George W Mergens Foundation
The George W. Mergens Foundation is a private foundation based in Milton, Vermont, that supports nonprofit organizations serving youth in Vermont. Its stated purpose is to foster young people’s well-being, curiosity, and empowerment through educational and experiential opportunities.
George W Mergens Foundation at a glance
In short: George W Mergens Foundation gave $1.0M across 95 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in Vermont. 31% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,000,230
- +42.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 95
- +41.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,529
- +0.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $9,130
- Total assets
- $16,311,906
- -5.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 31% first-time grantees (29 of 93, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Vermont (96% 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 George W Mergens Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. New organizations should complete the eligibility quiz and submit a Letter of Inquiry through the online application portal; previous grantees may proceed directly to an application. The foundation accepts proposals on a rolling basis. Its 2024 filing says any form of application is acceptable and should include organizational information and information on the charitable use of funds. The website says the board meets monthly and generally issues an award or denial within 6–8 weeks, depending on the request’s nature and scope. It typically accepts only one request from an organization per calendar year, welcomes annual applications, and does not make multi-year commitments. The 2024 filing states there are no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None stated; proposals are accepted on a rolling basis.
- Deadline
- None stated; proposals are accepted on a rolling basis.
- Contact
Application contact: Paul G Mergens
Mailing address: PO Box 633, Milton, VT 05468
Phone: (802) 655-6770
Website: https://mergensfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from George W Mergens Foundation
Who George W Mergens Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Vermont Youth Conservation Corps ($74K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $317K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($45,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
373 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 364 grants of 373 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s eligibility criteria require organizations to be based in or provide services in Vermont. In 2025, 96% of grant dollars went to Vermont recipients, 3% to Maine, and 1% to Illinois; the filing also lists Arizona at 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 95 itemized grants.
Cities
Is George W Mergens Foundation open to new grantees?
31%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 29 of 93 grantees (31%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 43% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+20%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 107% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $701K (2024) to $1.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 95 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Francis Xavier School Winooski, VT | Annual Appeal | $50,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $45,000 |
| BSA Green Mountain Council Waterbury, VT | Friends of Scouting Annual Campaign/ Unit Growth Executive | $35,000 |
| Vermont Youth Conservation Corps Richmond, VT | Farm Program | $35,000 |
| Saint Paul's Catholic School Barton, VT | General Operating Support | $30,000 |
| Vermont Youth Conservation Corps Richmond, VT | General Operating Support | $30,000 |
| Spectrum Youth & Family Services Burlington, VT | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Vermont Food Bank Barre, VT | Veggie Vango, Backpack Programs/General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Burlington Burlington, VT | Early Promise Program | $20,000 |
| Greater Burlington YMCA Burlington, VT | Camp Abnaki/Youth Memberships | $20,000 |
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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 | $16,311,906 | $590,805 | $1,446,691 | $1,000,230 | 95 | $1,322,535 | $473,296 | $1,234,609 |
| 2024 | $17,167,415 | $501,903 | $1,123,403 | $701,447 | 67 | $1,006,950 | $387,387 | $1,119,615 |
| 2023 | $17,785,925 | $429,223 | $1,173,295 | $746,473 | 61 | $1,052,513 | $314,607 | $1,020,213 |
| 2022 | $18,529,843 | $1,622,347 | $1,255,846 | $836,555 | 71 | $1,102,396 | $1,253,093 | $1,125,413 |
| 2021 | $18,163,226 | $1,595,638 | $1,294,055 | $929,307 | 79 | — | $1,400,144 | $1,114,289 |
| 2020 | $17,861,643 | $368,704 | $1,182,752 | $713,338 | 69 | — | $249,641 | $981,303 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, George W Mergens Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M 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
The foundation focuses on educational and experiential opportunities for youth. Its eligibility criteria ask whether an organization is a federally tax-exempt 501(c)(3), is based in or provides services in Vermont, and primarily serves youth from birth through adolescence, including organizations serving families to enhance children’s welfare.
Its 2025 grants show support for schools, youth services, conservation, food assistance, and other community organizations. For example, Vermont Youth Conservation Corps describes its mission as taking action and building community by working and learning together with the land. Greater Burlington YMCA says it helps youth, adults, and families learn, grow, and thrive, while King Street Center says it empowers youth through learning, play, and opportunity. The Vermont Food Bank received support for its Veggie VanGo and backpack programs, as well as general operating support.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 95 grants totaling $1,000,230. Grant amounts ranged from $800 to $50,000, with a median of $9,130. Among the largest awards were $50,000 to an individual recipient Xavier School for its annual appeal; $45,000 to an individual recipient High School for tuition assistance; and $35,000 each to BSA Green Mountain Council for its annual campaign and unit-growth executive, and to Vermont Youth Conservation Corps for its farm program. Other notable awards included $30,000 to Saint Paul’s Catholic School for general operating support, $25,000 to Spectrum Youth & Family Services for general operating support, and $25,000 to Vermont Food Bank for its Veggie VanGo, backpack programs, and general operating support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Paul G. Mergens as president and treasurer; Mary E. Mergens-Loughran as vice president; Lenora A. Mergens as director; William H. Wiltshire as vice president and director of operations; and Rachel Mergens as vice president and director of finance.
George W Mergens Foundation is led by Paul G. Mergens, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; 3 of 5 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Paul G. Mergens
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$150K (2020) → $150K (2025)
Rachel Mergens
Vice President & Director of Finance
V-P & Director of Finance → Vice President & Director of Finance, 2023
On filings since 2020
32 hrs/week
$75K (2020) → $75K (2025)
William H. Wiltshire
Vice President & Director of Operations
V-P & Director of Operations → Vice President & Director of Operations, 2023
On filings since 2020
32 hrs/week
$150K (2020) → $150K (2025)
Lenora A. Mergens
Director
Secretary → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary E. Mergens-Loughran
Vice President
On filings since 2020
5 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $150K, to Paul G Mergens (President & Treasurer). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about George W Mergens Foundation
How much does George W Mergens Foundation give each year?
George W Mergens Foundation gave $1.0M across 95 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $701K across 67 grants.
What is George W Mergens Foundation's typical grant size?
George W Mergens Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $9,130, and its average grant was $10,529, across 95 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from George W Mergens Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does George W Mergens Foundation give grants?
George W Mergens Foundation gives mostly in Vermont: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Burlington, VT (20 grants), Brattleboro, VT (8 grants), Milton, VT (4 grants) and Richmond, VT (3 grants).
Does George W Mergens Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 34% of George W Mergens Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (32 of 95) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are George W Mergens Foundation's largest grantees?
George W Mergens Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Vermont Youth Conservation Corps ($74,130 across 3 grants), Saint Francis Xavier School ($50,000) and BSA Green Mountain Council ($35,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($45,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is George W Mergens Foundation?
George W Mergens Foundation reported $16.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does George W Mergens Foundation fund?
The foundation focuses on educational and experiential opportunities for youth. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from George W Mergens Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is George W Mergens Foundation's EIN?
George W Mergens Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 03-0345055. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does George W Mergens Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). George W Mergens Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/george-w-mergens-foundation-morg_6bf89d4aadef4a539586e17634428144
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_030345055_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{George W Mergens Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/george-w-mergens-foundation-morg_6bf89d4aadef4a539586e17634428144},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 George W Mergens Foundation'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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