The Shepherds Hand Inc
The Shepherds Hand Inc is a private foundation based in Lakeland, Florida. Its 2025 filing reports 102 grants totaling $608,662 to organizations with purposes including missions, ministry, counseling, kids camps, education, and legal work.
The Shepherds Hand Inc at a glance
In short: The Shepherds Hand Inc gave $609K across 102 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), top state Michigan. 11% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $608,662
- +21.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 102
- +4.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,967
- +16.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $10,617,876
- +3.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 11% first-time grantees (11 of 102, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (22% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Shepherds Hand Inc
- How to Apply
-
Send the requested organizational information and materials to the foundation.
- Contact
Application contact: Richard A Porter
Mailing address: 2333 Little Cypress Dr, Lakeland, FL 33810
Phone: (248) 207-7580
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Shepherds Hand Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Village Ministries International ($25K). Together the top 10 received $154K.
Grant Size Distribution
475 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 475 grants of 475 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states. The largest shares by recipient state were Michigan (22%), Florida (12%), Illinois (9%), Colorado (7%), and Arizona (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 102 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Shepherds Hand Inc open to new grantees?
11%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 11 of 102 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 86% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $465K (2023) to $609K (2025). In 2025 it made 102 grants totaling $609K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Village Ministries International Yukon, OK | Missions | $25,000 |
| QPLACE Wheaton, IL | Ministry | $20,000 |
| Dare 2 Share Arvada, CO | Missions | $15,000 |
| Focus on the Family Colorado Springs, CO | Counseling | $15,000 |
| Huron Forrest Camp Cedar Ridge Walled Lake, MI | Kids Camp | $15,000 |
| Lighthouse Ministries Lakeland, FL | Ministry | $15,000 |
| Youth Haven Ranches Rives Junction, MI | Kids Camp | $15,000 |
| Answers in Genesis Hebron, KY | Education | $12,000 |
| For the Children Santa Ana, CA | Kids Camp | $12,000 |
| Alliance Defending Freedom Scottsdale, AZ | LEGAL | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Shepherds Hand Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $10,617,876 | $1,125,150 | $815,005 | $608,662 | 102 | $627,043 | $942,111 | $684,888 |
| 2024 | $10,308,802 | $454,203 | $686,381 | $503,125 | 98 | $523,767 | $294,089 | $632,573 |
| 2023 | $10,540,646 | $-143,959 | $649,401 | $464,634 | 88 | $484,510 | $63,365 | $520,756 |
| 2022 | $11,334,301 | $3,395,948 | $732,097 | $605,020 | 92 | $620,764 | $3,297,850 | $470,275 |
| 2021 | $8,674,379 | $839,818 | $610,072 | $512,174 | 95 | $527,966 | $767,635 | $621,006 |
| 2020 | $8,444,679 | $675,196 | $574,103 | $487,776 | 93 | — | $609,021 | $526,029 |
| 2019 | $8,343,163 | $390,689 | $572,343 | $488,959 | 97 | — | $327,413 | $507,149 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Shepherds Hand Inc reported a distributable amount of $685K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for Christian ministries, camps, education, child-focused programs, and legal work. The grantees describe their own work in varied terms: Lighthouse Ministries says it serves poor and at-risk people through the gospel and by meeting physical, emotional, and other needs; For the Children says its programs aim to change the lives of children in foster care; and Camp Hemlock says it runs a Christian camp sharing the message of the Gospel. Other 2025 recipients include organizations whose stated missions include proclaiming the Bible’s authority, equipping and serving the Hispanic church, and advancing religious liberty.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 102 grants totaling $608,662. Grants ranged from $500 to $25,000, with a median of $5,000. Notable awards included $25,000 to Village Ministries International for missions; $20,000 to QPlace for ministry; $15,000 each to Dare 2 Share for missions, Focus on the Family for counseling, Huron Forrest Camp Cedar Ridge for kids camp, Lighthouse Ministries for ministry, and Youth Haven Ranches for kids camp; and $12,000 each to Answers in Genesis for education and For the Children for kids camp.
The foundation’s 2025 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It asks organizations to send information about their tax status, needs, area of ministry, website, and brochures to the foundation. The filing lists Richard A. Porter as the contact and states there are no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Richard Porter as president, Sharon Porter as secretary/treasurer, and Amanda Nielsen as vice president.
The Shepherds Hand Inc is led by Richard Porter, President on every filing since 2019; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Richard Porter
President
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$10K (2019) → $8K (2025)
Amanda Nielsen
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sharon Porter
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $8K, to Richard Porter (President).
Frequently asked questions about The Shepherds Hand Inc
How much does The Shepherds Hand Inc give each year?
The Shepherds Hand Inc gave $609K across 102 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $503K across 98 grants.
What is The Shepherds Hand Inc's typical grant size?
The Shepherds Hand Inc's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $5,967, across 102 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Shepherds Hand Inc that year got $3K on average.
Where does The Shepherds Hand Inc give grants?
The Shepherds Hand Inc's top state is Michigan, with 22% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Florida (12%) and Illinois (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Lakeland, FL (7 grants), Colorado Springs, CO (5 grants), Grand Rapids, MI (3 grants) and Adrian, MI (2 grants).
Does The Shepherds Hand Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 102 grants with a stated purpose on The Shepherds Hand Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Missions" (20 grants), "Education" (15 grants) and "Ministry" (15 grants).
Who are The Shepherds Hand Inc's largest grantees?
The Shepherds Hand Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Village Ministries International ($25,000), QPLACE ($20,000) and Dare 2 Share ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 10% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Shepherds Hand Inc?
The Shepherds Hand Inc reported $10.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $627K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $685K (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 The Shepherds Hand Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for Christian ministries, camps, education, child-focused programs, and legal work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Shepherds Hand Inc?
Send the requested organizational information and materials to the foundation. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Shepherds Hand Inc's EIN?
The Shepherds Hand Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2092191. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 17, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Shepherds Hand Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Shepherds Hand Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Shepherds Hand Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-shepherds-hand-inc-morg_be34bb40a9f64d6b8ecec0cac6722abd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_382092191_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Shepherds Hand Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-shepherds-hand-inc-morg_be34bb40a9f64d6b8ecec0cac6722abd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Shepherds Hand Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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