Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation
The Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation is a private foundation based in Mount Ida, Arkansas. Its 2025 filing reports grants to Arkansas recipients, including awards for trade school and college education.
Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation at a glance
In short: Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation gave $313K across 48 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in Arkansas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $313,000
- +2.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 48
- +6.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,521
- -3.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,000
- Total assets
- $1,163,828
- +7.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Arkansas (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.
How to apply to Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists the contact as Robert E Sampley Educational Foundation. It says to see the statement for application forms and materials and for award restrictions.
- Review Cycle
- April of senior year.
- Deadline
- April of senior year.
- Contact
Application contact: Robert E Sampley Educational Founda
Mailing address: PO Box 1147, Mount Ida, AR 71957
Phone: (870) 867-3564
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Gunner Bour ($12K).
Organizations only. It also paid 47 grants to individuals ($301,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
203 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 203 grants of 203 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Arkansas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 48 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation gives
- Giving grew 28% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 86% 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $238K (2021) to $313K (2025). In 2025 it made 48 grants totaling $313K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Gunner Bour Caddo Gap, AR | Trade School | $12,000 |
| 47 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $301,000 |
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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 | $1,163,828 | $354,718 | $333,676 | $313,000 | 48 | $313,000 | $354,718 | $363,985 |
| 2024 | $1,083,160 | $328,359 | $21,418 | $304,500 | 45 | $308,000 | $328,359 | $318,618 |
| 2023 | $1,214,563 | $136,332 | $19,899 | $248,500 | 39 | $248,500 | $136,332 | $281,144 |
| 2022 | $1,036,095 | $162,067 | $16,515 | $245,000 | 36 | $275,000 | $172,812 | $282,565 |
| 2021 | $1,233,551 | $187,139 | $258,606 | $238,000 | 35 | $238,000 | $167,422 | $254,746 |
| 2020 | $1,497,520 | $187,924 | $396,875 | $273,000 | 42 | — | $183,339 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation reported a distributable amount of $364K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state the foundation’s mission. Its 2025 grants included education-related awards, with listed purposes of trade school and college education.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 48 grants totaling $313,000. Grant amounts ranged from $3,500 to $12,000, with a median of $7,000. The listed grants included a $12,000 award for trade school and multiple $7,000 awards to individual recipients for college education.
The foundation’s filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Francis Dobbs as treasurer and director; Jason Lenderman CPA as vice president and director; Jeff Black as president and director; Ruth Norman as secretary and director; and Tammy McCarter, William Edwards, and Randy Black as directors.
Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation is led by Jeff Black, President Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jeff Black
President Director
President → President Di, 2021
President Di → President Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Ruth Norman
Secretary Director
Director → Secretary Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$500 (2020) → $0 (2025)
Francis Dobbs
Treasurer Director
Secretary → Secretary Di, 2021
Secretary Di → Treasurer Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Tammy McCarter
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
William Edwards
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Randy Black
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Jason Lenderman CPA
Vice President Director
Vice President → Vice President Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
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 2021 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $4K, to Ruth Norman (Director).
Frequently asked questions about Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation
How much does Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation give each year?
Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation gave $313K across 48 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $305K across 45 grants.
What is Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation's typical grant size?
Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,000, and its average grant was $6,521, across 48 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation give grants?
Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation gives mostly in Arkansas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 48 grants with a stated purpose on Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "College Education" (47 grants).
How large is Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation?
Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $313K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $364K (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.
What does Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation fund?
The available information does not state the foundation’s mission. Its 2025 grants included education-related awards, with listed purposes of trade school and college education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation?
The filing lists the contact as Robert E Sampley Educational Foundation. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation's EIN?
Robert E and Catherine Woodson Sampley Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 71-6156225. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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