Durham Merchants Association
The Durham Merchants Association Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established in 1989 in Durham, North Carolina. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and distributes grants to tax-exempt charitable organizations, primarily within Durham County and the broader North Carolina region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.7M
+7.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$168K
+0.7% YoY
Grant Count
39
-2.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
+3.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Durham Merchants Association reported a distributable amount of $169K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily supports social services and human services organizations. Recent grant distribution patterns show:
- Social & Human Services: 39% of giving
- Education: 19% of giving
- Health: 12% of giving
The foundation focuses on general support for preselected charitable organizations rather than specific programmatic initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Applicants must contact the foundation directly for information about the application process. There are no stated deadlines.
Grant Range
$250–$15,000
Review Cycle
.
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation distributes grants with a national scope, though it primarily supports organizations in Durham County, North Carolina and the surrounding region. It does not fund requests outside its geographic area of focus.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $2,748,707 (2024)
- Total Revenues: $411,816 (2024)
- Total Expenses: $229,389 (2024)
- Total Giving: $167,843 (2024)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,748,707 | $2,566,127 | $2,668,625 |
| Revenue | $411,816 | $123,861 | $273,344 |
| Expenses | $229,389 | $226,654 | $267,071 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $172,004 | $169,321 | $214,722 |
| Net Investment Income | $354,431 | $66,965 | $231,458 |
| Distributable Amount | $168,610 | $159,935 | $164,460 |
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
168 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Urban Ministries of Durham ($15,000), Boys & Girls Club of Greater Durham ($9,560), Caring House ($8,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN DANCE FESTIVAL DURHAM, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| ANIMAL PROTECTION SOCIETY OF DURHAM DURHAM, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| AUTISM SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY CENTER DURHAM, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BOOK HARVEST DURHAM, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER DURHAM DURHAM, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $9,560 |
| CARING HOUSE DURHAM, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $8,500 |
| CENTER FOR CHILD & FAMILY HEALTH DURHAM, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $4,000 |
| DEMENTIA INCLUSIVE INC DURHAM, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| DUKECARE HOME & HOSPICE DURHAM, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $250 |
| DURHAM ARTS COUNCIL DURHAM, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Steve Hancock, Executive Director
- Alex Sykes, Director
- Cindie Diehl, Director
- Dede Brockwell, Secretary
- Jeff Hendriks, Vice President
- Jeff Stewart, Treasurer
- Joye Speight, Director
- Kirk West, Director
The foundation is supported by Durham Merchants Assn., Inc.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFF HENDRIKS | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| STEVE HANCOCK | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 10 | — |
| DEDE BROCKWELL | SECRETARY | — | — |
| KIRK WEST | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
| ALEX SYKES | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JOYE SPEIGHT | TREASURER | — | — |
| NANCY BROWN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| PILAR ROCHA-GOLDBERG | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| SETH JERNIGAN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| KELLY MISENHEIMER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Durham Merchants Association fund?
The foundation primarily supports social services and human services organizations. Recent grant distribution patterns show: • **Social & Human Services**: 39% of giving • **Education**: 19% of giving • **Health**: 12% of giving The foundation focuses on general support for preselected charitable organizations rather than specific programmatic initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from Durham Merchants Association?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $167,843 (2024) • Typical grant range: $250–$15,000 • Recent grants include: • $15,000 to Urban Ministries of Durham • $10,000 to Autism Support and Advocacy Center • $9,982 to Durham Center for Senior Life • $9,560 to Boys and Girls Clubs of Durham and Orange Counties • $8,500 to Caring House • $5,000 to Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina • $5,000 to Durham Public School Foundation • $5,000 to Center for Child and Family Health • $4,500 to Hill Le…
Where does Durham Merchants Association make grants?
The foundation distributes grants with a national scope, though it primarily supports organizations in Durham County, North Carolina and the surrounding region. It does not fund requests outside its geographic area of focus.
What size grants does Durham Merchants Association award?
In 2024, Durham Merchants Association awarded 39 grants totaling $168K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Durham Merchants Association required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Durham Merchants Association reported a distributable amount of $169K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Durham Merchants Association's EIN?
Durham Merchants Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-1651068. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Durham Merchants Association's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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