Mercury Aircraft Foundation
Mercury Aircraft Foundation is a private foundation based in Hammondsport, New York. In 2024, it gave grants to organizations including a health center, a museum, churches, a library, community services, a university, and a volunteer fire department.
Mercury Aircraft Foundation at a glance
In short: Mercury Aircraft Foundation gave $200K across 44 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in New York. 5% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $199,600
- -3.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 44
- -2.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $4,536
- -1.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $2,392,741
- +11.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 5% first-time grantees (2 of 44, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (95% 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 Mercury Aircraft Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists the foundation as the contact, gives no required form or materials, and states that there are no restrictions on awards. It says giving is not restricted to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: Mercury Aircraft Foundation
Mailing address: 8126 County Route 88, Hammondsport, NY 14840
Phone: (607) 569-4212
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Mercury Aircraft Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Taylor Health Center ($45K). Together the top 10 received $163K.
Grant Size Distribution
215 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 214 grants of 215 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars were reported as 95% to New York, 5% to Delaware, 1% to Minnesota, and less than 1% to South Carolina. Its listed grants included awards in Hammondsport and other New York communities, as well as grants to recipients in Delaware, Minnesota, and South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 44 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Mercury Aircraft Foundation open to new grantees?
5%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 44 grantees (5%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $23K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $23K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 95% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+5%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 86% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $159K (2020) to $220K (2022). In 2024 it made 44 grants totaling $200K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Taylor Health Center Bath, NY | Health and Human Services | $45,000 |
| Glenn H Curtiss Museum Hammondsport, NY | Museum Building Fund | $25,000 |
| First United Methodist Church Hammondsport, NY | Covid Relief | $14,000 |
| St James Episcopal Church Hammondsport, NY | Covid Relief | $14,000 |
| St John Vianney Catholic Church Bath, NY | Covid Relief | $14,000 |
| Wellspring Fellowship of Hammondsport Hammondsport, NY | Operations | $14,000 |
| Fred & Harriett Taylor Memorial Library Hammondsport, NY | The Longest Table Event Sponsor | $12,000 |
| Volunteer Fire Departments - Citizens Hose Company Smyrna, DE | Operations | $9,000 |
| Hammondsport Community Services Hammondsport, NY | Community Foundation/Keuka Area Endowment | $8,000 |
| United Way of the Southern Tier Corning, NY | Health and Human Services | $7,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,392,741 | $478,523 | $238,223 | $199,600 | 44 | $204,525 | $451,325 | $236,600 |
| 2023 | $2,152,441 | $108,864 | $227,230 | $206,600 | 45 | $208,600 | $90,234 | $197,115 |
| 2022 | $2,223,469 | $413,526 | $246,303 | $220,012 | 44 | $222,187 | $389,410 | $206,837 |
| 2021 | $2,104,362 | $282,546 | $221,179 | $190,340 | 42 | $190,844 | $252,211 | $220,336 |
| 2020 | $2,041,867 | $85,145 | $180,675 | $159,125 | 40 | — | $63,595 | $190,768 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mercury Aircraft Foundation reported a distributable amount of $237K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in areas such as health and human services, museums, education, religious community services, and fire department operations.
Among its grantees, United Way of the Southern Tier says its mission is “to unite and prioritize resources to improve the quality of life for every person and family in our community.” Keuka Health Care Foundation says it raises funds and provides support solely for the benefit of its affiliate, Ira Davenport Memorial Hospital. Rice County Area United Way describes its mission as mobilizing community resources to strengthen the community. Keuka College says it seeks to create exemplary citizens and leaders, and the National Wild Turkey Federation says it is dedicated to wild turkey conservation and preserving hunting heritage.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 44 grants totaling $199,600. Grants ranged from $100 to $45,000, with a median award of $1,000.
The largest reported grants included $45,000 to Taylor Health Center for health and human services; $25,000 to Glenn H Curtiss Museum for its building fund; and $14,000 each to First United Methodist Church, St James Episcopal Church, and St John Vianney Catholic Church for COVID relief. Other notable awards were $14,000 to Wellspring Fellowship of Hammondsport for operations, $12,000 to Fred & Harriett Taylor Memorial Library for The Longest Table event sponsorship, and $9,000 to Volunteer Fire Departments - Citizens Hose Company for operations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists J F Meade III as trustee and president; D C Meade as trustee and vice president; J F Meade IV as trustee and secretary; G J Hintz as trustee and treasurer; L A Chandler as assistant secretary; and Jessica Meade Demore as trustee.
Mercury Aircraft Foundation is led by J. F. Meade III, Trustee & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
J. F. Meade III
Trustee & President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
D. C. Meade
Trustee & Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
G. J. Hintz
Trustee & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
J. F. Meade IV
Trustee & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jessica Meade Demore
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
L. A. Chandler
Ass't Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
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.
Frequently asked questions about Mercury Aircraft Foundation
How much does Mercury Aircraft Foundation give each year?
Mercury Aircraft Foundation gave $200K across 44 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $207K across 45 grants.
What is Mercury Aircraft Foundation's typical grant size?
Mercury Aircraft Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,000, and its average grant was $4,536, across 44 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mercury Aircraft Foundation that year got $23K on average.
Where does Mercury Aircraft Foundation give grants?
Mercury Aircraft Foundation gives mostly in New York: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Hammondsport, NY (16 grants), Bath, NY (9 grants), Corning, NY (2 grants) and Keuka Park, NY (2 grants).
Does Mercury Aircraft Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 44 grants with a stated purpose on Mercury Aircraft Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Operations" (28 grants), "Covid Relief" (3 grants) and "Healthcare Fund Donation" (3 grants).
Who are Mercury Aircraft Foundation's largest grantees?
Mercury Aircraft Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Taylor Health Center ($45,000), Glenn H Curtiss Museum ($25,000) and First United Methodist Church ($14,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 42% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Mercury Aircraft Foundation?
Mercury Aircraft Foundation reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $205K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $237K (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 does Mercury Aircraft Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in areas such as health and human services, museums, education, religious community services, and fire department operations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mercury Aircraft Foundation?
The filing lists the foundation as the contact, gives no required form or materials, and states that there are no restrictions on awards. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mercury Aircraft Foundation's EIN?
Mercury Aircraft Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 16-6028162. 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). Mercury Aircraft Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mercury-aircraft-foundation-morg_9ec514187a064f20a4d6d80f94883e81
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_166028162_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mercury Aircraft Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mercury-aircraft-foundation-morg_9ec514187a064f20a4d6d80f94883e81},
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 Mercury Aircraft Foundation'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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