Simkiss Family Foundation
The Simkiss Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. It makes grants or contributions to other 501(c)(3) organizations, principally public charities.
Key facts about Simkiss Family Foundation
In short: Simkiss Family Foundation gave $33K across 31 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 6% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 25-6837939
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $32,500
- Grants made (2025)
- 31
- Average grant
- $1,048
- Median grant
- $500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 6% first-time grantees (2 of 31, 2025)
- Total assets
- $384,475
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (80% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$384K
-8.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$33K
+3.2% YoY
Grant Count
31
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1K
+3.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Simkiss Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $21K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Simkiss Family Foundation open to new grantees?
6%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 31 grantees (6%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $625; repeat grants $1K. How we count
Medians: $625 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 90% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 158% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not state a mission in the available information. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including health care, conservation, the arts, education, and public policy. For example, Willistown Conservation Trust describes its mission as preserving and managing open land and natural resources in the Willistown area and nearby communities. Judicial Watch says it works to promote government integrity, transparency, and accountability through advocacy, litigation, monitoring, and investigation. Commonwealth Foundation describes its work as research and education about public policy issues.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 31 grants totaling $32,500. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $15,000, with a median of $500. Its largest 2025 grants included $15,000 to Paoli Hospital Foundation, $3,000 to Willistown Conservation Trust, and $1,500 to Judicial Watch. Other listed grants included $1,000 each to Academy of Vocal Arts, Commonwealth Foundation, Tunnel to Towers, and Bryn Mawr Hospital Foundation.
How to Apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with Simkiss Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Pennsylvania organizations received 80% of grant dollars. Other recipient-state shares included DC (6%), NY (3%), VA (3%), and DE (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 31 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $22K (2020) to $33K (2023). In 2025 it made 31 grants totaling $33K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Paoli Hospital Foundation ($15K). Together the top 10 received $25K.
Grant Size Distribution
152 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 152 grants of 152 (100%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Paoli Hospital Foundation Paoli, PA | General | $15,000 |
| Willistown Conservation Trust Newtown Square, PA | General | $3,000 |
| Judicial Watch Washington, DC | General | $1,500 |
| Academy of Vocal Arts Philadelphia, PA | General | $1,000 |
| Commonwealth Foundation Harrisburg, PA | General | $1,000 |
| Tunnel to Towers Staten Island, NY | General | $1,000 |
| Bryn Mawr Hospital Foundation Bryn Mawr, PA | General | $1,000 |
| Amigo De Jesus Orphanage Malvern, PA | General | $500 |
| Bonner & Prendergast Catholic School Drexel Hill, PA | General | $500 |
| Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art Chadds Ford, PA | General | $500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Grants | Grant total |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 31 | $32,500 |
| 2024 | 31 | $31,500 |
| 2023 | 38 | $32,950 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $384,475 | $419,075 | $452,597 |
| Expenses | $34,600 | $33,522 | $32,965 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $32,500 | $31,500 | $32,950 |
| Distributable Amount | $20,508 | $22,184 | $23,890 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 8, 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 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists John A Simkiss and Sharon Merhige as trustees.
Simkiss Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
John A. Simkiss
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sharon Merhige
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Contact
Mailing address: 656 Golf Club Rd, Newtown Square, PA 19073
Phone: (215) 569-5721
Frequently asked questions about Simkiss Family Foundation
How much does Simkiss Family Foundation give each year?
Simkiss Family Foundation gave $33K across 31 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $32K across 31 grants.
What is Simkiss Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Simkiss Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $500, and its average grant was $1,048, across 31 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Simkiss Family Foundation that year got $625 on average.
Where does Simkiss Family Foundation give grants?
Simkiss Family Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (4 grants), Malvern, PA (4 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and Media, PA (2 grants).
Does Simkiss Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Simkiss Family Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (31 of 31) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Simkiss Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Simkiss Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Paoli Hospital Foundation ($15,000), Willistown Conservation Trust ($3,000) and Judicial Watch ($1,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Simkiss Family Foundation?
Simkiss Family Foundation reported $384K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $33K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $21K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Simkiss Family Foundation fund?
The foundation does not state a mission in the available information. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations working in areas including health care, conservation, the arts, education, and public policy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Simkiss Family Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Simkiss Family Foundation's EIN?
Simkiss Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6837939. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Simkiss Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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