Make a Difference Foundation
Make a Difference Foundation is a private foundation, based in Ridgeland, MS. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $481K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $159K. Net investment income was $20K.
Make a Difference Foundation at a glance
In short: Make a Difference Foundation gave $159K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $20K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $159,000
- +46.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,875
- +192.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $480,787
- -17.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Ohio (63% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Make a Difference Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Kappa Alpha Order Educational Found ($100K). Together the top 8 received $159K.
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 48 grants of 53 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Make a Difference Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−13%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 318% of 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $109K (2024) to $438K (2020). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $159K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kappa Alpha Order Educational Found Columbus, OH | Charitable | $100,000 |
| Latino Action Foundation Ada, OK | Charitable | $25,000 |
| The Wilson Research Foundation Jackson, MS | Charitable | $12,000 |
| Friends of Childrens Hospital Flowood, MS | Charitable | $10,000 |
| St Dominic Health Services Foundat Jackson, MS | Charitable | $5,000 |
| First Presbyterian Day School Jackson, MS | Charitable | $4,000 |
| Young Life Urban Ms 18 Jackson, MS | Charitable | $2,500 |
| French Camp Academy French Camp, MS | Charitable | $500 |
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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 | $480,787 | $79,629 | $184,000 | $159,000 | 8 | $159,000 | $20,003 | $50,069 |
| 2024 | $585,575 | $30,440 | $134,730 | $108,750 | 16 | $108,750 | $23,373 | $45,419 |
| 2023 | $689,448 | $61,309 | $198,796 | $169,000 | 13 | $169,000 | $27,593 | $45,726 |
| 2022 | $826,935 | $379,571 | $215,455 | $183,600 | 12 | $183,600 | $372,276 | $50,886 |
| 2021 | $662,819 | $243,352 | $335,152 | $300,000 | 4 | $300,000 | $242,151 | $67,631 |
| 2020 | $754,619 | $389,157 | $472,261 | $437,700 | 9 | — | $388,874 | $64,011 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Make a Difference Foundation reported a distributable amount of $50K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Make a Difference Foundation is led by Wirt A. Yerger III, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Wirt A. Yerger III
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Linda B. Yerger
Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Make a Difference Foundation
How much does Make a Difference Foundation give each year?
Make a Difference Foundation gave $159K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $109K across 16 grants.
What is Make a Difference Foundation's typical grant size?
Make a Difference Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $19,875, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Make a Difference Foundation give grants?
Make a Difference Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Mississippi (21%) and Oklahoma (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Jackson, MS (4 grants).
Does Make a Difference Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Make a Difference Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (8 grants).
Who are Make a Difference Foundation's largest grantees?
Make a Difference Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Kappa Alpha Order Educational Found ($100,000), Latino Action Foundation ($25,000) and The Wilson Research Foundation ($12,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 86% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Make a Difference Foundation?
Make a Difference Foundation reported $481K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $159K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $50K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Make a Difference Foundation's EIN?
Make a Difference Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2599981. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 30, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
Live grants for the work Make a Difference Foundation funds
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