Merck Family Fund
The Merck Family Fund (MFF) is a private foundation established in 1954 by George W. Merck, then president of Merck & Co., Inc. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, the fund was created with the dual aim of doing good with resources acquired through the company's success and to ensure the family had regular opportunities to come together. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) private foundation (tax-exempt since February 1958).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$64.1M
+2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.2M
+2.7% YoY
Grant Count
87
+2.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$37K
+0.4% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Merck Family Fund's mission is to restore and protect the natural environment, ensure a healthy planet for generations to come, and strengthen the social fabric and the physical landscape of urban communities.
The fund's current programmatic areas include:
- Land conservation in the Southeast
- Sustainable paper production
- Reduction in carbon emissions through carbon pricing policies and energy efficiency
- Urban farming and youth leadership
- Civic engagement and climate justice in Massachusetts and New York
- Community-led climate resilience projects
The fund conducts grantmaking "through a justice and equity lens" and views civic engagement and community advocacy as integral to its environmental conservation and climate justice work.
Grantmaking
Since 1955, the Merck Family Fund has awarded 1,574 grants totaling over $37 million to more than 500 organizations.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Merck Family Fund focuses its grantmaking on:
- Massachusetts (statewide and specifically in Gateway Cities including Holyoke and New Bedford)
- New York
- The Southeast (for land conservation initiatives)
The fund prioritizes communities most impacted by climate change.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $64.1 million
- Revenue: $4.15 million
- Expenses: $5.6 million
- Total Liabilities: $1.89 million
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $62.4 million
- Revenue: $2.86 million
- Expenses: $4.03 million
The fund manages approximately a $62 million endowment and awards roughly $4 million annually in grants.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $64,069,737 | $62,426,771 | $60,421,201 |
| Revenue | $4,153,396 | $2,856,107 | $5,734,245 |
| Expenses | $5,597,472 | $4,031,536 | $4,316,432 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,811,068 | $4,119,946 | $4,471,979 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,937,424 | $715,492 | $2,134,757 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,090,222 | $3,009,197 | $3,080,748 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Clean Energy Group Inc ($80,000), Acadia Center ($75,000), New York Lawyers for the Public Interest ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACADIA CENTER ROCKPORT, ME | ENDORSING ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE SOUTHEAST | $75,000 |
| AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT ECONOMY WASHINGTON, DC | AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN THE TENNESSEE RIVER BASIN | $40,000 |
| BLUEPRINT NC RALEIGH, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| BLUEPRINT NC RALEIGH, NC | MEMBERSHIP GRANT | $12,500 |
| BOSTON FARMS MATTAPAN, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $30,000 |
| BRANDEIS WALTHAM, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| CASA PENNSYLVANIA HYATTSVILLE, MD | DEFENDING DEMOCRACY | $50,000 |
| CLEAN ENERGY GROUP INC MONTPELIER, VT | MOBILIZING CORPORATE ENERGY USERS TO INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY | $80,000 |
| CLEAN WATER FUND BOSTON, MA | PHASING OUT PEAKERS IN MASSACHUSETTS AND PHILADELPHIA | $30,000 |
| COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE CHARLESTON, SC | CENTERING EQUITY IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY | $35,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Ruth Goldman serves as Executive Director.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEORGE WHITRIDGE | TRUSTEE, PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| KATHARINE MATYS | TRUSTEE, VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| SERENA WHITRIDGE | TRUSTEE, SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| FREDERICK MORGAN WHITRIDGE | TRUSTEE, TREASURER | 1 | — |
| NATHANIEL CHAMBERLIN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| OONA COY | TRUSTEE (BEGAN 02/4/2024) | 1 | — |
| IAN HATCH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| WILHELM MERCK | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| WILHELM MERCK JR | TRUSTEE (THRU 02/04/2024) | 1 | — |
| RUTH GOLDMAN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $182,126 |
| JAMES A MAGUIRE | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $154,708 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Merck Family Fund fund?
The Merck Family Fund's mission is to restore and protect the natural environment, ensure a healthy planet for generations to come, and strengthen the social fabric and the physical landscape of urban communities. The fund's current programmatic areas include: • Land conservation in the Southeast • Sustainable paper production • Reduction in carbon emissions through carbon pricing policies and energy efficiency • Urban farming and youth leadership • Civic engagement and climate justice in Massa…
How do I apply for a grant from Merck Family Fund?
Since 1955, the Merck Family Fund has awarded 1,574 grants totaling over $37 million to more than 500 organizations. The fund operates three primary grant programs linked to specific geographic locations: **Massachusetts State Wide System Change Program** — Combines climate justice with increasing democratic participation of those most impacted by climate change. **Massachusetts Gateway Cities Program** — Supports on-the-ground projects in Holyoke and New Bedford, investing in community-led ini…
Where does Merck Family Fund make grants?
The Merck Family Fund focuses its grantmaking on: • Massachusetts (statewide and specifically in Gateway Cities including Holyoke and New Bedford) • New York • The Southeast (for land conservation initiatives) The fund prioritizes communities most impacted by climate change.
What size grants does Merck Family Fund award?
In 2024, Merck Family Fund awarded 87 grants totaling $3.2M — an average of about $37K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Merck Family Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Merck Family Fund reported a distributable amount of $3.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Merck Family Fund'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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