Thunder Dome Car Museum

## Approach Strategy

The Thunder Dome Car Museum was a private operating foundation based in Enumclaw, Washington (Pierce County foothills), dedicated to operating a classic car museum that preserved and celebrated American automobile culture. As of 2025, the museum has permanently closed, according to the foundation's own website: "Thunderdome Car Museum is permanently closed. Thank you for joining us on our journey over the years."

Despite being an operating foundation (primarily spending on museum operations rather than grantmaking), Thunder Dome made modest external grants to Pacific Northwest and national charities, primarily centered on veterans, epilepsy research, racing, and Enumclaw community organizations.

The foundation is led by Troy Thomas (President & Director) with seven Governors including family members (Brandon Thomas) and community members. Assets were $3.6M as of FY2024, down from a peak of $4.8M in 2019, suggesting ongoing draw-down of assets since museum operations ended.

Current status: This foundation is likely winding down. With the museum permanently closed, no ongoing programming revenue, and declining assets ($4.8M peak to $3.6M currently), the foundation may be in process of dissolution or asset transfer. Grant applications are not appropriate at this time.

## Funding Patterns

Thunder Dome's financial structure reflects its nature as a private operating foundation: the majority of distributions went to operating the museum itself ($549,736/year for museum operations), not to external grantmaking.

Historical external grantmaking: - 2024: $60,500 (2 grants — Northwest Battle Buddies $60,000; Abigail Cole 829 Racing $500) - 2023: $0 (no external grants) - 2022: $66,637 (4 grants — Epilepsy Foundation $60K, Northwest Battle Buddies $4.1K, 829 Racing $2.5K, State of Washington nominal) - 2021: $1,293 (5 grants — Epilepsy Foundation $1K, Enumclaw community orgs small amounts) - 2020: $600 (Green River Aerie) - 2019: $100 (nominal)

Asset trajectory: $3.67M (2017) → $4.83M (2018) → $4.86M (2019) → $4.45M (2020) → $4.48M (2021) → $4.22M (2022) → $4.19M (2023) → $3.59M (2024). The foundation received significant annual contributions ($329K-$1.6M/year 2017-2019) suggesting ongoing capitalization during museum operating years, now absent.

The 2024 Northwest Battle Buddies grant of $60,000 is anomalously large relative to prior years — possibly a final major charitable commitment before wind-down.

## Peer Comparison

Thunder Dome was a unique niche institution serving the Enumclaw/Pierce County area's car culture community. Its closure removes a community anchor that had been building since 2017. LeMay - America's Car Museum in Tacoma is the Pacific Northwest's premier automotive museum and would be the primary alternative for car culture enthusiasts and donors in the region.

For veteran-serving organizations like Northwest Battle Buddies, this is a relevant case study of community foundation giving patterns in the South Puget Sound area.

## Recent Activity

FY2024 IRS 990-PF: $60,500 in external grants. Northwest Battle Buddies (Vancouver WA) received $60,000 for "support mission of charity" — Northwest Battle Buddies trains and places PTSD service dogs with veterans. Abigail Cole / 829 Racing (Auburn WA) received $500 — this appears to be support for a female motorsports racer, consistent with the museum's automotive/racing identity.

Museum status: Website confirmed permanently closed as of 2025. The "Thunder Dome" name and URL remain active but the site now serves only as a closure notice.

Total 2024 distributions (including museum operations): $638,531 — substantially higher than prior years, suggesting accelerated wind-down of operations and disbursement of remaining charitable commitments.

Officers remain Troy Thomas (10 hrs/week, no compensation) and seven Governors (no hours or compensation stated).

## Application Tips

Do not apply. The Thunder Dome Car Museum foundation is in active wind-down following the permanent closure of its museum operations. The foundation is likely to dissolve or transfer assets within the next 1-2 years.

For organizations that received Thunder Dome support (or similar automotive/community organizations in Enumclaw/Pierce County):

1. Northwest Battle Buddies: Already the primary external grantee, but this relationship is likely concluding as the foundation winds down. Northwest Battle Buddies should cultivate alternative funders now.

2. Enumclaw community organizations: Building Beyond the Walls, Enumclaw High School Football Foundation, and Rainier Foothills Wellness Foundation have received historical support. These organizations should look to the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound or Tacoma Community Foundation for alternative local grantmakers.

3. Epilepsy Foundation: Has received recurring small grants. Should shift fundraising focus to larger epilepsy-specific funders.

Monitor IRS filings for any indication of final year status or asset transfer plans. If the foundation plans to distribute remaining assets ($3.6M) upon dissolution, organizations with prior relationships should be in direct contact with Troy Thomas.