Sarkes and Mary Tarzian Foundation Inc
Sarkes and Mary Tarzian Foundation Inc is a private, independent foundation based in Bloomington, Indiana. The foundation is a corporate foundation connected to Sarkes Tarzian Inc, an electronics manufacturing and broadcasting company founded by Sarkes and Mary Tarzian in 1944.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$444K
-25.4% YoY
Grant Count
18
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
-25.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation primarily funds general support initiatives. Its grantmaking focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation provides general support grants to its grantees.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Indiana, Virginia, and Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending August 2024:
- Total assets: $1,541,479
- Total revenues: $866,279
- Total expenses: $599,492
- Number of employees: 0
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
88 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Indiana Right to Life Educational Trust Fund ($125,000), Institute for Catholic Liberal Education ($80,000), St Paul Street Evangelism ($80,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BLOOMINGTON SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DEPAUL BLOOMINGTON, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF BLOOMINGTON BLOOMINGTON, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $500 |
| CHOICES PREGNANCY CENTER CHATTNOOGA CHATTANOOGA, TN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $6,000 |
| FORT WAYNE RESCUE MISSION FORT WAYNE, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| FORT WAYNE SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DEPAUL FORT WAYNE, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $7,500 |
| FRANCISCAN CENTER OF FORT WAYNE FORT WAYNE, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| HANNAH CENTER BLOOMINGTON, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| INDIANA RIGHT TO LIFE EDUCATIONAL TRUST FUND INDIANAPOLIS, IN | GENERAL SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| INSTITUTE ON RELIGION AND PUBLIC LIFE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| INSTITUTE FOR CATHOLIC LIBERAL EDUCATION VENTURA, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $80,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders:
Sarkes Tarzian (October 5, 1900 – October 7, 1987): Ottoman-born American engineer, inventor, and broadcaster. He founded Sarkes Tarzian Inc. in 1944 and was instrumental in establishing broadcasting operations in Bloomington, including experimental station W9XHZ (1947) and WTTS-AM (1949), as well as WTTV (Channel 4), Indiana's second television station, founded November 11, 1949.
Mary Mangigian Tarzian (August 22, 1905 – June 7, 1998): American businesswoman and philanthropist. She was vice president of Sarkes Tarzian Inc. beginning in 1952. Mary was born in Philadelphia to Armenian immigrant parents and earned a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania (1927), a master's degree (1928), and a Ph.D. (1935), all from Penn. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and studied at the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva, Switzerland.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sarkes and Mary Tarzian Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation primarily funds general support initiatives. Its grantmaking focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Sarkes and Mary Tarzian Foundation Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2024): $595,200 • Number of grants (2024): 16 grants made • Typical award range: $500–$285,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Indiana Right To Life Educational Trust Fund: $276,200 (General Support) • JM Educational Group: $80,000 (General Support) • James Wilson Institute for Natural Rights and the American Founding: $25,000 (General Support) The foundation provides general support grants to its grantees.
Where does Sarkes and Mary Tarzian Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Indiana, Virginia, and Tennessee.
What size grants does Sarkes and Mary Tarzian Foundation Inc award?
In 2025, Sarkes and Mary Tarzian Foundation Inc awarded 18 grants totaling $444K — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Sarkes and Mary Tarzian Foundation Inc's EIN?
Sarkes and Mary Tarzian Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-5354049. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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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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