Edward and Norma Jean Meer
Edward and Norma Jean Meer is a private foundation based in Oak Park, Michigan. In 2025, it made 89 grants totaling $1,252,295, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Michigan.
Key facts about Edward and Norma Jean Meer
In short: Edward and Norma Jean Meer gave $1.3M across 89 grants in 2025 (avg $14K), mostly in Michigan. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 85-3925777
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,252,295
- Grants made (2025)
- 89
- Average grant
- $14,071
- Median grant
- $3,600
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (21 of 89, 2025)
- Total assets
- $3,823,322
- Primary geography
- Michigan (83% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.8M
-17.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+75.1% YoY
Grant Count
89
+14.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+53.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Edward and Norma Jean Meer reported a distributable amount of $289K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Edward and Norma Jean Meer open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 21 of 89 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 48% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 37% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 434% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included organizations involved in religious education and services, support for Jewish Orthodox institutions, and social services for the Greater Detroit Orthodox Jewish community.
For example, Detroit Chesed Project describes its mission as providing social services to that community, including food and clothing for people in need. Torah Schools for Israel says it funds religious schools and organizations in the United States and Israel, supporting educational programs and costs such as student transportation and school lunches. American Friends of Derech Chochma describes its work as supporting charitable activities, including aid to Jewish Orthodox religious institutions.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 89 grants totaling $1,252,295. Grant amounts ranged from $144 to $419,000, with a median of $3,600.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 83% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan. Other recipient states were New York (9%), New Jersey (3%), Maryland (2%), and Virginia (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 89 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $715K (2024) to $1.3M (2025). In 2025 it made 89 grants totaling $1.3M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Woodward Avenue Shul ($419K). Together the top 10 received $929K.
Grant Size Distribution
429 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 413 grants of 429 (96%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Woodward Avenue Shul Royal Oak, MI | General Use. | $419,000 |
| Bais Refeol Foundation Southfield, MI | General Use. | $234,000 |
| Yeshiva Gedolah Loan Fund Oak Park, MI | General Use. | $76,800 |
| Yeshiva Darchei Torah Southfield, MI | General Use. | $36,200 |
| Tzedkah Enhancement Project Oak Park, MI | General Use. | $36,000 |
| Kollel Institute of Greater Detroit Oak Park, MI | General Use. | $30,800 |
| Yeshiva Beth Yehudah Southfield, MI | General Use. | $26,600 |
| Cheder Lubavitch Oak Park, MI | General Use. | $25,300 |
| Rabbincal College of America Morristown, NJ | General Use. | $24,000 |
| The Spot for Children & S Southfield, MI | General Use. | $20,600 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,823,322 | $460,839 | $1,274,646 | $1,252,295 |
| 2024 | $4,637,129 | $82,583 | $738,985 | $715,252 |
| 2023 | $5,293,531 | $123,969 | $911,377 | $890,594 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,823,322 | $4,637,129 | $5,293,531 |
| Revenue | $460,839 | $82,583 | $123,969 |
| Expenses | $1,274,646 | $738,985 | $911,377 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,252,295 | $715,252 | $890,594 |
| Net Investment Income | $441,016 | $66,229 | $113,587 |
| Distributable Amount | $288,806 | $300,581 | $275,082 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jeffrey A. Meer as president and treasurer, and Phyllis A. Meer as secretary and treasurer.
Edward and Norma Jean Meer is led by Jeffrey A. Meer, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2021; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jeffrey A. Meer
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Phyllis A. Meer
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 24640 Radclift Street, Oak Park, MI 48237
Phone: (248) 827-1877
Frequently asked questions about Edward and Norma Jean Meer
How much does Edward and Norma Jean Meer give each year?
Edward and Norma Jean Meer gave $1.3M across 89 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $715K across 78 grants.
What is Edward and Norma Jean Meer's typical grant size?
Edward and Norma Jean Meer's median grant in 2025 was $3,600, and its average grant was $14,071, across 89 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Edward and Norma Jean Meer that year got $6K on average.
Where does Edward and Norma Jean Meer give grants?
Edward and Norma Jean Meer gives mostly in Michigan: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Oak Park, MI (20 grants), Brooklyn, NY (15 grants), Southfield, MI (12 grants) and Brooklyn New York, NY (9 grants).
Does Edward and Norma Jean Meer give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Edward and Norma Jean Meer's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (89 of 89) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Edward and Norma Jean Meer's largest grantees?
Edward and Norma Jean Meer's largest 2025 grantees include Woodward Avenue Shul ($419,000), Bais Refeol Foundation ($234,000) and Yeshiva Gedolah Loan Fund ($76,800), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Edward and Norma Jean Meer?
Edward and Norma Jean Meer reported $3.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $289K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Edward and Norma Jean Meer fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included organizations involved in religious education and services, support for Jewish Orthodox institutions, and social services for the Greater Detroit Orthodox Jewish community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Edward and Norma Jean Meer?
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 Edward and Norma Jean Meer's EIN?
Edward and Norma Jean Meer's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-3925777. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Edward and Norma Jean Meer accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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