In theory, there is no wrong time to apply organic fertilizer. The lawn will not burn. As a newly organic guy (actually, still weaning myself off spot treatments of weed patches), I am doing more applications than people who are more established because:
a) I am too into it and therefore go into withdrawal if I am not constantly planning my next application
2) I am trying to get some microbe action going

Converted synthetics=more compost tea + organic material.

Hopefully you mulch mow and plan on mulching fall leaves.

As long as the organic material doesn't smoother your grass, its all good. Adding good ACT will definitely help after each application. The soilweb will find its own balance, so over doing it is less of an issue.

If you plan on reseeding in the fall (Aug/15 - Sept 15), now and a month later would be good for alfalfa meal (rabbit pellets). Follow up with soybean meal every 3-4 weeks through late October to get the best late fall, early spring dark deep green look.

What is the benefit of alfalfa pellets?

Is there a site/book that discusses the various things like SBM, CGM, and alfalfa and gives direction about why and when to use each?

The link below from the Colorado State University Extension has a ton of info about organic soil amendments. You'll have to do some digging around, but its very informative.

Here are a few that I've found useful from the link below:
Organic Fertilizers #234-pdf
The Living Soil #211-pdf
Soil Amendments #241-pdf
Choosing a Soil Amendment #7.235

Here is a link that might be useful: Colorado State Extension

Try spraying unsulfured molasses at the rate of 2 oz per 1000 sqft whenever you put soybean down. I use ortho dial for it. It will help speed things up.

I have a pretty thick layer of thatch due to years of synthetic fertilizers. Does the SBM penetrate the thatch layer to get to the soil?

"Does the SBM penetrate the thatch layer to get to the soil?"

You might want to core aerate first. The SBM will eventually help to get rid of the thatch layer, but core aeration pokes holes in the thatch layer and helps it decompose.