The Sunlight Foundation is a private independent foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee, established in 1999. As of September 2020, the organization is no longer active and its website is maintained as a static archive.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.7M
-1.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$414K
-15.4% YoY
Grant Count
22
-4.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
-11.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sunlight Foundation reported a distributable amount of $502K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Sunlight Foundation's mission was to make government and politics more accountable and transparent to all through civic technologies, open data, policy analysis, and journalism.
The organization's vision centered on enabling technology to support more complete, equitable, and effective democratic participation. A core goal was achieving changes in law to require real-time, online transparency for all government information.
While the organization's work began in 2006 with a focus on the U.S. Congress, it expanded to address open government issues at local, state, federal, and international levels. The foundation believed that disproportionate access to information represents a concentration of power and was committed to improving public access to public information by making it available online.
Grantmaking
Based on the most recent available data (2024), the Sunlight Foundation made 26 grants totaling $413,900. Notable grants included:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focused primarily on Tennessee, North Carolina, and Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $4,701,659
- Total Revenue: $452,992
- Total Expenses: $500,442
- Net Income: -$47,450
- Total Liabilities: $0
Revenue Breakdown (2024):
- Grants and contributions: $7,341
- Investment income and dividends: $175,590
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $270,061
The organization has been tax-exempt since December 2000 and holds 501(c)(3) status.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,701,659 | $4,750,760 | $4,843,527 |
| Revenue | $452,992 | $466,571 | $447,824 |
| Expenses | $500,442 | $559,338 | $526,093 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $419,816 | $492,071 | $456,868 |
| Net Investment Income | $365,025 | $396,655 | $94,250 |
| Distributable Amount | $502,457 | $446,312 | $442,958 |
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
116 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Baylor University ($150,000), Schwab Charitable Fund ($80,000), Cotton Tree Foundation ($31,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Baylor University Waco, TX | Scholarship fund | $150,000 |
| ETSU Foundation Johnson City, TN | Scholarship fund | $5,000 |
| Univ of Wisconsin Foundation Madison, WI | Scholarship fund | $5,000 |
| Moody Aviation Chicago, IL | Scholarship fund | $10,000 |
| United Methodist World Misssion New York, NY | Staff Support | $20,000 |
| Mexican Indian Training Center Shreveport, LA | Operations | $20,000 |
| United World Mission Charotte, NC | Staff Support | $4,000 |
| Youth Serving Christ Anderson, IN | General Operations | $15,000 |
| S4CA Nashville, TN | General Operations | $6,000 |
| Young Life Prescott, AZ | Staff Support | $6,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Deborah D Sherman is listed as a contact person for the organization.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timothy Siktberg | Secretary | 4 | — |
| Deborah D Sherman | President | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
As of September 2020, the Sunlight Foundation ceased active operations. The organization's website is maintained as a static archive containing historical content and publications from its operational period.
How We're Funded - Sunlight FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sunlight Foundation fund?
The Sunlight Foundation's mission was to make government and politics more accountable and transparent to all through civic technologies, open data, policy analysis, and journalism. The organization's vision centered on enabling technology to support more complete, equitable, and effective democratic participation. A core goal was achieving changes in law to require real-time, online transparency for all government information. While the organization's work began in 2006 with a focus on the U.S…
How do I apply for a grant from Sunlight Foundation?
Based on the most recent available data (2024), the Sunlight Foundation made 26 grants totaling $413,900. Notable grants included: • Baylor University: $150,000 (Scholarship Fund) • Tree Foundation: $31,000 (General Operations) • Mexican Indian Training Center: $20,000 (Operations) Typical grant awards ranged from $500 to $200,000. Primary funding areas included education, philanthropy and voluntarism, grantmaking, and religion-related initiatives.
Where does Sunlight Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focused primarily on Tennessee, North Carolina, and Illinois.
What size grants does Sunlight Foundation award?
In 2024, Sunlight Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $414K — an average of about $19K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sunlight Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sunlight Foundation reported a distributable amount of $502K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sunlight Foundation's EIN?
Sunlight Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1809916. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Sunlight Foundation'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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