Isonoma Foundation
Isonoma Foundation is a private foundation, based in Philadelphia, PA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2024. In 2024, it awarded 5 grants totaling $123K. Net investment income was $29K.
Isonoma Foundation at a glance
In short: Isonoma Foundation gave $123K across 5 grants in 2024 (avg $25K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $123,208
- +64.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 5
- +66.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $24,642
- -1.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% 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 Isonoma Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was South Philly Food Co-Op ($31K). Together the top 5 received $123K.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 31 grants of 31 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Isonoma Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+7%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above 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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $75K (2023) to $123K (2024). In 2024 it made 5 grants totaling $123K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| South Philly Food Co-Op Philadelphia, PA | Organizations Exempt Purpose | $31,471 |
| The Young Artist Program of Cultural Trust Greater Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | Organizations Exempt Purpose | $29,737 |
| Urbed Philadelphia, PA | Organizations Exempt Purpose | $25,000 |
| African Family Health Organization Philadelphia, PA | Organizations Exempt Purpose | $25,000 |
| Urban Affairs Coalition Philadelphia, PA | Organizations Exempt Purpose | $12,000 |
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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 | — | $31,798 | $130,851 | $123,208 | 5 | $127,845 | $29,475 | $3,456 |
| 2023 | $99,053 | $25,818 | $81,067 | $75,000 | 3 | $78,411 | $23,201 | $7,561 |
| 2022 | $154,302 | $7,964 | $133,847 | $110,000 | 7 | $128,546 | $2,775 | $12,906 |
| 2021 | $280,185 | $262,582 | $155,068 | $115,172 | 9 | $150,516 | $8,030 | $15,666 |
| 2020 | $172,671 | $251,519 | $185,436 | $114,000 | 7 | — | — | $10,931 |
| 2019 | $106,588 | $24,526 | $180,843 | $106,000 | 6 | — | $22,146 | $8,834 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Isonoma Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Isonoma Foundation is led by Samantha Merkt, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Samantha Merkt
President
On filings since 2019
3 hrs/week
$59K (2019) → $0 (2024)
Doreen Merkt
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Harrison Merkt
Secretary
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven Merkt
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $13K, to Samantha Merkt (President).
Frequently asked questions about Isonoma Foundation
How much does Isonoma Foundation give each year?
Isonoma Foundation gave $123K across 5 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $75K across 3 grants.
What is Isonoma Foundation's typical grant size?
Isonoma Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $24,642, across 5 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Isonoma Foundation give grants?
Isonoma Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (5 grants).
Who are Isonoma Foundation's largest grantees?
Isonoma Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include South Philly Food Co-Op ($31,471), The Young Artist Program of Cultural Trust Greater Philadelphia ($29,737) and Urbed ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How much is Isonoma Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Isonoma Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Isonoma Foundation's EIN?
Isonoma Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-2022925. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
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
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 30, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 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 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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