Sally Johnson Shy Foundation
The Sally Johnson Shy Foundation is a private foundation based in Memphis, Tennessee. In 2024, it gave 12 grants totaling $9,415 to organizations whose filing purposes included student-athlete support, education support, promoting Memphis, and other activities.
Sally Johnson Shy Foundation at a glance
In short: Sally Johnson Shy Foundation gave $9K across 12 grants in 2024 (avg $784.583), top state Mississippi. 55% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $9,415
- -62.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 12
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $785
- -62.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $507
- Total assets
- $646,455
- -6.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 55% first-time grantees (6 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Mississippi (37% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sally Johnson Shy Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 585 South Greer Apt 203, Memphis, TN 38111
Phone: (601) 955-7554
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sally Johnson Shy Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Ole Miss Athletic Foundation ($3K). Together the top 10 received $9K.
Grant Size Distribution
45 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 45 grants of 45 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars by recipient state were reported as: Mississippi, 37%; Tennessee, 21%; North Carolina, 18%; Colorado, 11%; and New York, 7%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sally Johnson Shy Foundation open to new grantees?
55%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 11 grantees (55%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $546; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $270 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 45% 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 grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2022) to $25K (2023). In 2024 it made 12 grants totaling $9K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $646,455 | $51,829 | $85,774 | $9,415 | 12 | $70,915 | $21,227 | $32,325 |
| 2023 | $689,514 | $23,583 | $107,154 | $24,857 | 12 | $86,357 | $3,286 | $35,252 |
| 2022 | $725,360 | $30,390 | $71,459 | $6,314 | 5 | $49,814 | $17,897 | $38,703 |
| 2021 | $877,785 | $44,494 | $69,717 | $11,294 | 7 | $48,794 | $31,270 | $42,738 |
| 2020 | $855,437 | $40,333 | $71,940 | $15,718 | 9 | — | $40,333 | $42,334 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for student athletics and education, as well as purposes such as promoting Memphis, promoting plants and the environment, and Alzheimer’s support.
The grantees’ own descriptions provide additional context: the Ole Miss Athletic Foundation says it provides support for scholarships, facilities, salary supplements, and other needs of the University of Mississippi’s intercollegiate athletics department. Young Life describes its work as a ministry to help adolescents encounter Jesus Christ through activities including weekly club meetings, Bible studies, camps, and short-term missions. The Chi Omega Foundation says it supports educational and leadership development through scholarships, grants, and other learning opportunities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation gave 12 grants totaling $9,415. Grants ranged from $156 to $2,500, with a median grant of $506. Its largest grants included $2,500 to the Ole Miss Athletic Foundation, $1,400 to the UNC Education Foundation, $1,300 to Carnival of Memphis, $1,031 to Young Life, and $1,030 to Grove Collective.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sarah Johnson Shy, David F Sellers Shy, and Sarah Genevieve Chapman as directors.
Sally Johnson Shy Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sarah Johnson Shy
Director
On filings since 2020
25 hrs/week
$38K (2020) → $62K (2024)
David F Sellers Shy
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Genevieve Chapman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $62K, to Sarah Johnson Shy (Director).
Frequently asked questions about Sally Johnson Shy Foundation
How much does Sally Johnson Shy Foundation give each year?
Sally Johnson Shy Foundation gave $9K across 12 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $25K across 12 grants.
What is Sally Johnson Shy Foundation's typical grant size?
Sally Johnson Shy Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $507, and its average grant was $785, across 12 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sally Johnson Shy Foundation that year got $546 on average.
Where does Sally Johnson Shy Foundation give grants?
Sally Johnson Shy Foundation's top state is Mississippi, with 37% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were 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).
Does Sally Johnson Shy Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Sally Johnson Shy Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Student Athletes" (3 grants) and "Education Support" (3 grants).
Who are Sally Johnson Shy Foundation's largest grantees?
Sally Johnson Shy Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Ole Miss Athletic Foundation ($2,500), UNC Education Foundation ($1,400) and Carnival of Memphis ($1,300), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sally Johnson Shy Foundation?
Sally Johnson Shy Foundation reported $646K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $71K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $32K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sally Johnson Shy Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included support for student athletics and education, as well as purposes such as promoting Memphis, promoting plants and the environment, and Alzheimer’s support. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sally Johnson Shy Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sally Johnson Shy Foundation's EIN?
Sally Johnson Shy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-1943142. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Sally Johnson Shy Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Figures come from Sally Johnson Shy Foundation'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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