About Thunderbirds Charities
Thunderbirds Charities is a non-profit organization formed in 1986 to distribute monies raised through the WM Phoenix Open. Its mission is to support organizations that assist children and families, help people in need, and improve the quality of life in the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
Focus Areas
At-risk youth & familiesCommunity outreach / quality of lifeEducation (including STEM)Services for the physically & mentally challengedDomestic violence / homelessness / poverty
Who They Fund
at-risk youthfamilies (including low-income families)survivors of domestic violencepeople experiencing homelessnesspeople living in povertyindividuals with physical disabilities
About Thunderbirds Charities
Thunderbirds Charities is closely tied to the WM Phoenix Open, which supplies the money it distributes. Formed in 1986, the foundation uses those proceeds to support organizations that assist children and families, help people in need, and improve quality of life in the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Its giving is broad within that local frame, but the recurring pattern across recent grants is clear: sustained support for domestic violence, homelessness, and poverty services, alongside youth, education, and disability-related programs. Recent awards show both large and repeated commitments. Keys to Change received $316,020 in 2025 for domestic violence, homeless, and poverty-related work, while Umom New Day Centers was funded in both 2023 and 2025 for similar needs. The foundation also backed Child Crisis Arizona with $1,027,500 in 2024 for at-risk youth and families, and Special Olympics Arizona in multiple years for services for people with physical and intellectual disabilities. Thunderbirds Charities funds community-based nonprofits rather than individuals, and its recent activity reflects long-term support for a tightly defined service area.
What Thunderbirds Charities Funds
A major share of Thunderbirds Charities’ giving goes to domestic violence, homelessness, and poverty services. Recent examples include $315,000 to Umom New Day Centers in 2023, $303,692 to Human Services Campus in 2024, and $250,000 to Arizona Housing Inc in 2024. The foundation also funds at-risk youth and family programs. It gave $215,000 to Valley of the Sun YMCA in 2025, $136,000 to Elevate Phoenix in 2025, and $135,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of the Valley in 2025. Disability-related services are another recurring area. Special Olympics Arizona received $185,854 in 2025 and $174,710 in 2024, while Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center received $150,000 in 2025. Community health and quality-of-life work appears as well, including a $500,000 grant to Valleywise Health Foundation in 2024.
How Thunderbirds Charities Gives
Typical awards cluster around five figures to low six figures, with a p25 of $17,388, a median of $25,150, and a p75 of $50,210. The recent-grants list also shows substantially larger commitments to selected organizations, including recurring support across multiple years for some recipients. Thunderbirds Charities is a nonprofit foundation and its grantmaking is programmatic rather than to individuals. The active grant programs listed all accept unsolicited applications, including competitive cycles tied to the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area and a scholarship program for Arizona students.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$11M
Total Assets
$11.3M
Total Revenue
$11.4M
Total Expenses
$11.1M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $17K and $50K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$17K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$50K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
PATRICK D WILLIAMS
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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