Thornburg Foundation
Preselected recipients only
Thornburg Foundation is a private foundation in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In tax year 2024 it gave $6.4 million in 144 grants; the typical grant was $25,000 and the largest $225,000. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$6.4 million
- Number of grants144
- Typical grant$25,000
- Largest grant$225,000
- Assets$179 million
- New grantees35%
Giving in 2024 was up from $5.8 million the year before.
35% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $5.8 million | 141 | $163 million |
| 2024 | $6.4 million | 144 | $179 million |
How to apply
Thornburg Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What Thornburg Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 17 states, the most to New Mexico.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | 90 | $3.5 million |
| District of Columbia | 12 | $781,000 |
| New York | 8 | $590,000 |
| California | 7 | $470,400 |
| Louisiana | 2 | $225,000 |
| Massachusetts | 8 | $197,500 |
| Colorado | 4 | $180,000 |
| Illinois | 3 | $180,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | $140,000 |
| Maryland | 1 | $75,000 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Prepared to Teach Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors | Provide technical assistance for teacher residency programs at nm colleges of education | $225,000 |
| Catalyst Education | Nm public education department- research support | $200,000 |
| Pacific Institute for Studies in Development Environment and Security | The untapped potential of water supply alternatives in nm project | $160,405 |
| Ndi-Nm | General operating | $150,000 |
| Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation | Principal licensure work group and residency advocacy project | $136,000 |
| Ogallala Land & Water Conservancy | Conserving groundwater for community survival and sustainable land use in eastern nm project | $130,000 |
| Prepared to Teach Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors | To provide technical assistance for teacher residency programs at nm colleges of education | $125,000 |
| Campaign Legal Center | General operating | $100,000 |
| Common Cause Education Fund | General operating | $100,000 |
| Common Cause Education Fund | Democracy in a new era project work in new mexico | $100,000 |
| Environmental Defense Fund | New mexico groundwater resilience project | $100,000 |
| Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching | To support teacher residencies across nm at both the undergraduate and graduate levels | $100,000 |
| New Mexico in Depth | Good government reporting project | $100,000 |
| New Mexico School for the Arts - Art Institute | General operating | $100,000 |
| New Mexico School for the Arts - Art Institute | General operating | $100,000 |
| Rio Grande Return | Watershed restoration capacity, outreach and development project | $100,000 |
| Rural Community Assistance Corporation | Strengthening regional collaboration among taos county public water systems project | $100,000 |
| The Pew Charitable Trusts | Housing policy initative project | $100,000 |
| Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership | Strengthening watershed and climate resiliency policy solutions in nm's rio grande watershed project | $100,000 |
| Unm Foundation | State and local government journalism partnership project | $100,000 |
| Water Finance Exchange | Nm water/wastewater infrastructure coordination committee and tribal working group project | $100,000 |
| Teach Plus | Teach plus new mexico teacher leadership programming project | $85,000 |
| Connected | Improving college and career pathways in rural new mexico | $80,000 |
| Amigos Bravos | Strengthening watershed and climate resiliency policy solutions in nm rio grande basin project | $75,000 |
| Conservation Voters New Mexico Education Fund | A year for water: amplifying the need for water protection in nm project | $75,000 |
| Election Reformers Network | Redistricting public education and stakeholder engagement in nm | $75,000 |
| Institute for Responsive Government | Resilient elections network - general operating | $75,000 |
| National Center on Teacher Quality | Galvanizing efforts to ensure high quality alternative certification programs project | $75,000 |
| New Mexico Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts | Technical assistance and support to non-profits to apply for federal funds project | $75,000 |
| New Mexico Community Trust | Pathways to opportunity pooled fund | $75,000 |
| Santa Fe Community Foundation | Nm local news fund project | $75,000 |
| Santa Fe Community Foundation | Accessing public funds project | $75,000 |
| The Quivira Coalition | Investing in relationships for resilient working lands project | $75,000 |
| Western Landowners Alliance | New mexico land stewardship initiative | $75,000 |
| Western Resource Advocates | Improving water governance and river protections in nm project | $75,000 |
| National Young Farmers Coalition | Building young farmer leaders in nm project | $70,000 |
| University of New Mexico Foundation | New mexico state legislative graduate fellowship project | $70,000 |
| New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness | 2024 built for zero learning sessions | $65,000 |
| University of New Mexico | Native american water rights settlement & rio chama water shortage sharing case study | $65,000 |
| Agri-Cultura Cooperative Network Via la Cosecha | Strengthening the pathway to regenerative small scale farming & ranching | $63,750 |
Officers and trustees
- Allan Oliver
- Garrett Thornburg
- Blair Naylor
- Jim Minich
- Fred Nathan
- Brian Boyd
- Alon Kasha
- Elliot Thornburg
- Lloyd Thornburg
Questions people ask
Does Thornburg Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does Thornburg Foundation give?
$6.4 million in tax year 2024, across 144 grants, with a typical grant of $25,000.
Who runs Thornburg Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Allan Oliver (Executive Director), Garrett Thornburg (President), Blair Naylor (Director/Vice President) and Jim Minich (Director/Treasurer) among 9 officers and trustees.
What does Thornburg Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, environment and conservation and science and research.