Merchantz Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Hinsdale, IL EIN: 36-3739087

Merchantz Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Hinsdale, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $14.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $1.4M. Net investment income was $6.2M.

Key facts about Merchantz Family Foundation

In short: Merchantz Family Foundation gave $1.4M across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $175K), top state Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
36-3739087
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$1,400,000
Grants made (2025)
8
Average grant
$175,000
Median grant
$100,000
Total assets
$13,965,620
Primary geography
Illinois (39% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$14.0M

+66.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.4M

+64.7% YoY

Grant Count

8

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$175K

+64.7% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Merchantz Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $880K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Merchantz Family Foundation gives

  • In 2025 it paid out 160% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of all 8 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

Cities

ChicagoBooneNewhallOklahoma CityTinley ParkWashington DCAtlantaMilwaukeeBarringtonChampaignVirginia Beach

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M1 grants20200 grants20210 grants20229 grants20238 grants20248 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2020) to $1.4M (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $1.4M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 8 recipients in 2025

Capitol Ministries: $400KCapitol Ministries$400KChristian Life Ministries: $400KChristian Life Ministries$400KMuseum of the Bible: $250KMuseum of the Bible$250KIllinois Family Institute: $100KIllinois Family Institute$100KJudicial Watch: $100KJudicial Watch$100KAclj - Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism: $50KAclj - Christian AdvocatesServing Evangelism$50KCity of Refuge: $50KCity of Refuge$50KSamaritan's Purse: $50KSamaritan's Purse$50K

The largest 2025 recipient was Capitol Ministries ($400K). Together the top 8 received $1.4M.

Grant Size Distribution

25 grants across all recorded years

1<$50K12$50–100K8$100–250K4$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 12 grants of 25 (48%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Capitol Ministries Newhall, CATo Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization$400,000
Christian Life Ministries Chicago, ILTo Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization$400,000
Museum of the Bible Oklahoma City, OKTo Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization$250,000
Illinois Family Institute Tinley Park, ILTo Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization$100,000
Judicial Watch Washington DC, DCTo Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization$100,000
Aclj - Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism Atlanta, GATo Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization$50,000
City of Refuge Chicago, ILTo Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization$50,000
Samaritan's Purse Boone, NCTo Further the Exempt Purpose of the Organization$50,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M$8M202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$13,965,620$8,389,822$7,023,260
Revenue$7,185,961$2,309,681$522,636
Expenses$1,611,566$943,440$812,537
Qualifying Distributions$1,409,409$859,712$746,089
Net Investment Income$6,150,634$1,941,703$186,819
Distributable Amount$880,444$576,438$481,705

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 6, 2022)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 6, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 1, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Merchantz Family Foundation is led by William Merchantz, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • William Merchantz

    President

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Cathy Merchantz

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    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 Merchantz Family Foundation

How much does Merchantz Family Foundation give each year?

Merchantz Family Foundation gave $1.4M across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $850K across 8 grants.

What is Merchantz Family Foundation's typical grant size?

Merchantz Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $100,000, and its average grant was $175,000, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Merchantz Family Foundation give grants?

Merchantz Family Foundation's top state is Illinois, with 39% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (29%) and Oklahoma (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (2 grants).

Who are Merchantz Family Foundation's largest grantees?

Merchantz Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Capitol Ministries ($400,000), Christian Life Ministries ($400,000) and Museum of the Bible ($250,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Merchantz Family Foundation?

Merchantz Family Foundation reported $14.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $880K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is Merchantz Family Foundation's EIN?

Merchantz Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3739087. 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.

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