Sophia and Elmer Oerter
The Sophia and Elmer Oerter Charitable Foundation is a private charitable foundation based in Columbia, Illinois. Established in 1987 following the provisions in Sophia Oerter's will, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting charitable, educational, literary, religious, and public objectives and programs.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.9M
+6.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$152K
-9.2% YoY
Grant Count
7
-46.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$22K
+68.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sophia and Elmer Oerter reported a distributable amount of $186K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation was created to promote, further, and support charitable, educational, literary, religious, and public objectives and programs within and beyond Columbia, Illinois. The foundation maintains a particular commitment to education and community service, with significant focus on student recognition and scholarship awards.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates a robust scholarship and student recognition program. Beginning in 1988 through 2005, the foundation honored students from Columbia, Dupo, Gibault, Valmeyer, and Waterloo High Schools. In 2006, the foundation began awarding $500 scholarships to the top scholar from each participating high school and established an annual banquet recognizing scholars, their families, school administrators, and teachers.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily focuses on the Columbia, Illinois area and surrounding communities in Monroe and Randolph counties, including Dupo, Gibault, Valmeyer, and Waterloo.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending June 2025:
- Total Assets: $3,871,373
- Revenue: $186,399
- Expenses: $184,553
- Net Income: $1,846
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation has maintained consistent financial stability with assets of approximately $3.87 million and annual revenues and expenses in the $180,000-$190,000 range.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,871,373 | $3,625,710 | $3,411,216 |
| Revenue | $186,399 | $77,230 | $75,540 |
| Expenses | $184,553 | $204,311 | $210,409 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $161,752 | $177,098 | $190,343 |
| Net Investment Income | $165,961 | $78,837 | $82,973 |
| Distributable Amount | $185,638 | $171,747 | $166,439 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Columbia American Legion Post 581 ($75,000), Immaculate Conception Parish ($26,250), Regional Office of Education ($19,802).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA BELLEVILLE, IL | CHILDREN'S CAMP ACTIVITIES | $10,000 |
| MAPLE GROVE CIVIC ASSOCIATION COLUMBIA, IL | PARKING LOT PAVING | $18,600 |
| MONROE COUNTY ILLINOIS WATERLOO, IL | COMMUNITY MEMORIAL BENCH | $1,600 |
| COLUMBIA AMERICAN LEGION POST 581 COLUMBIA, IL | PARKING LOT AND PAVILION | $75,000 |
| WATERLOO AMERICAN LEGION POST 6504 WATERLOO, IL | HISTORICAL BOOKS | $1,000 |
| REGIONAL OFFICE OF EDUCATION WATERLOO, IL | HIGH SCHOOL AWARDS EXPENSES | $19,802 |
| IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH COLUMBIA, IL | CAPITAL PROJECTS GRANT | $26,250 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARK C SCOGGINS | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| KEITH G BRINKMANN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ROBERT NIEMIETZ | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sophia and Elmer Oerter fund?
The foundation was created to promote, further, and support charitable, educational, literary, religious, and public objectives and programs within and beyond Columbia, Illinois. The foundation maintains a particular commitment to education and community service, with significant focus on student recognition and scholarship awards.
How do I apply for a grant from Sophia and Elmer Oerter?
The foundation operates a robust scholarship and student recognition program. Beginning in 1988 through 2005, the foundation honored students from Columbia, Dupo, Gibault, Valmeyer, and Waterloo High Schools. In 2006, the foundation began awarding $500 scholarships to the top scholar from each participating high school and established an annual banquet recognizing scholars, their families, school administrators, and teachers. The foundation has increased its scholarship awards over time. In 201…
Where does Sophia and Elmer Oerter make grants?
The foundation primarily focuses on the Columbia, Illinois area and surrounding communities in Monroe and Randolph counties, including Dupo, Gibault, Valmeyer, and Waterloo.
What size grants does Sophia and Elmer Oerter award?
In 2025, Sophia and Elmer Oerter awarded 7 grants totaling $152K — an average of about $22K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sophia and Elmer Oerter required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Sophia and Elmer Oerter reported a distributable amount of $186K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sophia and Elmer Oerter's EIN?
Sophia and Elmer Oerter's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-1213789. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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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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