Sam Shine Foundation Inc
Sam Shine Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1995 and based in Greenville, Indiana. The foundation is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization and operates as a family foundation focused on conservation and environmental preservation efforts.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$135.9M
+3.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.5M
+147.1% YoY
Grant Count
20
+66.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$273K
+48.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sam Shine Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $6.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission centers on protecting nature through conservation. The organization engages in long-term conservation and preservation efforts to protect natural ecosystems by restoring and maintaining native wildlife habitats associated with unique lands and waters.
Key focus areas include:
- Conservation programs and habitat preservation
- Environmental education and research initiatives
- Wildlife habitat restoration and management
- Species diversity preservation
- Environmental education for younger demographics
Notable educational initiatives include the Monarch Butterflies of the Eastern US program and the Waldron Shale Project, which provides teachers with training and materials for environmental education.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants primarily to preselected charitable organizations. Recent grant activity includes:
Average Grant
amount: approximately $309,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Indiana
- Florida
- Virginia
These three states account for approximately 94% of all grants made by the foundation.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $131,046,130
- Total Revenue: $18,654,908
- Total Expenses: $3,401,932
- Total Liabilities: $0
Staffing:
- 1 employee (as of 2023)
Tax Status:
- Tax-exempt since November 1995
- EIN: 35-1961730
- Required to file Form 990-PF
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $135,889,622 | $131,046,130 | $121,684,368 |
| Revenue | $6,017,089 | $18,654,908 | $-2,360,491 |
| Expenses | $7,616,005 | $3,401,932 | $3,999,416 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,450,700 | $2,206,071 | $2,841,710 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,975,383 | $18,123,344 | $1,051,273 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,050,252 | $5,633,451 | $5,915,357 |
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
64 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Nokuse Education Inc ($3,301,280), The Nature Conservancy ($501,045), River Heritage Conservancy ($390,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY MARSHALL, VA | GENERAL | $10,125 |
| CENTRAL INDIANA LAND TRUST INDIANAPOLIS, IN | GENERAL | $305,500 |
| CONSERVATION LAW CENTER BLOOMINGTON, IN | GENERAL | $140,000 |
| HABITAT SOLUTIONS COLUMBUS, IN | GENERAL | $750 |
| INDIANA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY INDIANAPOLIS, IN | GENERAL | $50,000 |
| NOKUSE EDUCATION INC FREEPORT, FL | GENERAL | $3,301,280 |
| PURDUE WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | GENERAL | $146,500 |
| RIVER HERITAGE CONSERVANCY JEFFERSONVILLE, IN | GENERAL | $390,000 |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY ARLINGTON, VA | GENERAL | $501,045 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN INDIANA NEW ALBANY, IN | GENERAL | $250,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHILLIP D BEAMAN | BOARD CHAIR | 2 | — |
| BETTY S SHINE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MATTHEW ARESCO | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| J SHINE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CJ JACKSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $138,750 |
Contact Information
- Address: PO Box 456, Greenville, IN 47124-0456
- Phone: 812-697-5495
- Website: samshinefoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sam Shine Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's primary mission centers on protecting nature through conservation. The organization engages in long-term conservation and preservation efforts to protect natural ecosystems by restoring and maintaining native wildlife habitats associated with unique lands and waters. Key focus areas include: • Conservation programs and habitat preservation • Environmental education and research initiatives • Wildlife habitat restoration and management • Species diversity preservation • Environm…
How do I apply for a grant from Sam Shine Foundation Inc?
The foundation makes grants primarily to preselected charitable organizations. Recent grant activity includes: **Recent Grants (2023):** • River Heritage Conservancy: $375,000 • Nokuse Education: $310,298 • The Conservation Law Center: $140,000 **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $5 to $3,301,280 • Median grant amount: approximately $104,000 • Average grant amount: approximately $309,000 • The foundation made 14 grants in 2023
Where does Sam Shine Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Indiana • Florida • Virginia These three states account for approximately 94% of all grants made by the foundation.
What size grants does Sam Shine Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Sam Shine Foundation Inc awarded 20 grants totaling $5.5M — an average of about $273K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sam Shine Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sam Shine Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $6.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sam Shine Foundation Inc's EIN?
Sam Shine Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-1961730. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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