The Flora L. Thornton Foundation is a family-run nonprofit that donates to left-of-center environmentalist organizations and other advocacy groups. 1
Background
The Flora L. Thornton Foundation was started in 1983. 2 Flora Thornton was married to Charles Thornton, 3 who was the founder of Litton Industries. 3 Charles Thornton was a member of President Ronald Reagan’s “kitchen cabinet.” 4 At the time of Charles Thorton’s death in 1981, Litton Industries had about $5 billion in sales. 4 Flora Thornton died in 2010 4 and endowed the foundation with part of her estate. In 2011, the foundation had $24.1 million in revenue, which included the gross sale price of an asset for $21.6 million. 5
Finances
The Flora L. Thornton Foundation had $2.2 million in revenues with total expenses of $4.9 million in 2022. 6 The foundation reported total assets of $47.2 million. 6
Grantmaking
Environmentalism
In 2022, the Flora L. Thornton Foundation donated $70,000 to environmental advocacy group Center for Environmental Health, $100,000 to climate advocacy group Environmental Defense Fund, 1 $55,000 to the Rocky Mountain Institute, 1 $30,000 to left-of-center Climate Center, 1 $30,000 to the Natural Resources Defense Council, $90,000 to The Nature Conservancy, and $70,000 to the Southern Environmental Law Center. 1
Other Advocacy
In 2022, the Flora L. Thornton Foundation gave $25,000 to the left-of-center health advocacy group Center for the Science in the Public Interest. 1
Also in 2022, the Flora L. Thornton Foundation gave $10,000 to the International Planned Parenthood Federation Western Hemisphere Region. 1 In 2020, the Western Hemisphere Region disaffiliated from the International Planned Parenthood Federation. 7 The International Planned Parenthood Federation Western Hemisphere Region later merged with the International Women’s Health Coalition and the Center for Health and Global Equality to form Fos Feminista. 7
References
- Flora L. Thornton Foundation. 990 Form. 2022. Part XIV. Supplementary Information. Accessed Sept. 30, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/953855595#:~:text=Nonprofit%20Explorer%20has%20organizations
- Betty Goodwin. “Chapter And Verse On Flora Thornton”; Los Angeles Times. March 23, 1997. Accessed Sept. 22, 2024.
- Flora L. Thornton Foundation. About Us. Accessed Sept. 30, 2024. https://www.fltfoundation.org/history#:~:text=Born%20in%20Fort%20Worth,%20Texas%20in%201913%20and
- United Press International. “Litton Industries Founder Dies”; Nov. 25, 1981. Accessed Sept. 30, 2024. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/11/25/Litton-Industries-founder-dies/2879375512400/
- Flora L. Thornton Foundation. 990 Form. 2011. Part I. Analysis Of Revenue And Expenses. Accessed Oct. 1, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/953855595/2012_10_PF%2F95-3855595_990PF_201111
- Flora L. Thornton Foundation. 990 Form. 2022. Part II. Balance Sheets. Accessed Oct. 1, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/953855595/202322619349100302/full
- International Planned Parenthood Federation. IPPF Statement On Western Hemisphere Region. Aug. 5, 2020. Accessed Oct. 1, 2020. https://www.ippf.org/news/ippf-statement-western-hemisphere-region