The Jess Merkle Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SHREVEPORT, LA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $395K. Net investment income was $393K.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.5M
-0.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$395K
+1.3% YoY
Grant Count
7
-41.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$56K
+73.6% YoY
About The Jess Merkle Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Jess Merkle Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in SHREVEPORT, LA. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $2.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $395K. Net investment income was $393K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,475,817 | $2,477,816 | $2,466,949 |
| Revenue | $515,811 | $517,162 | $466,323 |
| Expenses | $517,810 | $506,295 | $514,378 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $395,000 | $390,095 | $400,105 |
| Net Investment Income | $393,001 | $400,962 | $352,050 |
| Distributable Amount | $341,947 | $312,100 | $301,649 |
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
52 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAUL E MERKLE | TRUSTEE | 16 | $50,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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