Acorn Foundation Inc
Acorn Foundation Inc is a private foundation, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.4M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $75K. Net investment income was $16K.
Acorn Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Acorn Foundation Inc gave $75K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $8K), top state New Jersey. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $75,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- -10.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $8,333
- +11.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,429,384
- -5.4% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (20% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Acorn Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Denver ($15K). Together the top 9 received $75K.
Grant Size Distribution
49 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 49 grants of 49 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Acorn Foundation Inc gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 90% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $65K (2020) to $75K (2025). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $75K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Denver Dallas, TX | Unrestricted Support | $15,000 |
| Camp Pasquaney Kensington, MD | Unrestricted Support | $10,000 |
| Fountain Valley School Colorado Springs, CO | Unrestricted Support | $10,000 |
| National Resources Defense Council New York, NY | Unrestricted Support | $10,000 |
| Raritan Headwaters Association Bedminster, NJ | Unrestricted Support | $10,000 |
| 1000 Friends of Florida Tallahassee, FL | Unrestricted Support | $5,000 |
| Clarence Dillon Public Library Bedminster, NJ | Unrestricted Support | $5,000 |
| Crested Butte Land Trust Crested Butte, CO | Unrestricted Support | $5,000 |
| Innocence Project New York, NY | Unrestricted Support | $5,000 |
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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 | $1,429,384 | $17,418 | $98,311 | $75,000 | 9 | $77,472 | $15,587 | $85,638 |
| 2024 | $1,510,277 | $833,336 | $95,663 | $75,000 | 10 | $78,841 | $816,781 | $68,944 |
| 2023 | $772,604 | $72,027 | $100,017 | $75,000 | 11 | $80,855 | $55,191 | $68,503 |
| 2022 | $800,594 | $114,078 | $86,761 | $75,000 | 10 | $75,000 | $102,621 | $68,462 |
| 2021 | $774,526 | $59,761 | $87,752 | $65,000 | 9 | $70,328 | $42,337 | $75,958 |
| 2020 | $802,517 | $62,251 | $73,645 | $65,000 | 8 | — | $53,606 | $53,778 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Acorn Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $86K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Acorn Foundation Inc is led by George F. Merck, President on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
George F. Merck
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Acorn Foundation Inc
How much does Acorn Foundation Inc give each year?
Acorn Foundation Inc gave $75K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $75K across 10 grants.
What is Acorn Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Acorn Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $8,333, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Acorn Foundation Inc give grants?
Acorn Foundation Inc's top state is New Jersey, with 20% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Colorado (20%) and New York (20%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bedminster, NJ (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Acorn Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Acorn Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Acorn Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Acorn Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include University of Denver ($15,000), Camp Pasquaney ($10,000) and Fountain Valley School ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 47% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Acorn Foundation Inc?
Acorn Foundation Inc reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $77K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $86K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Acorn Foundation Inc's EIN?
Acorn Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3768896. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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