Merck Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation
Merck Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation is a private charitable foundation established and funded by Merck. Incorporated in 1957, the foundation operates as a separate legal entity from Merck and functions independently. Based in Rahway, New Jersey, the foundation has contributed more than $1 billion to support initiatives addressing global health and societal needs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$328.3M
+3.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$25.4M
+4.3% YoY
Grant Count
78
+41.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$325K
-26.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Merck Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation reported a distributable amount of $15.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports programs designed to promote health, education, and community. Special emphasis is directed toward:
- Improving healthcare quality and capacity
- Increasing access to care for underserved populations in select disease areas of global need, including noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancers, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS
- Advancing health services delivery
- Reducing healthcare disparities
- Fostering innovation in healthcare delivery
- Empowering patients as active participants in managing their health
The foundation also supports Merck employees through grants and volunteerism programs designed to address critical health and social issues in communities where Merck has a presence.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants through direct match and clinical grant mechanisms. Recent grantmaking activity includes:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The foundation also supports communities where Merck has a presence globally.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $328,259,324
- Total Revenue: $45,354,708
- Total Expenses: $26,363,826
- Net Income: $18,990,882
- Total Liabilities: $227,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $328,259,324 | $316,231,990 | $321,475,454 |
| Revenue | $45,354,708 | $17,266,335 | $-21,982,603 |
| Expenses | $26,363,826 | $26,068,342 | $23,413,935 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $26,035,883 | $25,713,126 | $23,171,312 |
| Net Investment Income | $10,828,588 | $2,460,204 | $40,840,166 |
| Distributable Amount | $15,899,814 | $15,523,551 | $16,259,496 |
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
201 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include American National Red Cross ($600,000), American Cancer Society ($556,303), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center OSBI ($400,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Cancer Society | Contribution provided | $556,303 |
| Boston Medical Center Corporation | Contribution provided | $399,821 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Durham and Orange Counties | Contribution provided | $25,000 |
| Breakthrough Greater Boston | Contribution provided | $50,000 |
| Broad Street Ministry | Contribution provided | $25,000 |
| Case Western Reserve University | Contribution provided | $399,870 |
| Cathleen Stone Island Outward Bound School | Contribution provided | $50,000 |
| Danville Area Community Center | Contribution provided | $15,000 |
| DanaFarber Cancer Institute | Contribution provided | $35,000 |
| Durham Public Schools Foundation | Contribution provided | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zachary Jennifer | Chairperson of the Board | — | — |
| Grez Kelly E W | Secretary | — | — |
| Allison Goldberg | President | — | — |
| Dillane Timothy | Assistant Treasurer | — | — |
| Ettelman Karen | Assistant Secretary | — | — |
| Filderman Jon | Vice President | — | — |
| Gary Henningsen | Vice President Tax | — | — |
| Hardy Leslie | Executive Vice President | — | — |
| Lee Juanita | Treasurer | — | — |
| Rosenberg Aaron | Treasurer | — | — |
| Swartwood Robert | Assistant Treasurer | — | — |
| Wildasin Anthony | Assistant Secretary | — | — |
| Carmen Villar | Chief Executive Offi | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced significant scholarship and grant initiatives:
The Merck Company Foundation Announces Over $800,000 in Grants to New Jersey\Provided 1,195 scholarships to women healthcare providers to advance women in science
Merck Foundation provided 1195 scholarships to women healthcare providersAwarded 258 oncology scholarships across 34 countries in partnership with African first ladies for World Cancer Day 2026
Merck Foundation, African first ladies mark World Cancer Day 2026 with 258Announced over $800,000 in grants to New Jersey groups
The Merck Company Foundation Announces Over $800,000 in Grants to New Jersey\Contact Information
Address: 126 E Lincoln Ave, Rahway, NJ 07065-4607
Phone: 732-594-4000
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Merck Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation fund?
The foundation supports programs designed to promote health, education, and community. Special emphasis is directed toward: • Improving healthcare quality and capacity • Increasing access to care for underserved populations in select disease areas of global need, including noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancers, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS • Advancing health services delivery • Reducing healthcare disparities • Fostering innovation…
How do I apply for a grant from Merck Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation?
The foundation makes grants through direct match and clinical grant mechanisms. Recent grantmaking activity includes: • **2024 Total Giving**: $25,376,354 • **2024 Grant Activity**: 99 grants made to various grantees • **Typical Award Range**: $3,000–$10,332,426 • **Recent Notable Grants**: The Children's Inn at NIH received $2,800,000 in both 2023 and 2024 Recent grantees and program areas include support for The Children's Inn at NIH, University of New Mexico, and United Nations Foundation In…
Where does Merck Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The foundation also supports communities where Merck has a presence globally.
What size grants does Merck Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation award?
In 2024, Merck Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation awarded 78 grants totaling $25.4M — an average of about $325K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Merck Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Merck Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation reported a distributable amount of $15.9M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Merck Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation's EIN?
Merck Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-6028476. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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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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