The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc
The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc is a private foundation based in Miami Beach, Florida. It supports charitable organizations through grants; its 2025 filing says it contributes only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc at a glance
In short: The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc gave $172K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), top state Virginia. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $171,622
- +271.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +83.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,602
- +102.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $1,861,295
- +2.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (4 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Virginia (39% 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 Merritt Charitable Fund Inc
- 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: 400 Alton Road 3303, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: (703) 342-9037
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Miriam S Kitchen Washington ($25K). Together the top 10 received $167K.
Grant Size Distribution
54 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 53 grants of 54 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The fund is based in Miami Beach, Florida. Its 2025 grants went to organizations in multiple states and Washington, DC. By share of grant dollars, Virginia received 39%, DC 18%, New York 15%, Florida 12%, and Maryland 6%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 11 grantees (36%) 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 $14K; repeat grants $17K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $21K repeat.
- 36% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+13%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 136% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $46K (2024) to $173K (2020). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $172K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Miriam S Kitchen Washington Washington, DC | To Feed the Homeless in DC | $25,000 |
| Thrive for Life Prison Project Inc New York, NY | To Create Opportunities for Incarcerated | $25,000 |
| Facets Cares Inc Fairfax, VA | To Help Those in Poverty in Fairfax VA | $20,600 |
| The Lamb Center Fairfax, VA | Homeless Service in Fairfax, Virginia | $20,580 |
| Home Stretch VA Falls Church, VA | Empowering Families Experiencing Homelessness to Rebuild Lives | $20,020 |
| Mark Garwood Scholarship Fund Stuart, FL | Provides educational scholarships and support for individuals in long-term sobriety | $20,000 |
| Oxford House Inc Silver Spring, MD | To provide, through a network of affiliated houses, sober, safe, and affordable housing for recovering addicts and alcoholics. | $10,220 |
| Luther Jackson Middle Charlotte, NC | To Support Educational Institution | $10,000 |
| Salvation Army South Brookhaven, GA | Programs Address Hunger, Homelessness, and Addiction. | $10,000 |
| Cloverleaf Equine Center Clifton, VA | Provides equine-assisted activities for children and adults with disabilities in an an inclusive, community setting. | $5,149 |
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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 | $1,861,295 | $245,497 | $194,836 | $171,622 | 11 | $171,622 | $222,283 | $125,757 |
| 2024 | $1,810,634 | $183,275 | $66,862 | $46,254 | 6 | $46,254 | $162,667 | $106,377 |
| 2023 | $1,694,221 | $163,823 | $122,397 | $107,411 | 11 | $107,411 | $148,837 | $88,083 |
| 2022 | $1,652,795 | $3,636 | $169,421 | $151,553 | 12 | $151,553 | $4,062 | $98,238 |
| 2021 | $1,818,580 | $93,647 | $121,504 | $102,317 | 14 | $102,317 | $74,460 | $111,691 |
| 2020 | $1,846,437 | $41,909 | $192,075 | $173,224 | 17 | — | $23,058 | $96,504 |
| 2019 | $1,996,603 | $206,069 | $126,015 | $109,055 | 13 | — | $189,109 | $98,354 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc reported a distributable amount of $126K 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
No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2025 grants included organizations serving people experiencing homelessness and poverty, supporting recovery and sobriety, and providing education or services for people with disabilities.
Among its grantees, FACETS Cares describes its mission as stabilizing and empowering individuals and families facing poverty, housing instability, hunger, and financial insecurity. The Lamb Center says it serves neighbors experiencing homelessness. Cloverleaf Equine Center says it provides equine-assisted services to people with disabilities, youth from marginalized communities, recovering military personnel, and others in need.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the fund made 11 grants totaling $171,622. Grants ranged from $5,053 to $25,000, with a median grant of $20,000.
Notable 2025 grants included $25,000 to Miriam S Kitchen in Washington, DC, to feed people experiencing homelessness; $25,000 to Thrive for Life Prison Project in New York, NY, to create opportunities for incarcerated people; $20,600 to FACETS Cares in Fairfax, VA, to help people in poverty; and $20,580 to The Lamb Center in Fairfax, VA, for homeless services. Other recipients included Home Stretch VA ($20,020), the Mark Garwood Scholarship Fund ($20,000), and Oxford House Inc ($10,220).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Teresa Schaal as president, Christin Soly as vice president, David M Klaassen as treasurer, Lindsey Klaassen as secretary, and Martha Haverkamp and Barbara Jane Merritt as board members.
The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc is led by Teresa Schaal, President on every filing since 2023; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Teresa Schaal
President
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christin Soly
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David M. Klaassen
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lindsey Klaassen
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martha Haverkamp
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Jane Merritt
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Teresa Merritt (2019–2022) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Merritt Charitable Fund Inc
How much does The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc give each year?
The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc gave $172K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $46K across 6 grants.
What is The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc's typical grant size?
The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $15,602, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc that year got $14K on average.
Where does The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc give grants?
The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc's top state is Virginia, with 39% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (18%) and New York (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fairfax, VA (2 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc's largest grantees?
The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Miriam S Kitchen Washington ($25,000), Thrive for Life Prison Project Inc ($25,000) and Facets Cares Inc ($20,600), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc?
The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc reported $1.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $172K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $126K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc fund?
No mission statement for the fund is provided. Its 2025 grants included organizations serving people experiencing homelessness and poverty, supporting recovery and sobriety, and providing education or services for people with disabilities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc?
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 ↑
What is The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc's EIN?
The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3462210. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 9, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 5, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-merritt-charitable-fund-inc-morg_d8164d43d78a40eab82cae6b51da28dd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_823462210_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Merritt Charitable Fund Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-merritt-charitable-fund-inc-morg_d8164d43d78a40eab82cae6b51da28dd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Merritt Charitable Fund 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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