The Wisconsin State Capitol

Form 990-PFTax year 2024EIN 39-1582624

Merkel Foundation Inc

A private foundation in Brookfield, WI. Its return for tax year 2024 lists 47 grants and $2.3 million paid in grants.

Tax year 2024 (period ending Jul 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Preselected only

The return checks the box saying the foundation gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets and giving by year

7 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.
  • Tax year 2024

    $2,316,683

    Grants listed
    47
    Assets, end of year
    $56,122,211
  • Tax year 2023

    $1,959,170

    Grants listed
    44
    Assets, end of year
    $49,248,807
  • Tax year 2022

    $1,536,277

    Grants listed
    30
    Assets, end of year
    $31,096,519
  • Tax year 2021

    $920,455

    Grants listed
    32
    Assets, end of year
    $26,878,615
  • Tax year 2020

    $935,055

    Grants listed
    32
    Assets, end of year
    $17,593,799
  • Tax year 2019

    $786,550

    Grants listed
    30
    Assets, end of year
    $13,127,869
  • Tax year 2018

    $608,840

    Grants listed
    29
    Assets, end of year
    $4,977,864

Grants paid in 2024

47 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Global Brigades IncFresno, CA

    General operating support

    $451,381
  2. Archdiocese of Milwaukee Inc (catholic Stewardship Appeal)Milwaukee, WI

    General operating support

    $401,187
  3. Sixteenth Street Community Health CentersMilwaukee, WI

    General operating support

    $250,726
  4. Holy Apostles Catholic ParishNew Berlin, WI

    General operating support

    $99,822
  5. Sheboygan Youth Sailing Club IncSheboygan, WI

    General operating support

    $99,464
  6. St Dominic ParishBrookfield, WI

    General operating support

    $84,898
  7. Community of St Paul IncRacine, WI

    General operating support

    $53,610
  8. Marquette UniversityMilwaukee, WI

    General operating support

    $50,194
  9. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wi IncMilwaukee, WI

    General operating support

    $50,194
  10. Saint Francis de Sales Seminary (the Salesianum Trust)St Francis, WI

    Capital campaign

    $50,194
  11. Catholic Memorial High SchoolWaukesha, WI

    General operating support

    $49,732
  12. Nativity Jesuit Catholic School AcademyMilwaukee, WI

    General operating support

    $49,732
  13. Saint Francis de Sales SeminarySt Francis, WI

    General operating support

    $40,155
  14. Archdiocese of Milwaukee Inc (combined Collections)Milwaukee, WI

    General operating support

    $30,117
  15. World Craniofacial FoundationDallas, TX

    General operating support

    $30,117
  16. Nourish Farms IncSheboygan, WI

    General operating support

    $30,000
  17. St Dominic ParishSheboygan, WI

    General operating support

    $30,000
  18. St Jude Childrens Research Hospital IncMemphis, TN

    General operating support

    $30,000
  19. Notre Dame School of MilwaukeeWest Milwaukee, WI

    General operating support

    $29,947
  20. Messmer High SchoolMilwaukee, WI

    General operating support

    $25,004
  21. Dogsinvests IncPalmyra, WI

    General operating support

    $25,000
  22. The Cathedral of St John the EvangelistMilwaukee, WI

    General operating support

    $25,000
  23. Common HopeSaint Paul, MN

    General operating support

    $20,131
  24. Santa Fe Communications Inc (heart of the Nation)Milwaukee, WI

    General operating support

    $20,078
  25. Family Resource Center of Sheboygan County IncPlymouth, WI

    General operating support

    $20,000
  26. Make A Wish FoundationAppleton, WI

    General operating support

    $20,000
  27. Meals on Wheels of Sheboygan County IncSheboygan, WI

    General operating support

    $20,000
  28. Open Door Cafe (the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist)Milwaukee, WI

    General operating support

    $20,000
  29. Project Angel HugsPlymouth, WI

    General operating support

    $20,000
  30. Safe Harbor of Sheboygan IncSheboygan, WI

    General operating support

    $20,000
  31. The Salvation Army SheboyganSheboygan, WI

    General operating support

    $20,000
  32. Wisconsin Humane SocietyMilwaukee, WI

    General operating support

    $20,000
  33. Disabled American VeteransLadysmith, WI

    General operating support

    $10,000
  34. Focus on the FamilyColorado SPGS, CO

    General operating support

    $10,000
  35. Food Allergy Research & Education IncMcLean, VA

    General operating support

    $10,000
  36. Lakeshore Community Health CareSheboygan, WI

    General operating support

    $10,000
  37. Milwaukee Academy of ScienceMilwaukee, WI

    General operating support

    $10,000
  38. Sharon S Richardson Community Hospice IncSheboygan FLS, WI

    General operating support

    $10,000
  39. Sheboygan County Historical Society & MuseumSheboygan, WI

    General operating support

    $10,000
  40. Sherman Phoenix Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI

    General operating support

    $10,000
  41. St Joan Antida High SchoolMilwaukee, WI

    General operating support

    $10,000
  42. St Joseph's Tool ChestNew Berlin, WI

    General operating support

    $10,000
  43. United Community Center IncMilwaukee, WI

    General operating support

    $10,000
  44. John C Campbell Folk SchoolBrasstown, NC

    General operating support

    $5,000
  45. Maywood Ecological Center (environmental Park Trust of Sheboygan County)Sheboygan, WI

    General operating support

    $5,000
  46. New Berlin Food Pantry IncNew Berlin, WI

    General operating support

    $5,000
  47. St Vincent de Paul Society of WaukeshaWaukesha, WI

    General operating support

    $5,000

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Education3 grants $511,57570% of the total
  2. Human services5 grants $75,00010% of the total
  3. International aid2 grants $50,2487% of the total
  4. Health3 grants $50,0007% of the total
  5. Animals1 grant $20,0003% of the total
  6. Food and agriculture1 grant $10,0001% of the total
  7. 2 other causes2 grants $15,0002% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Wisconsin39 grants $1,750,054
  2. California1 grant $451,381
  3. Texas1 grant $30,117
  4. Tennessee1 grant $30,000
  5. Minnesota1 grant $20,131
  6. Colorado1 grant $10,000
  7. Kentucky1 grant $10,000
  8. Virginia1 grant $10,000
  9. North Carolina1 grant $5,000

Officers, directors and trustees

4 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Carol L GarcesPRESIDENT/DIRECTOR Hours 0.1Pay $0
  • Sandra J BenzVICE PRESIDENT/SECRETARY/DIRECTOR Hours 0.2Pay $0
  • Randy T BenzVICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER/DIRECTOR Hours 9.5Pay $0
  • Carlos M GarcesVICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR Hours 0.1Pay $0

The return

More foundations

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Same main cause (education), giving between a quarter and four times this foundation’s where possible, nearby first.

  1. Arzbaecher Family FoundationBrookfield, WI 31 grants Preselected only $707,627 giving
  2. Harri Hoffmann Family Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI 148 grants Accepts applications $2,249,000 giving
  3. Duane & Dorothy Bluemke Foundation LTDSturgeon Bay, WI 62 grants Accepts applications $2,119,125 giving
  4. Lou and Michele Gentine Foundation IncPlymouth, WI 27 grants Preselected only $2,106,312 giving
  5. Herb Kohl Educational Foundation IncMilwaukee, WI 426 grants Accepts applications $2,059,002 giving