The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc
The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation was a private foundation based in Atlanta, Georgia. Its 2020 filing marked the organization’s final return and stated that it had been completely dissolved as of December 31, 2020, after transferring all assets to the Arthur and Sarah Merrill Philanthrophy Fund. The foundation therefore appears to have wound down and stopped grantmaking.
The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc gave $35K across 15 grants in 2020 (avg $2K), mostly in Georgia. Source: 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2020)
- $35,000
- -22.2% vs 2019
- Grants made (2020)
- 15
- +0.0% vs 2019
- Average grant
- $2,333
- -22.2% vs 2019
- Median grant
- $1,500
- Primary geography
- Georgia (64% of itemized 2020 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2020 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2020; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The final filing stated that donation requests were to be submitted in writing and listed no restrictions at that time. It also listed no deadlines at that time. These are statements from the final filing, not current application instructions.
- Contact
Application contact: Arthur J Merrill Jr
Mailing address: 5825 Riverwood Dr, Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: (404) 355-6562
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2020
The largest 2020 recipient was Wycliffe Bible Translators ($6K). Together the top 10 received $30K.
Grant Size Distribution
30 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 30 grants of 30 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2020, grant dollars went to recipients in Georgia (64%), Florida (17%), Texas (16%), and Washington, D.C. (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2020 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc gives
- 80% of 2020 grantees were also funded in 2019. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2020, annual grant giving ranged from $35K (2020) to $45K (2019). In 2020 it made 15 grants totaling $35K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wycliffe Bible Translators Orlando, FL | To Support Religious Education. | $6,000 |
| Emory University School of Medicine (Huntington's Disease Research) Atlanta, GA | To Support Medical Research. | $5,000 |
| Church of the Apostles Atlanta, GA | To Support Religious Education. | $5,000 |
| Rayo De Sol Kennesaw, GA | To Provide Community Assistance. | $4,000 |
| Historic Macon Foundation Macon, GA | To Provide Community Assistance. | $2,000 |
| Atlanta Mission Atlanta, GA | To Provide Community Assistance. | $2,000 |
| Easter Seals Caroline School Houston, TX | To Support Education. | $2,000 |
| First Care Women's Clinic Cobb Pregnancy Services Marietta, GA | To Provide Community Assistance. | $1,500 |
| Mars-Hill Productions Missouri City, TX | To Support Education. | $1,500 |
| Atlanta Counseling Center -Client Assistance Atlanta, GA | To Provide Community Assistance. | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | — | $56,081 | $52,614 | $35,000 | 15 | $38,432 | $14,849 |
| 2019 | $383,068 | $27,346 | $58,739 | $45,000 | 15 | $13,572 | $18,816 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $15K for 2020 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s 2020 grants supported organizations working in several areas. Examples include religious education, medical research, education, and community assistance. Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of their work: Rayo de Sol said it serves vulnerable communities in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, through programs including spiritual development, education, health, youth engagement, and community development. Historic Macon Foundation described its work as preserving and restoring historic buildings, sites, and neighborhoods. Presbyterian School said it provides a high-quality educational program in a Christian environment.
Grantmaking
In 2020, the foundation made 15 grants totaling $35,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $6,000, with a median grant of $1,500.
Among the largest grants were $6,000 to Wycliffe Bible Translators for religious education; $5,000 each to Emory University School of Medicine for medical research and Church of the Apostles for religious education; and $4,000 to Rayo de Sol for community assistance. Other grants included $2,000 each to Historic Macon Foundation, Atlanta Mission, and Easter Seals Caroline School, and $1,500 to First Care Women’s Clinic Cobb Pregnancy Services and Mars-Hill Productions. The filing also listed grants to Atlanta Counseling Center – Client Assistance, Presbyterian School, and American Center for Law and Justice.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2020 filing listed Arthur J Merrill Jr as president. Trustees were William Randolph Harrison Merrill, Bonita Merrill, Arthur J Merrill III, Sarah M Merrill, Elizabeth D Merrill, and David S Merrill. Elizabeth D Merrill was also listed as secretary.
The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc is led by Arthur J. Merrill Jr., President on every filing since 2019; none of the 7 officers listed in 2020 report compensation.
Officers on the 2020 filing
Arthur J. Merrill Jr.
President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Arthur J. Merrill III
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Bonita Merrill
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
David S. Merrill
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Elizabeth D. Merrill
Secretary & Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Sarah M. Merrill
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
William Randolph Harrison Merrill
Trustee
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2020. "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 The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc
How much does The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc give each year?
The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc gave $35K across 15 grants in 2020, according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2019 it gave $45K across 15 grants.
What is The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc's median grant in 2020 was $1,500, and its average grant was $2,333, across 15 grants on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc give grants?
The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc gives mostly in Georgia: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Florida (17%) and Texas (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Atlanta, GA (6 grants) and Houston, TX (3 grants).
Does The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2020: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc's 2020 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Provide Community Assistance." (7 grants) and "To Support Education." (5 grants).
Who are The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc's largest 2020 grantees include Wycliffe Bible Translators ($6,000), Emory University School of Medicine (Huntington's Disease Research) ($5,000) and Church of the Apostles ($5,000), according to its 2020 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2020 grant dollars.
What does The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s 2020 grants supported organizations working in several areas. Examples include religious education, medical research, education, and community assistance. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc?
The final filing stated that donation requests were to be submitted in writing and listed no restrictions at that time. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2020, The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $15K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1999767. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2020.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 24, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2020
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Figures come from The Arthur & Sarah Merrill Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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