Light a Candle Foundation
Light a Candle Foundation is a private foundation, based in Austin, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $6.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 1 grant totaling $200K. Net investment income was $179K.
Light a Candle Foundation at a glance
In short: Light a Candle Foundation gave $200K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $200K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $200,000
- -50.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- -50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $200,000
- -1.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $200,000
- Total assets
- $6,374,694
- +5.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Light a Candle Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was NC State University ($200K).
Grant Size Distribution
3 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 1 grant of 3 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How Light a Candle Foundation gives
- In 2025 it paid out 67% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $200K (2025) to $405K (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $200K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NC State University Raleigh, NC | To expand the resources of the khayrallah center archive | $200,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,374,694 | $181,501 | $252,147 | $200,000 | 1 | $201,642 | $178,892 | $301,975 |
| 2024 | $6,047,340 | $3,136,567 | $413,706 | $404,646 | 2 | $406,628 | $3,134,489 | $181,897 |
| 2023 | $1,769,479 | $229,752 | $96,784 | — | — | — | $132,968 | $161,442 |
| 2022 | $1,392,665 | $117,736 | $74,881 | — | — | — | $4,028 | — |
| 2021 | $1,251,360 | $20,000 | $37,562 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | $1,298,922 | $57,400 | $37,802 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | $1,285,047 | $38,690 | $37,004 | — | — | — | — | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Light a Candle Foundation reported a distributable amount of $302K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Light a Candle Foundation is led by Jimmy Nassour, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jimmy Nassour
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ernest Karam
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sammy Nassour
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/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 Light a Candle Foundation
How much does Light a Candle Foundation give each year?
Light a Candle Foundation gave $200K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $405K across 2 grants.
How large is Light a Candle Foundation?
Light a Candle Foundation reported $6.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $202K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $302K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
Where does Light a Candle Foundation operate?
Light a Candle Foundation has awarded grants in North Carolina, Texas.
What is Light a Candle Foundation's EIN?
Light a Candle Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-3946647. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 13, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Light a Candle Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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