Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming
Teton Village, WY · EIN 83-0309453. Reported 197 grants totalling $1,426,150 to 96 recipients across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $3,500. Half of everything it gave fell between $2,000 and $5,000; the smallest was $500 and the largest $84,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lander Community Foundation | Lander, WY | $226,550 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Kentucky Horse Park Foundation | Lexington, KY | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| City of Lander | Lander, WY | $84,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| University of Kentucky Markey Cancer | Lexington, KY | $80,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Wake Forest University | Winstonsalem, NC | $69,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Camille Players Inc | Brownsville, TX | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Fayette Alliance Foundation Inc | Lexington, KY | $58,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Central Kentucky Riding for Hope | Lexington, KY | $53,800 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Jackson Hole Therapeutic Riding Association | Teton Village, WY | $43,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Access Fund | Boulder, CO | $42,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Jackson Hole Historical Society | Jackson, WY | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Equine Land Conservation Resource | Lexington, KY | $29,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| American Safe Climbing Association | Boulder, CO | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Community Foundation of Jackson Hol | Jackson, WY | $23,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| St Jude's Childrens Research | Memphis, TN | $21,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Grand Teton Music Festival | Teton Village, WY | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Greenhouse 17 Inc | Lexington, KY | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| National Museum of Wildlife Art | Jackson, WY | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Lexington Humane Society | Lexington, KY | $16,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Brooke USA Inc | Lexington, KY | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| United States Pony Clubs Inc | Lexington, KY | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| United States Eventing Association | Leesburg, VA | $13,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| CASA of Lexington Inc | Lexington, KY | $12,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Old Friends Inc | Georgetown, KY | $12,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers | Staten Island, NY | $12,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Thermopolis Hot Springs | Thermopolis, WY | $12,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Wind River Cultural Centers | Lander, WY | $12,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Naples Therapeutic Riding Center | Naples, FL | $11,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Lander Pet Connection Inc | Lander, WY | $10,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Samaritan's Purse International Rel | Boone, NC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sanders Brown Center on the Aging | Lexington, KY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sayre School | Lexington, KY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| United Way of Kentucky | Louisville, KY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wildlife Society | Nashville, TN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Wyoming Wildlife Federation | Lander, WY | $10,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Masterson Equestrian Trust | Lexington, KY | $9,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Shelter for Abused Women | Naples, FL | $9,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Compassion and Choices | Littleton, CO | $8,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Friends of Togo Les Amis Du Togo Incorporated | Silver Spring, MD | $8,300 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Ducks Unlimited | Memphis, TN | $8,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Bluegrass Land Conservancy | Lexington, KY | $7,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Humane Society of Harrison County | Cynthiana, KY | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Jdrf International | New York, NY | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Sinks Canyon Natural Resource | Lander, WY | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Harrison County Ministerial | Cynthiana, KY | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Friends of the Hot Springs State | Thermopolis, WY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hope Center Inc | Lexington, KY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Leadership Wyoming | Casper, WY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| United States Pony Club | Lexington, KY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of Wyoming Foundation | Laramie, WY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hot City Outdoor Alliance | Thermopolis, WY | $4,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| End Well Foundation | Healdsburg, CA | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Fremont County Group Home | Riverton, WY | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Saint Stephens Indian School | Saint Stephens, WY | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Wyoming Dinosaur Center | Thermopolis, WY | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Best Friends Animal Society | Kanab, UT | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Center for Women Children & Family | Lexington, KY | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Death With Dignity | Portland, OR | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Final Exit Network | Tallahassee, FL | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Greater Wyoming Big Brothert | Laramie, WY | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hot Springs County Search & Rescue | Thermopolis, WY | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Humane Prison Hospice Project | San Quentin, CA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lemhi County Historical Society and | Salmon, ID | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Peace Sisters | Pasadena, CA | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Sheldrick Wildlife Trust | Laguna Hills, CA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Nest Fka Center for Women Children & Families | Lexington, KY | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Animal Adoption Center | Jackson, WY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Blue Grass Community Foundation | Lexington, KY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Fremont County Pioneer Association | Lander, WY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Friends of Hot Springs County Museu | Thermopolis, WY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Friends of South Pass | South Pass City, WY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Gods Pantry Food Bank Inc | Lexington, KY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Grand Co School District | Moab, UT | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hot Springs Historical Museum | Thermopolis, WY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Salvation Army National Corporation | Alexandria, VA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Shaker Village | Harrodsburg, KY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Shriners Hospitals for Children Medical Center | Lexington, KY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Thermopolis Trout Unlimited | Thermopolis, WY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wind River Ultural Centers Foundati | Lander, WY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Access Panam | Jackson, WY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Central Wyoming Climbers Alliance | Lander, WY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Homes for Our Troops | Taunton, MA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hot Springs County Senior Citizens | Thermopolis, WY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Integrate Health Inc | Medway, MA | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Kentucky Equine Humane Center | Nicholasville, KY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lander Presents Inc | Lander, WY | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Paws 4 the Cause Inc | Lexington, KY | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Snake River Fund | Jackson, WY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wyoming Outdoor Council | Lander, WY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Crohns & Colitis Foundation Inc | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Fremont County Sheriff's Office | Lander, WY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Help for Health | Riverton, WY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Kidsmart | New Orleans, LA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lander Cycling Club | Lander, WY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Omega Home Network Inc | Tulsa, OK | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bright Futures Farm | Cochranton, PA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
48 of 96 (50%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 65%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- City of Lander
GENERAL CHARITABLE SUPPORT - American Safe Climbing Association
GERNERAL CHARITABLE SUPPORT
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 125 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 54 | $379,400 | $4,000 |
| 2022 | 51 | $378,250 | $3,000 |
| 2023 | 41 | $271,500 | $3,500 |
| 2024 | 51 | $397,000 | $5,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
40% of its giving went to organizations in Wyoming. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $3,500. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Wyoming.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Lightner Sams Foundation of Wyoming's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 429, Teton Village, WY, 83025. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 83-0309453 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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