The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc
The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware, established in 1994. The foundation operates as a non-operating private grantmaking foundation with a focus on supporting charitable organizations aligned with its trustees' interests.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.3M
+7.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$426K
-6.4% YoY
Grant Count
33
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
-6.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $574K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily to 501(c)(3) charities in its trustees' areas of interest. According to its stated mission, the foundation tends to make grants in the areas of:
- Children
- Secular education
- The elderly
- Health
- Community development
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$1,000–$30,000
Invitation Only
** Grants are made by invitation only from trustees. The foundation does not accept letters of inquiry or unsolicited grant requests as of February 10, 2014.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations located in and serving:
- Dallas and Collin Counties, Texas
- Denver County, Colorado
The foundation's grantmaking reaches organizations across Texas, Colorado, and Iowa, with these three states accounting for approximately 98% of all grants.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- 2024: $11.3 million
- 2023: $10.5 million
- 2022: $10.9 million
Annual Giving:
- 2024: $400,000
- 2023: $441,000
- 2022: $416,000
Giving Rate: Approximately 3.5% of assets annually
Tax Status: Tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization since October 1994; EIN 75-2555622
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $11,261,057 | $10,484,938 | $10,863,970 |
| Revenue | $1,461,953 | $308,013 | $-595,534 |
| Expenses | $685,834 | $687,045 | $717,985 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $531,570 | $559,672 | $550,514 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,351,051 | $226,779 | $187,555 |
| Distributable Amount | $573,660 | $539,498 | $552,322 |
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
170 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Legacy Counseling Center Inc ($30,000), Dallas Casa ($25,000), Morgan Adams Foundation ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMYS FRIENDS DALLAS, TX | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| ASCEND DALLAS DALLAS, TX | Nurse-Family Partnership Program | $10,000 |
| ASSOCIATION OF SMALL FOUNDATIONS WASHINGTON, DC | General & Unrestricted | $900 |
| BRAIN INJURY NETWORK OF DALLAS PLANO, TX | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| CAMILLE PLAYERS INC BROWNSVILLE, TX | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| CHILDRENS MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION DALLAS, TX | The Behavioral Health Integration and Guidance Initiative | $10,000 |
| CHILDRENS MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION DALLAS, TX | Mental Health Services at the Rees-Jones Center for Foster Care excellence | $10,000 |
| DALLAS CASA DALLAS, TX | Court-appointed volunteers program | $25,000 |
| GENESIS WOMENS SHELTER & SUPPORT DALLAS, TX | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| HEALING HANDS MINISTRIES INC DALLAS, TX | Pediatric Mobile Clinic | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key officers and trustees include:
- Larry F Lightner – President, Trustee
- Charles Derek Adleta – Director, Trustee, Secretary, Treasurer
- Sue B Lightner – Director, Trustee, Vice President
- Kristin Lightner – Director, Trustee
- Robin H Lightner – Trustee
- Kamala A Lightner-Scammahorn – Director, Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Derek Adleta | Dir, Trustee, Sec, Treas, Pres | 6 | $19,200 |
| Kristin Lightner | Dir, Trustee, Treas | 4 | $3,000 |
| Larry F Lightner | Trustee, Pres, VP | 6 | $24,000 |
| Robin H Lightner | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Sue B Lightner | Dir, Trustee, VP | 6 | — |
| Kamala A Lightner-Scammahorn | Dir, Trustee, Sec | 4 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation gives primarily to 501(c)(3) charities in its trustees' areas of interest. According to its stated mission, the foundation tends to make grants in the areas of: • Children • Secular education • The elderly • Health • Community development
How do I apply for a grant from The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc?
**Application Process:** Grants are made by invitation only from trustees. The foundation does not accept letters of inquiry or unsolicited grant requests as of February 10, 2014. **Grant Amounts:** • Typical awards range from $900–$30,000 • Median grant: $10,000–$15,000 • Grant range: $1,000–$30,000 **Recent Activity:** • 2024: $400,000 in total giving across 29 grants • 2023: $441,000 in total giving across 32 grants • 2022: $416,000 in total giving across 33 grants
Where does The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations located in and serving: • Dallas and Collin Counties, Texas • Denver County, Colorado The foundation's grantmaking reaches organizations across Texas, Colorado, and Iowa, with these three states accounting for approximately 98% of all grants.
What size grants does The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc awarded 33 grants totaling $426K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $574K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-2555622. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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