Merrill Family Foundation Inc
Merrill Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Portland, OR. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $6.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $975K. Net investment income was $663K.
Merrill Family Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Merrill Family Foundation Inc gave $975K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $195K), mostly in Oregon. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $975,000
- +133.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +66.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $195,000
- +40.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $200,000
- Total assets
- $6,421,860
- -4.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Oregon (69% 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 Merrill Family Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was SUNY Cobleskill Foundation ($300K). Together the top 5 received $975K.
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 13 grants of 27 (48%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How Merrill Family Foundation Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+19%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 266% 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $226K (2023) to $1.1M (2019). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $975K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SUNY Cobleskill Foundation Cobleskill, NY | Scholrships | $300,000 |
| Turning Point Program Oregon City, OR | Affordable Housing | $225,000 |
| OSU Foundation Portland, OR | Scholarships | $200,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity Portland, OR | Affordable Housing | $200,000 |
| Lifeworks Northwest Porttland, OR | Mental Health & Addiction | $50,000 |
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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 | $6,421,860 | $682,255 | $1,000,802 | $975,000 | 5 | $981,614 | $663,067 | $369,379 |
| 2024 | $6,740,407 | $1,041,594 | $465,637 | $417,395 | 3 | $423,094 | $247,367 | $340,605 |
| 2023 | $6,164,450 | $914,124 | $278,773 | $225,800 | 2 | $235,048 | $395,399 | $293,817 |
| 2022 | $5,529,099 | $197,722 | $851,865 | $817,925 | 7 | $818,893 | $115,498 | $307,644 |
| 2021 | $6,183,292 | $536,693 | $643,448 | $599,750 | 10 | $604,656 | $303,910 | $329,752 |
| 2020 | $6,289,997 | $1,640,532 | $895,782 | $874,445 | 22 | — | $323,061 | $284,258 |
| 2019 | $5,545,297 | $1,095,515 | $1,161,238 | $1,125,811 | 31 | — | $166,462 | $238,754 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Merrill Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $369K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Merrill Family Foundation Inc is led by Lisa Sickler, President since 2023 (on filings since 2019); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lisa Sickler
President
Director → President, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kay Merrill
Secretary
Secretary & Treasurer → Secretary, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lee Sickler
Officer
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Anthony C. Merrill (2019–2023) — Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Merrill Family Foundation Inc
How much does Merrill Family Foundation Inc give each year?
Merrill Family Foundation Inc gave $975K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $417K across 3 grants.
What is Merrill Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Merrill Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $200,000, and its average grant was $195,000, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Merrill Family Foundation Inc give grants?
Merrill Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in Oregon: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (31%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, OR (2 grants).
Does Merrill Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on Merrill Family Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Merrill Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Merrill Family Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include SUNY Cobleskill Foundation ($300,000), Turning Point Program ($225,000) and OSU Foundation ($200,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 74% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Merrill Family Foundation Inc?
Merrill Family Foundation Inc reported $6.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $982K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $369K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Merrill Family Foundation Inc?
Merrill Family Foundation Inc is a private foundation focused on Education, based in Portland, OR. It holds $6.4M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Merrill Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
Merrill Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-1191941. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 31, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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