Mer Foundation
Mer Foundation is a private foundation, based in Charlotte, NC. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $298K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $41K. Net investment income was $24K.
Mer Foundation at a glance
In short: Mer Foundation gave $41K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in North Carolina. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $41,250
- -28.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,313
- -28.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,473
- Total assets
- $297,745
- -5.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (69% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Mer Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Roc Charlotte ($26K). Together the top 4 received $41K.
Grant Size Distribution
20 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 20 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
How Mer Foundation gives
- Giving fell 33% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 63% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $41K (2025) to $62K (2022). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $41K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Roc Charlotte Charlotte, NC | General Fund | $26,000 |
| Children's Defense Fund Southern R Chicago, IL | General Fund | $8,250 |
| Donor's Choose New York, NY | General Fund | $4,696 |
| Wfae Charlotte, NC | General Fund | $2,304 |
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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 | $297,745 | $23,719 | $41,848 | $41,250 | 4 | $41,250 | $24,246 | $65,687 |
| 2024 | $315,874 | $29,465 | $58,005 | $58,000 | 4 | $58,000 | $29,465 | $60,319 |
| 2023 | $344,414 | $42,116 | $58,585 | $57,229 | 4 | $57,229 | $41,391 | $55,429 |
| 2022 | $362,065 | $27,925 | $68,977 | $62,000 | 4 | $62,000 | $27,250 | $57,352 |
| 2021 | $409,489 | $24,799 | $50,454 | $49,097 | 4 | $49,097 | $24,147 | $57,784 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $66K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Mer Foundation is led by Martha E. Ridings, Director on every filing since 2021 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Martha E. Ridings
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Mer Foundation
How much does Mer Foundation give each year?
Mer Foundation gave $41K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $58K across 4 grants.
What is Mer Foundation's typical grant size?
Mer Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $6,473, and its average grant was $10,313, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Mer Foundation give grants?
Mer Foundation gives mostly in North Carolina: 69% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Illinois (20%) and New York (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charlotte, NC (2 grants).
Does Mer Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Mer Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is Mer Foundation?
Mer Foundation reported $298K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $41K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $66K (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 is Mer Foundation's EIN?
Mer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-2429004. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 1, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 6, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work Mer Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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