Miner Charitable Foundation Inc is an independent foundation established in 2003 in Illinois. Based in Watseka, Illinois, the foundation provides funding primarily for scholarships and charitable giving to support community needs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.2M
-2.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$99K
-87.0% YoY
Grant Count
44
-4.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
-86.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Miner Charitable Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $197K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation was established by Harold and Jean Miner, lifelong farmers from rural Watseka in Iroquois County. The foundation carries on their wishes through charitable gifts and college scholarships, with particular interest in areas that reflected the Miners' passions: agriculture, library science, music, public safety, and teaching.
Scholarships are awarded to Iroquois County High School graduates. Beyond scholarships, the foundation supports a range of causes including churches, student clubs, food pantries, animal shelters, private schools, and youth development organizations.
Grantmaking
The foundation maintains three primary grant programs:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily serves Iroquois County, Illinois, though grant recipients have been located across multiple states including California, Texas, and Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Filing (2024):
- Total Assets: $3,198,967
- Total Giving: $98,500
- Total Revenue: $144,081
- Total Expenses: $233,709
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,198,967 | $3,288,595 | $1,439,069 |
| Revenue | $144,081 | $2,977,305 | $109,914 |
| Expenses | $233,709 | $898,018 | $60,398 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $98,500 | $758,100 | $49,935 |
| Net Investment Income | $130,250 | $16,292 | $108,974 |
| Distributable Amount | $196,606 | $113,874 | $79,232 |
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
218 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Iroquis Co Fair ($25,000), Watseka Food Pantry ($8,000), U of I Ford-iroquois Counties ($7,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CRESCENT GRADE SCHOOL CRESCENT CITY, IL | DONATION | $2,500 |
| CRESCENT CITY METHODIST CHURCH CRESCENT CITY, IL | DONATION | $4,000 |
| WATSEKA MASONS WATSEKA, IL | DONATION | $500 |
| VALLEY OF DANVILLE AASR DANVILLE, IL | DONATION | $500 |
| WATESKA ELKS LODGE WATSEKA, IL | DONATION | $500 |
| WATESKA AMERICAN LEGION WATSEKA, IL | DONATION | $300 |
| SALVATION ARMY OF KANKAKEE CO KANKAKEE, IL | DONATION | $1,000 |
| IROQUIS CO FAIR CRESCENT CITY, IL | DONATION | $25,000 |
| FORD IROQ 4-H FOUNDATION ONARGA, IL | DONATION | $1,500 |
| CRES-IROQ FIRE DEPT CRESCENT CITY, IL | DONATION | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's board and advisory structure includes:
- Darrin Fischer - President (10 hours/week, $37,500 compensation)
- Julie Fischer - Vice President & Treasurer (8 hours/week, $25,000 compensation)
- Michael Dooley - Secretary (5 hours/week, $17,000 compensation)
- Charles Hopkins - Director (1 hour/week, $10,000 compensation)
Foundation advisors include Joseph Planera, George Cuonzo, and Don Granzow.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DARRIN FISCHER | PRESIDENT | 10 | $37,500 |
| CHARLES HOPSKINS | DIRECTOR | 1 | $10,000 |
| MICHAEL DOOLEY | SECRETARY | 5 | $17,000 |
| JULIE FISCHER | VP & TREASUR | 8 | $25,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Kankakee Community College named its Student Success Center and library in honor of Harold and Jean Miner in recognition of the foundation's monetary donations to the institution.
Westmoreland County Community College receives $500,000 from Robert MinerSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Miner Charitable Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation was established by Harold and Jean Miner, lifelong farmers from rural Watseka in Iroquois County. The foundation carries on their wishes through charitable gifts and college scholarships, with particular interest in areas that reflected the Miners' passions: agriculture, library science, music, public safety, and teaching. Scholarships are awarded to Iroquois County High School graduates. Beyond scholarships, the foundation supports a range of causes including churches, student c…
How do I apply for a grant from Miner Charitable Foundation Inc?
The foundation maintains three primary grant programs: • **Scholarship Program**: Averaging $963 per grant with 121 recipients. Last awarded in 2024. • **Annual Gifting Program**: Averaging $249 per grant with 51 recipients. Last awarded in 2020. • **Donation Program**: Averaging $19,214 per grant with 32 recipients. Last awarded in 2024. Overall grant statistics show a range from $5 to $500,000, with a median grant amount of $963. The foundation has awarded 204 grants total with a giving rate …
Where does Miner Charitable Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily serves Iroquois County, Illinois, though grant recipients have been located across multiple states including California, Texas, and Florida.
What size grants does Miner Charitable Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Miner Charitable Foundation Inc awarded 44 grants totaling $99K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Miner Charitable Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Miner Charitable Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $197K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Miner Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN?
Miner Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0476676. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Miner Charitable Foundation Inc'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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