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The Thorne Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Thorne Foundation

Its FY2017 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$50k
Granted FY2017
24
Grants FY2017
9
States reached
$15k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01FY2017 · 24 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2017

  • Under $10k23 grants · $35k
  • $10k–50k1 grant · $15k
$500
Median grant
9
States reached
$0
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
SEED GLOBAL HEALTH$15,000
THOMAS HEYWARD ACADEMY$5,000
YALE UNIVERSITY FORESTRY SCHOOL$5,000
AMERICAN ACADEMY IN ROME$5,000
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY$5,000
INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART$5,000
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION$2,000
BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION$2,000
COASTAL DISCOVERY MUSEUM$1,000
TULANE UNIVERSITY$500
THORNE NATURE EXPERIENCE$500
JEKYLL ISLAND FOUNDATION$500
CAROLINA GOLD RICE FOUNDATION$500
CARNEGIE COUNCIL$500
THE LIVESTOCK CONSERVANY$500
02The need
02

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 (FY17–17) land where the poverty rate runs at 15%, against an area that typically sits at 16%. 75% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 16%CHESTNUT HILL BENEVOLENCE FUND: $250 → 7%THE FIRST CHURCH-CHRIST SCIENTIST: $250 → 8%SEED GLOBAL HEALTH: $15k → 16%AMERICAN ACADEMY IN ROME: $5k → 17%WOODLAWN CONSERVANCY: $250 → 28%COASTAL DISCOVERY MUSEUM: $1k → 10%THE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $5k → 12%THOMAS HEYWARD ACADEMY: $5k → 17%FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION: $2k → 19%FIRST CHURCH-CHRIST SCIENTIST: $150 → 9%THE LIVESTOCK CONSERVANY: $500 → 9%JEKYLL ISLAND FOUNDATION: $500 → 14%THORNE NATURE EXPERIENCE: $500 → 12%TULANE UNIVERSITY: $500 → 23%INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART: $5k → 16%CARNEGIE COUNCIL: $500 → 17%SHELDON ANIMAL RESCUE: $150 → 10%CAROLINA GOLD RICE FOUNDATION: $500 → 12%FIFTH CHURCH OF CHRISTSCIENTIST: $350 → 17%BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $2k → 10%SANTA ELENA FOUNDATION: $250 → 10%HISTORIC BEAUFORT FOUNDATION: $250 → 10%PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION OF BEAUFORT COUNTY: $100 → 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

NY
MA
CT
CO
NC
SC
LA
GA
FL
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 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
American Museum of Natural History

The museum's mission statement is: "to discover, interpret, and disseminate - through scientific research and education - knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe."

Arts & Culture
2
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Inc

We harness the power of plants for humankind and share the joy and beauty of tropical gardening with everyone. fairchild tropical botanic garden is a museum of tropical plants within a world famous, 83-acre designed landscape. it was…

Environment
3
The Charleston Museum

To educate Charleston area residents and visitors about the natural and cultural history of the South Carolina Lowcountry through collections, exhibitions, preservation, conservation, research and related programming.

Arts & Culture
4
Boston Architectural College

The bac is committed to provide excellence in design education grounded in practice and accessible to diverse communities.

—
5
Brookgreen Gardens

Brookgreen gardens was formed in 1931 to collect, preserve and exhibit american sculpture, and the flora and fauna native to south carolina.

Environment
6
President and Fellows of Harvard College

Undergraduate, graduate, and professional education and research across a broad array of academic domains.

Education
7
The Coral Reef and Marine Science Foundation Inc C/O James Bildner
—
8
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Inc

Organization's mission statement true to the ambitious vision of its founder and her spirit of creative risk-taking, the mission of the isabella stewart gardner museum is: - to bring to life and preserve the rich historic collection; - to…

Arts & Culture
9
New York Botanical Garden

The new york botanical garden is a museum of plants and a scientific research center devoted to the study of plants and their uses. it is the garden's mission to improve public understanding of the natural world, horticulture, and the…

Environment
10
Tudor Place Foundation Inc

Tudor place historic house & garden preserves the stories of six generations of descendants of martha washington and the enslaved and free people who lived and worked at this georgetown landmark for nearly two centuries. by examining their…

—
11
Society of Architectural Historians

The mission of the society is to advance the knowledge and understanding of architecture, design, landscape and urbanism worldwide among scholars, professionals in allied fields (including architecture, historic preservation and planning)…

Arts & Culture
12
Trustees for Harvard University

To facilitate harvard university's scientific, literary, and educational activities in washington, dc.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Historic Beaufort Foundation; the most unlike its peers is Public Library Foundation of Beaufort County. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
03the grantee network

16 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. 16 of the 23 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)
4
Early backer (in before they grew)
15/16
Grantees still filing
15/16
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

SEED GLOBAL HEALTH: $15,000 · EducationSEED GLOBAL HEALTHTHOMAS HEYWARD ACADEMY INC: $5,000 · EducationTHOMAS HEYWARD ACADEMY INCThe Florida State University Foundation Inc: $2,000 · EducationThe Florida State University Foundation Inc+2 more: $600 · EducationYALE UNIVERSITY FORESTRY SCHOOL: $5,000 · OtherYALE UNIVERSITY FORESTRY SCH…THE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $5,000 · OtherTHE NATURE CONSERVANCYCARNEGIE COUNCIL: $500 · OtherCAROLINA GOLD RICE FOUNDATION: $500 · Other+5 more: $1,400 · Other+5 moreTHE INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART INC: $5,000 · Arts & CultureTHE INSTITUTE O…COASTAL DISCOVERY MUSEUM: $1,000 · Arts & CultureCOASTAL DISCOVE…JEKYLL ISLAND FOUNDATION INC: $500 · Arts & CultureJEKYLL ISLAND F…WOODLAWN CONSERVANCY INC: $250 · Arts & CultureHISTORIC BEAUFORT FOUNDATION: $250 · Arts & CultureAMERICAN ACADEMY IN ROME: $5,000 · InternationalAMERICAN AC…BEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $2,000 · HealthTHE LIVESTOCK CONSERVANCY INC: $500 · Food & NutritionTHORNE ECOLOGICAL INSTITUTE: $500 · Environment
Education$22,600Other$12,400Arts & Culture$7,000International$5,000Health$2,000Food & Nutrition$500Environment$500

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

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetSEED GLOBAL HEALTH: $15,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetAMERICAN ACADEMY IN ROME: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHOMAS HEYWARD ACADEMY INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBEAUFORT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetThe Florida State University Foundation Inc: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOASTAL DISCOVERY MUSEUM: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE LIVESTOCK CONSERVANCY INC: $500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHORNE ECOLOGICAL INSTITUTE: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE TULANE EDUCATIONAL FUND: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetJEKYLL ISLAND FOUNDATION INC: $500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWOODLAWN CONSERVANCY INC: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHISTORIC BEAUFORT FOUNDATION: $250 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSanta Elena Foundation: $250 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION OF BEAUFORT COUNTY: $100 over 1y, 0.1% 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.

Coastal Community Fou…The Bank of America C…Vanguard Charitable E…Fidelity Investments …Donor Advised Charita…Amazonsmile Foundation
Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina IncSC15.5× affinity5 shared granteesties to 5 of 5Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina Inc · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Amazonsmile 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 Thorne Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Thorne Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%6%13%19%25%share of the org’s income from government →median 1%
  • The Institute of Contemporary Art Inc: 1% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
1get no government money at all
6report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–25%
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.

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 23 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 2017, released 2017. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Thorne’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