Merchants Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CARMEL, IN. IRS filing data is available from 2022 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $500 in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 35 grants totaling $450K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$500
+0.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$450K
+333.2% YoY
Grant Count
35
+600.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
-38.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Merchants Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $472 for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Merchants Foundation Inc
Based on IRS filings
Merchants Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CARMEL, IN. IRS filing data is available from 2022 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $500 in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 35 grants totaling $450K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $500 | $500 | — |
| Revenue | $449,520 | $106,773 | — |
| Expenses | $449,520 | $106,273 | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | $449,520 | $106,273 | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | $472 | $3 | — |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
40 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Indiana University Foundation Inc ($90,000), Rdoor - Fka (merchants Affordable Housing Corp) ($75,000), Coburn Place ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A KID AGAIN - INDIANA CHAPTER INDIANAPOLIS, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ALZHEIMER'S ASSOCIATION OF GREATER INDIANA INDIANAPOLIS, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,000 |
| CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK INC WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $638 |
| CATCH THE STARS FOUNDATION INDIANAPOLIS, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CHURCHES OF MERCER COUNTY FOOD PANTRY ALEDO, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $648 |
| COALITION FOR HOMELESSNESS INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION (CHIP) INDIANAPOLIS, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| COBURN PLACE INDIANAPOLIS, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF RANDOLPH COUNTY WINCHESTER, IL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| DOVE RECOVERY HOUSE FOR WOMEN INDIANAPOLIS, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| DREAM ALIVE INC INDIANAPOLIS, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JULIA L KAERCHER | EXEC DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT | 28 | — |
| MICHAEL DURY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL PETRIE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL DUNLAP | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TERRY OZNICK | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| JOHN MACKE | TREASURER | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Merchants Foundation Inc?
Merchants Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CARMEL, IN. It holds $500 in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Merchants Foundation Inc?
As of 2024, Merchants Foundation Inc holds $500 in total assets with $450K in annual revenue. It awarded 35 grants totaling $450K in 2024.
Where does Merchants Foundation Inc operate?
Merchants Foundation Inc has awarded grants in District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York.
What size grants does Merchants Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Merchants Foundation Inc awarded 35 grants totaling $450K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Merchants Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Merchants Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $472 on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Merchants Foundation Inc's EIN?
Merchants Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-1340802. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Merchants Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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