The Shining Light Charitable Trust is a philanthropic organization based in El Cajon, California. The trust manages substantial assets and distributes grants across numerous U.S. cities and states, supporting diverse charitable causes.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.3M
-2.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$276K
-7.1% YoY
Grant Count
36
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$8K
-7.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Shining Light Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $285K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust does not specify particular subject areas of focus in its public filings. However, documented grants indicate support for religious education and outreach activities.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$35,000
Average Grant
$35,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust funds projects across multiple U.S. states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Montana, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, and Wyoming. International funding has also been documented in Belgium.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $5,453,095
- Annual Expenses: $321,051
- Annual Revenue: $45,604
- Asset Growth: 2.6% increase from previous year
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,331,180 | $5,453,095 | $5,728,542 |
| Revenue | $177,343 | $45,604 | $-4,328 |
| Expenses | $299,258 | $321,051 | $324,951 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $277,289 | $297,338 | $299,207 |
| Net Investment Income | $49,574 | $21,891 | $751 |
| Distributable Amount | $285,014 | $270,562 | $298,210 |
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
188 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Febc Russian Jewish Program ($19,200), New Tribes Missions ($18,000), Operation Mobilazation ($18,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASK DR BROWN MINISTRIES CONCORD, NC | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH | $6,000 |
| ASSN BAPTIST WORLD EVANGELISM HARRISBURG, PA | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH | $6,000 |
| BAPTIST INTERNATIONAL MISSION INC HARRISON, TN | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH | $6,000 |
| BAPTIST MID-MISSION CLEVELAND, OH | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH | $12,000 |
| BAPTIST WORLD MISSIONS OUTREACH CHATTANOOGA, TN | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH | $6,000 |
| CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST INTNL ORLANDO, FL | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH | $6,000 |
| CHILD EVANGELISM FELLOWSHIP LA MESA, CA | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH | $6,000 |
| CORD MINISTRIES INT LITTLETON, CO | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH | $12,700 |
| DM STEARNS MISSIONARY FUND NORTH WALES, PA | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH | $6,000 |
| FEBC RUSSIAN JEWISH PROGRAM LA MIRADA, CA | RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH | $19,200 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustee: Thomas Cantor (serves without compensation)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS CANTOR | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Shining Light Charitable Trust fund?
The trust does not specify particular subject areas of focus in its public filings. However, documented grants indicate support for religious education and outreach activities.
How do I apply for a grant from Shining Light Charitable Trust?
**Grant Activity:** • Total assets: $5,453,095 • Annual grants awarded: $297,000 (2024) • Number of grants: 36 grants awarded in 2024 • Average grant size: $35,000 • Total grants in previous year: 7,598 **Applicant Status:** • Open to new applicants: Yes • Percentage of new applicants funded: 12% **Known Grant:** • Israel Restoration Ministries received $12,000 for Religious Education and Outreach (2024)
Where does Shining Light Charitable Trust make grants?
The trust funds projects across multiple U.S. states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Montana, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, and Wyoming. International funding has also been documented in Belgium.
What size grants does Shining Light Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, Shining Light Charitable Trust awarded 36 grants totaling $276K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Shining Light Charitable Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Shining Light Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $285K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Shining Light Charitable Trust's EIN?
Shining Light Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-6374611. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Shining Light Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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