Ransom Charitable Trust
Ransom Charitable Trust is a private foundation, based in Sioux Falls, SD. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.1M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $60K. Net investment income was $70K.
Ransom Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Ransom Charitable Trust gave $60K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Tennessee. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $60,000
- +13.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- -18.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,667
- +38.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,117,475
- -0.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Tennessee (80% 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 Ransom Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Amputee Blade Runners ($15K). Together the top 9 received $60K.
Grant Size Distribution
43 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 43 grants of 43 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Ransom Charitable Trust gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−2%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $53K (2024) to $62K (2022). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $60K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Amputee Blade Runners Nashville, TN | To Assist Disabled Athletes | $15,000 |
| Hear Nashville Nashville, TN | Hearing AIDS for 25 People | $15,000 |
| Bristol Regional Speech and Hearing Center Bristol, VA | To Support Speech and Hearing Services | $7,000 |
| Cumberland Children's Center Crossville, TN | Grace Program for Relatives, Angel Tree Program | $5,000 |
| St Baldrick's Foundation Monrovia, CA | In Memory of Rowan Price | $5,000 |
| Progess Inc Nashville, TN | Support Services for Disabled Senior Citizens | $4,000 |
| Academy at Hickory Hallow Antioch, TN | Scholarship in honor of the william warren principals award | $3,000 |
| Academy at Opry Mills Nashville, TN | Scholarship in honor of the william warren principals award | $3,000 |
| Simon Youth Academy Nashville, TN | Scholarship in honor of the william warren principals award | $3,000 |
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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 | $1,117,475 | $83,840 | $86,295 | $60,000 | 9 | $71,480 | $70,055 | $67,279 |
| 2024 | $1,123,854 | $98,572 | $79,533 | $53,000 | 11 | $61,038 | $83,577 | $63,825 |
| 2023 | $1,104,755 | $21,278 | $88,763 | $59,000 | 8 | $68,636 | $17,668 | $59,625 |
| 2022 | $1,171,954 | $61,727 | $84,607 | $61,500 | 7 | $68,288 | $47,908 | $61,389 |
| 2021 | $1,194,900 | $154,543 | $79,492 | $61,000 | 8 | $65,000 | $154,143 | $69,028 |
| 2020 | $1,119,849 | $39,704 | $75,140 | $57,500 | 7 | — | $26,814 | $62,280 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ransom Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $67K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Ransom Charitable Trust's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Marylee R. Shaffer
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$2K (2020) → $4K (2025)
William Ransom
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$2K (2020) → $4K (2025)
Mariner Trust Company
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$4K (2023) → $4K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Lawrence J. Sacks (2020–2022) — President
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 $4K, to Mariner Trust Company (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Ransom Charitable Trust
How much does Ransom Charitable Trust give each year?
Ransom Charitable Trust gave $60K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $53K across 11 grants.
What is Ransom Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Ransom Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $6,667, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Ransom Charitable Trust give grants?
Ransom Charitable Trust gives mostly in Tennessee: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Virginia (12%) and California (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (5 grants).
Does Ransom Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Ransom Charitable Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship in Honor of the William Warren Principals Award" (3 grants).
Who are Ransom Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Ransom Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Amputee Blade Runners ($15,000), Hear Nashville ($15,000) and Bristol Regional Speech and Hearing Center ($7,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Ransom Charitable Trust?
Ransom Charitable Trust reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $71K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $67K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Ransom Charitable Trust's EIN?
Ransom Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-7141844. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 2, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Ransom Charitable Trust funds
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