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.
Key facts about The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 75-2555622
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $426,400
- Grants made (2024)
- 33
- Average grant
- $12,921
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (7 of 29, 2024)
- Total assets
- $11,261,057
- Primary geography
- Texas (86% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Grants are made by invitation only from trustees. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc's 33 itemized 2024 grants were Texas (86%) and Colorado (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Dallas, TX (16 grants), Plano, TX (3 grants), Tyler, TX (3 grants) and Denver, CO (2 grants). 52% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 29 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $16K repeat.
- 66% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−3%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 93% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc as a funder
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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.
Ready to take the next step with The Lightner Sams Foundation Inc?
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
Share of all 33 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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 recipients include Legacy Counseling Center Inc ($40,000 across 2 grants), Dallas CASA ($25,000), Morgan Adams Foundation ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LEGACY COUNSELING CENTER INC Dallas, TX | Technology Initiative | $30,000 |
| DALLAS CASA Dallas, TX | Court-appointed volunteers program | $25,000 |
| MORGAN ADAMS FOUNDATION Denver, CO | Pediatric Cancer Research Projects | $25,000 |
| NEW HOPE EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY Argyle, TX | General & Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| SOLAR CAR CHALLENGE FOUNDATION Plano, TX | Summer Intern Program | $25,000 |
| JUDIS HOUSE Aurora, CO | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF GREATER DALLAS Dallas, TX | General & Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| RESOURCE CENTER OF DALLAS INC Dallas, TX | HIV Dental Health Program | $20,000 |
| AMYS FRIENDS Dallas, TX | General & Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| GENESIS WOMENS SHELTER & SUPPORT Dallas, TX | General & Unrestricted | $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 IRS 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?
Grants are made by invitation only from trustees. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.