Bill and Nancy Thompson
/SOURCE OF WEALTH: PIMCO
FUNDING AREAS: Autism
OVERVIEW: Bill and Nancy Thompson and family conduct their philanthropy through the Thompson Foundation for Autism, which assists children and families affected by autism spectrum disorders by raising awareness and supporting interventions, education, and research. According to available tax filings, in 2017 the foundation awarded a $128,000 grant to the Thomson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.
BACKGROUND: William Samuel Thompson Jr. earned a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business. He spent nearly two decades at Salomon Brothers, including two years in Tokyo as the chairman of Salomon Brothers Asia Ltd. He went on to join PIMCO, eventually serving as CEO.
ISSUES:
AUTISM: In 2007, Bill and Nancy Thompson founded the Thompson Foundation for Autism to make a difference in the lives of children and families affected by autism spectrum disorders. The couple's daughter is a special education specialist who introduced the family to the cause. The foundation supports comprehensive efforts in research, education and new and evolving interventions, mainly through University of Missouri's Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, established in 2005 through the couple's $8.5 million gift.
The Thompsons also agreed to give $7 million to create the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders of Southern California at the University of California, Irvine. A recent $10 million gift created the Thompson Autism Center at CHOC Children's, in Orange, Calif. The center is "devoted to evaluating children as early as possible to promote better outcomes; engaging children whose behaviors diminish quality of life for them and their families; and establishing a long-term support system for children with complex care needs."
In addition to autism, the Thompsons have also made donations to disease-related organizations such as the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia and Parkinsons Foundation.
LOOKING FORWARD: Expect the Thompsons to remain laser-focused on this cause.
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