The Thunderbirds
501(c)(6)
Only null% goes to programs Strong reserves Growing revenue
The Thunderbirds is a 501(c)(6) organization based in Phoenix, Arizona, registered in 1972, with $123,272,559 in FY2024 revenue. CharityIndex grades it A.
7226 N 16th St Ste 100, Phoenix, AZ, 85020 EIN 86-0373052 Since 1972
Revenue (FY2024)
$123.3M
▲ 5.2% vs prior year
Expenses (FY2024)
$112.0M
Net assets
$64.0M
Employees
220
CharityIndex rating
One independent A+ to F grade from four published criteria, each scored separately from IRS filings and combined by weight.
A
—Program efficiency40% of the ratingNo expense breakdown in filings
Measures how much of every dollar spent actually reaches programs, plus what it costs to raise $100 of donations. The worse of the two measures sets the letter (85%+ to programs is an A; under $15 to raise $100 is an A), averaged over the three most recent filings. Not scored for The Thunderbirds— this filing type doesn't report it, and the rating simply skips it (never counts it against the organization). See the exact thresholds →
AFinancial health25% of the rating7 mo reserves · +9% margin
Measures whether the organization is built to last: how many months its reserves would cover expenses (3+ months earns an A-range score, but hoarding 5+ years of budget is capped) and whether it runs a surplus or a deficit. For The Thunderbirds: 7 mo reserves · +9% margin earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
A+Governance25% of the rating6 of 6 checks met
Checks how the organization is run, from its own Form 990: an independent board majority, a board of five or more, conflict-of-interest, whistleblower and document-retention policies, and independently audited financials. The share of disclosed checks that pass sets the letter. For The Thunderbirds: 6 of 6 checks met earns a A+ on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
ATransparency10% of the rating4 of 5 disclosure signals
Counts five disclosure signals: a recent filing, a mission statement, program descriptions, a listed website, and the full expense breakdown. More disclosure, better letter. For The Thunderbirds: 4 of 5 disclosure signals earns a A on this criterion. See the exact thresholds →
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Mission
The purpose of the thunderbirds shall be to publicize the city of phoenix, arizona, (cont'd sched o) and the phoenix metropolitan area, by sponsoring athletic events and by providing financial assistance to amateur athletes and youth-oriented charities.
What they do
The thunderbirds provided volunteers and over $10.6m support for youth and family programs.
We also provided volunteers and $940k for high school, college, and amateur athletics.
Contact & location
Financial trends
Revenue grew from $32.4M (FY2013) to $123.3M (FY2024) across 12 reported years.
Financial snapshot
Financial health & position (FY2024)
Liabilities $13.7MNet assets $64.0M
Operating margin
9.2%
Revenue exceeded expenses in the latest fiscal year.
Total assets
$77.7M
Total liabilities
$13.7M
Net assets
$64.0M
Salaries & benefits
$7.9M
7% of expenses
Board members
13
13 independent
Financials by year
| Fiscal year | Revenue | Expenses | Net assets | Total assets | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $123,272,559▲5.2% | $111,955,641▲8.8% | $64,044,161▲27.2% | $77,744,819▲16.8% | 990 |
| 2023 | $117,217,368▲5.7% | $102,916,230▲0.7% | $50,358,057▲54.0% | $66,570,797▲50.1% | 990 |
| 2022 | $110,857,418▲31.4% | $102,211,158▲31.6% | $32,702,577▲36.2% | $44,363,845▲31.7% | 990 |
| 2021 | $84,390,943▲392% | $77,664,373▲233% | $24,018,618▲21.4% | $33,696,955▲14.7% | 990 |
| 2020 | $17,157,087▼74.5% | $23,293,799▼66.0% | $19,785,498▼12.7% | $29,379,853▲14.1% | 990 |
| 2019 | $67,396,723▲9.5% | $68,490,357▲15.3% | $22,667,066▼1.8% | $25,753,853▼3.2% | 990 |
| 2018 | $61,564,761▲11.9% | $59,398,661▲11.7% | $23,074,299▲10.5% | $26,594,766▲16.9% | 990 |
| 2017 | $55,039,040▲13.0% | $53,174,259▲16.8% | $20,873,529▲13.0% | $22,754,457▲14.0% | 990 |
| 2016 | $48,728,475▲11.6% | $45,524,916▲8.1% | $18,466,795▲25.5% | $19,964,525▲25.4% | 990 |
| 2015 | $43,650,572▲7.6% | $42,127,702▲11.9% | $14,720,259▲9.4% | $15,921,225▲8.0% | 990 |
| 2014 | $40,555,584▲25.1% | $37,652,062▲21.2% | $13,453,977▲26.4% | $14,744,404▲24.4% | 990 |
| 2013 | $32,430,118 | $31,057,702▲11.1% | $10,641,808▲15.9% | $11,851,688▲14.0% | 990 |
| 2012 | — | $27,964,565▲10.5% | $9,178,904▲23.2% | $10,397,464▲21.8% | 990 |
| 2011 | — | $25,315,944▲12.0% | $7,452,539▲13.3% | $8,535,354▲12.2% | 990 |
| 2010 | — | $22,604,872▲1.5% | $6,575,763▼13.2% | $7,605,864▼6.6% | 990 |
| 2009 | — | $22,276,479 | $7,579,732 | $8,140,503 | 990 |
Original Form 990 PDFs (the Form column) are served by ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, as filed with the IRS. Create a free account to download the CSV report.
Leadership & compensation (FY2024)
Highest-paid: Chance Cozby — $665,605 (0.59% of total expenses)
| Name | Title | Hours/week | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chance Cozby | Executive Director | 38 | $665,605 |
| Michelle Simpson | Cfo | 38 | $288,413 |
| Jonathan Jones | Event Build Manager | 40 | $177,427 |
| Laura L Moore | Sales & Marketing Coordinator | 40 | $170,374 |
| Cheryl R Ruggiero | Thunderbirds Charities Coordinator | 10 | $164,834 |
| Cheryl C Hussey | Tournament Chairmans Exec Assist | 40 | $160,935 |
| John Willard Goff | Event Build Manager | 40 | $149,916 |
| Brandon Stein | Mis Chief 2024-25 | 2 | — |
| Bull Earnhardt | Director - Active Member | 0.5 | — |
| Carlos Sugich | Director-life Member 24-25 | 1 | — |
| George Thimsen | Big Chief 2024-25 | 8 | — |
| Jason Adler | Little Chief 2024-25 | 2 | — |
| Jason Pritchett | Director - Active Member | 0.5 | — |
| Jessica Pacheco | Non Tbird Director 5 | 1 | — |
| John Damiris | Medicine Man 2024-25 | 2 | — |
| Kelly Mooney | Non Tbird Director 3 | 1 | — |
| Matt Mooney | Active (tourn Chairman) | 1 | — |
| Pat Williams | 1st Past Big Chief | 1 | — |
| Tom Grace | Sachem 2024-25 | 2 | — |
| Tony Petelin | Director-life Member 24-25 | 1 | — |
Top vendors & contractors (FY2024)
| Contractor | Services | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Pro Em Operations LLC | Tents, Security, Events | $14,821,954 |
| Inproductions Inc | Construction | $11,438,958 |
| M Culinary Concepts LLC | Catering | $8,512,898 |
| Wm Corporate Services Inc | Waste Management | $3,536,292 |
| Fairmont Scottsdale Princess | Lodging/catering | $3,376,887 |
Grants received · $40K total
3 grants to The Thunderbirds totaling $40K, reported by foundations on their Schedule I filings.
| Grantmaker | Purpose | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayo Clinic Group Return | Support exempt purpose | 2019 | $10,000 |
| Mayo Clinic Group Return | Support exempt purpose | 2018 | $10,000 |
| Mayo Clinic Group Return | Support exempt purpose | 2017 | $20,000 |
Grants made · $12.6M in FY2024
57 grants totaling $12.6M in FY2024 — showing the 15 largest. All grants made by The Thunderbirds →
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Thunderbirds Charities | Community service | $10,026,308 |
| Thunderbird Foundation A Trust | Growth of game | $497,000 |
| Bonneville Environmental Foundation | Environmental | $323,334 |
| Arizona Golf and Life Skills Inc | Youth development | $304,500 |
| Junior Golf Association of Arizona Inc | Youth development | $207,500 |
| Arizona Community Foundation | Community service | $160,000 |
| Pga Tour First Tee Foundation Inc | Youth development | $100,000 |
| Phoenix Panhellenic Association | Education | $92,394 |
| American Junior Golf Association | Health/human service | $70,000 |
| Waste Not Inc | Community service | $56,666 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley Inc | Youth development | $41,472 |
| Special Olympics Arizona Inc | Health/human service | $37,030 |
| West Valley Mavericks Foundation Inc | Community service | $33,000 |
| United Service Organizations Inc | Community services | $28,500 |
| Mvp Foundation | Education | $28,000 |
Frequently asked questions
- Is The Thunderbirds a legitimate nonprofit?
- Yes. The Thunderbirds is a 501(c)(6) organization registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under EIN 86-0373052, based in Phoenix, Arizona.
- What is The Thunderbirds's EIN?
- The Thunderbirds's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 86-0373052.
- How much revenue does The Thunderbirds report?
- The Thunderbirds reported $123,272,559 in total revenue on its fiscal year 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- What financial grade does The Thunderbirds have?
- CharityIndex grades The Thunderbirds A, based on financial health (reserves and operating margin).
- How much does The Thunderbirds's highest-paid employee make?
- The highest reported compensation on The Thunderbirds's latest Form 990 is $665,605, paid to Chance Cozby (Executive Director).
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Data for The Thunderbirds (EIN 86-0373052) comes from the IRS Business Master File and e-filed Form 990 returns, via CharityIndex. Figures reflect what the organization reported to the IRS for each fiscal year.