German American Society
German American Society is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Portland, OR. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $9.9M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $17K. Net investment income was $270K.
German American Society at a glance
In short: German American Society gave $17K across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), mostly in Oregon. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $17,000
- +60.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $5,667
- +60.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $9,919,820
- +0.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Oregon (71% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who German American Society funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Chemetka Community College ($10K). Together the top 3 received $17K.
Grant Size Distribution
20 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 20 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How German American Society gives
- Giving fell 56% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $11K (2023) to $39K (2021). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $17K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Chemetka Community College Salem, OR | Scholarships | $10,000 |
| Washington State University Pullman, WA | Scholarships | $5,000 |
| Portland State University Portland, OR | Scholarship | $2,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,919,820 | $501,862 | $654,345 | $17,000 | 3 | $337,459 | $269,832 | $343,502 |
| 2023 | $9,845,652 | $386,592 | $657,191 | $10,593 | 3 | $350,321 | $189,275 | $333,188 |
| 2022 | $9,803,630 | $476,045 | $656,886 | $15,413 | 5 | $262,475 | $339,775 | $346,716 |
| 2021 | $11,075,801 | $421,859 | $690,588 | $38,527 | 7 | $305,558 | $253,885 | $387,994 |
| 2020 | $11,109,423 | $325,481 | $580,542 | $12,130 | 2 | — | $157,326 | $371,896 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, German American Society reported a distributable amount of $344K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
German American Society is led by Mark Luecht, Executive Director on the 2024 filing; 2 of 16 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mark Luecht
Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$39K (2024)
Annette Kienberger
President
Treasurer → Director, 2021
Director → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gerhard Letzing
Director
Director → Treasurer, 2021
Treasurer → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hans Boehm
Director
Past President → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Randy Abbott
Director
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dirk Pollworth
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Doris Oldenburg
Director
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christian Stehr
Director
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judy-Ann Jacobs
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mallory Hartwig
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Uwe Plumhoff
Director
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Neal Spinler
Past Executive Director
Executive Director → Past Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$69K (2023) → $24K (2024)
Karla Marzineck
Assistant Treasurer
Director → Assistant Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Hermann Stepberger
Treasurer
Vice President → Director, 2023
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Sievers
Secretary
On filings since 2023
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven Easterday
Vice President
New on the 2024 filing
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Joe Baney (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Terry Rudd (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Larry Lichtenberger (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Margie Schmidt (2020–2022) — Former G.m.
- Former: Lisa Sloane (2022) — General Manager
- Former: Matt Hines (2022) — Secretary
- Former: Michael Berneis (2022) — Director
- Former: Nancy Carr (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Garrett Hoemmen (2021) — Director
- Former: Katja Freeborn (2021) — Secretary
- Former: Matthew Haines (2021) — Director
- Former: Doug McKinney (2020) — Director
- Former: Mitch Haynes (2020) — Assistant Treasurer
- Former: Mona Vertin (2020) — Director
- Former: Norm Metzler (2020) — Secretary
- Former: Tom Richardson (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $39K, to Mark Luecht (Executive Dir.). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about German American Society
How much does German American Society give each year?
German American Society gave $17K across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $11K across 3 grants.
What is German American Society's typical grant size?
German American Society's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $5,667, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does German American Society give grants?
German American Society gives mostly in Oregon: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Washington (29%).
Does German American Society give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on German American Society's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is German American Society?
German American Society reported $9.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $337K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $344K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is German American Society?
German American Society is a private foundation focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Portland, OR. It holds $9.9M in total assets as of 2024.
What is German American Society's EIN?
German American Society's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-0386838. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work German American Society funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in German American Society's focus areas in our free grants database
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German American Society down — hundreds of funders to go?