Mercury Foundation is a private independent foundation established in August 2017 and based in Redwood City, California. Designated as a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a grantmaking foundation with a substantial asset base supporting philanthropic activities across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$271.3M
-4.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$26.5M
+18.0% YoY
Grant Count
11
+120.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2.4M
-46.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mercury Foundation reported a distributable amount of $20.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
Mercury Foundation distributes approximately $26.6 million annually in charitable disbursements. Based on available data, typical grant awards range from $10,000 to $15,000,000.
Invitation Only
. Grants appear to be awarded through trustee discretion or by invitation only, with no publicly disclosed decision timeline or reapplication policy.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on New York, California, and Texas, though no specific geographic restrictions are publicly stated.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $271,327,366
- Total Annual Giving: $26,545,000
- Revenue: $18.7 million
- Expenses: $30.5 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation is funded primarily through investment income, including interest and dividends from its substantial asset base. Charitable disbursements represent approximately 87.3% of total expenses.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $271,327,366 | $282,730,493 | $287,554,216 |
| Revenue | $18,735,299 | $20,089,171 | $17,749,396 |
| Expenses | $30,485,075 | $25,264,474 | $22,528,145 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $26,612,856 | $22,557,662 | $20,557,304 |
| Net Investment Income | $15,061,742 | $17,543,771 | $14,050,760 |
| Distributable Amount | $20,002,746 | $20,078,843 | $17,414,514 |
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
48 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors ($15,000,000), Planned Parenthood Federation of America ($3,000,000), Nrdc ($2,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $1,500,000 |
| KITTEN RESCUE LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS cambridge, MA | GENERAL | $500,000 |
| FFLV USA THE WOODLANDS, TX | GENERAL | $15,000 |
| LA LGBT CENTER LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL | $20,000 |
| NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $1,500,000 |
| NRDC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $2,000,000 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL | $2,000,000 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $3,000,000 |
| PANTHERA NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $1,000,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Peter Walker Grousbeck serves as Trustee in an uncompensated capacity.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PETER WALKER GROUSBECK | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Mercury Foundation?
Mercury Foundation distributes approximately $26.6 million annually in charitable disbursements. Based on available data, typical grant awards range from $10,000 to $15,000,000. The foundation does not maintain a public application process. Grants appear to be awarded through trustee discretion or by invitation only, with no publicly disclosed decision timeline or reapplication policy.
Where does Mercury Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on New York, California, and Texas, though no specific geographic restrictions are publicly stated.
What size grants does Mercury Foundation award?
In 2024, Mercury Foundation awarded 11 grants totaling $26.5M — an average of about $2.4M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Mercury Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Mercury Foundation reported a distributable amount of $20.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Mercury Foundation's EIN?
Mercury Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4466525. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mercury Foundation'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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