Merkel Foundation Inc
EIN 391582624Total Given 2017–2025
$8.5M
240 grants · $939K avg/year
based on 9 yrs of IRS 990-PF records on file
$100K+/yr
local funder
capacity
$15K
typical small grants · $10K–$30K
grant size
76%
deep partner · 52/68 multi-year
repeat
$73.3M
Assets (2025)
68
Distinct Recipients
Focus Areas
Application Information
Accepts Unsolicited Proposals
No — Preselected Only
Phone
(262) 227-9357
Financial Trends
Giving Over Time
Total Assets Over Time
View financial data as table
| Year | Total Giving | Total Assets | Revenue | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $530K | $12.4M | $623K | 29 |
| 2018 | $565K | $12.9M | $592K | 29 |
| 2019 | $609K | $13.4M | $645K | 29 |
| 2020 | N/A | $18.2M | $11.0M | N/A |
| 2021 | $935K | $29.6M | $6.4M | 32 |
| 2023 | $1.5M | $40.9M | $8.2M | 30 |
| 2024 | $2.0M | $66.6M | $22.7M | 44 |
| 2025 | $2.3M | $73.3M | $8.3M | 47 |
Grant Size Distribution
Based on 240 grants on record
Minimum
$5K
25th Pctl
$10K
Median
$15K
Average
$35K
75th Pctl
$30K
Maximum
$472K
Geographic Distribution
Texas Counties Served
4.6% of US grants
· Rank #2 of 9 states
$196K across
11 grants
1 of 254 counties
Top 1 counties
- 1 Dallas
Officers & Directors
CG
Carlos M Garces
2 yrs
Vice President/Director
Leadership
CG
Carol L Garces
8+ yrs
President/Director
Leadership
SB
Sandra J Benz
8+ yrs
Vice President/Secretary/Director
Leadership
DK
Diane M Knoll
7 yrs
Vice President/Director
Leadership
RB
Randy T Benz
8+ yrs
Vice President/Treasurer/Director
Leadership
SB
Sandra J Benz
8+ yrs
Vice President/Secretary/Director
Leadership
DM
Douglas a Merkel
3 yrs
President/Director
Leadership
DK
Diane M Knoll
7 yrs
Vice President/Director
Leadership
CG
Carol L Garces
8+ yrs
President/Vice President/Director
Leadership
RB
Randy T Benz
8+ yrs
Vice President/Treasurer
Leadership
DM
Douglas a Merkel
3 yrs
President/Director
Leadership
DK
Diane M Knoll
7 yrs
Vice President/Director
Leadership
CG
Carol L Garces
8+ yrs
Vice President/Director
Leadership
SB
Sandra J Benz
8+ yrs
Vice President/Secretary/Director
Leadership
RB
Randy T Benz
8+ yrs
Vice President/Treasurer
Leadership
DM
Douglas a Merkel
3 yrs
President/Director
Leadership
DM
Daniel a Merkel
Vice President/Emeritus Director
Leadership
DK
Diane M Knoll
7 yrs
Vice President/Director
Leadership
CG
Carol L Garces
8+ yrs
Vice President/Director
Leadership
SB
Sandra J Benz
8+ yrs
Vice President/Secretary/Director
Leadership
RB
Randy T Benz
8+ yrs
Vice President/Treasurer
Leadership
Grants Awarded (240 total)
| Purpose | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Brigades Inc | Fresno, CA | $471,918 | CHARITABLE | 2023 |
| Global Brigades Inc | Fresno, CA | $455,509 | CHARITABLE | 2024 |
| Global Brigades Inc | Fresno, CA | $451,381 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | 2025 |
| Archdiocese of Milwaukee Inc (Catholic Stewardship Appeal) | Milwaukee, WI | $401,187 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | 2025 |
| Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers | Milwaukee, WI | $252,768 | CHARITABLE | 2024 |
| Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers | Milwaukee, WI | $250,726 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | 2025 |
| Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers | Milwaukee, WI | $250,211 | CHARITABLE | 2023 |
| Marquette University | Milwaukee, WI | $248,750 | CHARITABLE | 2021 |
| Marquette University | Milwaukee, WI | $173,840 | CHARITABLE | 2019 |
| Marquette University | Milwaukee, WI | $170,000 | CHARITABLE | 2018 |
| Marquette University | Milwaukee, WI | $165,000 | CHARITABLE | 2017 |
| Holy Apostles Catholic Parish | New Berlin, WI | $150,000 | CHARITABLE | 2024 |
| St Dominic Parish | Sheboygan, WI | $110,000 | CHARITABLE | 2024 |
| Sheboygan Youth Sailing Club Inc | Sheboygan, WI | $104,649 | CHARITABLE | 2023 |
| Sheboygan Youth Sailing Club Inc | Sheboygan, WI | $100,998 | CHARITABLE | 2024 |
| Holy Apostles Catholic Parish | New Berlin, WI | $99,822 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | 2025 |
| Sheboygan Youth Sailing Club Inc | Sheboygan, WI | $99,464 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | 2025 |
| St Dominic Parish | Brookfield, WI | $84,898 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | 2025 |
| Archdiocese of Milwaukee Inc | Milwaukee, WI | $81,357 | CHARITABLE | 2024 |
| Archdiocese of Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | $80,813 | CHARITABLE | 2021 |
| Archdiocese of Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | $79,716 | CHARITABLE | 2023 |
| Archdiocese of Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | $65,000 | CHARITABLE | 2019 |
| Archdiocese of Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | $65,000 | CHARITABLE | 2018 |
| St Dominic Parish | Sheboygan, WI | $55,000 | CHARITABLE | 2017 |
| Archdiocese of Milwaukee | Milwaukee, WI | $55,000 | CHARITABLE | 2017 |