Blue Sky Foundation Inc
Blue Sky Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in New Albany, Indiana. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, mostly in Indiana, while its philanthropic website describes an approach focused on catalytic, risk-tolerant investments in ideas intended to create sustainable, long-term impact.
Blue Sky Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Blue Sky Foundation Inc gave $3.3M across 15 grants in 2024 (avg $219K), mostly in Indiana. 33% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,279,750
- -27.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 15
- -21.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $218,650
- -7.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $292,932
- -53.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (5 of 15, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Indiana (93% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Blue Sky Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website says it reviews catalytic ideas and invites organizations to apply when a concept aligns with its current strategies.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 1407, New Albany, IN 47151-1407
Phone: (812) 944-6733
Website: https://blueskynetwork.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Blue Sky Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was New Life Ministries ($2.5M). Together the top 10 received $3.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
88 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 52 grants of 88 (59%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 93% of grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana and 4% to recipients in Kentucky. The remaining reported shares went to California (1%), New York (1%), and Oregon (0%). Listed 2024 grantees also include organizations in Washington and West Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Blue Sky Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 15 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $54K; repeat grants $301K. How we count
Medians: $32K first-time, $18K repeat.
- 60% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 58% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.3M (2024) to $10.9M (2022). In 2024 it made 15 grants totaling $3.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New Life Ministries Underwood, IN | General Funds | $2,500,000 |
| Northside Christian Church New Albany, IN | General Funds | $250,000 |
| River Heritage Conservancy Jeffersonville, IN | General Funds | $150,000 |
| Hoosiers for Good Inc Bloomington, IN | General Funds | $100,000 |
| Seed Louisville Inc Louisville, KY | General Funds | $100,000 |
| Community Foundation of Southern Indiana Inc New Albany, IN | General Funds | $43,000 |
| Nadus Films Inc Louisville, KY | General Funds | $31,500 |
| Arukah Animal International Sausalito, CA | General Funds | $30,000 |
| Smile Train New York, NY | General Funds | $20,000 |
| Pan American Sanctuary Allicance Portland, OR | General Funds | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Blue Sky Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $292,932 | $3,000,733 | $3,333,033 | $3,279,750 | 15 | $3,279,750 | $733 | $8,336 |
| 2023 | $625,232 | $4,005,585 | $4,588,518 | $4,505,582 | 19 | $4,505,582 | $5,585 | $45,522 |
| 2022 | $1,208,165 | $2,506,697 | $11,015,502 | $10,933,018 | 22 | $10,933,018 | $6,697 | $259,988 |
| 2021 | $9,716,970 | $14,000,963 | $7,917,703 | $7,840,500 | 16 | $7,840,500 | $963 | $302,617 |
| 2020 | $3,633,710 | $3,950,662 | $6,093,016 | $6,002,391 | 16 | — | $1,662 | $183,220 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Blue Sky Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $8K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website describes its approach as investing in big ideas and innovative solutions, with an aim of creating sustainable, long-term impact. It identifies environment and community development as areas of interest.
Its 2024 grantees include organizations working in varied fields. River Heritage Conservancy says it works to create and sustain parks and landscapes with natural and historic resources in the Falls of the Ohio area. Hoosiers for Good says it partners charities with student athletes to raise awareness for charitable causes. Smile Train says its purpose is to support people born with clefts. Discovery Institute says it advances a culture of purpose, creativity, and innovation through education, research, and analysis. Forget Me Not Ministries says it works to educate, empower, and embrace a Roma community for Christ.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $3,279,750. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $2,500,000, with a median of $30,000. Its largest reported grants were $2,500,000 to New Life Ministries for general funds, $250,000 to Northside Christian Church for general funds, and $150,000 to River Heritage Conservancy for general funds. Other notable grants included $100,000 each to Hoosiers for Good and Seed Louisville, both for general funds.
The foundation’s website says Rudy Spencer leads the invite and review process for philanthropic investments and that the team reviews ideas and invites organizations to apply when concepts align with its current strategies.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists John B. Shine as president and director, Jane Shine as director, and Rudy Spencer as executive director. The foundation’s website identifies Spencer as the lead for its philanthropic investment invite and review process.
Blue Sky Foundation Inc is led by John B. Shine, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
John B. Shine
President & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rudy Spencer
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jane Shine
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Bryce Butler (2020–2021) — Former Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Blue Sky Foundation Inc
How much does Blue Sky Foundation Inc give each year?
Blue Sky Foundation Inc gave $3.3M across 15 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $4.5M across 19 grants.
What is Blue Sky Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Blue Sky Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $30,000, and its average grant was $218,650, across 15 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Blue Sky Foundation Inc that year got $54K on average.
Where does Blue Sky Foundation Inc give grants?
Blue Sky Foundation Inc gives mostly in Indiana: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New Albany, IN (3 grants), Louisville, KY (3 grants) and Bloomington, IN (2 grants).
Does Blue Sky Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Blue Sky Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (15 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Blue Sky Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Blue Sky Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include New Life Ministries ($2,500,000), Northside Christian Church ($250,000) and River Heritage Conservancy ($150,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 88% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Blue Sky Foundation Inc?
Blue Sky Foundation Inc reported $293K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Blue Sky Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s website describes its approach as investing in big ideas and innovative solutions, with an aim of creating sustainable, long-term impact. It identifies environment and community development as areas of interest. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Blue Sky Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Blue Sky Foundation Inc's EIN?
Blue Sky Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-2153383. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Blue Sky Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Blue Sky Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/blue-sky-foundation-inc-morg_a4064433e1714b8ea6f6929b88e2f465
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_352153383_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Blue Sky Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/blue-sky-foundation-inc-morg_a4064433e1714b8ea6f6929b88e2f465},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Blue Sky Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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