Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation
The Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation is a private foundation based in Muncie, Indiana. It made 26 grants totaling $90,000 in filing year 2025 to organizations including community and civic groups, religious organizations, and charities identified with education and health and welfare.
Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation at a glance
In short: Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation gave $90K across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Michigan. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $90,000
- +65.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- +44.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,462
- +14.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $1,145,162
- -1.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (7 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (79% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Its 2025 filing says there is no required form; most requests are letters explaining the purpose. Requests should be directed to the First Merchants Bank trustee. Eligible recipients must be IRS-qualified charities, such as churches, public education organizations, or 501(c)(3) organizations. The filing states there is no deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: First Merchants Bank Trustee
Mailing address: 10 Washington St, Monroe, MI 48161
Phone: (734) 242-2068
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Presque Isle CNY Sheriff ($13K). Together the top 10 received $67K.
Grant Size Distribution
95 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 95 grants of 95 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Muncie, Indiana. In filing year 2025, Michigan recipients received 79% of grant dollars, followed by recipients in Tennessee (6%), Florida (6%), Illinois (5%), and Maryland (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 26 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $3K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 58% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 43% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 144% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $55K (2024) to $90K (2025). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $90K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Presque Isle CNY Sheriff Rogers City, MI | Community | $13,000 |
| Community Foundation of Monroe Monroe, MI | Community/Civic | $11,500 |
| Village of Millersburg Millersburg, MI | CIVIC | $9,000 |
| River Raisin Center for Arts Monroe, MI | Community/Civic | $5,750 |
| Monroe Co Historical Society Monroe, MI | CIVIC | $5,750 |
| Full Life Assembly of God Franklin, TN | Religious | $5,500 |
| Ann & Robert Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Foundation Carol Stream, IL | Health and Welfare | $4,500 |
| Lee Health Foundation Fort Myers, FL | Health & Welfare | $4,000 |
| Cardinal Beginnings Onaway, MI | Education | $4,000 |
| Millersburg Volunteer Fire Dept Millersburg, MI | Community | $4,000 |
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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 | $1,145,162 | $85,149 | $107,533 | $90,000 | 26 | $97,623 | $75,239 | $67,914 |
| 2024 | $1,167,546 | $94,544 | $61,048 | $54,500 | 18 | $53,394 | $86,890 | $70,334 |
| 2023 | $1,133,968 | $22,278 | $73,747 | $59,800 | 17 | $66,774 | $23,039 | $61,247 |
| 2022 | $1,184,448 | $284,831 | $78,279 | $63,000 | 20 | $69,431 | $12,850 | $64,652 |
| 2021 | $979,048 | $67,565 | $90,414 | $74,600 | 14 | $82,507 | $58,783 | $73,857 |
| 2020 | $1,001,897 | $22,880 | $81,315 | $66,000 | 14 | — | $16,159 | $64,321 |
| 2019 | $1,060,284 | $72,404 | $81,323 | $66,000 | 14 | — | $65,597 | $60,902 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation reported a distributable amount of $68K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement is provided. The 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, Hearts CRI Michigan Inc. received $1,500; the grantee describes its mission as connecting, resourcing, and inspiring on behalf of children in foster care and people from at-risk, low-income households or communities, and partnering with those working to protect young people from sex trafficking. Fraternal Order of Eagles in Alpena received $2,500; it describes its mission as promoting members’ fraternal and social welfare and supporting organizations and endeavors it considers worthy.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation made 26 grants totaling $90,000. Grants ranged from $500 to $13,000, with a median of $2,000.
Among the largest grants were $13,000 to Presque Isle Cny Sheriff for community purposes; $11,500 to Community Foundation of Monroe for community and civic purposes; $9,000 to Village of Millersburg for civic purposes; and $5,750 each to River Raisin Center for Arts and Monroe Co Historical Society for community/civic and civic purposes, respectively. Other listed grants included $5,500 to Full Life Assembly of God for religious purposes, $4,500 to Ann & Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation for health and welfare, and $4,000 each to Lee Health Foundation for health and welfare, Cardinal Beginnings for education, and Millersburg Volunteer Fire Dept for community purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kimberly Smillie, Keith Frank, and Christine Gakenheimer as trustees, and First Merchants Bank as trust agent.
Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Christine Gakenheimer
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Keith Frank
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Kimberly Smillie
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
First Merchants Bank
Trust Agent
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
$12K (2019) → $14K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $14K, to First Merchants Bank (Trust Agent).
Frequently asked questions about Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation
How much does Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation give each year?
Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation gave $90K across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $55K across 18 grants.
What is Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation's typical grant size?
Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $3,462, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation give grants?
Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Tennessee (6%) and Florida (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Millersburg, MI (6 grants), Monroe, MI (4 grants), Fort Myers, FL (2 grants) and Brighton, MI (2 grants).
Does Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 26 grants with a stated purpose on Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Civic" (8 grants), "Health & Welfare" (5 grants) and "Religious" (4 grants).
Who are Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation's largest grantees?
Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Presque Isle CNY Sheriff ($13,000), Community Foundation of Monroe ($11,500) and Village of Millersburg ($9,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 37% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation?
Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $98K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $68K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. The 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation's EIN?
Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-6153472. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 23, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 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 June 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/herman-and-irene-gertz-foundation-morg_14f5ae9042194281a20fd37eea96889f
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_386153472_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Herman \& Irene Gertz Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/herman-and-irene-gertz-foundation-morg_14f5ae9042194281a20fd37eea96889f},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Herman & Irene Gertz Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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