Helen S and Merrill L Bank Foundation
The Helen S and Merrill L Bank Foundation is a private foundation based in Palm Beach, Florida. Established in 1969, it operates as a 501(c)(3) exempt private foundation with no employees.
Key facts about Helen S and Merrill L Bank Foundation
- EIN
- 23-7031791
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $577,090
- Grants made (2025)
- 42
- Average grant
- $13,740
- Median grant
- $8,000
- Total assets
- $4,460,722
- Primary geography
- Colorado (38% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Helen S and Merrill L Bank Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Helen S and Merrill L Bank Foundation's 42 itemized 2025 grants were Colorado (38%), Florida (22%) and Maryland (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were Baltimore, MD (9 grants), West Palm Beach, FL (5 grants), Vail, CO (4 grants) and Denver, CO (3 grants). None of its 42 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support" (42 grants).
How Helen S and Merrill L Bank Foundation gives
- 62% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 121% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 139% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Helen S and Merrill L Bank Foundation
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.5M
-3.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$577K
+234.1% YoY
Grant Count
42
+61.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$14K
+106.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Helen S and Merrill L Bank Foundation reported a distributable amount of $482K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services. It also supports arts, creative writing, historic buildings, and journalism initiatives.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 29 grants in the most recent fiscal year (ending June 2025) for a total of $577,090 in charitable distributions.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Maryland, Florida, and Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 42 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of June 2025:
- Total Assets: $4,460,722
- Total Giving: $577,090
- Total Revenues: $501,780
- Total Expenses: $668,442
Revenue Sources (FY 2025):
- Investment income and dividends: $166,749
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $335,031
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,460,722 | $4,632,090 | $4,404,920 |
| Revenue | $501,780 | $486,382 | $205,568 |
| Expenses | $668,442 | $251,225 | $351,199 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $668,442 | $251,225 | $344,738 |
| Net Investment Income | $501,780 | $486,382 | $199,107 |
| Distributable Amount | $482,333 | $418,851 | $377,463 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
140 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Vail Health Foundation ($130,000), Steadman Philippon Research Institu ($55,000), Palm Beach Dramaworks ($47,290).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| VAIL HEALTH FOUNDATION Vail, CO | SUPPORT | $130,000 |
| STEADMAN PHILIPPON RESEARCH INSTITU Vail, CO | SUPPORT | $55,000 |
| PALM BEACH DRAMAWORKS West Palm Beach, FL | SUPPORT | $47,290 |
| RAYMOND KRAVIS CENT FOR PERFORMING West Palm Beach, FL | SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| CHAUTAUQUA INSTITUTION Chautauqua, NY | SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| NEW ENGLAND BAPTIST HOSPITAL Boston, MA | SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| BALTIMORE OUTREACH SERVICES Baltimore, MD | SUPPORT | $19,000 |
| GBMC Baltimore, MD | SUPPORT | $18,000 |
| GARRISON FOREST SCHOOL Owings Mills, MD | SUPPORT | $18,000 |
| JEWISH FEDERATION OF PALM BEACH COU West Palm Beach, FL | SUPPORT | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penny Bank | Trustee | 0.5 | $12,000 |
| Herbert M Bank | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Helen S and Merrill L Bank Foundation fund?
The foundation primarily funds education, philanthropy, voluntarism and grantmaking, and human services. It also supports arts, creative writing, historic buildings, and journalism initiatives.
How do I apply for a grant from Helen S and Merrill L Bank Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $50,000 to $130,000. **Recent Grants (2025):** • Vail Health Foundation: $130,000 • Palm Beach Dramaworks: $47,290 • Kravis Center: $30,000 • Additional 26 grants totaling $444,040 The foundation made 29 grants in the most recent fiscal year (ending June 2025) for a total of $577,090 in charitable distributions.
Where does Helen S and Merrill L Bank Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Maryland, Florida, and Colorado.
What size grants does Helen S and Merrill L Bank Foundation award?
In 2025, Helen S and Merrill L Bank Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $577K — an average of about $14K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Helen S and Merrill L Bank Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Helen S and Merrill L Bank Foundation reported a distributable amount of $482K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Helen S and Merrill L Bank Foundation's EIN?
Helen S and Merrill L Bank Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7031791. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.