Sally Johnson Shy Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Memphis, TN EIN: 27-1943142

Sally Johnson Shy Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Memphis, TN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $646K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 12 grants totaling $9K. Net investment income was $21K.

Key facts about Sally Johnson Shy Foundation

EIN: 27-1943142
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $9,415
Grants made (2024): 12
Average grant: $785
Median grant: $507
New grantees (estimate): 64% first-time grantees (7 of 11, 2024)
Total assets: $646,455
Primary geography: Mississippi (37% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who Sally Johnson Shy Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Sally Johnson Shy Foundation's 12 itemized 2024 grants were Mississippi (37%), Tennessee (21%) and North Carolina (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Memphis, TN (3 grants), Chapel Hill, NC (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants). None of its 12 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Student Athletes" (3 grants) and "Education Support" (3 grants).

Is Sally Johnson Shy Foundation open to new grantees?

64%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 7 of 11 grantees (64%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $567; repeat grants $1K. How we count

Medians: $290 first-time, $1K repeat.

36% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−17%). Method
In 2024 it paid out 219% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Next steps with Sally Johnson Shy Foundation

How to evaluate Sally Johnson Shy Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
Draft an LOI to Sally Johnson Shy Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$646K

-6.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$9K

-62.1% YoY

Grant Count

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$784.583

-62.1% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sally Johnson Shy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $32K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

About Sally Johnson Shy Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Focus Areas

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with Sally Johnson Shy Foundation?

Assess fit for your org Draft an LOI Find open RFPs

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

Mississippi $4K (37%)

Tennessee $2K (21%)

North Carolina $2K (18%)

Colorado $1K (11%)

New York $695 (7%)

All other $513 (5%)

Share of all 12 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

Colorado Connecticut Florida Illinois Massachusetts Mississippi North Carolina New York Tennessee Virginia

Cities

MemphisUniversityChapel HillColorado SpringsNeedhamNew YorkOxfordBradentonChantillyChattanoogaChicagoNashvillNorfolkPensacolaRedding

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$646,455	$689,514	$725,360
Revenue	$51,829	$23,583	$30,390
Expenses	$85,774	$107,154	$71,459
Qualifying Distributions	$70,915	$86,357	$49,814
Net Investment Income	$21,227	$3,286	$17,897
Distributable Amount	$32,325	$35,252	$38,703

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 2, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

45 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Ole Miss Athletic Foundation ($2,500), UNC Education Foundation ($1,400), Carnival of Memphis ($1,300).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
OLE MISS ATHLETIC FOUNDATION University, MS	SUPPORT STUDENT ATHLETES	$2,500
UNC EDUCATION FOUNDATION Chapel Hill, NC	EDUCATION SUPPORT	$1,400
CARNIVAL OF MEMPHIS Memphis, TN	PROMOTE MEMPHIS	$1,300
YOUNG LIFE Colorado Springs, CO	EDUCATION SUPPPORT	$1,031
GROVE COLLECTIVE Oxford, MS	SUPPORT STUDENT ATHLETES	$1,030
PAN MASS CHALLENGE Needham, MA	ADOLESCENT GROWTH	$513
FINCH COLLEGE ALUMNI FOUNDATION New York, NY	EDUCATION SUPPORT	$500
UNC ATHLETIC FOUNDATION Chapel Hill, NC	SUPPORT STUDENT ATHLETES	$290
MEMPHIS GARDEN CLUB Memphis, TN	PROMOTE PLANTS ENVIRONMENT	$250
ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION Chattanooga, TN	ALZHEIMERS SUPPORT	$250

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Sarah Johnson Shy	Director	25	$61,500
David F Sellers Shy	Director	1	—
Sarah Genevieve Chapman	Director	1	—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sally Johnson Shy Foundation?

Sally Johnson Shy Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Memphis, TN. It holds $646K in total assets as of 2024.

How large is Sally Johnson Shy Foundation?

As of 2024, Sally Johnson Shy Foundation holds $646K in total assets with $52K in annual revenue. It awarded 12 grants totaling $9K in 2024.

Where does Sally Johnson Shy Foundation operate?

Sally Johnson Shy Foundation has awarded grants in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, Virginia.

What size grants does Sally Johnson Shy Foundation award?

In 2024, Sally Johnson Shy Foundation awarded 12 grants totaling $9K — an average of about $784.583 per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is Sally Johnson Shy Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sally Johnson Shy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $32K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.