The Sample Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 59-6138602 · since 1956samplefoundation.org·Montana·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$2.1M
Annual giving, 2022 tax year
From the Form 990-PF filing
$1,500 to $15,000
Grant range
From grants in the 990-PF filings
$5,000
Typical grant (median)
82 grants in the latest filing
Open to applications
Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

  • The Sample Foundation's geographic focus is State of Montana, and it generally limits grants to tax-exempt organisations located in Montana, so a Montana-based group whose work fits its health, social welfare and underserved-population themes is within its stated area.
  • It funds equipment purchases and building projects, and most of its grants are for capital outlays, so a request for equipment or a building project suits it far better than one for operating budgets, salaries or scholarships, which it does not fund.
  • It also excludes religious, political and tax-supported organisations and capital campaigns, so those should not apply.
  • Typical grants fall between $1,500 and $15,000, with a median of $5,000 and half of its 82 grants to organisations at $5,000 or less, so a modest, clearly costed request of that order fits; its largest grant was about $1,550,000, which is not a ceiling.
  • Apply through Foundant by August 1, stating the amount requested and how grant dollars meet its criteria, with a balance sheet, board list and evidence of tax-exempt status, and keep in mind that part of its giving is set aside for trustees' discretion and may fall outside its mission, so a request that clearly matches its stated mission is the safer route.

Overview

The Sample Foundation is a US private foundation based in Billings, MT.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Sample Foundation makes grants to non-profit organisations in health, social welfare and services for underserved populations in Montana. It generally limits grants to organisations located in Montana, and applicants must be tax-exempt organisations. Its funding is limited to equipment purchases and building projects relating to its mission and geographic area; most grants are for capital outlays. It does not fund operating budgets, scholarships, duplication of services or religious groups. A portion of its grant-making is set aside for discretionary giving by some trustees, which may fall outside its mission.

Themes

  • Health
  • Social welfare
  • Services for underserved populations

Geographic Focus

State of Montana.

What They Don't Fund

  • Capital campaigns
  • Religious organizations
  • Individual artists
  • Operating expenses which include salaries, supplies, gas and subscriptions
  • Scholarships
  • Operating budgets
  • Duplication of services
  • Organizations that attempt to influence legislation or intervene in any political campaign
  • Religious groups
  • Political organizations
  • Tax supported institutions

How to apply

Applicants submit through Foundant, stating the amount requested and how grant dollars meet the Foundation's criteria, with a balance sheet, board list and evidence of tax-exempt status.

Deadlines: Applications are reviewed annually, with a deadline of August 1.

Application success factors

  • Grant size: In its TY2022 filing, half of its 82 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

  • The Foundation generally favours requests for capital outlays.
  • Grantees must submit an emailed final grant report, including expenses, by July 1 of the following year.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax year 2022.

Grant dollars by state

Montana99%
Washington<1%
New York<1%
Illinois<1%
Georgia<1%
Wisconsin<1%
  • The largest single recipient received 74% of grant dollars to organisations.
  • No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
  • 1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

82 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $5,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 82 grants in tax year 2022 by size

$1k–$2.5k20%
$2.5k–$5k29%
$5k–$10k21%
$10k–$25k28%
$25k–$50k1%
$50k–$100k0%
$100k–$250k0%
$250k–$500k0%
$500k–$1M0%
$1M and over1%

Median $5,000 (tax year 2022)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

  • Yellowstone Art Museum · Artwork for standard museum purposesbook value of property - $1,544,400method used to determine book value - appraisalmethod used to determine fmv - appraisal
    $1,544,4002022 tax year
  • Family Promise of Yellowstone · Play equipment
    $25,0002022 tax year
  • Yellowstone Public Radio · Side-by-side and add-ons for safer winter travel for ypr engineers
    $21,6982022 tax year
  • United Way of Missoula · Missoula child care advantage facility
    $21,0002022 tax year
  • Haven · New van
    $20,0002022 tax year
  • Blue Mountain Clinic · New roof
    $19,5002022 tax year
  • District XI Human Resource Council · Repair weatherization warehouse
    $15,0002022 tax year
  • Billings Public Schoolsorchard School · Orchard elementary school playground and maintenance project 2023
    $15,0002022 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

  • Ryan Sample — Director
  • Kate Sample — Director
  • Joseph F Sample — Director
  • John Sample — Director
  • James Sample — Director
  • Ronald J Yates JR Cpa — Treasurer
  • Patrick G Sample — Director
  • David F Sample — Director
  • Barbara Sample — Executive Director / President
  • Bridget Sample Joyner — Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

1 year of tax filings

YearTotal expensesGrants paidAssetsFiling document
2022 tax year$2,117,756$2,089,508$9,832,982Filing for 2022 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.

Sources

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