The San Francisco Fou…The William & Flora H…Mary a Crocker TrustGordon E and Betty I …Jewish Community Fede…Silicon Valley Commun…McNabb FoundationSonoma County Communi…Resources Legacy FundClif Family Foundation
Flora L Thornton FoundationCA34.7× affinity14 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Flora L Thornton Foundation · Marin Community Foundation · The San Francisco Foundation · The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation · Mary a Crocker Trust · Gordon E and Betty I Moore Foundation · Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco the Peninsula Marin & Sonoma · Silicon Valley Community Foundation · McNabb Foundation · Sonoma County Community Foundation · Resources Legacy Fund · Clif Family Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 40%1%4%8%15%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →median 4%
  • President and Fellows of Harvard College: 7% of income from government
  • Upstream Usa Inc: 4% of income from government
  • New Canaan Mounted Troop Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
4get no government money at all
14report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
05Through Plinth

Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

How do I get to The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation?

Find your warmest path to The Laney and Pasha Thornton Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 103 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Laney and Pasha Thornton’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home