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Nonprofiteer
← THE THUNDERBIRDS

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by THE THUNDERBIRDS.

Totals

Total revenue
$123,272,559
Total expenses
$111,955,641
Contributions and grants received
$0
Grants paid
$12,894,047
Program service revenue
$120,079,004
Investment income
$2,606,314
Other revenue
$587,241
Total assets, end of year
$77,744,819
Total liabilities, end of year
$13,700,658
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$64,044,161
Program services expenses (Part IX)
not reported
Management and general expenses
not reported
Fundraising expenses
not reported
Program service expenses (Part III)
not reported

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 2a · Program service revenue: PGA TOUR OPEN TOURNAMENT

    total $119,641,964 · related or exempt $119,641,964

  • 2b · Program service revenue: AD SALES

    total $257,040 · excluded $257,040

  • 2c · Program service revenue: MEMBERSHIP DUES

    total $180,000 · related or exempt $180,000

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $2,606,314 · excluded $2,606,314

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $587,241 · excluded $587,241

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $12,894,047

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,064,914

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $5,923,394

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $712,860

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $212,990

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $21,616

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $59,170

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $102,510

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $1,834

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $1,356,854

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $961,054

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $521,939

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $35,899

  • 17 · Travel

    total $180,283

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $244,499

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $1,686,911

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $1,007,626

  • 24a · Other expenses: HOSPITALITY

    total $49,418,141

  • 24b · Other expenses: TOURNAMENT OPERATIONS

    total $18,605,011

  • 24c · Other expenses: PURSES, AWARDS, INCENTI

    total $9,577,015

  • 24d · Other expenses: TRADE

    total $3,226,475

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $4,140,599

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $7,882,398 · end of year $9,964,973

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $23,889,075 · end of year $22,535,826

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $521,255 · end of year $325,921

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $378,778 · end of year $549,892

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $16,060,218

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $9,542,751

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $5,608,037 · end of year $6,517,467

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $28,291,254 · end of year $37,850,740

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $5,491,941 · end of year $2,234,831

  • 18 · Grants payable

    beginning of year $9,331,834 · end of year $9,709,792

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $1,388,965 · end of year $1,756,035

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $50,358,057 · end of year $64,044,161

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE PURPOSE OF THE THUNDERBIRDS SHALL BE TO PUBLICIZE THE CITY OF PHOENIX, ARIZONA, AND THE PHOENIX METROPOLITAN AREA, BY SPONSORING ATHLETIC EVENTS AND BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO AMATEUR ATHLETES AND YOUTH-ORIENTED CHARITIES.

Activities or mission (Part I)

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.

  • WITH THE GOAL TO PROMOTE THE PHOENIX METROPOLITAN AREA THROUGH SPORTS, THE THUNDERBIRDS PROMOTED AND PRODUCED THE WM PHOENIX OPEN GOLF TOURNAMENT TO RAISE MONEY FOR ARIZONA CHARITIES, MOST OF WHICH PROVIDE PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT YOUTH. WASTE MANAGEMENT IS THE TITLE SPONSOR, AND THE TOURNAMENT IS HELD AT THE TPC SCOTTSDALE. THE TOURNAMENT GENERATED TOTAL REVENUES OF $121M WITH TOTAL EXPENSES OF $99M. RECENT BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE PHOENIX CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, FIRST TEE OF PHOENIX, JR. GOLF ASSN. OF AZ, SPECIAL OLYMPICS AZ, SUN ANGEL FOUNDATION, ST. MARY'S FOOD BANK, ARIZONA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, AND BANNER HEALTH FOUNDATION.

  • 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.

As filed on the 2024 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • GEORGE THIMSEN

    BIG CHIEF 2024-25

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    8 + 3 related

  • JASON ADLER

    LITTLE CHIEF 2024-25

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 0.5 related

  • JOHN DAMIRIS

    MEDICINE MAN 2024-25

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 1.5 related

  • BRANDON STEIN

    MIS CHIEF 2024-25

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 0.5 related

  • TOM GRACE

    SACHEM 2024-25

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2 + 0.5 related

  • MATT MOONEY

    ACTIVE (TOURN CHAIRMAN)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 1.5 related

  • BULL EARNHARDT

    DIRECTOR - ACTIVE MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5 + 0.5 related

  • JASON PRITCHETT

    DIRECTOR - ACTIVE MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    0.5 + 0.5 related

  • TONY PETELIN

    DIRECTOR-LIFE MEMBER 24-25

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 0.5 related

  • CARLOS SUGICH

    DIRECTOR-LIFE MEMBER 24-25

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 0.5 related

  • JESSICA PACHECO

    NON TBIRD DIRECTOR 5

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2 related

  • KELLY MOONEY

    NON TBIRD DIRECTOR 3

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2 related

  • PAT WILLIAMS

    1ST PAST BIG CHIEF

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1 + 2 related

  • CHANCE COZBY

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $768,259
    From this org
    $665,605
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $102,654
    Hours/week
    38 + 5 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $455,605
    Bonus
    $210,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $69,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $33,654
    Filer's total
    $768,259

  • MICHELLE SIMPSON

    CFO

    Total calculated
    $380,279
    From this org
    $288,413
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $91,866
    Hours/week
    38 + 5 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $226,413
    Bonus
    $62,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $58,418
    Nontaxable benefits
    $33,448
    Filer's total
    $380,279

  • JOHN WILLARD GOFF

    EVENT BUILD MANAGER

    Total calculated
    $204,931
    From this org
    $149,916
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $55,015
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $124,916
    Bonus
    $25,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $30,403
    Nontaxable benefits
    $24,612
    Filer's total
    $204,931

  • CHERYL C HUSSEY

    TOURNAMENT CHAIRMANS EXEC ASSIST

    Total calculated
    $223,688
    From this org
    $160,935
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $62,753
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $130,935
    Bonus
    $30,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $33,529
    Nontaxable benefits
    $29,224
    Filer's total
    $223,688

  • LAURA L MOORE

    SALES & MARKETING COORDINATOR

    Total calculated
    $219,088
    From this org
    $170,374
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $48,714
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $135,374
    Bonus
    $35,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $34,729
    Nontaxable benefits
    $13,985
    Filer's total
    $219,088

  • CHERYL R RUGGIERO

    THUNDERBIRDS CHARITIES COORDINATOR

    Total calculated
    $215,364
    From this org
    $164,834
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $50,530
    Hours/week
    10 + 30 related

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $134,834
    Bonus
    $30,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $33,529
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,001
    Filer's total
    $215,364

  • JONATHAN JONES

    EVENT BUILD MANAGER

    Total calculated
    $245,672
    From this org
    $177,427
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $68,245
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $152,427
    Bonus
    $25,000
    Other
    $0
    Deferred
    $35,983
    Nontaxable benefits
    $32,262
    Filer's total
    $245,672

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 1a · First-class or charter travel
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Independent compensation consultant
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement

The filer's explanations (Part III)

PART I, LINE 1A
THIS TRAVEL IS FOR PGA MEETINGS OR TITLE SPONSOR MEETINGS AND IS PROVIDED FOR IN THE THUNDERBIRDS TRAVEL GUIDELINES OF THE TRAVEL POLICY.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

The 10 largest by cash amount. The API serves every itemized grant.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

  • THUNDERBIRDS CHARITIES

    501(C)(3) · DISTRIBUTE MONEY TO CHARITABLE CAUSES · AZ · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by THE THUNDERBIRDS

  • THE THUNDERBIRD FOUNDATION

    501(C)(4) · SUPPORT AMATEUR ATHLETES & ATHLETIC PROGRAMS IN PHOENIX METROPOLITAN AREA · AZ · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by THE THUNDERBIRDS

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
13 January 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.5
Source object
202630159349301543

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

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