Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation
Black Bear Solar Institute is founded to research and demonstrate evolving concepts and technologies through a living laboratory of resilient communities which embody a healthy balance of human, animal, environmental and economic needs.
Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation at a glance
In short: Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation gave $130K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $130K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $130,000
- -58.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $130,000
- -58.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $130,000
- Total assets
- $901,270
- -25.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Earthshine Nature Programs ($130K).
Grant Size Distribution
2 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 1 grant of 2 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3K (2020) to $310K (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $130K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Earthshine Nature Programs Pisgah Forest, NC | Provide all-electric truck and charging equipment to tow Earthshine Nature Program's STEM and Environmental education mobile classroom trailer for public educational programs. | $130,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $901,270 | $180,072 | $482,999 | $130,000 | 1 |
| 2024 | $1,209,113 | $149,382 | $335,407 | $309,630 | 1 |
| 2023 | $1,385,375 | $160,877 | $10,960 | — | — |
| 2022 | $1,239,383 | $193,898 | $14,135 | — | — |
| 2021 | $1,064,225 | $75,786 | $12,409 | $10,339 | Total only |
| 2020 | $1,008,613 | $104,110 | $40,153 | $2,585 | Total only |
| 2019 | $1,048,651 | $107,577 | $281,711 | $14,000 | 1 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation
Based on IRS filings
Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Johnson City, TN. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $901K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $130K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation is led by Robert E Harris, President since 2023 (on filings since 2019); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Robert E Harris
President
Prisident → President, 2023
On filings since 2019
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer J Baldy
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lisa L Stewart
Vice President
Vice Prisident → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary-Joyce B Harris
Secretary
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation
How much does Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation give each year?
Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation gave $130K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $310K across 1 grant.
How large is Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation?
Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation reported $901K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $180K.
What is Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation?
Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Johnson City, TN. It holds $901K in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation operate?
Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation has awarded grants in North Carolina.
What is Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation's EIN?
Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-2957238. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 9, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 25, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
Live grants for the work Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation's focus areas in our free grants database
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