Build technology to defend children from sexual abuse.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
80¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 7 volunteers and 108 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
0 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $5.5M a year · 35% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 0 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
80%
of spending
Looks good: 80% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$2.6M
to officers and key staff · 12% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 12% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 4.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $525K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.3M
7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 7% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
7
of 8 voting members
Looks good: 7 of 8 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$16.4M
+4% vs prior year
Spent
$21.8M
To programs
80%
Net assets
$30.5M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$16.4M
FY2024▲ +4%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$13.0M
FY2021$19.1M
FY2022$14.7M
FY2023$15.8M
FY2024$16.4M
Expenses
$21.8M
FY2024▼ -12%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$16.5M
FY2021$19.6M
FY2022$24.0M
FY2023$24.6M
FY2024$21.8M
Net assets
$30.5M
FY2024▼ -15%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$54.7M
FY2021$53.8M
FY2022$44.5M
FY2023$36.0M
FY2024$30.5M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Mar 2010.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

80 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 80% · $17.4M Management & general 8% · $1.8M Fundraising 12% · $2.5M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

20 people listed on the 990; $2.6M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Chief Executive Officer
$317,694Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Technology Officer
$278,954Pt VII · Sec A
General Counsel
$277,819Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President, External Affairs
$268,723Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President, Industry
$254,238Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Financial Officer
$245,043Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President, Engineering
$240,514Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President, Product
$237,757Pt VII · Sec A

Julie Cordua’s $318K as Chief Executive Officer is at the 79th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3122 $10–100M human services nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Nora Abdoun—$339,980$234,969——
Julie Cordua$317,694$306,360$301,860$298,277$286,250
James Pitkow$278,954$275,352$262,052——
James Williams$277,819$270,568$248,291$161,213—
Pamela Smith$268,723————
John Starr$254,238$245,266$231,115$205,167$150,776
Muhammad Bilal Lakhani—$249,243$211,428——
Sarah Gardner——$245,158$220,951$230,978

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Develops technology to protect children from sexual abuse.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $14.8M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Develop, deploy, and maintain software technology for use by companies operating online platforms that host users generate content. These software solutions enable companies to proactively identify, remove and report child sexual abuse material.

$7.9Mprogram expense
02

Develop, deploy, and maintain software technology for use by law enforcement that increase the efficiency and effectiveness of their investigations allowing them to more quickly identify child sexual abuse material on the internet accelerating victim identification and rescue.

$4.7Mprogram expense
03

Thorn uses it's expertise to identify threats and opportunities to create an internet free of child sexual abuse material. Thorn aims to create awarness by creating public awareness and mobilizing the public to eliminate the sexual abuse of children and the spread of images of their abuse on the internet.

$2.2Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$525K
Grants paid · 2 grants · $96K · 2020–2021
Stop IT Now INCMA · FY2021$48,000
Stop IT Now INCMA · FY2020$48,500

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$16.4M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$8.0M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.7M
Money outPt IX
$21.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$17.4M
Managementcol C$1.8M
Fundraisingcol D$2.5M
Owns and owesPt X
$30.5M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$7.4M
Total assetsLn 16$32.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
20
listed · VII A
PaidVII A11
Voting boardVI 1a8
IndependentVI 1b7
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$6.7M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$8.0M
Investment incomeLn 3$1.7M
Gains on assetsLn 7$496K
Total revenueLn 12$16.4M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$692K
SavingsLn 2$6.7M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$7.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$18.5M
Total assetsLn 16$32.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.3M
Net assetsLn 32$30.5M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 5108
VolunteersI 67
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14No
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.6M$7.4M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$30.6M$18.5M
Total assetsLn 16$38.5M$32.7M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.5M$2.3M
Net assetsLn 32$36.0M$30.5M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$1.6M$997K$457K$129K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$12.6M$10.5M$642K$1.4M
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$337K$284K$18K$34K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$2.0M$1.6M$158K$224K
Payroll taxesLn 10$1.1M$945K$73K$116K
Legal feesLn 11b$38K$34K$3K$526
Accounting feesLn 11c$49K$20K$22K$7K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$50$50
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$143K$81K$45K$17K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$658K$381K$4K$273K
Office expensesLn 13$124K$86K$4K$34K
Information technologyLn 14$1.3M$1.1M$175K$73K
OccupancyLn 16$70K$34K$22K$14K
TravelLn 17$454K$348K$39K$67K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$264K$135K$94K$34K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$1.0M$928K$61K$15K
All other expensesLn 24e$49K$65$49K
Total functional expensesLn 25$21.8M$17.4M$1.8M$2.5M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $16.4M$21.8M−$5.4M$30.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $15.8M$24.6M−$8.9M$36.0M 990 PDF
FY2022 $14.7M$24.0M−$9.3M$44.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 $19.1M$19.6M−$501K$53.8M 990 PDF
FY2020 $13.0M$16.5M−$3.5M$54.7M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $16,355,617 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $8,295,315$6,661,881
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $6,351,107$8,015,412
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $1,116,745$1,678,324
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $0$0
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $15,763,167$16,355,617
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $512,190$0
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $19,246,500$17,609,858
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $4,886,484$4,159,456
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $24,645,174$21,769,314
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$8,882,007−$5,413,697
Part VI · Governance 7 of 8 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body8
VI-1b Independent voting members7
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $16,355,617 across 6 lines filed
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$6,661,881
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$6,661,881
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $8,015,412$8,015,412
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $1,181,871$1,181,871
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $496,453$496,453
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $8,015,412 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $1,678,324$16,355,617
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $21,769,314 across 17 lines filed
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $997,398 · Management $456,519 · Fundraising $129,420$1,583,337
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $10,506,523 · Management $642,482 · Fundraising $1,433,285$12,582,290
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $284,268 · Management $18,203 · Fundraising $34,042$336,513
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $1,591,361 · Management $157,680 · Fundraising $224,384$1,973,425
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $945,383 · Management $73,060 · Fundraising $115,850$1,134,293
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $34,459 · Management $3,110 · Fundraising $526$38,095
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $20,253 · Management $22,153 · Fundraising $6,594$49,000
IX-11d Lobbying feesPrograms $50$50
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $81,440 · Management $45,077 · Fundraising $16,525$143,042
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $380,606 · Management $4,495 · Fundraising $272,924$658,025
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $85,559 · Management $4,374 · Fundraising $33,591$123,524
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $1,058,869 · Management $175,432 · Fundraising $73,183$1,307,484
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $34,273 · Management $21,775 · Fundraising $13,981$70,029
IX-17 TravelPrograms $348,028 · Management $39,121 · Fundraising $66,512$453,661
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $135,213 · Management $94,455 · Fundraising $33,860$263,528
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $928,024 · Management $60,803 · Fundraising $14,873$1,003,700
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $65 · Fundraising $49,253$49,318
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $17,431,772 · Management $1,818,739 · Fundraising $2,518,803$21,769,314
Part X · Balance sheet $32,719,427 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $1,392,892$692,150
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,169,605$6,695,575
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $4,282,952$5,119,781
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $597,613$1,299,551
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $450,262$389,118
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $30,095,352$17,847,321
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $504,380$675,931
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $38,493,056$32,719,427
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $545,102$504,837
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $1,959,223$1,752,010
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,504,325$2,256,847
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $32,163,086$26,372,869
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $3,825,645$4,089,711
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $35,988,731$30,462,580
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $38,493,056$32,719,427
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $30,462,580 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$16,355,617
XI-2 Total expenses$21,769,314
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$5,413,697
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$35,988,731
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments−$112,454
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$30,462,580

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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