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Nonprofit · EIN 31-1356151

DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION

Tax-exempt · DUBLIN, OH 43016

Financials

$56.1M$44.6M2023$61.6M$52.9M2024
Revenue Expenses · by fiscal year end
Financials of DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION by year, from its e-filed returns
Year endedFormRevenueExpensesNet incomeTotal assetsLiabilitiesNet assets
June 30, 2025990$61,621,473$52,860,914$8,760,559$117,306,202$7,820,134$109,486,068
June 30, 2024990$56,121,707$44,555,925$11,565,782$107,334,376$7,053,236$100,281,140
Financial details: 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Revenue

Contributions, gifts and grants
$52,507,721
of which government grants
$12,630,436
Program service revenue
$151,345
Investment income
$8,604,925
Net gain from sales of assets
$5,552,205
Net income from fundraising events
$357,482
Other revenue
$357,482

Expenses

Grants and similar amounts paid
$31,564,679
Compensation of officers, directors and key employees
$1,753,845
Other salaries and wages
$6,113,153
Salaries, compensation and benefits (total)
$9,917,993
Professional fundraising fees
$2,533,930
Accounting fees
$69,385
Occupancy
$458,752
Travel
$258,531
Depreciation
$376,533
Program services (functional)
$43,863,452
Management and general (functional)
$3,879,863
Fundraising (functional)
$5,117,599

Balance sheet and other

Total assets, start of year
$107,334,376
Total assets, end of year
$117,306,202
Total liabilities, end of year
$7,820,134
Net assets, end of year
$109,486,068
Land, buildings and equipment
$6,785,055
Publicly traded securities
$85,490,516
Net assets without donor restrictions
$108,823,003
Net assets with donor restrictions
$663,065
Gross unrelated business income
-$11,231
Gross receipts
$125,506,152
Employees
79
Volunteers
50
Year formed
1992
State of legal domicile
OH

From the e-filed returns the IRS publishes as XML (latest three processing years; amended returns replace the original). PDF copies at the IRS.

Officers, directors and key employees

As listed on the 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025, highest compensation first.

NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
RITA L SORONENPRESIDENT & CEO
Trustee or director, Officer
40$489,694$16,133
JENNIFER JUSTICESVP, STRATEGIC PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
Key employee
40$230,848$34,686
JILL CRUMBACHERSVP, MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT
Key employee
40$228,821$34,011
MELINDA HAGGERTYSVP, GENERAL COUNSEL
Key employee
40$222,366$31,344
ERIC SPIRESSVP, CFO
Officer
40$204,390$31,478
HEATHER MILLERSVP, HUMAN RESOURCES
Highest-paid employee
40$160,238$30,312
JULIANNE NICHOLSVP, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Highest-paid employee
40$162,379$22,046
DAVID FRISSORASVP, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT(EXIT 9/24)
Key employee
40$153,825$25,151
DEAN BRINGVP, DEVELOPMENT
Highest-paid employee
40$150,331$28,483
ANDREA GLASSVP, PROGRAMS
Highest-paid employee
40$153,803$24,265
ANDREA WILLIAMSVP, TRAINING
Highest-paid employee
40$132,370$24,631
ROBERT GEENCHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
KRIS KAFFENBARGERVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
DEEPAK AJMANIVICE CHAIR (EXIT 8/24)
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
MIKE O'MALLEYSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
20 more people on this return
NameTitleHours / weekCompensation
RICHARD KRUMHOLZTREASURER
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0
JULIE BIESZCZATTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
LAURA BUTRICOTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
RASHEEDA CLARKTRUSTEE (ENTER 1/25)
Trustee or director
1$0
ERIC DALYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
PAMELA FARBERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
JELANI FREEMANTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
JHONNY MERCADOTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
BLAIR MILLERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
SCOTT MOESCHBERGERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
WENDY THOMAS MORSETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
SEAN NIKLASTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
M COLEY O'BRIENTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
CARLOS RIBASTRUSTEE (ENTER 1/25)
Trustee or director
1$0
TERRY STIGDONTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
PETE SUERKENTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
KIRK TANNERTRUSTEE (ENTER 9/24)
Trustee or director
1$0
MICHAEL WELCHTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
TAMIKA WILLIAMSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0
MIKE ZAKTRUSTEE (EXIT 12/24)
Trustee or director
1$0
990 for the year ended June 30, 2024: 33 people
NameTitleHours / weekCompensationOther / benefits
RITA L SORONENPRESIDENT & CEO
Trustee or director, Officer
40$479,248$21,095
JILL CRUMBACHERSVP, MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT
Key employee
40$212,198$35,434
JENNIFER JUSTICESVP, STRATEGIC PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
Key employee
40$213,552$30,835
DAVID FRISSORASVP, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Key employee
40$200,023$37,575
MELINDA HAGGERTYSVP & GENERAL COUNSEL
Key employee
40$197,869$36,452
ERIC SPIRESSENIOR VP, CFO
Officer
40$188,697$27,255
JULIANNE NICHOLSVP, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Highest-paid employee
40$145,196$25,965
DEAN BRINGVP, DEVELOPMENT
Highest-paid employee
40$132,801$28,688
ANDREA GLASSVP, PROGRAMS
Highest-paid employee
40$131,621$23,694
ANGELA MARSHALLDIRECTOR, WENDY'S WONDERFUL KIDS
Highest-paid employee
40$118,767$23,511
MELISSA ECKSENIOR DIRECTOR, DATA
Highest-paid employee
40$109,955$22,361
ROBERT GEENCHAIRMAN
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
DEEPAK AJMANIVICE CHAIR
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
TODD PENEGORTREASURER (EXITED 02/24)
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
MIKE O'MALLEYSECRETARY
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
RICHARD KRUMHOLZ TRUSTEE(THRU 1/24), TREASURER (EFF. 1/24)
Trustee or director, Officer
1$0$0
JULIE BIESZCZATTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
LAURA BUTRICOTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
ERIC DALYTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
PAMELA FARBERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JELANI FREEMANTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
KRIS KAFFENBARGERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
JHONNY MERCADOTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
BLAIR MILLERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
SCOTT MOESCHBERGERTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
WENDY THOMAS MORSETRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
SEAN NIKLASTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
M COLEY O'BRIENTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TERRY STIGDONTRUSTEE (ENTERED 01/24)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
PETE SUERKENTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MICHAEL WELCHTRUSTEE (ENTERED 01/24)
Trustee or director
1$0$0
TAMIKA WILLIAMSTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0
MIKE ZAKTRUSTEE
Trustee or director
1$0$0

Address and contacts

Address (IRS master file)
4900 TUTTLE CROSSING BLVD, DUBLIN, OH 43016-1532
Principal officer (990 for 2024)
RITA L SORONEN, 4900 TUTTLE CROSSING BLVD, DUBLIN, OH 43016
Signed the 990
RITA L SORONEN, PRESIDENT & CEO
Phone
(800) 275-3832
Return prepared by
SCHNEIDER DOWNS & CO INC

Mission

THE DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT PUBLIC CHARITY DEDICATED EXCLUSIVELY TO FINDING PERMANENT HOMES FOR MORE THAN 150,000 CHILDREN WAITING IN NORTH AMERICA'S FOSTER CARE SYSTEMS. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL NARRATIVE ON THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION.CREATED BY WENDY'S FOUNDER DAVE THOMAS, WHO WAS ADOPTED, THE FOUNDATION IMPLEMENTS EVIDENCE-BASED, RESULTS-DRIVEN NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAMS, FOSTER CARE ADOPTION AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS AND INNOVATIVE GRANTMAKING INITIATIVES, AND OFFERS FREE RESOURCES TO ORGANIZATIONS AND PROSPECTIVE PARENTS.

990 for the year ended June 30, 2025

Program accomplishments

  • WENDY'S WONDERFUL KIDS:WENDY'S WONDERFUL KIDS, A SIGNATURE PROGRAM OF THE FOUNDATION, IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN ACROSS THE NATION - ONE CHILD AT A TIME. THE DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION AWARDS GRANTS TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE AGENCIES TO HIRE ADOPTION PROFESSIONALS WHO IMPLEMENT AN EVIDENCE-BASED, CHILD-FOCUSED RECRUITMENT STRATEGY TARGETED EXCLUSIVELY ON MOVING AMERICA'S LONGEST-WAITING CHILDREN FROM FOSTER CARE INTO ADOPTIVE FAMILIES. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL NARRATIVE ON WENDY'S WONDERFUL KIDS.RESEARCH RELEASED IN 2011 FROM A FIVE-YEAR RIGOROUS EVALUATION OF WENDY'S WONDERFUL KIDS CHILD-FOCUSED RECRUITMENT MODEL SHOWED THAT CHILDREN SERVED BY THE PROGRAM ARE UP TO THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO GET ADOPTED. WENDY'S WONDERFUL KIDS RECRUITERS WORK WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH AT GREATEST RISK OF AGING OUT OF FOSTER CARE WITHOUT AN ADOPTIVE FAMILY. THE RECRUITERS HAVE SMALLER CASELOADS, TO ENSURE THEY HAVE THE TIME AND RESOURCES TO GIVE EACH CHILD THE ATTENTION THAT CHILD DESERVES AND EMPLOY AN AGGRESSIVE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE MODEL FOCUSED ON FINDING THE BEST HOME FOR A CHILD.THE DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION SUPPORTS 529 WENDY'S WONDERFUL KIDS RECRUITERS WORKING FOR CHILDREN IN THE U.S. MORE THAN 15,529 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN ADOPTED AS A RESULT OF WENDY'S WONDERFUL KIDS, AND ANOTHER 1,043 ARE IN THEIR PRE-ADOPTIVE PLACEMENTS SIMPLY WAITING FOR A FINAL COURT HEARING.
    Expenses $35,098,952 · grants $28,518,071
  • ADOPTION AWARENESS & ADVOCACY:THE FOUNDATION IS COMMITTED TO NATIONALLY COMMUNICATING THE URGENCY OF FOSTER CARE ADOPTION AND TO ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO BECOME AN AMBASSADOR FOR WAITING CHILDREN. YEAR-ROUND AWARENESS EFFORTS INCLUDE DAILY SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS; MARKETING PROGRAMS DISPELLING MYTHS AND MISPERCEPTIONS SURROUNDING THE ISSUE OF FOSTER CARE ADOPTION AND THE CHILDREN WAITING TO BE ADOPTED; THE DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF FREE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES; THE PRODUCTION OF NATIONAL TELEVISION ANNOUNCEMENTS; SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL NARRATIVE ON PROGRAM GRANTS & AWARENESS.MEDIA ENGAGEMENT AND THOUGHT LEADER SPEAKING AND KEYNOTE OPPORTUNITIES; AND PARTICIPATION IN A NUMBER OF EVENTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. ADDITIONALLY, SINCE 2002, THE FOUNDATION HAS COMMISSIONED SEVERAL GROUNDBREAKING STUDIES TO MEASURE AMERICANS' PERCEPTIONS OF FOSTER CARE ADOPTION.IN ADDITION TO FUNDING WENDY'S WONDERFUL KIDS GRANTS, RESOURCES GENERATED BY THE FOUNDATION HELP TO AWARD STRATEGIC NATIONAL GRANTS TO ADOPTION AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT SHARE THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION. THESE GRANTS PROVIDE CRITICAL FOSTER CARE ADOPTION SERVICES AND SUPPORT, PROMOTE BEST PRACTICES IN FOSTER CARE ADOPTION, AND ASSIST WITH EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND STRATEGIES FOR PARENTS AND CHILD WELFARE PROFESSIONALS.ORGANIZATIONS WERE FUNDED UNDER THE NATIONAL GRANTS PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS, AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION FUND FOR JUSTICE AND EDUCATION, CONGRESSIONAL COALITION ON ADOPTION INSTITUTE, CENTER FOR THE RIGHTS OF ABUSED CHILDREN, CHILD WELFARE LEAGUE OF AMERICA, JUSTCHOICE, FAMILY TO FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK, FOSTERING CHANGE FOR CHILDREN, FOSTERING MEDIA CONNECTIONS, GENERATIONS UNTIED, KENT STATE UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION, NATIONAL ADOPTION ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION, SECOND NURTURE, THINK OF US, TREEHOUSE FOUNDATION, UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT, AND VOICE FOR ADOPTION.
    Expenses $7,113,248 · grants $1,846,608 · revenue $151,345
  • POST ADOPTION:ROBUST POST-ADOPTION SERVICES ARE CRITICAL FOR MANY FAMILIES WHO ADOPT FROM FOSTER CARE AND OTHER VENUES. THE DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION HAS DEVELOPED A FREE RESOURCE BOOKLET, "A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO POST-ADOPTION" FOR DISTRIBUTION THAT DEFINES THE TYPES OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR PARENTS AFTER AN ADOPTION IS FINALIZED, HOW TO SELECT AND LOCATE PROVIDERS, AND WHAT TO DO IF RESOURCES DO NOT EXIST IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. IT ALSO INCLUDES RECOMMENDATIONS OF OTHER NATIONAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN HELP. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL NARRATIVE ON PROGRAM GRANTS & AWARENESS.IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION HAS FUNDED THE CENTER FOR ADOPTION SUPPORT AND EDUCATION (BURTONSVILLE, MD) TO SUPPORT THE CONTINUED EXPANSION OF A TRAINING FOR ADOPTION-COMPETENT MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS; HAS FUNDED FAMILIES RISING TO PROVIDE ADVOCACY AND LEGISLATION AROUND ADOPTION TAX CREDITS AND SUBSIDIES TO SUPPORT FAMILIES POST-ADOPTION; HAS FUNDED ADOPTEE MENTORING SOCIETY TO SUPPORT A MENTORING PROGRAM FOR ADOPTEES AND; FUNDED ADOPT AMERICA NETWORK, ADOPTIVE AND FOSTER FAMILY COALITION OF NEW YORK, AID TO ADOPTION OF SPECIAL KIDS, LUND FAMILY CENTER, CARING FOR KIDS, CHILDREN'S NETWORK OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES OF NEBRASKA, ADOPTION RHODE ISLAND, BETHANY CHRISTAN SERVICES OF GEORGIA, RAISE THE FUTURE, AND STANDFORD SIERRA YOUTH AND FAMILIES TO PROVIDE POST-ADOPTION SUPPORTS TO WWK FAMILIES.
    Expenses $1,212,003 · grants $1,200,000
  • OTHER PROGRAMS:ADOPTION-FRIENDLY WORKPLACE:EXPENSES $384,677 INCLUDING GRANTS OF $0 REVENUE $0IN 1990, PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH ASKED DAVE THOMAS, FOUNDER OF WENDY'S, TO BE THE SPOKESPERSON FOR A NEW ADOPTION INITIATIVE. DAVE, AN ADOPTEE AND ADOPTION ADVOCATE, ENTHUSIASTICALLY ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGE AND BEGAN TO SPEAK OUT PUBLICLY, ASKING PEOPLE TO CONSIDER FOSTER CARE ADOPTION AND ENCOURAGING OTHER BUSINESS LEADERS TO OFFER ADOPTION AS A PART OF THEIR EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. ADOPTION-FRIENDLY WORKPLACE WAS DEVELOPED TO KEEP DAVE THOMAS' WORK IN MOTION. THIS SIGNATURE PROGRAM OFFERS FREE TOOLKITS AND EXPERT GUIDANCE TO EMPLOYERS ACROSS THE NATION. THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE COMPANIES WITH THE TOOLS AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO SET UP AND PROVIDE THEIR EMPLOYEES ADOPTION BENEFITS, INCLUDING FINANCIAL REIMBURSEMENT AND PAID LEAVE. THE FOUNDATION COMPILES AND PUBLISHES AN ANNUAL LIST OF THE NATION'S 100 BEST ADOPTION-FRIENDLY WORKPLACES LIST AND HIGHLIGHTS THE FORWARD-THINKING EMPLOYERS THAT HAVE ADOPTION BENEFITS IN PLACE.NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH AND DAY:EXPENSES $54,572 INCLUDING GRANTS OF $0 REVENUE $0NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL ADOPTION AWARENESS MONTH, A TIME TO CELEBRATE AND RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT FOSTER CARE ADOPTION. THE FOUNDATION JOINS THIS IMPORTANT CONVERSATION BY IMPLEMENTING A MONTH-LONG STRATEGIC EFFORT THAT FOCUSES ON OUTREACH AND EDUCATION, RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION, AND MEDIA COVERAGE TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF FOSTER CARE ADOPTION ACROSS THE COUNTRY.NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY IS HELD EACH YEAR ON THE SATURDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING. ON THIS DAY DURING NATIONAL ADOPTION AWARENESS MONTH, COURTS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO FINALIZE PENDING FOSTER CARE ADOPTIONS, WHILE CELEBRATING ALL FAMILIES WHO ADOPT. THE FOUNDATION IS HONORED TO BE A LEAD FOUNDING AND FUNDING PARTNER OF THIS EFFORT.
    Expenses $439,249

What it must file and when

IRS records say it files Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N. Its accounting year ends in June, so each return is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after that.

Tax yearYear endedDueIRS public records
2025June 30, 2026November 16, 2026Not due yet
2024June 30, 2025November 17, 2025990 on file
2023June 30, 2024November 15, 2024990 on file

IRS record

EIN
31-1356151
Tax-exempt status
501(c)(3): Charitable, religious, educational or scientific organization
Foundation status
Publicly supported organization (509(a)(2))
Donations deductible (Pub 78)
Public charity, 50% deduction limit
Exempt since
1992
Accounting year ends
June
Files
Form 990 or 990-EZ
Category (NTEE)
Unknown (Z99Z)
Assets (IRS master file)
$117,306,202
Income (IRS master file)
$125,506,152

Filing history

FormYear endedRevenueExpensesAssetsReturn
990June 2025$61,621,473$52,860,914$117,306,202IRS
990-TJune 2025–––IRS
990June 2024$56,121,707$44,555,925$107,334,376XML
990June 2023$52,421,388$40,455,373$94,085,268IRS
990June 2022–––IRS
990June 2021–––IRS
990June 2019–––IRS

990-N: the IRS bulk file holds only the latest e-Postcard per organization; earlier years come from archived copies of that file since 2020 and can have gaps (the IRS e-Postcard search lists every one). 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-T: every e-filed return in the IRS e-file index since 2019; XML for the latest three processing years, amounts from the IRS Statistics of Income extracts before that. PDF copies and determination letters at the IRS (search EIN 31-1356151).

Questions about DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION

What is the EIN of DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION?
The employer identification number (EIN) of DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION is 31-1356151.
Is DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION tax-exempt?
Yes. The IRS lists it as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) since 1992.
Are donations to DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION tax-deductible?
Yes. It is listed in IRS Publication 78 (Public charity, 50% deduction limit).
Which annual return does DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION file?
Form 990 or 990-EZ. Based on its last return; a smaller organization may file the 990-N.
When is the next return of DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION due?
The return for tax year 2025 (the year ending June 30, 2026) is due November 16, 2026. Form 8868 extends it by six months; the 990-N cannot be extended.
When did DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION last file with the IRS?
The latest return in the IRS public files is the 990 for the year ended June 2025.
Who is the principal officer of DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 names RITA L SORONEN.
Who are the officers and directors of DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION?
The 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 lists 35 people; 11 received compensation from the organization, the highest $489,694 (RITA L SORONEN, PRESIDENT & CEO).
How much revenue does DAVE THOMAS FOUNDATION FOR ADOPTION have?
On its 990 for the year ended June 30, 2025 it reported revenue of $61,621,473, expenses of $52,860,914 and total assets of $117,306,202 at year end.

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