Merck Family Fund
Merck Family Fund is a private foundation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Its 2025–2034 strategic plan supports place-based and collaborative work in Massachusetts and New York, particularly with communities affected by environmental, social, and economic injustice.
Merck Family Fund at a glance
In short: Merck Family Fund gave $3.2M across 87 grants in 2024 (avg $37K), top state Massachusetts. 16% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,204,836
- +2.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 87
- +2.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $36,837
- +0.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $35,000
- Total assets
- $64,069,737
- +2.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (12 of 77, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (25% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Merck Family Fund
- Invitation Only
-
The Fund’s website describes its listed grant programs as invitation-only. The filing lists a two-step online process: submit a letter of inquiry, followed by a full proposal through the online application system. Awards are restricted to tax-exempt organizations.
- Review Cycle
- February 1 and August 1, as listed in the filing.
- Deadline
- February 1 and August 1, as listed in the filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Merck Family Fund Attn James Maguir
Mailing address: 131 Dartmouth Street Suite 301, Boston, MA 02116-5297
Phone: (781) 789-6516
Website: https://merckff.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Merck Family Fund funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Tides Foundation ($130K). Together the top 10 received $800K.
Grant Size Distribution
469 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 345 grants of 469 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Fund’s strategic plan focuses on Massachusetts and New York. In Massachusetts, its place-based work includes Holyoke and New Bedford, with a statewide policy and systems-change approach. Its New York program supports climate-focused coalitions. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were Massachusetts (25%), Pennsylvania (21%), New York (17%), North Carolina (12%), and Washington, DC (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 87 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Merck Family Fund open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 77 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $44K. How we count
Medians: $28K first-time, $35K repeat.
- 81% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+0%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 123% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.1M (2023) to $3.7M (2020). In 2024 it made 87 grants totaling $3.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tides Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Community Food Funders | $130,000 |
| Clean Energy Group Inc Montpelier, VT | Mobilizing Corporate Energy Users to Increase Energy Efficiency | $80,000 |
| Acadia Center Rockport, ME | Endorsing energy efficiency and protecting public health in the southeast | $75,000 |
| New York Lawyers for the Public Interest New York, NY | General Support | $75,000 |
| Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA | Bushwick Grows Community Farm | $70,000 |
| Dogwood Alliance Asheville, NC | Our Forests Aren't Fuel | $60,000 |
| Farm School NYC New York, NY | Building civic engagement within the nyc urban agriculture & food justice community | $60,000 |
| Blueprint NC Raleigh, NC | General Support | $50,000 |
| CASA Pennsylvania Hyattsville, MD | Defending Democracy | $50,000 |
| Conservation Law Foundation Boston, MA | Advancing State-Based Decarbonization Strategies | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Merck Family Fund?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The Fund files Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $64,069,737 | $4,153,396 | $5,597,472 | $3,204,836 | 87 | $3,811,068 | $4,937,424 | $3,090,222 |
| 2023 | $62,426,771 | $2,856,107 | $4,031,536 | $3,120,202 | 85 | $4,119,946 | $715,492 | $3,009,197 |
| 2022 | $60,421,201 | $5,734,245 | $4,316,432 | $3,457,165 | 95 | $4,471,979 | $2,134,757 | $3,080,748 |
| 2021 | $72,962,854 | $7,748,138 | $4,373,075 | $3,209,580 | 94 | $3,957,214 | $10,212,385 | $3,340,084 |
| 2020 | $67,183,634 | $4,238,532 | $5,253,328 | $3,691,025 | 108 | — | $4,026,648 | $2,852,229 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Merck Family Fund reported a distributable amount of $3.1M 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
The Fund describes its approach as people-first and intersectional, supporting communities pursuing environmental, social, and economic justice. Its stated values include learning, risk-taking, integrity and ethical values, connection, family, and equity.
In Massachusetts, the Fund supports resident-led solutions, coalition-building, and civic engagement around climate, health equity, transportation, and housing. Its statewide systems-change priorities beginning in 2026 include public transportation, local food, clean energy, democratic representation, and targeted journalism. In New York, it supports coalitions working to protect frontline communities from climate threats, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and advance a cleaner future.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate a range of work. Tides Foundation describes its work as advancing equity and shifting resources and power to communities historically denied both. Clean Energy Group says it conducts clean-energy research and advocacy. New York Lawyers for the Public Interest describes its focus as equality and civil rights, including health justice, disability rights, and environmental justice. Acadia Center says it advances equitable clean-energy solutions; Dogwood Alliance describes work mobilizing diverse voices to protect southern forests and communities; and Groundwork USA describes community-based partnerships promoting environmental, economic, and social well-being.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Fund made 87 grants totaling $3,204,836. Grant amounts ranged from $830 to $130,000, with a median of $35,000.
Among the largest grants were $130,000 to Tides Foundation for Community Food Funders; $80,000 to Clean Energy Group for work mobilizing corporate energy users to increase energy efficiency; $75,000 to Acadia Center for energy efficiency and public health work in the Southeast; and $75,000 to New York Lawyers for the Public Interest for general support. Other notable awards included $70,000 to Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia for Bushwick Grows Community Farm, $60,000 to Dogwood Alliance for “Our Forests Aren’t Fuel,” and $60,000 to Farm School NYC for civic engagement in the urban agriculture and food justice community.
The Fund’s website says grants for its Massachusetts statewide and New York coalition programs are by invitation only. It also says it awarded three-year grants to 13 organizations in Holyoke and New Bedford in November 2025 and plans to issue an RFP for a possible third Gateway City at the end of 2026.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Fund’s website lists Ruth Goldman as executive director; James Maguire as CFO; and Cara Ferrentino as consulting program officer for the Massachusetts program. It lists Katie Matys as president, Willy Merck as vice president, Oona Coy as treasurer, Trina Whitridge as secretary, and Morgan Coy and Polly Merck as trustees.
Merck Family Fund is led by Ruth Goldman, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 2 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Ruth Goldman
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$143K (2023) → $182K (2024)
George Whitridge
Trustee & President
Trustee & Vice President → Trustee & President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ian Hatch
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katharine Chamberlin Matys
Trustee & Vice President
Trustee → Trustee & Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nathaniel Chamberlin
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Oona Coy
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wilhelm Merck
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wilhelm Merck Jr.
Trustee
Secretary → Trustee & Secretary, 2021
Trustee & Secretary → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Serena Whitridge
Trustee & Secretary
Trustee → Trustee & Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frederick Morgan Whitridge
Trustee & Treasurer
Trustee → Trustee & Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James A. Maguire
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$118K (2020) → $155K (2024)
Former officers (10)
- Former: Eliza Hatch (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Olivia Farr (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Susannah Hatch (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Josephine Merck (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Darryl Young (2022–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Jenny D. Russell (2020–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Morgan Whitridge (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Friedrike Merck (2020) — Trustee
- Former: Josie Merck (2020) — Treasuruer
- Former: Patience Chamberlin (2020) — Trustee
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 $182K, to Ruth Goldman (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Merck Family Fund
How much does Merck Family Fund give each year?
Merck Family Fund gave $3.2M across 87 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.1M across 85 grants.
What is Merck Family Fund's typical grant size?
Merck Family Fund's median grant in 2024 was $35,000, and its average grant was $36,837, across 87 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Merck Family Fund that year got $30K on average.
Where does Merck Family Fund give grants?
Merck Family Fund's top state is Massachusetts, with 25% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (21%) and New York (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (16 grants), Boston, MA (8 grants), Brooklyn, NY (6 grants) and Washington, DC (6 grants).
Does Merck Family Fund give general operating support?
Yes: 23% of Merck Family Fund's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 87) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Membership Grant" (4 grants).
Who are Merck Family Fund's largest grantees?
Merck Family Fund's largest 2024 grantees include Tides Foundation ($130,000), Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia ($95,000 across 2 grants) and New England Grassroots Environment Fund ($85,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 10% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Merck Family Fund?
Merck Family Fund reported $64.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Merck Family Fund fund?
The Fund describes its approach as people-first and intersectional, supporting communities pursuing environmental, social, and economic justice. Its stated values include learning, risk-taking, integrity and ethical values, connection, family, and equity. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Merck Family Fund?
The Fund’s website describes its listed grant programs as invitation-only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Merck Family Fund's EIN?
Merck Family Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6063382. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Merck Family Fund funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/merck-family-fund-morg_c7db5a2da4684c35974e3b490ba4da8d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_226063382_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Merck Family Fund funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/merck-family-fund-morg_c7db5a2da4684c35974e3b490ba4da8d},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Merck Family Fund'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.
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