The WM Phoenix Open has always been golf’s loudest love letter to Arizona. Now it has a new number to brag about, and this one comes with serious community muscle.
The Thunderbirds, the group behind the WM Phoenix Open, announced that the 2026 edition of “The People’s Open” raised a record-breaking $20,154,600 for local charities, making it the highest single-year charitable total in tournament history.
Yes, the party at TPC Scottsdale still knows how to roar. But behind the famous crowds, the 16th-hole theatrics, and the only-in-Arizona golf spectacle is a machine that keeps turning fan energy into real dollars for nonprofits across the state.
“The WM Phoenix Open continues to show what’s possible when this community comes together behind a greater purpose,” says 2026 Tournament Chairman Jason Eisenberg. “Eclipsing the $20 million mark for the first time – and continuing to build on that momentum year after year – speaks to the dedication of our group, our partners, and the greatest fans in golf who make this event what it is. The impact of these dollars goes far beyond tournament week, supporting organizations across Arizona and changing lives throughout the year.”
The milestone marks the first time the WM Phoenix Open has crossed the $20 million mark in a single year, the ninth time it has topped $10 million, and the fourth consecutive year the tournament has set a new fundraising record.
Since WM became title sponsor in 2010, The Thunderbirds and the WM Phoenix Open have raised more than $180 million for local charities. Across the tournament’s 91-year history, that number climbs to more than $246 million, including more than $134 million in the past decade alone.
This year’s announcement happened at Ability360 Sports & Fitness Center in Phoenix, a fitting backdrop for a story about impact that doesn’t just look good on paper. Since 2006, Thunderbirds Charities has awarded more than $900,000 to Ability360, helping support adaptive sports programming, independent living services, and the kind of facilities that make access feel less like a talking point and more like a daily reality.
The Ability360 Sports & Fitness Center is the only facility of its kind in the Southwest and has been recognized as a hub for adaptive sports since 2011. Thousands of athletes use the facility each year, from kids trying a sport for the first time to Paralympians training at the highest level. Recent support has kept that momentum moving. In 2025, Thunderbirds Charities awarded $250,000 to upgrade the center’s competition infrastructure with new scoreboards, shot clocks, and scorer’s tables. In 2018, a $100,000 grant helped expand Ability360’s Breaking Barriers program, adding adaptive kayaking and paddleboarding, rock climbing, a competitive swim team, and a weekly teen fitness program.
“Ability360 has long appreciated the incredible generosity that The Thunderbirds and Thunderbirds Charities have provided to our organization,” says Ability360 President and CEO Chris Rodriguez. “We value our remarkable relationship with them and I know that their commitment to our mission will continue to change lives for years to come.”
Next up, the 2027 WM Phoenix Open returns to TPC Scottsdale February 8-14, 2027 for its 92nd edition, marking WM’s 18th year as title sponsor. The Thunderbirds, founded in 1937 with a mission to promote the Valley of the Sun through sports, have helped turn one of golf’s rowdiest weeks into one of Arizona’s biggest give-back engines. The tournament may be famous for noise, but the bigger flex is what happens after the cheers fade.
Insider Takeaways
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The 2026 WM Phoenix Open raised a record $20,154,600 for local charities. It is the first time the tournament has surpassed $20 million in charitable giving in a single year.
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The Thunderbirds and WM Phoenix Open have now raised more than $246 million for nonprofits over the tournament’s history.
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Since WM became title sponsor in 2010, the tournament has generated more than $180 million for local charities. Ability360 has received more than $900,000 from Thunderbirds Charities since 2006.
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The 2027 WM Phoenix Open returns to TPC Scottsdale February 8-14, 2027.
To learn more, visit wmphoenixopen.com.
