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Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation

Public charity · Grantmaker Johnson City, TN EIN: 27-2957238 Website

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.

Key facts about Black Bear Solar Institute Corporation

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.

EIN
27-2957238
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$130,000
Grants made (2025)
1
Average grant
$130,000
Median grant
$130,000
Total assets
$901,270
Primary geography
North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$901K

-25.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$130K

-58.0% YoY

Grant Count

1

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$130K

-58.0% YoY

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.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of all 1 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

Pisgah Forest

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K1 grants2019Total only2020Total only20210 grants20220 grants20231 grants20241 grants2025

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.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 1 recipients in 2025

Earthshine Nature Programs: $130KEarthshine Nature Programs$130K

The largest 2025 recipient was Earthshine Nature Programs ($130K).

Grant Size Distribution

2 grants across all recorded years

<$50K$50–100K1$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 1 grant of 2 (50%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Earthshine Nature Programs Pisgah Forest, NCProvide 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

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
$0$200K$400K$600K2019202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$901,270$1,209,113$1,385,375
Revenue$180,072$149,382$160,877
Expenses$482,999$335,407$10,960
Net Investment Income———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 9, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 8, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 6, 2025)
  5. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 25, 2026)

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.

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