I Am Mercy Foundation
I Am Mercy Foundation is a private foundation based in Haverford, Pennsylvania. Its 2024 grants supported organizations involved in Catholic education and religious activities, homelessness services, neurological health, and other charitable work.
I Am Mercy Foundation at a glance
In short: I Am Mercy Foundation gave $15.0M across 37 grants in 2024 (avg $405K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 62% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $14,991,207
- -14.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 37
- +54.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $405,168
- -44.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $411,211,092
- +17.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 62% first-time grantees (23 of 37, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (61% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to I Am Mercy Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 372 Exeter Road, Haverford, PA 19041
Phone: (610) 620-2440
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who I Am Mercy Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Franciscan University of Steubenville ($3.5M). Together the top 10 received $12.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
86 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 29 grants of 86 (34%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 61% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania, 23% to Ohio, 4% to Indiana, and 3% to Washington, D.C. The listed grants also included recipients in other states and Puerto Rico.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is I Am Mercy Foundation open to new grantees?
62%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 23 of 37 grantees (62%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $299K; repeat grants $580K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $150K repeat.
- 38% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 79% 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 (2022–2024). 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 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $15.0M (2024) to $17.5M (2023). In 2024 it made 37 grants totaling $15.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Franciscan University of Steubenville Steubenville, OH | To fund franciscan university mission for students in washington dc. | $3,500,000 |
| Saint Denis Catholic Church Havertown, PA | To Support Religious Activities. | $2,156,666 |
| Project Home Philadelphia, PA | To break the cycle of homelessness and poverty in philadelphia. | $1,709,239 |
| Thomas Jefferson University - Raphael Center for Neurorestoration Philadelphia, PA | To restore, promote, maintain, and improve function caused by neurological disorders. | $1,666,668 |
| Philadelphia Independence Mission Schools Philadelphia, PA | To provide support to a network of catholic elementary schools in philadelphia. | $1,000,000 |
| Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary Wynnewood, PA | To support ongoing academic and pastoral programs to priests, deacons, religious and laity. | $1,000,000 |
| Becket Fund for Religious Liberty Washington, DC | To support legal activities in defense of religious liberty. | $500,000 |
| Congregation of Holy Cross US Province Notre Dame, IN | To support educators of faith in the fields of education, parish and mission. | $500,000 |
| The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | To support the little sisters of the poor holy family home program fund. | $500,000 |
| Platform for Social Impact Puerto Rico | To support the development, wellbeing, and opportunities to succeed for children. | $400,000 |
Ready to take the next step with I Am Mercy Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $411,211,092 | $11,344,621 | $17,142,459 | $14,991,207 | 37 | $14,995,957 | $3,699,990 | $18,876,275 |
| 2023 | $350,549,951 | $13,779,079 | $22,401,899 | $17,474,396 | 24 | $18,892,022 | $3,610,724 | $16,785,155 |
| 2022 | $296,852,616 | $743,275 | $42,933,919 | $15,525,617 | 25 | $15,573,654 | $3,355,568 | $16,253,803 |
| 2021 | $390,445,391 | $377,352,958 | $3,638 | — | — | $3,638 | — | $1,711,484 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, I Am Mercy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $18.9M for 2024 — 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 stated mission is “to celebrate God's unconditional love with a passion for wholeness, peace, and reconciliation.”
Its grants include support for Catholic institutions and religious programs, social services, education, and health-related work. For example, Project HOME describes its mission as helping adults, children, and families break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Franciscan University of Steubenville says it provides higher education through liberal, professional, and pre-professional programs. The Thomas Jefferson University Raphael Center for Neurorestoration grant was designated to improve function affected by neurological disorders.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 37 grants totaling $14,991,207. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $3,500,000, with a median of $100,000.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $3,500,000 to Franciscan University of Steubenville to fund its mission for students in Washington, D.C.; $2,156,666 to Saint Denis Catholic Church for religious activities; $1,709,239 to Project HOME to address homelessness and poverty in Philadelphia; and $1,666,668 to Thomas Jefferson University’s Raphael Center for Neurorestoration. Other notable grants included $1,000,000 each to Philadelphia Independence Mission Schools and Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Edward J. Fitzgerald III as president, secretary, and treasurer; Kathryn S. Fitzgerald as a director; and Edward J. Fitzgerald IV as a director.
I Am Mercy Foundation is led by Edward J. Fitzgerald III, President, Secretary, Treasurer & Director on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Edward J. Fitzgerald III
President, Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edward J. Fitzgerald IV
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn S. Fitzgerald
Director
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "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 I Am Mercy Foundation
How much does I Am Mercy Foundation give each year?
I Am Mercy Foundation gave $15.0M across 37 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $17.5M across 24 grants.
What is I Am Mercy Foundation's typical grant size?
I Am Mercy Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $405,168, across 37 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from I Am Mercy Foundation that year got $299K on average.
Where does I Am Mercy Foundation give grants?
I Am Mercy Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 61% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Ohio (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (11 grants), Notre Dame, IN (2 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does I Am Mercy Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 37 grants with a stated purpose on I Am Mercy Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Support Religious Activities." (3 grants).
Who are I Am Mercy Foundation's largest grantees?
I Am Mercy Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Franciscan University of Steubenville ($3,500,000), Saint Denis Catholic Church ($2,156,666) and Project Home ($1,709,239), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 49% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is I Am Mercy Foundation?
I Am Mercy Foundation reported $411.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $15.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $18.9M (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 I Am Mercy Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is “to celebrate God's unconditional love with a passion for wholeness, peace, and reconciliation.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from I Am Mercy Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is I Am Mercy Foundation's EIN?
I Am Mercy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-3403254. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does I Am Mercy Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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 2021–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). I Am Mercy Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/i-am-mercy-foundation-morg_6f674b5bc38f49558a06ccf2d54a1bee
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_873403254_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{I Am Mercy Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/i-am-mercy-foundation-morg_6f674b5bc38f49558a06ccf2d54a1bee},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 I Am Mercy 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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