Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc
The Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming is a private foundation based in Teton Village, Wyoming. Its 2024 filing reports 51 grants totaling $397,000 to organizations in several states, including Wyoming, Kentucky, Colorado, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 53 grants totaling $398,000.
Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc at a glance
In short: Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc gave $398K across 53 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), top state Kentucky. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $398,000
- +0.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 53
- +3.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $7,509
- -3.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $8,614,500
- +3.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (13 of 53, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (35% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- Contact
Application contact: Robin Lightner
Mailing address: PO Box 429, Teton Village, WY 83025-0429
Phone: (307) 733-9619
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lander Community Foundation ($42K). Together the top 10 received $212K.
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 246 grants of 250 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars were distributed primarily to recipients in Kentucky (36%) and Wyoming (32%), followed by Colorado (9%), North Carolina (8%), and Tennessee (4%). The listed grants also included recipients in Texas and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 53 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 53 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 66% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+5%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $272K (2023) to $398K (2025). In 2025 it made 53 grants totaling $398K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lander Community Foundation Lander, WY | General Charitable Support | $42,000 |
| University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Lexington, KY | General Charitable Support | $35,000 |
| Kentucky Horse Park Foundation Lexington, KY | General Charitable Support | $25,000 |
| Central Kentucky Riding for Hope Lexington, KY | General Charitable Support | $20,000 |
| Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC | General Charitable Support | $20,000 |
| Fayette Alliance Foundation Inc Lexington, KY | General Charitable Support | $15,000 |
| Jackson Hole Therapeutic Riding Association Teton Village, WY | General Charitable Support | $15,000 |
| St Jude's Childrens Research Memphis, TN | General Charitable Support | $15,000 |
| The Shelter for Abused Women Naples, FL | General Charitable Support | $15,000 |
| American Safe Climbing Association Boulder, CO | Gerneral Charitable Support | $10,000 |
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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 | $8,614,500 | $769,823 | $485,347 | $398,000 | 53 | $458,830 | $743,305 | $451,062 |
| 2024 | $8,330,838 | $437,683 | $482,277 | $397,000 | 51 | $454,371 | $325,777 | $436,217 |
| 2023 | $8,394,260 | $280,692 | $333,753 | $271,500 | 41 | $320,782 | $267,721 | $395,173 |
| 2022 | $8,466,234 | $141,071 | $457,267 | $378,250 | 51 | $431,152 | $200,109 | $399,451 |
| 2021 | $8,786,266 | $1,456,819 | $457,606 | $379,400 | 54 | $431,881 | $1,431,094 | $438,421 |
| 2020 | $7,791,300 | $375,285 | $379,693 | $311,000 | 45 | — | $359,178 | $384,410 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc reported a distributable amount of $451K for 2025 — 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 mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants included support for community philanthropy, a horse park, land-use education and research, higher education, climbing safety, equine land conservation, and therapeutic activities involving horses. These are descriptions of grantees’ work: for example, Lander Community Foundation says its mission is to strengthen its community by promoting philanthropy and effective giving, while Central Kentucky Riding for Hope says it uses therapeutic activities with horses to support people with special needs.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 51 grants totaling $397,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $53,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest awards included $53,000 to Lander Community Foundation; $25,000 each to Fayette Alliance Foundation and Kentucky Horse Park Foundation; $20,000 each to Access Fund, University of Kentucky, and Wake Forest University; and $15,000 each to American Safe Climbing Association and St. Jude’s Children’s Research. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 53 grants totaling $398,000.
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. How to apply: The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Submit a request in writing to Robin Lightner, including financial information and proof of exemption. The filing lists no deadline and states that there are no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robin H Lightner as trustee and Camille L Brunker, Earl Sams Lightner Jr, James J Brunker, Liz Lightner, and Isabel Brunker as directors.
Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc's 2025 filing lists 7 officers; all 7 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Camille L. Brunker
Director
On filings since 2020
$5K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Earl Sams Lightner Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
$5K (2020) → $5K (2025)
James J. Brunker
Director
On filings since 2020
$5K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Liz Lightner
Director
On filings since 2020
$5K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Robin H. Lightner
Trustee
On filings since 2020
$5K (2020) → $5K (2025)
Isabel Brunker
Director
On filings since 2023
$5K (2023) → $5K (2025)
Corinne Brunker
Director
New on the 2025 filing
$5K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $5K, to Robin H Lightner (Trustee). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc
How much does Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc give each year?
Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc gave $398K across 53 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $397K across 51 grants.
What is Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc's typical grant size?
Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,509, across 53 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc that year got $4K on average.
Where does Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc give grants?
Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc's top state is Kentucky, with 35% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Wyoming (34%) and California (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lexington, KY (12 grants), Thermopolis, WY (6 grants), Lander, WY (4 grants) and Teton Village, WY (2 grants).
Does Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 98% of Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (52 of 53) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc's largest grantees?
Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Lander Community Foundation ($42,000), University of Kentucky Markey Cancer ($35,000) and Kentucky Horse Park Foundation ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc?
Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc reported $8.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $459K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $451K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is not stated in the available information. Its 2024 grants included support for community philanthropy, a horse park, land-use education and research, higher education, climbing safety, equine land conservation, and therapeutic activities involving horses. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc?
Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc's EIN?
Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-0309453. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 21, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved November 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/lightner-sams-foundation-of-wyoming-inc-morg_a664fea5cb694f3a962c4862c5e04f72
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_830309453_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/lightner-sams-foundation-of-wyoming-inc-morg_a664fea5cb694f3a962c4862c5e04f72},
note = {Accessed 2026-11-11. 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 Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming 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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