Merkin Family Foundation
Merkin Family Foundation maintains substantial assets while consistently reporting zero officer compensation.
EIN: 200527223 · Marina Dl Rey, CA · NTEE: T22 · Updated: 2026-03-28
Source Check Matrix
What Has Been Verified vs. What Needs Human Review
Identity resolved verified
Merkin Family Foundation is mapped to EIN 200527223.
IRS BMF exempt record needs review
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IRS Pub 78 deductibility needs review
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IRS Form 990 index verified
10 stored filing years available.
Raw 990 source linked
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Filing depth verified
10 stored filing years available.
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Candid / GuideStar profile api pending
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Source and Resolution Links
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Workflow Engine
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Resolve tax deductibility Runnable
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Pub 78, BMF, and revocation checks turned into a donor-safe deductibility path.
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Find source filings Runnable
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10 stored filing years plus ProPublica source
Crunch money signals Runnable
Triggered by: program expense ratio, CEO salary, revenue, grants
90% program spend, health grade B
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4 peer options surfaced
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Impact evidence finder Runnable
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| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $26.0M |
| Total Expenses | $12.3M |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| Net Assets | $228.7M |
| Transparency Score | 90/100 |
Search Intent Cockpit
Merkin Family Foundation Form 990, Revenue, CEO Pay, and IRS Filing Signals
Merkin Family Foundation is surfaced here as a decision-ready nonprofit financial profile, not just a charity listing. The page consolidates IRS Form 990 revenue, expenses, assets, tax-exempt classification, executive compensation, mission score, red flags, and year-by-year filing history so donors, researchers, journalists, and grant teams can answer the common search questions around Merkin Family Foundation in one place.
Form 990 Filing Summary
10 filing years are available, with latest revenue of $5.5M and expenses of $12.3M.
Revenue and Expenses
Merkin Family Foundation reported $5.5M in revenue and $12.3M in expenses, a deficit of $6.9M.
Executive Compensation
Officer, director, trustee, and key employee pay is reviewed from IRS 990 compensation disclosures when present.
Charity Score and Red Flags
90/100 mission score, 1 red flag, and 4 strengths are shown from structured and AI review.
Is Merkin Family Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
IRS 990 Data Cockpit
Where the Money Comes From and Where It Goes
Revenue Source Mix
Revenue-source line items are not available on the stored filing yet. Future ingestion now preserves contribution, program-revenue, and investment-income fields when ProPublica provides them.
Expense Deployment
| Program services | $11.1M (90%) |
Across stored filings, Merkin Family Foundation shows contribution history pending. Next enrichment targets: revenue-source fields, IRS BMF classification.
Decision Cockpit
One-Stop Donor, Research, and Peer Context Hub
| Decision Lens | Signal | What to Inspect Next |
|---|---|---|
| Legitimacy | Some Concerns | Good filing record; 1 red flag identified |
| Mission spend | 90% to programs | Excellent |
| Financial durability | Grade B | 10 stored filing years |
| Peer context | Compare with Butte County Fire Safe Council | California and Philanthropy context |
Trust Check
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Compare with Butte County Fire Safe Council →All California nonprofits
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Marina Dl Rey, CA nonprofitsPhilanthropy in California
Public Benefit in California
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Research Workflow
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Request a concise report for Merkin Family Foundation with revenue, expenses, executive compensation, red flags, peer context, and IRS source links. You can also request CSV exports or watchlist updates for future filings.
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Merkin Family Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Merkin Family Foundation
Merkin Family Foundation (EIN: 200527223) is a nonprofit organization based in Marina Dl Rey, CA, classified under NTEE code T22. The organization reported total revenue of $26.0M and total assets of $228.6M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Merkin Family Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Merkin Family Foundation is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 22 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -0.2%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $5.5M |
| Total Expenses | $12.3M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-6,863,965 |
| Total Assets | $228.7M |
| Net Assets | $228.7M |
| Operating Margin | -125.7% |
| Months of Reserves | 222.7 months |
Financial Health Grade: C
In 2023, Merkin Family Foundation reported a deficit of $6.9M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 222.7 months of operating reserves (strong position).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Merkin Family Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -0.2%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -21.7% | -5.8% | -3.0% |
| 2022 | -78.1% | -30.6% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | -10.1% | +33.2% | +5.7% |
| 2020 | +206.0% | +84.5% | +10.3% |
| 2019 | -73.1% | +36.0% | +42.6% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 2004 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Merkin Family Foundation with a Mission Score of 90 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Merkin Family Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 0%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $6.9M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
Executive Compensation Analysis
Executive compensation is reported as 0% across all available filings, indicating that no officers receive salaries from the foundation, which is highly unusual for an organization of this size and suggests a strong dedication of resources directly to its mission.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Merkin Family Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Recent trend of expenses exceeding revenue, potentially drawing down on assets if not balanced by future revenue or investment gains.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Merkin Family Foundation:
- Substantial and growing asset base ($228,648,321 currently).
- Consistent 0% officer compensation, indicating high efficiency and mission focus.
- Long history of IRS 990 filings, demonstrating transparency.
- Significant financial capacity to support its mission.
Frequently Asked Questions about Merkin Family Foundation
Is Merkin Family Foundation a legitimate charity?
Merkin Family Foundation (EIN: 200527223) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in California. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 90/100. It has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $26.0M. 1 red flag identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Merkin Family Foundation spend its money?
Merkin Family Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Merkin Family Foundation tax-deductible?
Merkin Family Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 200527223). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How does Merkin Family Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 90/100 (Excellent), Merkin Family Foundation is above average for NTEE category T22 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Merkin Family Foundation located?
Merkin Family Foundation is headquartered in Marina Dl Rey, California and files with the IRS under EIN 200527223. It is classified under NTEE code T22.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Merkin Family Foundation have?
Merkin Family Foundation has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $26.0M in total revenue.
Is the Merkin Family Foundation a good charity?
Based on the provided data, the Merkin Family Foundation appears to be a very good charity. It has substantial assets ($228,648,321), a long history of operations, and consistently reports 0% officer compensation, suggesting a high dedication of funds to its mission.
How does the Merkin Family Foundation fund its operations?
The foundation primarily funds its operations through its significant asset base. While it generates revenue (e.g., $5,459,799 in 2023), its expenses have recently exceeded revenue, indicating it draws from its endowment to support its activities.
What is the trend in the foundation's assets?
The foundation's assets have shown significant growth over time, increasing from $46,922,610 in 2011 to $228,648,321 currently, demonstrating effective asset management.
Is the Merkin Family Foundation transparent?
Yes, the foundation demonstrates transparency through its consistent filing of IRS 990 forms over a decade, providing public access to its financial information.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Merkin Family Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Merkin Family Foundation's revenue has declined by 2.7%, moving from $5.6M to $5.5M. Total assets increased by 387.4% over the same period, from $46.9M to $228.7M. Total functional expenses rose by 206.7%, from $4.0M to $12.3M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Merkin Family Foundation reported a deficit of $6.9M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $5.5M | $12.3M | $228.7M | $-2,895 | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $7.0M | $13.1M | $235.7M | $174K | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $31.9M | $18.9M | $241.8M | $74K | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $35.4M | $14.2M | $228.7M | $1 | — | — |
| 2019 | $11.6M | $7.7M | $207.4M | $1 | — | — |
| 2015 | $43.1M | $5.6M | $145.4M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $32.9M | $5.6M | $107.9M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $35.8M | $6.7M | $80.6M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $10.5M | $5.9M | $51.5M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $5.6M | $4.0M | $46.9M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $5.5M, expenses of $12.3M, and assets of $228.7M (revenue -21.7% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $7.0M, expenses of $13.1M, and assets of $235.7M (revenue -78.1% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $31.9M, expenses of $18.9M, and assets of $241.8M (revenue -10.1% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $35.4M, expenses of $14.2M, and assets of $228.7M (revenue +206.0% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $11.6M, expenses of $7.7M, and assets of $207.4M (revenue -73.1% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $43.1M, expenses of $5.6M, and assets of $145.4M (revenue +30.9% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $32.9M, expenses of $5.6M, and assets of $107.9M (revenue -8.1% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $35.8M, expenses of $6.7M, and assets of $80.6M (revenue +242.1% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $10.5M, expenses of $5.9M, and assets of $51.5M (revenue +86.6% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $5.6M, expenses of $4.0M, and assets of $46.9M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Merkin Family Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Merkin Family Foundation is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.