Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation
The Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation is a private foundation based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its stated mission is to support 501(c)(3) organizations serving the health, education, or welfare of children and their families, and people experiencing homelessness, with a focus on Arizona.
Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation at a glance
In short: Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation gave $280K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), mostly in Arizona. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $280,000
- +4.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- -15.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $25,455
- +23.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $30,000
- Total assets
- $5,857,042
- +38.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (4 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Arizona (95% 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 Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 4848 E Cactus Rd 505-445, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Phone: (602) 618-0745
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation
Who Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Brighter Way Institute ($35K). Together the top 10 received $270K.
Grant Size Distribution
55 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 54 grants of 55 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its stated grant-program focus is Arizona. In filing year 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona and 5% to recipients in Idaho; the listed Idaho grant was to Sleep in Heavenly Peace in Pocatello.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 11 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $26K. How we count
Medians: $28K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $141K (2019) to $300K (2022). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $280K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Brighter Way Institute Phoenix, AZ | General Fund | $35,000 |
| Save the Family Mesa, AZ | General Fund | $35,000 |
| Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation Phoenix, AZ | General Fund | $30,000 |
| Streets of Destiny Global Outreach Center Phoenix, AZ | General Fund | $30,000 |
| Trevors Vision Inc Anthem, AZ | General Fund | $30,000 |
| Umom Phoenix, AZ | General Fund | $30,000 |
| Circle the City Phoenix, AZ | General Fund | $25,000 |
| One N Ten Phoenix, AZ | General Fund | $20,000 |
| Phoenix Children's Hospital Phoenix, AZ | General Fund | $20,000 |
| Sleep in Heavenly Peace Inc Pocatello, ID | General Fund | $15,000 |
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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 | $5,857,042 | $1,949,256 | $313,476 | $280,000 | 11 | $283,451 | $331,710 | $294,860 |
| 2024 | $4,221,262 | $244,830 | $299,152 | $267,000 | 13 | $269,597 | $218,315 | $267,556 |
| 2023 | $4,275,584 | $209,408 | $258,987 | $230,300 | 11 | $233,657 | $184,578 | $242,221 |
| 2022 | $4,325,163 | $166,939 | $333,983 | $300,000 | 12 | $303,425 | $141,003 | $257,297 |
| 2021 | $4,492,207 | $265,408 | $302,873 | $277,000 | 8 | $280,116 | $244,042 | $292,260 |
| 2020 | $4,529,672 | $175,897 | $281,259 | $262,000 | 6 | — | $157,502 | $255,634 |
| 2019 | $4,635,034 | $155,541 | $175,234 | $141,000 | 9 | — | $130,287 | $244,632 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation reported a distributable amount of $295K 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
The foundation’s stated mission is to support organizations serving children and their families, and people experiencing homelessness, in the areas of health, education, and welfare. Its 2025 grants included organizations working in areas such as oral health care, healthcare, food and hygiene services, children’s healthcare, and beds for children in need.
Those activities are described by the grantees themselves: Brighter Way Institute says it provides comprehensive oral healthcare to vulnerable adults, children, veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and people with special needs. Circle the City says it delivers healthcare solutions for people facing homelessness in Maricopa County. Phoenix Children’s Hospital describes its mission as advancing hope, healing, and healthcare for children and their families. Sleep in Heavenly Peace says it provides furnished beds to children in need.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation gave $280,000 through 11 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $35,000, with a median of $30,000. Its largest listed grants were $35,000 each to Brighter Way Institute and Save the Family; $30,000 each to Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, Streets of Destiny Global Outreach Center, Trevors Vision Inc, and UMOM; and $25,000 to Circle the City. Other listed recipients included One n Ten and Phoenix Children’s Hospital ($20,000 each), Sleep in Heavenly Peace ($15,000), and Elaine ($10,000). All listed grants were for general fund support.
The grant-program description lists 501(c)(3) organizations serving children and families, or people experiencing homelessness, in Arizona as eligible. The foundation’s 2025 filing states that it gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Janis S. Merrill as president; Bryan N. Sandler as vice president; Laura K. Sonius, Heather Lautt, Tara Blanc, and Jamir Miller as directors; and Judith A. Hudek as secretary/treasurer.
Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation is led by Janis S. Merrill, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Janis S. Merrill
President
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather Lautt
Director
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tara Blanc
Director
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laura K. Sonius
Director
On filings since 2021
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jamir Miller
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bryan N. Sandler
Vice President
On filings since 2019
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Judith A. Hudek
Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Larua K. Sonius (2019–2020) — Director
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.
Frequently asked questions about Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation
How much does Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation give each year?
Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation gave $280K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $267K across 13 grants.
What is Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation's typical grant size?
Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $30,000, and its average grant was $25,455, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation that year got $25K on average.
Where does Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation give grants?
Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Idaho (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Phoenix, AZ (8 grants).
Does Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation's largest grantees?
Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Brighter Way Institute ($35,000), Save the Family ($35,000) and Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation?
Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation reported $5.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $283K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $295K (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 does Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to support organizations serving children and their families, and people experiencing homelessness, in the areas of health, education, and welfare. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation?
Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines.
What is Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation's EIN?
Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-1593211. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 3, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/janis-chapman-merrill-foundation-morg_8ccddeec8adc4319a5aa042daa0f5b07
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_821593211_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Janis Chapman Merrill Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/janis-chapman-merrill-foundation-morg_8ccddeec8adc4319a5aa042daa0f5b07},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Janis Chapman Merrill 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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