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Thunderbirds Charities

EIN 86-0560664 · Phoenix, AZ

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE THUNDERBIRDS CHARITIES CORPORATION CONDUCTS BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA SERVING AS THE HOST ORGANIZATION FOR THE PGA TOUR EVENT THAT IS CONDUCTED ANNUALLY IN THE PHOENIX METROPOLITAN AREA, AND THROUGH DONATIONS TO ARIZONA BASED ORGANIZATIONS, (CONT'D SCHED O) PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES, CHILDREN, AND OTHERS IN NEED AND IMPROVING THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE OF ARIZONA'S COMMUNITIES.

Income
$11.4 million
Spending
$11.1 million
Spent on programs
99%
Reserves
12.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
4,500
Highest pay
$768,259, exec. director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    99% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $9.6 million spent. IN ADDITION TO THE CONTRIBUTIONS THE ORGANIZATION MADE THROUGH THE BIRDIES FOR CHARITY PROGRAM, DESCRIBED BELOW, THUNDERBIRDS CHARITIES MADE TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,620,500 TO VARIOUS 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS. THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS AND THE TOTAL DONATIONS MADE TO EACH OF THE FIVE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES: 1) COMMUNITY OUTREACH/QUALITY OF LIFE: TOTAL AWARDS $1,118,500; 3 ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $535,000 FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND 18 ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $583,500 FOR PROGRAM FUNDING. (CONT'D ON SCH O)2) AT-RISK YOUTH & FAMILIES: TOTAL AWARDS $3,195,000; 2 ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $370,000 FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND 36 ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $2,825,000 FOR PROGRAM FUNDING. 3) DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/HOMELESS/POVERTY: TOTAL AWARDS $2,155,000; 20 ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $2,155,000 FOR PROGRAM FUNDING. 4) EDUCATION: TOTAL AWARDS $1,190,000; 1 ORGANIZATION RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $500,000 FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND 21 ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $690,000 FOR PROGRAM FUNDING. 5) IMPROVING THE LIVES OF THE PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY CHALLENGED: TOTAL AWARDS $1,962,000; 2 ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $400,000 FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND 23 ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED A TOTAL $1,562,000 FOR PROGRAM FUNDING.
  2. $1.4 million spent. BIRDIES FOR CHARITY PROGRAM IS A TWO-PART PROGRAM DESIGNED TO GENERATE DONATIONS TO LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THE BIRDIES PROGRAM ALLOWS LOCAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO COLLECT PLEDGES BASED ON THE NUMBER OF BIRDIES MADE DURING THE WM PHOENIX OPEN. THUNDERBIRDS CHARITIES PROVIDES ALL MATERIALS FOR THE PLEDGE DRIVES AND COLLECTS THE PLEDGES AFTER THE EVENT. THUNDERBIRDS CHARITIES THEN ADDS 10% TO THE AMOUNT COLLECTED AND PAYS THE TOTAL TO THE 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATIONS. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF DONATIONS RECEIVED WAS $568,525. THE TOTAL OF 501(C)(3) CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVED FUNDING THROUGH THE BIRDIES FOR CHARITY PROGRAM WAS 59 FOR A TOTAL DONATION AMOUNT OF (CONT'D ON SCH O)$625,044 (MATCHING FUNDS OF $56,519)THE BIRDIES FOR CHARITY CORPORATE PARTNER PROGRAM RAISES MONEY FROM MAJOR SPONSORS OF THE WM PHOENIX OPEN FOR SPECIFIC CHARITIES. THUNDERBIRDS CHARITIES PROVIDES 50% MATCHING FUNDS TO THESE CHARITIES, UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $12,500THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF DONATIONS RECEIVED FROM SPONSORS WAS $520,000 AND THE TOTAL MATCHING FUNDS FROM THUNDERBIRDS CHARITIES WAS $260,000. THE PROGRAM TOTAL WAS $780,000.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1990.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.