Martha Dana Mercer Trust
The Martha Dana Mercer Trust is a private foundation based in Dallas, Texas. In 2024, it made six grants totaling $3,710,243 to charitable organizations, including cultural, educational, and health-related organizations.
Martha Dana Mercer Trust at a glance
In short: Martha Dana Mercer Trust gave $3.7M across 6 grants in 2024 (avg $618K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,710,243
- +1.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 6
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $618,374
- +1.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $620,747
- Total assets
- $61,175,108
- +4.4% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Martha Dana Mercer Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The trust makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 653067, Dallas, TX 75265-3067
Phone: (888) 866-3275
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Martha Dana Mercer Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Boston Symphony Orchestra Inc ($1.2M). Together the top 6 received $3.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
30 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 15 grants of 30 (50%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts and 1% to recipients in Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Martha Dana Mercer Trust gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 110% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.3M (2020) to $3.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 6 grants totaling $3.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Symphony Orchestra Inc Boston, MA | Unrestricted General | $1,217,032 |
| Harvard College FBO a Arboretum Boston, MA | Unrestricted General | $1,217,032 |
| Museum of Fine Arts Boston Boston, MA | Unrestricted General | $1,217,032 |
| Fanny Chapman Memorial Pool Doylestown, PA | Unrestricted General | $24,462 |
| Proprietors' Boston Athenaeum Boston, MA | Unrestricted General | $24,462 |
| Doylestown Health Foundation Doylestown, PA | Unrestricted General | $10,223 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $61,175,108 | $6,731,181 | $4,383,553 | $3,710,243 | 6 | $3,889,301 | $6,213,155 | $3,531,075 |
| 2023 | $58,613,161 | $3,277,331 | $4,216,843 | $3,647,531 | 6 | $3,814,837 | $2,668,373 | $3,369,374 |
| 2022 | $59,337,863 | $1,351,296 | $4,320,926 | $3,603,720 | 6 | $3,770,241 | $1,060,706 | $3,538,013 |
| 2021 | $60,239,026 | $7,874,032 | $4,056,313 | $3,354,198 | 6 | $3,531,112 | $7,406,620 | $3,830,687 |
| 2020 | $55,854,464 | $2,786,060 | $3,870,339 | $3,343,857 | 6 | — | $2,792,946 | $3,218,392 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Martha Dana Mercer Trust reported a distributable amount of $3.5M 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
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its 2024 grants included unrestricted general support for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Harvard College FBO A Arboretum, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and Doylestown Health Foundation, among others. The Boston Symphony Orchestra describes its mission as making music and providing educational and training programs at a high level of excellence. Doylestown Health Foundation says its mission is to raise funds for the charitable purposes, programs, and activities of Doylestown Hospital.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the trust made six grants totaling $3,710,243. Grant amounts ranged from $10,223 to $1,217,032, with a median grant of $620,747. The largest grants were $1,217,032 each to Boston Symphony Orchestra Inc., Harvard College FBO A Arboretum, and Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Other listed grants were $24,462 to Fanny Chapman Memorial Pool, $24,462 to Proprietors’ Boston Athenaeum, and $10,223 to Doylestown Health Foundation. All six were designated for unrestricted general purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Bank of America is listed as trustee.
Martha Dana Mercer Trust's only listed officer is Bank Of America, Trustee on every filing since 2020 (compensated).
Officers on the 2024 filing
Bank Of America
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$371K (2020) → $444K (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $444K, to Bank of America (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Martha Dana Mercer Trust
How much does Martha Dana Mercer Trust give each year?
Martha Dana Mercer Trust gave $3.7M across 6 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.6M across 6 grants.
What is Martha Dana Mercer Trust's typical grant size?
Martha Dana Mercer Trust's median grant in 2024 was $620,747, and its average grant was $618,374, across 6 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Martha Dana Mercer Trust give grants?
Martha Dana Mercer Trust gives mostly in Massachusetts: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (4 grants) and Doylestown, PA (2 grants).
Does Martha Dana Mercer Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Martha Dana Mercer Trust's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 6) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Martha Dana Mercer Trust's largest grantees?
Martha Dana Mercer Trust's largest 2024 grantees include Boston Symphony Orchestra Inc ($1,217,032), Harvard College FBO a Arboretum ($1,217,032) and Museum of Fine Arts Boston ($1,217,032), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 98% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Martha Dana Mercer Trust?
Martha Dana Mercer Trust reported $61.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Martha Dana Mercer Trust fund?
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its 2024 grants included unrestricted general support for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Harvard College FBO A Arboretum, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and Doylestown Health Foundation, among others. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Martha Dana Mercer Trust?
The trust 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 Martha Dana Mercer Trust's EIN?
Martha Dana Mercer Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6009617. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Martha Dana Mercer Trust 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 2020–2024
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