Merlin Foundation Inc

Foundation · Grantmaker MISSOULA, MT EIN: 46-1388787

There are multiple organizations operating under the Merlin Foundation name. The primary entities identified are:

Key facts about Merlin Foundation Inc

EIN
46-1388787
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$363,000
Grants made (2024)
46
Average grant
$7,891
Median grant
$5,000
Primary geography
Montana (63% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026.

Who Merlin Foundation Inc funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Merlin Foundation Inc's 46 itemized 2024 grants were Montana (63%), Virginia (10%) and Hawaii (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Missoula, MT (15 grants), Helena, MT (10 grants), Bozeman, MT (4 grants) and Arlington, VA (2 grants). None of its 46 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$363K

+8.0% YoY

Grant Count

46

-2.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$8K

+10.4% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Merlin Foundation Inc (Missoula, MT)

Primary funding focus areas include:

  • Education
  • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
  • Human Services
  • Science Teachers
  • STEM Education
  • Renewable Energy

Merlin Foundation (Boulder, CO)

Primary funding focus areas include:

  • Education
  • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
  • Health Care
  • Science Teachers
  • Renewable Energy
  • Community and School Gardens
  • Environmental Education
  • Wildlife

Grantmaking

The Boulder, CO foundation made 25 grants in the most recent filing year.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Merlin Foundation Inc (Missoula, MT): Montana, Oregon, and Virginia

Merlin Foundation (Boulder, CO): District of Columbia, Colorado, and New York

Grant Distribution by State

15states

Share of all 46 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

MissoulaHelenaBozemanPortlandArlingtonCharloHanaLaguna HillsOvandoPacific CitySetauketBoiseHonoluluLincoln CitySeviervilleBillingsDenverOaklandPaoniaAnn Arbor

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Merlin Foundation Inc (Missoula, MT)

  • Total Assets (2024): $7,028,236
  • Total Giving (2024): $363,000

Merlin Foundation (Boulder, CO)

  • Total Assets (2024): $12,329,121
  • Total Giving (2024): $5,110,000
  • Total Revenues (FYE 11/2024): $1,852,690
  • Total Expenses (FYE 11/2024): $5,170,085
  • Total Grants, Contributions (FYE 11/2024): $1,265,600
  • Investment Income and Dividends (FYE 11/2024): $592,510

The Boulder, CO foundation experienced a 75.2% decline in total revenues from the prior year (FYE 11/2023: $7,472,586).

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$0.275$0.55$0.8250000000000001$1.1201920202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets———
Revenue———
Expenses———
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income———
Distributable Amount———

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$91K$182K$272K$363K27 grants201928 grants202031 grants202138 grants202247 grants202346 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

University of Montana Fo…$33KMissoula Community Found…$30KConservation International$25KHana Retreat -ala Kukui$20KBird Alliance of Oregon$16KFamilies First Learning …$10KMissoula Food Bank$10KThe Roxy Theater$10KThe Safina Center$10KThe David Sheldrick Wild…$10K

Grant Size Distribution

190 grants across all recorded years

190<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include University of Montana Foundation ($32,500), Missoula Community Foundation ($30,000), Conservation International ($25,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA FOUNDATION MISSOULA, MTSUPPORT U OF M'S CHAIR OF FISHERIES TO HELP MAKE AN IMPACT FOR THE HEALTH OF MONTANA FISH$32,500
MISSOULA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION MISSOULA, MTENHANCE THE MISSOULA COMMUNITY BY STRENGTHENING NON PROFITS.$30,000
CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL ARLINGTON, VAPROTECTING THE NATURE THAT PEOPLE RELY ON FOR FOOD AND FRESH WATER$25,000
HANA RETREAT -ALA KUKUI HANA, HIFUND PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS IN THE HANA COMMUNITY.$20,000
BIRD ALLIANCE OF OREGON PORTLAND, ORSLIDING SCALE TUITION FOR STIFTS NATURE CAMPTS, AND $4,000 TO SUPPORT SCAPE SCHOOL PROGRAMS$16,000
FAMILIES FIRST LEARNING LAB MISSOULA, MTSUPPORT FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH EDUCATION AND PLAY$10,000
MISSOULA FOOD BANK MISSOULA, MTPROVIDE SUPPORT FOR A HUNGER-FREE COMMUNITY$10,000
THE ROXY THEATER MISSOULA, MTSUPPORT CINEMA THROUGH EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY$10,000
THE SAFINA CENTER SETAUKET, NYSUPPORT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION THROUGH LITERATURE, ART, FILM AND PHOTOGRAPHY$10,000
THE DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST LAGUNA HILLS, CASUPPORT THE ORPHAN'S PROJECT$10,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Merlin Foundation (Boulder, CO): Supported by Thomas Barron

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
SUSAN E O'CONNORChairman5—
ROY S O'CONNORDirector0.5—
CHRISTOPHER C O'CONNORDirector0.5—
MATHEW C O'CONNORDirector0.5—
PHILIP E O'CONNORTreasurer0.5—
AMELIA J O'CONNORSecretary0.5—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Merlin Foundation Inc fund?

Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Science Teachers • STEM Education • Renewable Energy Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Health Care • Science Teachers • Renewable Energy • Community and School Gardens • Environmental Education • Wildlife

How do I apply for a grant from Merlin Foundation Inc?

• **Total Assets:** $7,028,236 • **Total Annual Giving:** $363,000 • **Typical Award Range:** $1,000–$32,500 • **Geographic Focus:** Montana, Oregon, and Virginia • **Total Assets:** $12,329,121 • **Total Annual Giving:** $5,110,000 • **Typical Award Range:** $10,000–$2,600,000 • **Geographic Focus:** District of Columbia, Colorado, and New York **Recent Grants (Boulder, CO location):** • World Wildlife Fund: $1,000,000 (2024) • Wilderness Society: $800,000 (2024) • The Rhodes Trust: $500,000 (…

Where does Merlin Foundation Inc make grants?

**Merlin Foundation Inc (Missoula, MT):** Montana, Oregon, and Virginia **Merlin Foundation (Boulder, CO):** District of Columbia, Colorado, and New York

What size grants does Merlin Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, Merlin Foundation Inc awarded 46 grants totaling $363K — an average of about $8K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

What is Merlin Foundation Inc's EIN?

Merlin Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1388787. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.

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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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