Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust
The Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust is a New York, NY public charity formed in 1991. Its stated purpose is to support 14 publicly supported charities named in its governing instrument, with all net income required to go toward essential support for those organizations’ programs or activities.
Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust at a glance
- Total assets
- $395,493
- -12.8% vs 2023
- Revenue (2024)
- $20,730
- -89.6% vs 2023
- Net investment income (2024)
- $20,730
- +3.4% vs 2023
- Expenses (2024)
- $78,716
- -93.2% vs 2023
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust
- Contact
Mailing address: 218 East 18Th Street, New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212) 475-1137
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
37 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $500K–1M range: 10 grants of 37 (27%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The listed 2022 recipients include several New York City organizations, as well as the National Audubon Society, whose stated mission concerns bird conservation across the Americas. These examples describe the reported recipients; the trust’s filing does not specify a geographic focus.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
How Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust gives
- Giving fell 97% from 2020 to 2023. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2023, annual grant giving ranged from $917K (2023) to $114.2M (2021). In 2023 it made 1 grant totaling $917K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Joyce Theater Foundation New York, NY | Distribution made to the luesther t. Mertz legacy trust for the benefit of the joyce theater foundation, a type I supporting organization described in irc section 509(a)(3), which is effectively a conduit for the joyce theater foundation. | $917,328 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $395,493 | $20,730 | $78,716 | — | — | $20,730 |
| 2023 | $453,479 | $200,196 | $1,155,611 | $917,328 | 1 | $20,049 |
| 2022 | $1,408,894 | $2,295,349 | $4,631,145 | $3,900,000 | 11 | $2,295,349 |
| 2021 | $5,999,424 | $2,179,114 | $116,070,172 | $114,249,566 | 14 | $2,179,114 |
| 2020 | $94,333,964 | $6,968,264 | $32,696,476 | $29,250,000 | 11 | $6,968,264 |
| 2019 | $117,972,027 | $21,228,061 | $15,280,140 | $10,650,000 | 13 | $21,228,061 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust describes itself as a testamentary charitable trust and a supporting organization under Section 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Its stated sole exempt purpose is to support the 14 charities named in its governing instrument.
The 2022 recipients listed include organizations whose own missions encompass theater and performing arts, botanical research and public understanding of plants, dance education for New York City public school children, civil liberties and civil rights, and bird conservation. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not separate mission statements from the trust.
Grantmaking
In 2022, the trust reported 11 grants totaling $3,900,000. The available figures for 2023 and 2024 list no grants. The largest listed 2022 awards were $900,000 each to the New York Shakespeare Festival and the New York Botanical Garden. Other listed awards were $360,000 to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts; $200,000 each to Ballet Tech Foundation Inc and American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Inc; and $130,000 to National Audubon Society Inc.
The filing describes the trust’s support as directed to the charities named in its governing instrument. It does not provide application instructions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Larry E Condon and Golden Beckner Jr as trustees. The trust’s filing states that it has no officers, directors, or employees.
Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust's 2024 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Golden Beckner Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$469K (2019) → $0 (2024)
Larry E. Condon
Trustee
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$469K (2019) → $0 (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: John J. Hoffee (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Paul D. Richards (2019–2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $177K, to Larry E Condon (Trustee). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust
How large is Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust?
Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust reported $395K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $21K.
What does Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust fund?
The trust describes itself as a testamentary charitable trust and a supporting organization under Section 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Its stated sole exempt purpose is to support the 14 charities named in its governing instrument. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust?
Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust make grants?
The listed 2022 recipients include several New York City organizations, as well as the National Audubon Society, whose stated mission concerns bird conservation across the Americas. These examples describe the reported recipients; the trust’s filing does not specify a geographic focus.
What is Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust's EIN?
Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-7049014. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 26, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 26, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 24, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 10, 2024)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust'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.
Luesther T Mertz Charitable Trust down — hundreds of funders to go?