Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation
Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation is a private foundation, based in Ann Arbor, MI. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $45.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $7.5M. Net investment income was $4.5M.
Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation at a glance
In short: Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation gave $7.5M across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $1.9M), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $7,483,000
- +38.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,870,750
- +72.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $115,000
- Total assets
- $45,227,603
- -6.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Michigan (97% 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 Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Lenawee Christian Ministries ($7.2M). Together the top 4 received $7.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
20 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 20 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation gives
- Giving grew 191% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 272% 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.8M (2021) to $7.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $7.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lenawee Christian Ministries Adrian, MI | Operations Support | $7,223,000 |
| Huntington University Huntington, IN | Operations Support | $200,000 |
| Adrian College Adrian, MI | Operations Support | $30,000 |
| Focus on the Family Colorado Springs, CO | Operations Support | $30,000 |
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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 | $45,227,603 | $4,795,768 | $7,802,979 | $7,483,000 | 4 | $7,489,780 | $4,500,708 | $2,756,528 |
| 2024 | $48,234,814 | $1,869,451 | $5,747,272 | $5,420,000 | 5 | $5,435,562 | $873,361 | $2,505,796 |
| 2023 | $52,112,635 | $947,995 | $4,156,441 | $3,765,000 | 5 | $3,781,065 | $781,969 | $2,496,057 |
| 2022 | $55,321,081 | $12,965,432 | $2,992,970 | $2,575,000 | 4 | $2,583,820 | $3,357,140 | $2,994,610 |
| 2021 | $45,550,840 | $4,257,394 | $2,043,752 | $1,800,000 | 2 | — | $1,453,428 | $2,157,663 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.8M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation is led by Richard D. Merillat, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Richard D. Merillat
President
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
George E. Borel
Treasurer & Secretary
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tricia Lm McGuire
Vice President
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation
How much does Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation give each year?
Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation gave $7.5M across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $5.4M across 5 grants.
What is Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation's typical grant size?
Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $115,000, and its average grant was $1,870,750, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation give grants?
Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Adrian, MI (2 grants).
Does Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Operations Support" (4 grants).
How large is Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation?
Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation reported $45.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation's EIN?
Orville D & Ruth a Merillat Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2476813. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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