Martha Dana Mercer Trust
The Martha Dana Mercer Trust is a private foundation designated as a non-exempt charitable trust (4947(a)(1)). The organization is based in Dallas, Texas, with historical roots in Massachusetts. It operates as a grantmaking foundation with a single employee and is managed by Bank of America as trustee.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$61.2M
+4.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.7M
+1.7% YoY
Grant Count
6
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$618K
+1.7% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust's primary focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Health Care
Grantmaking
The trust made six grants in its most recent fiscal year (2024). Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (as of December 2024)
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $61,175,108 |
| Total Revenues | $6,731,181 |
| Total Expenses | $4,383,553 |
| Total Giving | $3,710,243 |
Revenue Composition (2024)
- Investment income and dividends: $1,765,926
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $4,845,917
- Miscellaneous revenues: $119,338
Historical Financial Trend
The trust experienced significant growth in 2024, with revenues increasing 142.5% from 2023 ($3,277,331 to $6,731,181), driven primarily by gains from asset sales.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $61,175,108 | $58,613,161 | $59,337,863 |
| Revenue | $6,731,181 | $3,277,331 | $1,351,296 |
| Expenses | $4,383,553 | $4,216,843 | $4,320,926 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,889,301 | $3,814,837 | $3,770,241 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,213,155 | $2,668,373 | $1,060,706 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,531,075 | $3,369,374 | $3,538,013 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
30 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Boston Symphony Orchestra Inc ($1,217,032), Harvard College Fbo a Arboretum ($1,217,032), Museum of Fine Arts Boston ($1,217,032).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FANNY CHAPMAN MEMORIAL POOL DOYLESTOWN, PA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $24,462 |
| 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 |
| PROPRIETORS' BOSTON ATHENAEUM BOSTON, MA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $24,462 |
| DOYLESTOWN HEALTH FOUNDATION DOYLESTOWN, PA | UNRESTRICTED GENERAL | $10,223 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Trustee/Managing Director: Bank of America N.A.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BANK OF AMERICA | TRUSTEE | 1 | $443,649 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Martha Dana Mercer Trust fund?
The trust's primary focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Health Care
How do I apply for a grant from Martha Dana Mercer Trust?
The trust made six grants in its most recent fiscal year (2024). Recent grants include: | Grantee | Amount | Year | |---------|--------|------| | Boston Symphony Orchestra | $1,217,032 | 2024 | | Boston Athenaeum | $24,462 | 2024 | | Doylestown Health | $10,223 | 2024 | • **Typical award range**: $9,930–$1,217,032 • **Grant type**: Unrestricted general support • **Award frequency**: The trust distributes grants annually
Where does Martha Dana Mercer Trust make grants?
The trust primarily funds organizations in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
What size grants does Martha Dana Mercer Trust award?
In 2024, Martha Dana Mercer Trust awarded 6 grants totaling $3.7M — an average of about $618K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Martha Dana Mercer Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Martha Dana Mercer Trust reported a distributable amount of $3.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Martha Dana Mercer Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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