Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Jasper, IN EIN: 46-2359859

Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc is a private foundation based in Jasper, Indiana. Its 2024 giving included support for horse rescue and equine programs, animal welfare, and organizations addressing human needs, religious topics, and social issues.

Key facts about Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc

In short: Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc gave $261K across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $29K), mostly in Missouri. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
46-2359859
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$260,645
Grants made (2024)
9
Average grant
$28,961
Median grant
$3,000
Total assets
$105,790,376
Primary geography
Missouri (74% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$105.8M

+2.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$261K

-97.5% YoY

Grant Count

9

+50.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$29K

-98.3% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc reported a distributable amount of $8.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc gives

  • Giving fell 47% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 10% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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 contributions show support for a range of charitable organizations. Saddlebred Rescue Inc describes its mission as saving unwanted horses from slaughter, returning them to productive lives, and educating the public about concerns facing saddle seat breeds. Dubois County Humane Society says it provides care for homeless animals, promotes adoptions, and investigates animal abuse and neglect. Rock Creek Riding Club describes its aim as promoting horseback riding, horse shows, and related activities to the public.

Other 2024 recipients included organizations whose stated purposes involved basic human needs, religious and family programs, and news coverage of life, family, faith, and cultural issues.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation made 9 grants totaling $260,645. Grant amounts ranged from $1,950 to $189,695, with a median grant of $3,000. Its largest grants were $189,695 to Missionaries of the Holy Family for basic needs, including clean water, food, shelter, and education, and $50,000 to Saddlebred Rescue Inc to help save horses from slaughter and support re-homing programs.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2024 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Missouri (74%), New Jersey (19%), Massachusetts (2%), Virginia (2%), and Indiana (2%). The listed recipients also included organizations in Kentucky.

Grant Distribution by State

10states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.

Cities

JasperHardwickStockbridgeLexingtonLouisvilleSaint LouisAshlandEvansvilleFerdinandPrincetonShelbyvilleBostonCheektowagaChicagoFront RoyalHartselleHuntingburgModestoNew YorkNewburgh

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$5M$10M$15M8 grants2020 15 grants2021 16 grants2022 6 grants2023 9 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $261K (2024) to $10.3M (2023). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $261K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 9 recipients in 2024

Missionaries of the Holy Family: $190KMissionaries of the HolyFamily$190KSaddlebred Rescue Inc: $50KSaddlebred Rescue Inc$50KDaughters of Mary of Nazareth: $5KDaughters of Mary of Nazareth$5KLifesitenewscom Inc: $5KLifesitenewscom Inc$5KSisters in Jesus the Lord: $3KSisters in Jesus the Lord$3KVanderburgh Humane Society: $2KVanderburgh Humane Society$2KDubois County Humane Society: $2KDubois County Humane Society$2KThe Shelbyville Horse Show: $2KThe Shelbyville Horse Show$2KRock Creek Riding Club: $2KRock Creek Riding Club$2K

The largest 2024 recipient was Missionaries of the Holy Family ($190K). Together the top 9 received $261K.

Grant Size Distribution

54 grants across all recorded years

37<$50K7$50–100K5$100–250K1$250–500K1$500K–1M1$1–5M2$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 37 grants of 54 (69%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Missionaries of the Holy Family Saint Louis, MOTo provide basic human needs including clean water, food, shelter, and education$189,695
Saddlebred Rescue Inc Hardwick, NJSave Horses from Slaughter and Support Re-Homing Programs$50,000
Daughters of Mary of Nazareth Quincy, MATo provide basic human needs, including food, shelter, education, and to support the spiritual works of mercy$5,000
Lifesitenewscom Inc Front Royal, VATo support an internet news service dedicated to issue of life, family, and religious topics$5,000
Sisters in Jesus the Lord St Joseph, MOTo support programs caring for families in need, including orphans and street children$3,000
Vanderburgh Humane Society Evansville, INSupport Animal Rescue, Adoption, and Welfare$2,000
Dubois County Humane Society Jasper, INSupport Animal Rescue, Adoption, and Welfare$2,000
The Shelbyville Horse Show Shelbyville, KYSupport the saddlebred horse show and promote the equine industry in Shelby county$2,000
Rock Creek Riding Club Louisville, KYSupport the saddlebred horse show and equine educational programs$1,950

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Grant total Number of grants
2024 $260,645 9
2023 $10,339,625 6
2022 $8,949,900 16
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$10M$20M$30M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$105,790,376$102,985,249$110,381,495
Revenue$3,573,586$3,733,945$19,891,660
Expenses$769,025$10,866,125$9,435,400
Qualifying Distributions$855,756$10,621,791$9,190,582
Net Investment Income$4,042,654$3,705,651$4,083,221
Distributable Amount$8,836,492$6,945,284$6,772,304

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 7, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 16, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 4, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Theresa S Vonderschmitt as President and Director; Lizelle Hill as Secretary and Director; Lori Mehringer DVM as Director; and Jill Knies and William Wessel as key employees.

Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc is led by Theresa S. Vonderschmitt, President & Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 3 of 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Theresa S. Vonderschmitt

    President & Director

    President → President & Director, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    15 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lizelle Hill

    Secretary & Director

    Secretary → Secretary & Director, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    30 hrs/week

    $18K (2020) → $35K (2024)

  • Lori Mehringer Dvm

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • William Wessel

    Key Employee

    On filings since 2020

    22 hrs/week

    $19K (2020) → $14K (2024)

  • Jill Knies

    Key Employee

    New on the 2024 filing

    20 hrs/week

    $44K (2024)

Former officers (4)
  • Former: Sharon Cox (2020–2023) — Key Employee
  • Former: David Hurm (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Wilfred C. Bussing III (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Roscoe R. Tempel (2021–2022) — Key Employee

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

Jill Knies — Key Employee: $44KJill KniesKey Employee$44KLizelle Hill — Secretary & DIR: $35KLizelle HillSecretary & DIR$35KWilliam Wessel — Key Employee: $14KWilliam WesselKey Employee$14K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $44K, to Jill Knies (Key Employee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Contact

Mailing address: 510 Mendel Lane, Jasper, IN 47546
Phone: (408) 482-9991

Frequently asked questions about Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc

How much does Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc give each year?

Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc gave $261K across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $10.3M across 6 grants.

What is Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc's typical grant size?

Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc's median grant in 2024 was $3,000, and its average grant was $28,961, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc give grants?

Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc gives mostly in Missouri: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Jersey (19%).

Does Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

Who are Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc's largest grantees?

Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Missionaries of the Holy Family ($189,695), Saddlebred Rescue Inc ($50,000) and Daughters of Mary of Nazareth ($5,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 94% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc?

Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc reported $105.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $856K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8.8M (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 Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 contributions show support for a range of charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc's EIN?

Sanda Hills Equine Center Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-2359859. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does Sanda Hills Equine Center 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.

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