Merriman Foundation
The Merriman Foundation is a private foundation based in Washington, DC, designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation has been tax-exempt since September 1971. It functions as a grantmaking foundation that supports charitable, religious, and research organizations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.5M
+50.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.9M
+44.3% YoY
Grant Count
37
+32.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$105K
+9.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Merriman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $999K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation funds charitable, religious, and research organizations. Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Community Health
- Health and Medical initiatives
- Health and Wellness
- School Health
- Faith-based initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation made 31 grants in 2023. Typical grant awards range from $500 to $1,779,068.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Missouri, Florida, and Texas, though it has also made grants to organizations in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $2,317,524
- Total Revenue: $488,551
- Total Expenses: $2,812,043
- Total Liabilities: $2,900,000
As of 2024 (most recent data):
- Total Assets: $3,491,951
- Total Giving: $3,886,000
The foundation operates with zero employees and relies on volunteer leadership.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,491,951 | $2,317,524 | $2,341,016 |
| Revenue | $7,377,906 | $488,551 | $1,428,128 |
| Expenses | $4,157,467 | $2,812,043 | $5,784,454 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,886,000 | $2,692,250 | $5,684,018 |
| Net Investment Income | $507,160 | $482,683 | $1,406,216 |
| Distributable Amount | $998,621 | $995,976 | $1,159,157 |
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
154 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Pembroke Hill School ($1,050,000), SMU Athletics ($1,000,000), SMU School of Business ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alcuin School Dallas, TX | CHARITABLE | $50,000 |
| American Friends of the Louvre New York, NY | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| American Royal Association Kansas City, MO | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| Blair House Foundation Washington, DC | CHARTIABLE | $20,000 |
| BOTAR Kansas City, MO | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County West Palm Beach, FL | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| Breast Cancer Research Foundation New York, NY | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| Children's Mercy Kansas City Kansas City, MO | CHARITABLE | $56,000 |
| Crossroads Charter Schools Kansas City, MO | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| Downtown Council of Kansas City Kansas City, MO | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Michael A. Merriman — President/Treasurer
- Marybeth M. Sotos — Vice President/Secretary
- Edward L. Merriman — Vice President
All listed personnel serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL A MERRIMAN | PRESIDENT/TREASURER | — | — |
| MARYBETH M SOTOS | VICE PRESIDENT/SECRETARY | — | — |
| EDWARD L MERRIMAN | VICE PRESIDENT | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Merriman Foundation fund?
The foundation funds charitable, religious, and research organizations. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Community Health • Health and Medical initiatives • Health and Wellness • School Health • Faith-based initiatives
How do I apply for a grant from Merriman Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 31 grants in 2023. Typical grant awards range from $500 to $1,779,068. **Recent Notable Grants (2023):** • Pembroke Hill School: $1,000,000 (Charitable/building fund) • Saint Luke's Foundation: $321,000 (Charitable/research) • Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: $50,000 (Charitable/arts/education) **Grant Median:** $7,500 **Grant Maximum:** $1,000,000
Where does Merriman Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Missouri, Florida, and Texas, though it has also made grants to organizations in Washington, DC.
What size grants does Merriman Foundation award?
In 2024, Merriman Foundation awarded 37 grants totaling $3.9M — an average of about $105K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Merriman Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Merriman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $999K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Merriman Foundation's EIN?
Merriman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7113720. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Merriman 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.
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