Sam Shine Foundation Inc
Sam Shine Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Greenville, Indiana. Its work centers on long-term conservation, preservation, and restoration of natural ecosystems, with an emphasis on native wildlife habitats associated with unique lands and waters.
Sam Shine Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Sam Shine Foundation Inc gave $5.5M across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $273K), mostly in Florida. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,450,700
- +147.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +66.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $272,535
- +48.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $40,250
- Total assets
- $135,889,622
- +3.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (10 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Florida (61% 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 Sam Shine Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 456, Greenville, IN 47124
Phone: (812) 697-5495
Website: https://samshinefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sam Shine Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Nokuse Education Inc ($3.3M). Together the top 10 received $5.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
64 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 36 grants of 64 (56%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars were reported as going primarily to recipients in Florida (61%) and Indiana (26%), followed by Virginia (9%) and Maine (4%). Missouri accounted for 0% of grant dollars.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Sam Shine Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 20 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $45K; repeat grants $500K. How we count
Medians: $23K first-time, $173K repeat.
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 159% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $573K (2020) to $5.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $5.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Nokuse Education Inc Freeport, FL | General | $3,301,280 |
| The Nature Conservancy Arlington, VA | General | $501,045 |
| River Heritage Conservancy Jeffersonville, IN | General | $390,000 |
| Central Indiana Land Trust Indianapolis, IN | General | $305,500 |
| Community Foundation of Southern Indiana New Albany, IN | General | $250,000 |
| Woodie Wheaton Land Trust Forest City, ME | General | $200,000 |
| Purdue West Lafayette, IN | General | $146,500 |
| Conservation Law Center Bloomington, IN | General | $140,000 |
| Indiana Native Plant Society Indianapolis, IN | General | $50,000 |
| Ecosystems Connections Institute Denver, IN | General | $40,500 |
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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 | $135,889,622 | $6,017,089 | $7,616,005 | $5,450,700 | 20 | $5,450,700 | $2,975,383 | $6,050,252 |
| 2023 | $131,046,130 | $18,654,908 | $3,401,932 | $2,206,071 | 12 | $2,206,071 | $18,123,344 | $5,633,451 |
| 2022 | $121,684,368 | $-2,360,491 | $3,999,416 | $2,841,710 | 10 | $2,841,710 | $1,051,273 | $5,915,357 |
| 2021 | $145,667,920 | $42,602,317 | $2,882,763 | $2,104,500 | 6 | $2,104,500 | $1,303,575 | $4,368,867 |
| 2020 | $79,913,650 | $72,079,599 | $839,298 | $572,507 | 16 | — | $292,827 | $734,878 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is “long term conservation, preservation, and restoration of natural ecosystems while focusing on maintaining and enhancing native wildlife habitats associated with unique lands and waters.”
Its 2024 grants included conservation organizations, environmental education, and native-plant and wildlife groups. For example, Nokuse Education says it uses outdoor field work and exploration in environmental education; The Nature Conservancy says its mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends; and Central Indiana Land Trust says it preserves natural areas and protects plants and animals in central Indiana. Indiana Native Plant Society says it educates and promotes the use of native plants in Indiana. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $5,450,700. Grant amounts ranged from $750 to $3,301,280, with a median of $40,250.
The largest reported grants included $3,301,280 to Nokuse Education Inc., $501,045 to The Nature Conservancy, $390,000 to River Heritage Conservancy, $305,500 to Central Indiana Land Trust, and $250,000 to Community Foundation of Southern Indiana. The reported purpose for each of these grants was “general.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Phillip D. Beaman as board chair; Betty S. Shine, Matthew Aresco, and J. Shine as directors; and CJ Jackson as executive director. The foundation’s website identifies CJ Jackson as executive director and Allen Pursell as director of forest programs.
Sam Shine Foundation Inc is led by Cj Jackson, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Cj Jackson
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$60K (2020) → $139K (2024)
Phillip D. Beaman
Board Chair
Director → Board Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Betty S. Shine
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
J. Shine
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Aresco
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: John B. Shine (2020–2022) — Director
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 $139K, to CJ Jackson (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Sam Shine Foundation Inc
How much does Sam Shine Foundation Inc give each year?
Sam Shine Foundation Inc gave $5.5M across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.2M across 12 grants.
What is Sam Shine Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Sam Shine Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $40,250, and its average grant was $272,535, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sam Shine Foundation Inc that year got $45K on average.
Where does Sam Shine Foundation Inc give grants?
Sam Shine Foundation Inc gives mostly in Florida: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Indiana (26%) and Virginia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Indianapolis, IN (4 grants).
Does Sam Shine Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Sam Shine Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Sam Shine Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Sam Shine Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Nokuse Education Inc ($3,301,280), The Nature Conservancy ($501,045) and River Heritage Conservancy ($390,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 77% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sam Shine Foundation Inc?
Sam Shine Foundation Inc reported $135.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.1M (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 Sam Shine Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is “long term conservation, preservation, and restoration of natural ecosystems while focusing on maintaining and enhancing native wildlife habitats associated with unique lands and waters.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sam Shine Foundation Inc?
The foundation 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 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.
Does Sam Shine Foundation Inc 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sam Shine Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sam-shine-foundation-inc-morg_ada44607fa0448da9e04a9cfebe5cd5b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_351961730_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sam Shine Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sam-shine-foundation-inc-morg_ada44607fa0448da9e04a9cfebe5cd5b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Sam Shine Foundation Inc'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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