The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier
The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier is a private foundation, based in Wilmette, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $84K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $320K.
The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier at a glance
In short: The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier gave $320K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $40K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $320,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $40,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $83,796
- -36.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
28 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 28 grants of 28 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier gives
- Giving grew 60% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $120K (2021) to $320K (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $320K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 8 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $320,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $83,796 | $320,000 | $367,384 | $320,000 | 8 | $320,000 | $5,294 |
| 2024 | $131,180 | $385,000 | $355,263 | $320,000 | 8 | $344,965 | $5,728 |
| 2023 | $101,443 | $200,000 | $189,317 | $160,000 | 4 | $160,000 | $4,733 |
| 2022 | $90,760 | $240,000 | $208,724 | $200,300 | 5 | $200,300 | $3,700 |
| 2021 | $59,484 | — | $120,985 | $120,000 | 3 | $120,000 | $5,835 |
| 2020 | $180,469 | — | $244,849 | $240,000 | 6 | — | $14,927 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier reported a distributable amount of $5K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier is led by Helen Coburn Meier, President & Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Helen Coburn Meier
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Terrence Karpowicz
Director & Secretary
Director → Director & Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$3K (2023) → $5K (2025)
Michele Smith
Director & Treasurer
Director → Director & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Tim Meier (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jonathan Edelman (2020) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $5K, to Terrence Karpowicz (Director and Secretary).
Frequently asked questions about The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier
How much does The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier give each year?
The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier gave $320K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $320K across 8 grants.
What is The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier's typical grant size?
The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier's median grant in 2025 was $40,000, and its average grant was $40,000, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier give grants?
The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Cash Award for Individual Achievement in the Arts." (8 grants).
How large is The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier?
The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier reported $84K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $320K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier's EIN?
The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-4204237. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 June 29, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Helen Coburn Meier and Tim Meier's focus areas in our free grants database
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