The Sunshine Lady Foundation is a private foundation established in 1996 and based in Lebanon, Tennessee. The foundation invests in quality higher education in prison and reentry programs throughout the United States. It was founded by Doris Buffett and is funded through her generosity.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$20.2M
+13.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+51.7% YoY
Grant Count
21
-22.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$56K
+95.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sunshine Lady Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $815K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to invest in organizations and programs dedicated to providing opportunities for the advancement of education, well-being, and new life choices for disadvantaged people, with special empathy for the working poor and families in crisis.
The foundation is committed to ensuring that people who are currently and formerly incarcerated have access to opportunities that affirm their dignity, humanity, and potential as lifelong learners and active members of their communities.
Funding Priorities
The Sunshine Lady Foundation prioritizes:
- For-credit postsecondary in-prison education programs that lead to the completion of a postsecondary credential (degree, certification, or licensure), either during incarceration or post-incarceration
- Postsecondary in-prison education programs affiliated with an accredited institution of higher education
- Community-based reentry programs with a focus on pathways to campus and/or academic support services
What the Foundation Does Not Fund
- Organizations outside the United States
- Business investments, grants to businesses, or loans
- Lobbying or policy work
- Animal protection causes
- Religious organizations for religious purposes
- The Arts
Grantmaking
Typical awards range from $500 to $867,565. Recent grants include:
How to Apply
The foundation encourages inquiries for consideration of funding through an initial inquiry form. Programs meeting some, but not all, of the foundation's current funding priorities are still encouraged to complete an inquiry.
Ready to take the next step with The Sunshine Lady Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grant-making focuses primarily on Oregon, New York, and Missouri, though it funds programs nationally.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $20,210,728
- Total Giving: $1,168,310
- Total Revenues: $13,652,872
- Total Expenses: $1,456,317
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $17.9 million
- Total Revenues: $2.05 million
- Total Expenses: $1.05 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $20,210,728 | $17,882,736 | $16,645,010 |
| Revenue | $13,652,872 | $2,046,671 | $547,068 |
| Expenses | $1,456,317 | $1,045,342 | $2,388,288 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,251,314 | $862,547 | $2,373,988 |
| Net Investment Income | $13,652,872 | $2,046,671 | $933,958 |
| Distributable Amount | $814,672 | $837,501 | — |
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
51 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Portland State Prison Education ($118,750), University of Utah ($110,300), Prison Neighborhood Artseducation ($109,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| HUDSON LINK FOR HIGHER EDUCATION OSSINING, NY | HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON | $50,000 |
| CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY FULLERTON, CA | SITE VISIT HONORARIUM | $500 |
| ST LOUIS UNIVERSITY ST LOUIS, MO | PRISON EDUCATION | $50,000 |
| PORTLAND STATE PRISON EDUCATION PORTLAND, OR | PRISON EDUCATION | $2,000 |
| CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY FULLERTON, CA | HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON | $50,000 |
| MIAMI DADE COLLEGE FOUNDATION MIAMI, FL | HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON | $90,500 |
| PRISON NEIGHBORHOOD ARTSEDUCATION EVANSTON, IL | HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON | $109,000 |
| PORTLAND STATE PRISON EDUCATION PORTLAND, OR | PRISON EDUCATION | $118,750 |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH SALT LAKE CITY, UT | PRISON EDUCATION | $110,300 |
| LIFE UNIVERSITY MARIETTA, GA | HIGHER EDUCATION IN PRISON | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Mary Gould – Executive Director
The foundation was founded by Doris Buffett, who serves as President.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIANE GRIMSLEY | PRESIDENT | 4 | — |
| ANNE EWING | TREASURER | 4 | — |
| JUDY WOOTEN | SECRETARY | 4 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Sunshine Lady Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's mission is to invest in organizations and programs dedicated to providing opportunities for the advancement of education, well-being, and new life choices for disadvantaged people, with special empathy for the working poor and families in crisis. The foundation is committed to ensuring that people who are currently and formerly incarcerated have access to opportunities that affirm their dignity, humanity, and potential as lifelong learners and active members of their communitie…
How do I apply for a grant from The Sunshine Lady Foundation Inc?
Typical awards range from $500 to $867,565. Recent grants include: • University of Utah (Prison Education): $110,300 • Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi / University of West Georgia (Prison Education): $107,000 • Miami Dade College Foundation (Higher Education in Prison): $90,500 The foundation encourages inquiries for consideration of funding through an initial inquiry form. Programs meeting some, but not all, of the foundation's current funding priorities are still encouraged to complete an inqu…
Where does The Sunshine Lady Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grant-making focuses primarily on Oregon, New York, and Missouri, though it funds programs nationally.
What size grants does The Sunshine Lady Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Sunshine Lady Foundation Inc awarded 21 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $56K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Sunshine Lady Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Sunshine Lady Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $815K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Sunshine Lady Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Sunshine Lady Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1977987. 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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