Engels Family Foundation
Engels Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Watertown, SD. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $440K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $211K. Net investment income was $40K.
Engels Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Engels Family Foundation gave $211K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $30K), mostly in South Dakota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $211,403
- +70.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- -22.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $30,200
- +119.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,500
- Total assets
- $439,785
- -27.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- South Dakota (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Engels Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Watertown High School ($132K). Together the top 7 received $211K.
Grant Size Distribution
29 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 29 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Engels Family Foundation gives
- Giving grew 5185% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 787% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $4K (2022) to $211K (2025). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $211K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Watertown High School Watertown, SD | Football Stadium Facility Support | $131,647 |
| Build It Now Watertown, SD | Build It Now Campaign | $50,000 |
| Watertown Baseball Association Watertown, SD | Program Support | $15,750 |
| Make a Wish South Dakota Sioux Falls, SD | Wish Grant | $10,500 |
| Glacial Lakes Humane Society Watertown, SD | Flooring - in-Kind Donation | $1,506 |
| City of Watertown Watertown, SD | 4TH of July Fireworks | $1,000 |
| Arrow Education Foundation Watertown, SD | Education | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $439,785 | $54,447 | $219,341 | $211,403 | 7 | $213,427 | $39,973 | $27,106 |
| 2024 | $604,679 | $46,317 | $147,840 | $124,045 | 9 | $126,617 | $38,870 | $35,634 |
| 2023 | $706,202 | $630,884 | $128,341 | $118,884 | 7 | $121,286 | $497,737 | $26,811 |
| 2022 | $319,242 | $477,885 | $13,825 | $4,000 | 4 | $9,869 | $3,166 | $12,438 |
| 2021 | $213,940 | $20,027 | $15,402 | $11,000 | 2 | $11,819 | $16,944 | $12,021 |
| 2020 | $209,315 | $17,522 | $38,047 | $33,956 | 4 | — | $14,412 | $11,482 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Engels Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $27K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Engels Family Foundation is led by Michele Engels, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michele Engels
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ashley Engels
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Engels
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Engels Family Foundation
How much does Engels Family Foundation give each year?
Engels Family Foundation gave $211K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $124K across 9 grants.
What is Engels Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Engels Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,500, and its average grant was $30,200, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Engels Family Foundation give grants?
Engels Family Foundation gives mostly in South Dakota: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Watertown, SD (6 grants).
Does Engels Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on Engels Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Engels Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Engels Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Watertown High School ($131,647), Build It Now ($50,000) and Watertown Baseball Association ($15,750), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Engels Family Foundation?
Engels Family Foundation reported $440K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $213K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $27K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Engels Family Foundation's EIN?
Engels Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-2553141. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Engels Family Foundation funds
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