Merce Cunningham Trust
Merce Cunningham Trust is a private foundation, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $9.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $35K. Net investment income was $329K.
Merce Cunningham Trust at a glance
In short: Merce Cunningham Trust gave $35K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $35,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,667
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $9,034,405
- +2.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (71% 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 Merce Cunningham Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top recipient in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Purchase College Foundation Inc ($15K).
Organizations only. It also paid 2 grants to individuals ($20,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 14 grants of 14 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How Merce Cunningham Trust gives
- Giving fell 42% from 2022 to 2025. 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $15K (2020) to $60K (2022). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $35K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase College Foundation Inc Purchase, NY | Financial Aid for Dance Students | $15,000 |
| 2 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $20,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $9,034,405 | $526,995 | $984,269 | $35,000 | 3 | $642,066 | $328,540 |
| 2024 | $8,781,541 | $1,138,177 | $1,077,465 | $35,000 | 3 | $726,339 | $981,356 |
| 2023 | $8,702,483 | $510,043 | $1,067,366 | $26,000 | 3 | $748,491 | $411,718 |
| 2022 | $8,358,109 | $277,355 | $1,017,567 | $60,000 | 4 | $715,780 | $135,470 |
| 2021 | $10,804,644 | $676,956 | $893,072 | $15,000 | 1 | $532,750 | $541,428 |
| 2020 | $10,381,004 | $412,096 | $861,580 | $15,000 | 1 | — | $333,697 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Merce Cunningham Trust's 2025 filing lists 8 officers; 2 of 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Patricia Lent
Co-Director
Trustee & Director of Licensing → Co-Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$104K (2020) → $118K (2025)
Rashaun Mitchell
Co-Director
Trustee → Co-Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$17K (2024) → $82K (2025)
Shayla-Vie Jenkins
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$1K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Allan Sperling
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laura Kuhn
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Laurence Getford
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Swinston
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Seroy
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Georgiana Pickett (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Jeffrey Seroy (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Kenneth Tabachnick (2020–2024) — Executive Director
- Former: Trevor Carlson (2020) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $118K, to Patricia Lent (Co-Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Merce Cunningham Trust
How much does Merce Cunningham Trust give each year?
Merce Cunningham Trust gave $35K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $35K across 3 grants.
What is Merce Cunningham Trust's typical grant size?
Merce Cunningham Trust's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $11,667, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Merce Cunningham Trust give grants?
Merce Cunningham Trust gives mostly in New York: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Jersey (29%).
Does Merce Cunningham Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Merce Cunningham Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is Merce Cunningham Trust?
Merce Cunningham Trust reported $9.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $527K.
What is Merce Cunningham Trust's EIN?
Merce Cunningham Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-6186903. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
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