The Virginia & John L Sinclair

Private foundation · Grantmaker Avon, IN EIN: 35-2017213

The Virginia & John L Sinclair is a private foundation based in Avon, Indiana. In 2024, it reported 14 grants totaling $39,000 to charitable organizations in several states.

The Virginia & John L Sinclair at a glance

In short: The Virginia & John L Sinclair gave $39K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $3K), top state Indiana. 7% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$39,000
+5.4% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
14
+16.7% vs 2023
Average grant
$2,786
-9.7% vs 2023
Median grant
$1,000
Total assets
$599,910
-3.9% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
7% first-time grantees (1 of 14, 2024; small sample)
Primary geography
Indiana (33% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to The Virginia & John L Sinclair

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: 4603 Parkstone Lane, Avon, IN 46123
Phone: (317) 745-0851

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Virginia & John L Sinclair funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Benton County Fop Lodge 89 Foundation: $13KBenton County Fop Lodge 89Foundation$13KAvon United Methodist Church: $7KAvon United Methodist Church$7KBastrop Historical Society: $6KBastrop Historical Society$6KChesapeake Bay Wine Classic Foundation: $3KChesapeake Bay Wine ClassicFoundation$3KFamily Promise: $2KFamily Promise$2KDistinguished Young Women of Avon: $2KDistinguished Young Women ofAvon$2KEggleston Services: $1KEggleston Services$1KHendricks County Community Foundation: $1KHendricks County CommunityFoundation$1KSalvation Army: $1KSalvation Army$1KThe Billfish Foundation: $1KThe Billfish Foundation$1K

The largest 2024 recipient was Benton County Fop Lodge 89 Foundation ($13K). Together the top 10 received $36K.

Grant Size Distribution

82 grants across all recorded years

82<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 82 grants of 82 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Indiana (33%), Tennessee (33%), Massachusetts (15%), Virginia (15%), and Florida (3%).

Grant Distribution by State

10states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.

Cities

AvonNorfolkVirginia BeachFt LauderdaleBostonAustinBrownsburgGreencastleNashvilleColorado SpringsIndianapolisBastropFayettevilleHiramOceanside

Is The Virginia & John L Sinclair open to new grantees?

7%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 1 of 14 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $3K. How we count

Medians: $1K first-time, $1K repeat.

  • 79% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+8%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 115% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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

$0$10K$20K$30K$40K21 grants2020 17 grants2021 18 grants2022 12 grants2023 14 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $36K (2020) to $39K (2024). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $39K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Benton County Fop Lodge 89 Foundation Nashville, TNCharitable$13,000
Avon United Methodist Church Avon, INCharitable$6,600
Bastrop Historical Society Boston, MACharitable$6,000
Chesapeake Bay Wine Classic Foundation Virginia Beach, VACharitable$2,500
Family Promise Avon, INCharitable$2,000
Distinguished Young Women of Avon Avon, INCharitable$2,000
Eggleston Services Norfolk, VACharitable$1,000
Hendricks County Community Foundation Avon, INCharitable$1,000
Salvation Army Norfolk, VACharitable$1,000
The Billfish Foundation Ft Lauderdale, FLCharitable$1,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$599,910$21,691$46,326$39,00014$39,000$11,506$33,793
2023$624,287$65,059$45,063$37,00012$37,000$8,388$31,332
2022$604,291$20,114$46,259$39,00018$39,000$17,600$32,937
2021$630,436$60,789$43,312$36,00017$36,000$19,520$37,163
2020$613,073$32,476$42,148$36,00021—$12,379$33,013

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Virginia & John L Sinclair reported a distributable amount of $34K for 2024 — 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 2024 grants went to organizations whose own missions include supporting youth education and activities, enriching the lives of foster children, providing experiences for medically fragile children and families, and conserving billfish populations. These are grantee missions, not stated priorities of the foundation.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation gave $39,000 through 14 grants. Individual grants ranged from $400 to $13,000, with a median grant of $1,000.

Among the 2024 grants listed were $13,000 to Benton County FOP Lodge 89 Foundation, $6,600 to Avon United Methodist Church, $6,000 to Bastrop Historical Society, and $2,500 to Chesapeake Bay Wine Classic Foundation. Other listed recipients included Family Promise and Distinguished Young Women of Avon, each receiving $2,000; Eggleston Services, Hendricks County Community Foundation, Salvation Army, The Billfish Foundation, Avon Education Foundation, and Chartway Promise Foundation, each receiving $1,000.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

J David Sinclair was listed as president-treasurer on the 2024 filing.

The Virginia & John L Sinclair is led by J. David Sinclair, President-Treasurer on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • J. David Sinclair

    President-Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Robert L. Sinclair (2020–2023) — Vice President

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about The Virginia & John L Sinclair

How much does The Virginia & John L Sinclair give each year?

The Virginia & John L Sinclair gave $39K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $37K across 12 grants.

What is The Virginia & John L Sinclair's typical grant size?

The Virginia & John L Sinclair's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $2,786, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Virginia & John L Sinclair that year got $1K on average.

Where does The Virginia & John L Sinclair give grants?

The Virginia & John L Sinclair's top state is Indiana, with 33% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Tennessee (33%) and Massachusetts (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Avon, IN (6 grants), Norfolk, VA (3 grants) and Virginia Beach, VA (2 grants).

Does The Virginia & John L Sinclair give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on The Virginia & John L Sinclair's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (14 grants).

Who are The Virginia & John L Sinclair's largest grantees?

The Virginia & John L Sinclair's largest 2024 grantees include Benton County Fop Lodge 89 Foundation ($13,000), Avon United Methodist Church ($6,600) and Bastrop Historical Society ($6,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 66% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Virginia & John L Sinclair?

The Virginia & John L Sinclair reported $600K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $39K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $34K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does The Virginia & John L Sinclair fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Virginia & John L Sinclair?

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Virginia & John L Sinclair's EIN?

The Virginia & John L Sinclair's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-2017213. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does The Virginia & John L Sinclair accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from The Virginia & John L Sinclair'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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