Merlin C Begalske Trust
The Merlin C Begalske Trust is a private foundation based in West Union, Iowa. Its 2025 filing reports scholarship grants to individual recipients, with an award restriction for needy students graduating from North Fayette Community High School.
Merlin C Begalske Trust at a glance
In short: Merlin C Begalske Trust gave $15K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $15,000
- +87.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- +100.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,250
- -6.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $306,989
- +2.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Iowa (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Merlin C Begalske Trust
- Review Cycle
- February 19 is listed on the filing; no year is specified.
- Deadline
- February 19 is listed on the filing; no year is specified.
- Contact
Application contact: School Faculty Committee
Mailing address: 600 North Pine Street, West Union, IA 52175
Phone: (563) 422-3852
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Merlin C Begalske Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 53 grants of 53 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars listed for 2025 went to recipients in Iowa. The filing’s scholarship restriction names graduates of North Fayette Community High School.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Merlin C Begalske Trust gives
- Giving grew 50% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 79% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $8K (2024) to $23K (2023). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $15K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 12 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $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 | $306,989 | $30,404 | $22,449 | $15,000 | 12 | $15,000 | $11,551 | $19,017 |
| 2024 | $299,213 | $14,640 | $14,842 | $8,000 | 6 | $8,000 | $7,775 | $17,828 |
| 2023 | $299,613 | $12,460 | $28,409 | $23,000 | 17 | $23,000 | $7,301 | $16,085 |
| 2022 | $315,856 | $18,003 | $14,215 | $10,000 | 10 | $10,000 | $15,928 | $16,204 |
| 2021 | $312,068 | $54,498 | $18,731 | $15,000 | 8 | $15,000 | $14,028 | $18,254 |
| 2020 | $276,301 | $-4,149 | $24,855 | $21,000 | 11 | — | $5,443 | $17,739 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Merlin C Begalske Trust reported a distributable amount of $19K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the trust gave 12 grants totaling $15,000. All listed grants went to individual recipients in Iowa for scholarships. Awards ranged from $1,000 to $2,000, with a median of $1,000. The filing lists three grants of $2,000 and nine of $1,000.
The filing states that the scholarship is applied to first-year tuition for needy students graduating from North Fayette Community High School, and specifies B and C students in English and math. Applications are handled through a school faculty committee. Twelve applications, identified only by number, are selected and sent to the trustee, who makes the final selection of recipients depending on funds available for the year. The filing says school planning to attend, possible career field, special circumstances, and why the applicant should be considered are to be considered.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Shannon Schissel as trustee.
Merlin C Begalske Trust is led by Shannon Schissel, Trustee on every filing since 2022 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Shannon Schissel
Trustee
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
$3K (2023) → $3K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Lynn Elliott (2020–2024) — Former Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $3K, to Shannon Schissel (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Merlin C Begalske Trust
How much does Merlin C Begalske Trust give each year?
Merlin C Begalske Trust gave $15K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $8K across 6 grants.
What is Merlin C Begalske Trust's typical grant size?
Merlin C Begalske Trust's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,250, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Merlin C Begalske Trust give grants?
Merlin C Begalske Trust gives mostly in Iowa: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Merlin C Begalske Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Merlin C Begalske Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (12 grants).
How large is Merlin C Begalske Trust?
Merlin C Begalske Trust reported $307K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $15K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $19K (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.
How do I apply for a grant from Merlin C Begalske Trust?
Merlin C Begalske Trust has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Merlin C Begalske Trust's EIN?
Merlin C Begalske Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-6335296. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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