Messer Family Foundation
Messer Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Watertown, SD. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $262K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $16K. Net investment income was $21K.
Messer Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Messer Family Foundation gave $16K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in South Dakota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $15,519
- +3.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,940
- -9.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $262,238
- +1.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- South Dakota (94% 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 Messer Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Jenkins Living Center Foundation ($3K). Together the top 7 received $13K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($3,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
35 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 35 grants of 35 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Messer Family Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% 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 $13K (2020) to $16K (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $16K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $3,000 |
| Jenkins Living Center Foundation Watertown, SD | Scholarship Program | $3,000 |
| Arrow Educational Foundation Watertown, SD | Scholarships | $2,219 |
| Senior Companions of South Dakota Sioux Falls, SD | Administration & Senior Care | $2,000 |
| Watertown Regional Library Watertown, SD | Children's Reading Program | $2,000 |
| Bramble Park Zoo Watertown, SD | Program Services | $1,500 |
| MNDAK Kiwanis Ed Foundation Fargo, ND | Program Services | $1,000 |
| Codington County Historical Society Watertown, SD | Program Services | $800 |
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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 | $262,238 | $26,790 | $22,056 | $15,519 | 8 | $15,519 | $20,593 | $16,607 |
| 2024 | $257,504 | $29,213 | $21,093 | $15,000 | 7 | $15,000 | $23,227 | $15,585 |
| 2023 | $249,384 | $12,445 | $20,832 | $15,279 | 7 | $15,279 | $6,949 | $14,875 |
| 2022 | $257,771 | $16,861 | $21,089 | $15,500 | 6 | $15,500 | $3,377 | $15,511 |
| 2021 | $261,999 | $33,405 | $19,620 | $14,000 | 7 | $14,000 | $280 | $15,544 |
| 2020 | $248,214 | $11,428 | $17,835 | $13,000 | 8 | — | $986 | $14,072 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Messer Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $17K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Messer Family Foundation is led by Joseph S. Messer, President & Vice President on every filing since 2020; none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joseph S. Messer
President & Vice President
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ann H. Messer
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth R. Messer Diehl
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephen P. McAdams
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bailley Vm Olson
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Logan J. Diehl
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen P. Vandezande Little
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Makayla J. Van Der Heiden
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Megan N. Stoltz
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kari McAdams Copelin
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia K. Weber
Secretary
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Makayla J. McAdams (2023) — Director
- Former: Megan N. Copelin (2023) — Director
- Former: James E. Messer (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Kathleen P. Vandezande (2020–2022) — Director
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 Messer Family Foundation
How much does Messer Family Foundation give each year?
Messer Family Foundation gave $16K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $15K across 7 grants.
What is Messer Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Messer Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $1,940, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Messer Family Foundation give grants?
Messer Family Foundation gives mostly in South Dakota: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Dakota (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Watertown, SD (5 grants).
Does Messer Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Messer Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Services" (3 grants).
Who are Messer Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Messer Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Jenkins Living Center Foundation ($3,000), Arrow Educational Foundation ($2,219) and Senior Companions of South Dakota ($2,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($3,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Messer Family Foundation?
Messer Family Foundation reported $262K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $16K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $17K (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.
What is Messer Family Foundation's EIN?
Messer Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0437250. 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.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 9, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Messer Family Foundation funds
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