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THE THUNDERBIRDS
PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 860373052 · Form 990 · FY2021 · Very Large (>$50M) · www.wmphoenixopen.com
revenue
$84.4M
expenses
$77.7M
net assets
$24.0M
employees
73
volunteers
30
mission · from form 990

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.

profile · synthesized from sources

Organizer of the WM Phoenix Open, a major PGA TOUR golf tournament held annually at TPC Scottsdale since 1987. Known as "The People's Open," the event draws hundreds of thousands of spectators and has generated over $400 million in economic impact. The Thunderbirds support the tournament through volunteerism, community engagement, and sustainability initiatives, including achieving zero waste for over a decade.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2021

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $0
    THE THUNDERBIRDS PROVIDED VOLUNTEERS AND OVER $5.4M SUPPORT FOR YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMS.
  2. #2 $0
    WE ALSO PROVIDED VOLUNTEERS AND $743K FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND AMATEUR ATHLETICS.
named programs · 4 · from sources

what they call their work

Coors Light Birds Nest
Four-night concert series held during tournament week featuring major musical artists, marketed as the hottest nightclub in Scottsdale
Kiva Club
On-course hospitality venue adjacent to holes #10 and #17, offering premium viewing, food, and beverage options during tournament play
WM Phoenix Open
Annual PGA TOUR golf tournament held at TPC Scottsdale, known as "The People's Open," featuring professional golf competition and large fan attendance
Zero Waste Initiative
Sustainability program in partnership with WM and PGA TOUR to divert 98% of waste from landfill through recycling, composting, and donation
activities · 4 groups

what they do

  • Professional Golf Tournament Hosting 17 activities
    • Deliver large-scale music and entertainment event programming
      Hosts the Coors Light Birds Nest, a four-night annual music and entertainment event in Scottsdale held in conjunction with the WM Phoenix Open.
    • Historically sponsor and revive the Phoenix Open tournament
      Revived the Phoenix Open in 1939 after a four-year hiatus and has sponsored the tournament annually since, except in 1943.
    • Historically sponsor and revive the Phoenix Open tournament
      Revived the Phoenix Open tournament in 1939 after a four-year hiatus and has sponsored the event annually since, except in 1943.
    • Host and operate the Coors Light Birds Nest entertainment event
      Produces the Coors Light Birds Nest, a four-night annual music and entertainment event held in Scottsdale in conjunction with the WM Phoenix Open.
    • Host and operate the WM Phoenix Open golf tournament
      Organizes and hosts the annual WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, known as “The People’s Open,” including general admission access and tournament operations. The event has been sponsored annually since 1939, except for 1943, and was revived by the organization in 1939 after a hiatus.
    • Host and operate the WM Phoenix Open golf tournament
      Organizes and hosts the annual WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, including tournament play, practice rounds, pro-ams, and special events, offering general admission access to spectators. The event is known as “The People’s Open” and includes free admission on Monday and Tuesday.
    • Host and operate the WM Phoenix Open golf tournament
      Organizes and hosts the annual WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, known as “The People’s Open,” providing a general admission golf tournament experience for attendees.
    • Host and operate the WM Phoenix Open golf tournament
      Organizes and hosts the annual WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, including tournament play, practice rounds, pro-ams, and special events, known as “The People’s Open.” The event includes spectator access to key viewing areas such as the Kiva Club adjacent to holes #10 and #17.
    • Host the Coors Light Birds Nest music and entertainment event
      Produces the Coors Light Birds Nest, a four-night annual event in Scottsdale featuring music and entertainment, held in conjunction with the WM Phoenix Open.
    • Host the Coors Light Birds Nest music and entertainment event
      Produces the Coors Light Birds Nest, a four-night annual event in Scottsdale featuring music and entertainment, concurrent with the WM Phoenix Open.
    • Hosting the WM Phoenix Open
      THE THUNDERBIRDS host the annual WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale, a golf tournament known as “The People’s Open,” which includes general admission, practice rounds, pro-ams, and tournament play, and offers free admission on Monday and Tuesday.
    • Maintain historical sponsorship and operation of the Phoenix Open
      Revived the Phoenix Open tournament in 1939 after a four-year hiatus and has sponsored it annually since, except in 1943.
    • Managing the Kiva Club Venue
      THE THUNDERBIRDS operate the Kiva Club venue adjacent to holes #10 and #17 at the WM Phoenix Open, providing spectators with viewing access to key golf moments and offering food and beverage for purchase.
    • Operate spectator venues at the WM Phoenix Open
      Manages premium spectator venues such as the Kiva Club, located adjacent to holes #10 and #17 at TPC Scottsdale, offering viewing access to key golf moments, food and beverage for purchase, and General Admission access.
    • Operating the Coors Light Birds Nest
      THE THUNDERBIRDS host the Coors Light Birds Nest, a four-night music and entertainment event held annually in Scottsdale in conjunction with the WM Phoenix Open.
    • Provide free admission access during early tournament days
      Offers free general admission to the WM Phoenix Open on Monday and Tuesday of event week.
    • Provide free general admission days at WM Phoenix Open
      Offers free general admission to the WM Phoenix Open on Monday and Tuesday of tournament week, increasing public access to the event.
  • Tourism & Event Economic Impact 4 activities
    • Generate regional economic impact through WM Phoenix Open
      Generates over $400 million in economic impact for the region through the operation and hosting of the WM Phoenix Open.
    • Generate regional economic impact through WM Phoenix Open
      Generates over $400 million in economic impact for the region through the operation and hosting of the WM Phoenix Open.
    • Generate regional economic impact through event operations
      Generates over $400 million in economic impact from the annual WM Phoenix Open tournament.
    • Generate regional economic impact through the WM Phoenix Open
      Generates over $400 million in economic impact from the annual WM Phoenix Open tournament.
  • Youth Program Volunteer Engagement 3 activities
    • Manage volunteer engagement for event operations
      Requires volunteers to be at least 18 years old and to work a minimum of three shifts during the event week in 2026 to support operations at the WM Phoenix Open.
    • Manage volunteer requirements for event operations
      Establishes operational requirements for volunteers, including a minimum age of 18 and a commitment to work at least three shifts during the 2026 event week.
    • Manage volunteer requirements for event operations
      Establishes operational requirements for volunteers, including a minimum age of 18 and a commitment to work at least three shifts during the event week in 2026.
  • Uncategorized 6 activities
    • Implement sustainability and waste diversion initiatives at events
      Diverts 98% of waste from landfill through recycling, composting, donation, and energy generation at the WM Phoenix Open. Conducted a third-party limited assurance on the event’s greenhouse gas emissions inventory.
    • Implement sustainability initiatives at the WM Phoenix Open
      Diverts 98% of event waste from landfills through recycling, composting, donation, and energy generation, and completes third-party limited assurance on greenhouse gas emissions inventory for the WM Phoenix Open.
    • Implementing Waste Diversion at WM Phoenix Open
      THE THUNDERBIRDS divert 98% of waste from landfills at the WM Phoenix Open through recycling, composting, donation, and energy generation.
    • Manage sustainability and waste diversion at WM Phoenix Open
      Diverts 98% of event waste from landfill through recycling, composting, donation, and energy generation, and completes third-party limited assurance on greenhouse gas emissions inventory for the WM Phoenix Open.
    • Manage sustainability and waste diversion at WM Phoenix Open
      Diverts 98% of event waste from landfills through recycling, composting, donation, and energy generation, and completes third-party limited assurance on greenhouse gas emissions inventory for the WM Phoenix Open.
    • Measuring Greenhouse Gas Emissions
      THE THUNDERBIRDS complete third-party limited assurance on the greenhouse gas emissions inventory for the WM Phoenix Open.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$84.39M
Contributions & grants$357K0%
Program service revenue$83.12M99%
Investment income$660K1%
Other revenue$250K
expenses
Total expenses$77.66M
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$5.44M
Grants paid out$9.66M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$33.70M
Cash$9.13M
Investments$20.64M
Liabilities$9.68M
Net assets$24.02M
Liquid reserves4.6 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue +391.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 6
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
CHANCE COZBY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 38 $690K
MICHELLE SIMPSON CFO 38 $295K
CHERYL C HUSSEY TOURNAMENT CHAIRMANS EXEC. ASST. 40 $169K
CHERYL R RUGGIERO THUNDERBIRDS CHARITIES COORDINATOR 10 $164K
LAURA L MOORE SALES & MARKETING COORDINATOR 40 $163K
JOHN WILLARD GOFF EVENT MANAGER 40 $153K
board members · 13
  • CHRIS CAMACHO — DIRECTOR - LIFE MEMBER 2021-22
  • DANNY CALIHAN — DIRECTOR 2021-22
  • DARYL BERGER — DIRECTOR - ACTIVE MEMBER
  • DAVE KING — MIS CHIEF 2021-22
  • DR MICHAEL GOLDING — ACTIVE (TOURN CHAIRMAN)
  • IAN SWIERGOL — MEDICINE MAN 2021-22
  • JASON GOLDMAN — SACHEM 2021-22
  • JOHN DAMIRIS — LITTLE CHIEF 2021-22
  • KEITH BIERMAN — DIRECTOR - LIFE MEMBER 2021-22
  • KELLY MOONEY — NON TBIRD DIRECTOR 3
  • MOLLY CARSON — THUNDERBIRDS CHARITIES BOARD MEMBER
  • SCOTT JENKINS — BIG CHIEF 2021-22
  • TIMOTHY WOODS — PAST BIG CHIEF
relationships · 9

who they work with

  • Coors Light Partner — Title sponsor of the Birds Nest event, providing branding and likely financial support.
  • PGA TOUR Government — Coordinates tournament operations in accordance with PGA TOUR guidance and restrictions.
  • PGA TOUR Government — Sanctions and collaborates with the event as part of the PGA TOUR schedule.
  • PGA TOUR Network — Hosts the WM Phoenix Open as part of the PGA TOUR.
  • PGA TOUR Network — Member organization that sponsors an annual event on the PGA TOUR schedule.
  • PGA TOUR Partner — Partners with The Thunderbirds and WM on tournament operations for the WM Phoenix Open.
  • TPC Scottsdale Partner — Host venue for the WM Phoenix Open events.
  • TPC Scottsdale Partner — Host venue for the WM Phoenix Open tournament.
  • WM Partner — Partners with The Thunderbirds to lead operational efforts for zero waste at the WM Phoenix Open.