Merrill Charitable Foundation
The Merrill Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Mission, Kansas, established in 1990. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it is designated as a charitable foundation and has been tax-exempt since February 1991. The foundation operates as an independent grantmaking organization with no employees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.0M
+26.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$320K
+6.7% YoY
Grant Count
24
+4.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
+2.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Merrill Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $490K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not publicly specify particular subject areas of focus. However, grant records indicate support for religious organizations and community institutions. The foundation has provided funding to help support organizations, with documented grants to churches and community service organizations.
Grantmaking
The foundation made additional grants beyond those listed, with 13 more grants documented in the 2023 fiscal year.
Average Grant
amount: Approximately $14,286 based on total giving divided by number of grants
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports various cities across four states: Kansas, Missouri, Texas, and Virginia. Specific cities mentioned include Arlington, Fort Worth, and Kansas City.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 31, 2023:
- Total Assets: $7,877,466
- Total Revenue: $2,205,156
- Total Expenses: $320,741
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation maintains a strong financial position with assets that increased 2.6% from the previous year.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,966,294 | $7,877,466 | $5,993,010 |
| Revenue | $2,446,978 | $2,205,156 | $1,201,356 |
| Expenses | $352,243 | $320,741 | $285,756 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $322,065 | $301,895 | $261,732 |
| Net Investment Income | $416,092 | $186,117 | $183,651 |
| Distributable Amount | $490,447 | $331,317 | $286,955 |
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
121 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Wilson Tourism Hub Inc ($80,000), Leawood Presbyterian Church ($39,100), Country Club Christian Church ($28,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BELLES OF THE AMERICAN ROYAL KANSAS CITY, MO | TO HELP SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION | $8,900 |
| CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION LEAWOOD, KS | TO HELP SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION | $20,000 |
| COUNTRY CLUB CHRISTIAN CHURCH KANSAS CITY, MO | TO HELP SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION | $28,500 |
| FRANKLIN CENTER KANSAS CITY, KS | TO HELP SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION | $10,000 |
| HARVESTERS COMMUNITY FOOD NETWORK KANSAS CITY, MO | TO HELP SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION | $6,000 |
| JDRF KANSAS CITY CHAPTER KANSAS CITY, MO | TO HELP SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION | $13,000 |
| KANSAS CITY CHORALE KANSAS CITY, MO | TO HELP SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION | $1,000 |
| KANSAS CITY PBS KANSAS CITY, MO | TO HELP SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION | $1,000 |
| KANSAS PUBLIC RADIO LAWRENCE, KS | TO HELP SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION | $1,000 |
| KANSAS STATE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MANHATTAN, KS | TO HELP SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATION | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by Virginia U. Merrill, who serves as President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The board of directors includes:
- Fred Merrill Jr.
- Melanie Merrill Thompson
- Melinda Merrill
- Merrie Merrill Costello
None of the board members receive compensation for their roles.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIRGINIA U MERRILL | PRESIDENT/SEC/TREASURER | — | — |
| FRED MERRILL JR | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MELANIE MERRILL THOMPSON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MELINDA MERRILL | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MERRIE MERRILL COSTELLO | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 5400 Johnson Dr Ste 373 Mission, KS 66205-2911
Telephone: 913-432-3789
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Merrill Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation does not publicly specify particular subject areas of focus. However, grant records indicate support for religious organizations and community institutions. The foundation has provided funding to help support organizations, with documented grants to churches and community service organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from Merrill Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2023: $300,000 • Number of grants made in 2023: 21 grants • Average grant amount: Approximately $14,286 based on total giving divided by number of grants **Recent Grants (2023):** • Wilson Tourism Hub: $75,000 • Country Club Christian Church: $40,000 • Church of the Resurrection United Methodist: $25,000 The foundation made additional grants beyond those listed, with 13 more grants documented in the 2023 fiscal year.
Where does Merrill Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports various cities across four states: Kansas, Missouri, Texas, and Virginia. Specific cities mentioned include Arlington, Fort Worth, and Kansas City.
What size grants does Merrill Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Merrill Charitable Foundation awarded 24 grants totaling $320K — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Merrill Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Merrill Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $490K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Merrill Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Merrill Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 48-1088604. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Merrill Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.