Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc
The Harry A Merlo Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Hillsboro, Oregon. It makes charitable grants to nonprofit organizations in several sectors, including animal welfare, arts, conservation, education, and scientific and medical research or care.
Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc gave $1.0M across 29 grants in 2025 (avg $35K), mostly in Oregon. 29% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,003,942
- -6.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 29
- -34.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $34,619
- +41.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $35,480,085
- -1.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (8 of 28, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Oregon (64% 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 Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc
- Invitation Only
-
Begin with an initial conversation with the foundation about eligibility and fit. A full application may be submitted after invitation. The 2025 filing identifies no restrictions on awards and says to see the foundation’s website for the application process.
- Review Cycle
- The 2025 filing lists no deadline. The website says applications must arrive by 5:00 p.m. Pacific time on the deadline date to be considered at the next Board meeting; it does not specify a calendar date in the provided information.
- Deadline
- The 2025 filing lists no deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: Hillary Harrah
Mailing address: 2250 Ne 25Th Avenue, Hillsboro, OR 97124
Phone: (503) 648-6403
Email: hillary.harrah@merlofoundation.org
Website: https://merlofoundation.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 Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc
Who Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital ($200K). Together the top 10 received $674K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($105,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
165 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 125 grants of 165 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars went primarily to organizations in Oregon (64%), followed by California (27%), Washington (5%), Georgia (3%), and Wyoming (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 28 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $41K; repeat grants $34K. How we count
Medians: $23K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 61% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−17%). 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
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 $830K (2021) to $1.2M (2022). In 2025 it made 29 grants totaling $1.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital Santa Rosa, CA | Capital Campaign Pledge 2025-2029 | $200,000 |
| Body VOX Portland, OR | Program Operations for Children's Low Cost Dance Classes | $131,500 |
| 2 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $105,000 |
| Hope for the Homeless Foundation Portland, OR | General Program Support to Solve the Homeless Problem | $100,000 |
| Lighthouse Financial Foundation Vancouver, WA | Three Year Pledge (2024-2026) Savings Education Program | $50,000 |
| Paws for Purple Hearts Penngrove, CA | Program Support for Canine Training to Assist Veterans | $50,000 |
| Great Medorg Portland, OR | General Program Support | $35,000 |
| Ranger's Scholarship Fund Fort Benning, GA | Program to Award Scholarships to Ranger Family Members | $30,000 |
| Music Workshop Portland, OR | Support to improve equity in arts education by providing free, quality music education | $27,800 |
| Catholic School Endownment Fund Portland, OR | Tuition Grant Program to Catholic Schools | $25,000 |
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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 | $35,480,085 | $1,168,817 | $1,765,047 | $1,003,942 | 29 | $1,584,684 | $987,145 | $1,755,815 |
| 2024 | $36,076,657 | $997,892 | $1,715,675 | $1,074,300 | 44 | $1,538,782 | $815,999 | $1,702,990 |
| 2022 | $34,872,844 | $1,371,995 | $1,821,924 | $1,207,500 | 31 | $1,656,268 | $1,206,179 | $1,494,612 |
| 2021 | $35,048,089 | $1,653,571 | $1,460,186 | $829,500 | 29 | $1,295,896 | $1,438,456 | $1,575,360 |
| 2020 | $34,905,504 | $849,643 | $1,550,263 | $923,898 | 32 | — | $719,444 | $1,326,793 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.8M 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’s mission is to improve quality of life for present and future generations through charitable grants supporting private education, medical and scientific research of world proportions, health and hospital facilities, and cultural and spiritual programs. It also aspires to help underprivileged, handicapped, and disadvantaged youth.
Its website identifies five main giving areas: animal welfare, arts, conservation, education, and scientific and medical research or care. It describes two primary grant arenas: program innovation and growth, including strategic initiatives and expansion of existing programs; and scholarships. Scholarship grants are primarily directed to organizations educating youth, including faith-based educational institutions, athletic camps, and music and performing arts programs. The foundation requires scholarship programs to have written applications and eligibility criteria, and to serve students who could not access the program without financial assistance.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate varied work. Music Workshop describes its work as providing free K–12 music curriculum and professional development resources. Hope for the Homeless Foundation says it partners with Portland-area organizations that help people gain stability and move out of homelessness. Rangers Scholarship Fund says it awards scholarships to eligible family members of current and veteran members of the 75th Ranger Regiment.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 29 grants totaling $1,003,942. Grants ranged from $500 to $200,000, with a median of $25,000.
Among the largest 2025 awards were $200,000 to Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital for a capital campaign pledge; $131,500 to Body Vox for operating support for low-cost children’s dance classes; $100,000 each to Eastern Oregon University Foundation for its College of Business Agriculture Entrepreneurship Program Support Fund and Hope for the Homeless Foundation for general program support; and $50,000 each to Lighthouse Financial Foundation for a savings education program and Paws for Purple Hearts for canine training to assist veterans.
The foundation’s website says prospective applicants should first discuss possible alignment with its mission, giving sectors, and priorities. Organizations may submit a full application only if invited. The application requires three years of financial information and additional documents; the website asks applicants to submit the materials together as a single PDF. Grant recipients must submit a grant report after final payment and/or completion of the grant. The foundation does not fund organizations that are not registered as nonprofits, political campaigns or public policy and advocacy efforts, fundraising-event underwriting or table sponsorships, long-term loans or debt retirement, or individuals for personal benefit. Its website says one-time grants typically range from $5,000 to $50,000 and awards above $50,000 are usually structured as multiyear pledges.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Florence Newton, Harry A Merlo Jr, and John L Blackwell as directors or trustees.
Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Florence Newton
Director & Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$6K (2025)
Harry A. Merlo Jr.
Director & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$6K (2024) → $6K (2025)
John L. Blackwell
Director & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$6K (2024) → $6K (2025)
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 $6K, to Florence Newton (Director/Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc
How much does Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc give each year?
Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc gave $1.0M across 29 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.1M across 44 grants.
What is Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $34,619, across 29 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc that year got $41K on average.
Where does Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc give grants?
Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc gives mostly in Oregon: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (27%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, OR (15 grants).
Does Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 31% of Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 29) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital ($200,000), Body VOX ($131,500) and Hope for the Homeless Foundation ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($105,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc?
Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc reported $35.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.8M (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 does Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s mission is to improve quality of life for present and future generations through charitable grants supporting private education, medical and scientific research of world proportions, health and hospital facilities, and cultural and spiritual programs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc?
Begin with an initial conversation with the foundation about eligibility and fit. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc's EIN?
Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3086742. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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 July 27, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/harry-a-merlo-foundation-inc-morg_54b630b09e08490b97e19c1f36ee23da
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_943086742_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/harry-a-merlo-foundation-inc-morg_54b630b09e08490b97e19c1f36ee23da},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Harry a Merlo Foundation Inc'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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