Martin Blackledge Trust
The Martin Blackledge Trust is a private foundation based in Jasper, Indiana. Its 2025 filing reports grants to organizations in Illinois, including arts and charitable recipients.
Martin Blackledge Trust at a glance
In short: Martin Blackledge Trust gave $6K across 24 grants in 2025 (avg $266.667), mostly in Illinois. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $6,400
- -14.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 24
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $267
- -14.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $200
- Total assets
- $432,482
- +0.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (6 of 24, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Martin Blackledge Trust
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Requests are made by letter and should include a budget and proof of nonprofit status. The filing names Spencer Vinson as the contact for requests. Preference is given to organizations in White County or southeastern Illinois.
- Review Cycle
- Semi-annual meetings take place in May and October or November.
- Deadline
- Semi-annual meetings take place in May and October or November.
- Contact
Application contact: Spencer Vinson
Mailing address: 711 Main St, Jasper, IN 47546
Phone: (812) 437-7320
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Martin Blackledge Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Carmi League of Arts ($1K). Together the top 10 received $4K.
Grant Size Distribution
118 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 118 grants of 118 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Illinois. The filing states a preference for organizations in White County or southeastern Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 24 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Martin Blackledge Trust open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 24 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $333; repeat grants $244. How we count
Medians: $200 first-time, $200 repeat.
- 63% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 33% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4K (2021) to $10K (2023). In 2025 it made 24 grants totaling $6K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Carmi League of Arts Carmi, IL | ARTS | $1,000 |
| Carmi Masonic Lodge Enfield, IL | Charitable | $1,000 |
| First Church of God Carmi, IL | Charitable | $200 |
| Stewart St Baptist Ch Carmi, IL | Charitable | $200 |
| First Southern Baptist Norris City, IL | Charitable | $200 |
| Georgia General Baptist Carmi, IL | Charitable | $200 |
| Gospel Assembly Church Fairfield, IL | Charitable | $200 |
| Kingdom Church Carmi, IL | Charitable | $200 |
| Maunie United Methodist Carmi, IL | Charitable | $200 |
| Missionary Baptist Chur Crossville, IL | Charitable | $200 |
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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 | $432,482 | $46,963 | $44,746 | $6,400 | 24 | $35,950 | $39,235 | $35,763 |
| 2024 | $430,362 | $29,377 | $38,043 | $7,500 | 24 | $29,750 | $21,908 | $33,576 |
| 2023 | $439,428 | $31,196 | $36,462 | $10,000 | 24 | $30,125 | $25,416 | $29,811 |
| 2022 | $445,271 | $47,480 | $44,774 | $4,800 | 23 | $36,205 | $41,503 | $30,299 |
| 2021 | $440,395 | $29,999 | $35,342 | $4,050 | 23 | $28,950 | $23,651 | $34,611 |
| 2020 | $445,531 | $11,686 | $33,984 | $6,000 | 24 | — | $5,590 | $29,806 |
| 2019 | $468,429 | $27,724 | $34,289 | $4,300 | 23 | — | $21,610 | $28,495 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Martin Blackledge Trust reported a distributable amount of $36K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the trust gave $6,400 through 24 grants. Grants ranged from $200 to $1,000, with a median of $200. The largest grants listed were $1,000 each to Carmi League of Arts for arts and Carmi Masonic Lodge for charitable purposes. Other listed $200 grants went to churches and religious organizations for charitable purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Hailey Winkleman, Donald Drone, David Campbell, and Lucinda Birk Conley as advisory committee members; Spencer Vinson as bank trust representative; and Jay Walden as attorney.
Martin Blackledge Trust's 2025 filing lists 6 officers; all 6 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Spencer Vinson
Bank Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
$5K (2025)
David Campbell
Advis Committee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$100 (2019) → $250 (2025)
Donald Drone
Advis Committee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$100 (2019) → $250 (2025)
Jay Walden
Attorney
Atty → Attorney, 2020
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$300 (2019) → $500 (2025)
Lucinda Birk Conley
Advis Committee
Acct Advisor → Advis Committee, 2022
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
$2K (2019) → $3K (2025)
Hailey Winkleman
Advis Committee
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$100 (2021) → $250 (2025)
Former officers (5)
- Former: German American (2019–2024) — Bank Trustee
- Former: German American Wealth MN (2022) — Bank Trustee
- Former: German American Bank (2021) — Bank Trustee
- Former: Don Winkleman (2019–2020) — Advis Committee
- Former: German American Wealth (2020) — Bank Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $5K, to Spencer Vinson (Bank Trust). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Martin Blackledge Trust
How much does Martin Blackledge Trust give each year?
Martin Blackledge Trust gave $6K across 24 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $8K across 24 grants.
What is Martin Blackledge Trust's typical grant size?
Martin Blackledge Trust's median grant in 2025 was $200, and its average grant was $267, across 24 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Martin Blackledge Trust that year got $333 on average.
Where does Martin Blackledge Trust give grants?
Martin Blackledge Trust gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Carmi, IL (10 grants), Norris City, IL (5 grants), Enfield, IL (4 grants) and Crossville, IL (2 grants).
Does Martin Blackledge Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 24 grants with a stated purpose on Martin Blackledge Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (23 grants).
Who are Martin Blackledge Trust's largest grantees?
Martin Blackledge Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Carmi League of Arts ($1,000), Carmi Masonic Lodge ($1,000) and First Church of God ($200), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Martin Blackledge Trust?
Martin Blackledge Trust reported $432K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $36K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $36K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
How do I apply for a grant from Martin Blackledge Trust?
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Martin Blackledge Trust's EIN?
Martin Blackledge Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-6241638. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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 May 15, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from Martin Blackledge Trust'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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