Mercy Lab
Mercy Lab is a private foundation, based in Pasadena, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.5M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $185K. Net investment income was $268K.
Mercy Lab at a glance
In short: Mercy Lab gave $185K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $62K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $185,000
- -2.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $61,667
- -2.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $3,469,756
- +0.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (65% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Mercy Lab funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking ($120K). Together the top 3 received $185K.
Grant Size Distribution
15 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 15 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Mercy Lab gives
- Giving grew 31% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 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
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1K (2021) to $190K (2024). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $185K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking Los Angeles, CA | To Support the Organization's Programs | $120,000 |
| Youth Guidance Chicago, IL | To Support the Organization's Education Programs | $40,000 |
| Take Stock in Children Fort Lauderdale, FL | To Support the Organization's Education Programs | $25,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,469,756 | $351,627 | $333,780 | $185,000 | 3 | $225,392 | $268,236 | $261,020 |
| 2024 | $3,451,909 | $860,159 | $310,751 | $190,000 | 3 | $231,390 | $666,994 | $231,505 |
| 2023 | $2,902,501 | $232,141 | $242,796 | $127,500 | 4 | $165,917 | $171,522 | $196,450 |
| 2022 | $2,913,156 | $143,699 | $262,606 | $141,000 | 4 | $179,242 | $13,884 | $192,350 |
| 2021 | $3,032,063 | $323,080 | $119,504 | $1,000 | 1 | $39,042 | $222,866 | $200,175 |
| 2020 | $2,828,487 | $225,089 | $142,351 | $36,000 | 3 | — | $72,075 | $169,035 |
| 2019 | $2,745,749 | $56,138 | $155,376 | $41,000 | 2 | — | $40,498 | $162,595 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mercy Lab reported a distributable amount of $261K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Mercy Lab is led by David D Smith, President & Chairman of Board on every filing since 2019; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David D Smith
President & Chairman of Board
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Danielle Doorneweerd
Secretary, Director & Board Member
On filings since 2019
$59K (2019) → $63K (2025)
Melissa Leonard
Director & Board Member
On filings since 2019
$7K (2019) → $0 (2025)
George H McCrimlisk
Vice President, Treasurer & CFO
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $63K, to Danielle Doorneweerd (Secretary, Director, Board Mem).
Frequently asked questions about Mercy Lab
How much does Mercy Lab give each year?
Mercy Lab gave $185K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $190K across 3 grants.
What is Mercy Lab's typical grant size?
Mercy Lab's median grant in 2025 was $40,000, and its average grant was $61,667, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Mercy Lab give grants?
Mercy Lab gives mostly in California: 65% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Illinois (22%) and Florida (14%).
Does Mercy Lab give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Mercy Lab's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is Mercy Lab?
Mercy Lab reported $3.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $225K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $261K (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 is Mercy Lab's EIN?
Mercy Lab's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-5130654. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 9, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mercy Lab's focus areas in our free grants database
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