The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation
The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation is a private foundation based in Decatur, Illinois. Its 2025 filing says it makes contributions to organizations for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes; its reported 2025 grants went primarily to organizations in Illinois.
The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation at a glance
In short: The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation gave $6K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $433.077), mostly in Illinois. 27% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $5,630
- -86.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -43.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $433
- -75.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $200
- Total assets
- $99,040
- -4.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 27% first-time grantees (3 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1925 West Wood Street, Decatur, IL 62522
Phone: (217) 428-6985
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Symphony Orchestra Guild of Decatur ($2K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $6K.
Grant Size Distribution
118 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 118 grants of 118 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. The reported shares for recipients in Washington, DC, South Dakota, and Virginia were 2% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation open to new grantees?
27%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 11 grantees (27%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $100; repeat grants $666. How we count
Medians: $100 first-time, $500 repeat.
- 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 90% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2021 it paid out well above 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $6K (2025) to $54K (2022). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $6K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Symphony Orchestra Guild of Decatur Decatur, IL | Memorial and Charitable Activities | $2,055 |
| First United Methodist Church Decatur, IL | Charitable Activities | $1,000 |
| Northeast Community Fund Decatur, IL | Charitable Activities | $500 |
| Decatur Macon County Animal Shelter Decatur, IL | Charitable Activities | $500 |
| Millikin University Decatur, IL | Associates Scholarship | $500 |
| Symphony Orchestra Guild of Decatur Decatur, IL | Charitable Activities | $275 |
| Garrett Evangelical Theological SEM Evanston, IL | Charitable Activities | $200 |
| Chaddock Childrens Foundation Quincy, IL | Memorial and Charitable Activities | $100 |
| American Farmland Trust Washington, DC | Charitable Activities | $100 |
| United Woman in Faith Decatur, IL | Charitable Activities | $100 |
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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 | $99,040 | $3,706 | $8,247 | $5,630 | 13 | — | $2,047 | $5,412 |
| 2024 | $103,581 | — | $44,334 | $40,375 | 23 | — | $5,776 | $7,022 |
| 2023 | $147,915 | $143,837 | $45,040 | $42,296 | 33 | — | $96,326 | $5,778 |
| 2022 | $49,118 | $40,112 | $54,663 | $53,620 | 28 | — | — | $3,463 |
| 2021 | $63,669 | $50,008 | $44,257 | $41,875 | 21 | $44,257 | $8 | $3,463 |
| 2020 | $57,918 | $48,578 | $33,643 | $31,600 | 14 | — | $8 | $1,748 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5K for 2025 — 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 filing describes its charitable activity as making contributions to organizations for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes. Its 2025 grants included support for arts, community assistance, education, animal welfare, and other charitable activities.
Among the recipients, the Symphony Orchestra Guild of Decatur says its mission is to support the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra and the area’s Youth Symphony Orchestra. Northeast Community Fund says it collects food and clothing for people in need and helps community members with expenses such as utilities, medical care, rent, and transportation. Millikin University describes its mission as delivering excellence in education and preparing students for professional success, democratic citizenship, and a meaningful personal life.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $5,630. Grants ranged from $100 to $2,055, with a median grant of $200. Its largest reported grants included:
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Linda Arends as president and John Arends as director.
The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation is led by Linda A. Arends, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Linda A. Arends
President
Secretary & Treasurer → Secretarytreasurer, 2022
Secretarytreasurer → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John H. Arends
Director
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Erwin O. Arends (2020–2023) — President
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation
How much does The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation give each year?
The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation gave $6K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $40K across 23 grants.
What is The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation's typical grant size?
The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $200, and its average grant was $433, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation that year got $100 on average.
Where does The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation give grants?
The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Decatur, IL (8 grants).
Does The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable Activities" (9 grants) and "Memorial and Charitable Activities" (3 grants).
Who are The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation's largest grantees?
The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Symphony Orchestra Guild of Decatur ($2,330 across 2 grants), First United Methodist Church ($1,000) and Millikin University ($600 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation?
The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation reported $99K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $4K.
What does The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its charitable activity as making contributions to organizations for charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes. Its 2025 grants included support for arts, community assistance, education, animal welfare, and other charitable activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation's EIN?
The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1927300. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 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 2025 (received by the IRS July 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation funds
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Figures come from The Erwin and Linda Arends Foundation'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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