Non-profit

Flora L. Thornton Foundation

Website:

www.fltfoundation.org/

Location:

San Francisco, CA

Tax ID:

95-3855595

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $2,207,626
Expenses: $4,889,299
Assets: $35,831,764

Type:

Private Family Foundation

Formation:

1983

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

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 Fund1 $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

  1. 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
  2. Betty Goodwin. “Chapter And Verse On Flora Thornton”; Los Angeles Times. March 23, 1997. Accessed Sept. 22, 2024.
  3. Flora L. Thornton Foundation. About Us. Accessed Sept. 30, 2024. https://www.fltfoundation.org/history#:~:text=Born%20in%20Fort%20Worth,%20Texas%20in%201913%20and
  4. 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/
  5. 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
  6. Flora L. Thornton Foundation. 990 Form. 2022. Part II. Balance Sheets. Accessed Oct. 1, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/953855595/202322619349100302/full
  7. 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
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: November - October
  • Tax Exemption Received: October 1, 1983

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2022 Nov Form PF $2,207,626 $4,889,299 $35,831,764 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2021 Nov Form PF $4,746,575 $2,724,043 $38,514,045 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2020 Nov Form PF $1,986,148 $2,937,693 $36,383,294 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2019 Nov Form PF $2,869,286 $2,809,840 $37,335,321 $1 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2014 Nov Form PF $804,585 $1,364,031 $36,702,155 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2012 Nov Form PF $3,610,635 $2,555,986 $38,200,195 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2011 Nov Form PF $24,126,124 $2,052,155 $37,145,546 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Flora L. Thornton Foundation

    633 BATTERY ST STE 100
    San Francisco, CA 94111-1812