Sample Foundation Inc
Sample Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Billings, Montana. It supports tax-exempt organizations working in health, social welfare, and services for underserved populations, with its website describing a focus on Montana.
Sample Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Sample Foundation Inc gave $555K across 76 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in Montana. 34% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $555,315
- -73.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 76
- -7.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,307
- -71.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $7,676,399
- +12.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (26 of 76, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Montana (95% 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 Sample Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
Submit an online application with the required project and organizational materials. The website says grants are issued in November and that a final grant report, including expenses, is due July 1 of the following year.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists August 1 as the annual application deadline. The 2026 deadline has passed as of October 2, 2026; the website does not specify a later deadline.
- Deadline
- The website lists August 1 as the annual application deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: John G Sample
Mailing address: PO Box 279, Billings, MT 59103-0279
Phone: (406) 256-5567
Website: https://samplefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Sample Foundation Inc
Who Sample Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Partners Hope Foundation ($20K). Together the top 10 received $163K.
Grant Size Distribution
376 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 375 grants of 376 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The website generally limits grants to organizations in Montana. The 2024 filing shows that 95% of grant dollars went to Montana recipients and 3% to Washington recipients. A statement on the foundation’s 2023 filing described its geographic limit as generally Montana and historically Collier County, Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 76 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Sample Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 26 of 76 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $7K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 34% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 22% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 97% 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 $395K (2020) to $2.1M (2023). In 2024 it made 76 grants totaling $555K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Partners Hope Foundation Missoula, MT | Funding for Spa Tub and Washing Station | $20,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Missoula Missoula, MT | Mariposa Commons | $20,000 |
| Fort Ellis Fire and Rescue Bozeman, MT | Fort Ellis Fire and Rescue Tech Needs | $18,178 |
| Poverello Center Inc Missoula, MT | Social Welfare - Shelter Equipment and Furniture | $15,016 |
| Family Promise of Gallatin Valley Bozeman, MT | High-Capacity Appliances Homeless Family Housing | $15,000 |
| Billings Public Schools Billings, MT | Orchard Elementary School - Grounds Maintenance Project 2024 | $15,000 |
| Missoula Food Bank & Community Center Missoula, MT | New Box Truck | $15,000 |
| Bear Hamilton, MT | Youth 12-15 Passenger Van | $15,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Yellowstone County Billings, MT | Boiler and Coil Replacement | $15,000 |
| Friends of the Children - Montana Missoula, MT | Passenger Van for Youth Adventures & Program Transportation | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Sample Foundation Inc?
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 | $7,676,399 | $896,047 | $606,011 | $555,315 | 76 | $564,896 | $654,033 | $582,472 |
| 2023 | $6,818,291 | $3,391,438 | $2,117,756 | $2,089,508 | 82 | $2,097,583 | $1,041,172 | $499,956 |
| 2022 | $5,544,609 | $359,944 | $520,415 | $485,585 | 71 | $487,835 | $137,331 | $499,404 |
| 2021 | $5,708,780 | $306,039 | $496,263 | $455,006 | 73 | — | $106,646 | $474,915 |
| 2020 | $5,888,804 | $356,037 | $442,903 | $395,000 | 74 | — | $136,820 | $419,645 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sample Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $582K for 2024 — 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 foundation’s stated mission is to provide grants to nonprofit organizations in health, social welfare, and services for underserved populations in Montana. Its website describes health proposals as addressing the physical or mental health of people facing economic hardship, and social-welfare proposals as benefiting disadvantaged or vulnerable people affected by poverty, lack of access to services, unemployment, and related factors.
Funding is generally for capital expenses, such as equipment and building projects, rather than day-to-day operations. The foundation’s website lists exclusions including operating expenses, scholarships, duplication of services, capital campaigns, individual artists, and religious organizations. It also excludes organizations that attempt to influence legislation or intervene in political campaigns.
The 2024 grants illustrate the kinds of organizations and projects supported. Partners Hope Foundation, whose stated mission is to build and sustain a hospice center providing end-of-life care, education, and community support, received $20,000 for a spa tub and washing station. Poverello Center, which says it provides food, shelter, clothing, and essential services to people experiencing hunger and homelessness, received $15,016 for shelter equipment and furniture. Family Promise of Gallatin Valley, which describes its work as supporting families facing homelessness, received $15,000 for high-capacity appliances for homeless family housing. Other examples include a $15,000 vehicle grant to Missoula Food Bank & Community Center and a $15,000 adaptive mountain bike grant to Eagle Mount.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 76 grants totaling $555,315. Awards ranged from $1,000 to $20,000, with a median grant of $5,000. Among the largest awards were $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Missoula for Mariposa Commons and $18,178 to Fort Ellis Fire and Rescue for technology needs. Other $15,000 awards included grants to Boys & Girls Clubs of Yellowstone County for a boiler and coil replacement, Friends of the Children – Montana for a passenger van, and Immanuel Foundation for resident-room renovations.
The website says applications are reviewed once a year and submitted online. Listed application materials include the amount requested, an explanation of how the request meets the foundation’s criteria, a project budget, a balance sheet, a list of board members, and evidence of current 501(c)(3) status. It also calls for a letter signed by the chief executive officer and the board president. The website says co-funding is encouraged. The 2024 filing lists awards to tax-exempt organizations; a 2023 filing statement additionally said awards were generally limited to Montana and historically Collier County, Florida, and excluded religious or political organizations and tax-supported institutions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Barbara M. Sample as president; John G. Sample as executive director; Ronald J. Yates Jr., CPA, as treasurer; and Bridget Sample Joyner, David F. Sample, Patrick G. Sample, James S. Sample, Joseph F. Sample, Katherine S. Sample, and Ryan G. Sample as directors. The website says members of the Sample family serve as volunteer trustees who review and approve grant awards.
Sample Foundation Inc is led by Barbara M. Sample, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 9 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Barbara M. Sample
President
Executive Director & President → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John G. Sample
Executive Director
Director → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bridget Sample Joyner
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David F. Sample
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick G. Sample
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James S. Sample
Director
On filings since 2023
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ryan G. Sample
Director
On filings since 2023
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katherine S. Sample
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ronald J. Yates Jr. CPA
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Joseph F. Sample (2020–2024) — Director · Filing note: Deceased 101322
- Former: Kate Sample (2023) — 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.
Frequently asked questions about Sample Foundation Inc
How much does Sample Foundation Inc give each year?
Sample Foundation Inc gave $555K across 76 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.1M across 82 grants.
What is Sample Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Sample Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,307, across 76 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sample Foundation Inc that year got $7K on average.
Where does Sample Foundation Inc give grants?
Sample Foundation Inc gives mostly in Montana: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Missoula, MT (22 grants), Billings, MT (12 grants), Bozeman, MT (8 grants) and Helena, MT (4 grants).
Does Sample Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 76 grants with a stated purpose on Sample Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Designated" (28 grants).
Who are Sample Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Sample Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Partners Hope Foundation ($20,000), Habitat for Humanity of Missoula ($20,000) and Fort Ellis Fire and Rescue ($18,178), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 10% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sample Foundation Inc?
Sample Foundation Inc reported $7.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $565K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $582K (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 Sample Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide grants to nonprofit organizations in health, social welfare, and services for underserved populations in Montana. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sample Foundation Inc?
Submit an online application with the required project and organizational materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sample Foundation Inc's EIN?
Sample Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-6138602. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sample Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sample Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sample-foundation-inc-morg_160de23826d14e28ac5f2c4c5e820e23
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_596138602_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sample Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sample-foundation-inc-morg_160de23826d14e28ac5f2c4c5e820e23},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Sample 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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