Mersky Family Foundation
Mersky Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 2025, it reported 34 grants totaling $135,500, with recipients including Minnesota organizations and a Colorado arts organization.
Mersky Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Mersky Family Foundation gave $136K across 34 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $135,500
- -13.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 34
- -5.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,985
- -8.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $3,330,165
- +23.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (71% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Mersky Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 700 South Second Street W51, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: (612) 343-7610
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Mersky Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Carbondale Clay Center ($33K). Together the top 10 received $85K.
Grant Size Distribution
147 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 147 grants of 147 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 71% of grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota, 24% to Colorado, 4% to New York, and 1% to New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.
Cities
How Mersky Family Foundation gives
- 76% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 21% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 98% 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 (2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1K (2021) to $172K (2022). In 2025 it made 34 grants totaling $136K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Carbondale Clay Center Carbondale, CO | Program Support | $32,500 |
| Aeon Minneapolis, MN | Program Support | $7,500 |
| Jewish Family Service of St Paul Saint Paul, MN | Program Support | $7,000 |
| Commonbond Communities Saint Paul, MN | Program Support | $6,000 |
| Project Success Minneapolis, MN | Program Support | $6,000 |
| Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Saint Paul, MN | Program Support | $5,500 |
| Boys & Girls Club of the Twin Cities Saint Paul, MN | Program Support | $5,000 |
| Bridge for Youth Minneapolis, MN | Program Support | $5,000 |
| Project for Pride in Living Minneapolis, MN | Program Support | $5,000 |
| Teach for America New York, NY | Program Support | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Mersky Family Foundation?
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 | $3,330,165 | $764,971 | $138,316 | $135,500 | 34 | $135,500 | $762,155 | $137,690 |
| 2024 | $2,703,510 | $137,098 | $187,957 | $156,700 | 36 | $165,814 | $107,213 | $133,805 |
| 2023 | $2,755,759 | $477,636 | $167,235 | $164,400 | 37 | $164,400 | $474,801 | $123,632 |
| 2022 | $2,438,993 | $-61,770 | $179,057 | $172,000 | 39 | $175,859 | $5,640 | $134,274 |
| 2021 | $2,664,138 | $137,038 | $9,659 | $1,000 | 1 | $1,000 | $133,258 | $136,519 |
| 2020 | $2,530,197 | $366,617 | $143,778 | $140,750 | 36 | — | $363,789 | $113,981 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mersky Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $138K for 2025 — 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 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Carbondale Clay Center says it promotes excellence in ceramic arts and builds community through clay-related activities. AEON says it creates and sustains quality affordable homes, while CommonBond Communities describes its work as building stable homes, strong futures, and vibrant communities. Project Success says it motivates and inspires young people to pursue their goals, and Washburn Center for Children says it provides therapeutic services for children’s social, emotional, or behavioral development.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 34 grants totaling $135,500. Grants ranged from $500 to $32,500, with a median of $2,500. The largest grant was $32,500 to Carbondale Clay Center in Carbondale, Colorado, for program support. Other notable grants included $7,500 to AEON; $7,000 to Jewish Family Service of St Paul; $6,000 each to CommonBond Communities and Project Success; and $5,500 to Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. These grants were listed for program support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Robert B Mersky as chair/vice president, Mary S Mersky as president/secretary/treasurer, and Paul R Mersky and Marc S Mersky as directors.
Mersky Family Foundation is led by Mary S. Mersky, President, Secretary & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mary S. Mersky
President, Secretary & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert B. Mersky
Chair & Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marc S. Mersky
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul R. Mersky
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Mersky Family Foundation
How much does Mersky Family Foundation give each year?
Mersky Family Foundation gave $136K across 34 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $157K across 36 grants.
What is Mersky Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Mersky Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $3,985, across 34 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Mersky Family Foundation give grants?
Mersky Family Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Colorado (24%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (18 grants), Saint Paul, MN (11 grants) and Roseville, MN (2 grants).
Does Mersky Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 34 grants with a stated purpose on Mersky Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (34 grants).
Who are Mersky Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Mersky Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Carbondale Clay Center ($32,500), Aeon ($7,500) and Jewish Family Service of St Paul ($7,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 35% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Mersky Family Foundation?
Mersky Family Foundation reported $3.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $136K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $138K (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 Mersky Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, Carbondale Clay Center says it promotes excellence in ceramic arts and builds community through clay-related activities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mersky Family Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mersky Family Foundation's EIN?
Mersky Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1869152. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Mersky Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 27, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 10, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Mersky Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Mersky Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Jamf Nation Global Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
The Jamf Nation Global Foundation supports nonprofits aligned with its values and connected to Jamf employees’ local communities, including communities where employees live and work. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,738 to $976,054, with a median of $27,476. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.6M
Grants
5
Total Given
$1.4M
Bieber Family Foundation
Denver, CO
The Bieber Family Foundation primarily supports human services and charitable activities, with recent grants going to organizations in Nebraska. Its giving has varied from about $319,000 to $542,000 total per year, with individual grants ranging widely; it does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$21.5M
Grants
1
Total Given
$439K
Otto Bremer Trust
St. Paul, MN
The Otto Bremer Trust funds organizations and projects addressing community needs and opportunities, including health care and social services, in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. In 2025, grants ranged from $3,500 to $4.2 million, with a median of $150,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests or direct grant applications; Community Responsive Fund grants are offered through selected intermediaries.
Assets
$1.4B
Grants
180
Total Given
$57.2M
Linsmayer James B Fdn Tr-Main
Saint Louis, MO
The James B. Linsmayer Foundation primarily funds arts and culture, education, health, and human services, with a focus on the Twin Cities; it prefers local organizations but reports no geographic limits. Recent grants ranged from $5,000 to $25,000, with a median of $15,000. It accepts letters from applicants and is not limited to preselected organizations.
Assets
$11.7M
Grants
47
Total Given
$650K
Target Foundation
Minneapolis, MN
The foundation funds economic opportunity, including small business and entrepreneurship, workforce development, housing, asset building, and financial resilience, in the Twin Cities and Minnesota, across the U.S., and globally. Its 2025 grants ranged from $15,000 to $1 million, with a median of $100,000. National grants are by invitation only; the 2026 hometown cycle is closed, with the next cycle expected in Spring 2027.
Assets
$73.9M
Grants
125
Total Given
$23.1M
Ch Robinson Worldwide Foundation
Sioux Falls, SD
The foundation funds community needs, supply-chain and logistics initiatives, and environmental sustainability, with a Twin Cities program focused on hunger, shelter, K–12 education, and workforce development. Its 2024 grants ranged from $750 to $2.69 million, with a median of $5,000; its Twin Cities program focuses on Minneapolis–St. Paul, while grants also went to organizations elsewhere. The Strategic Industry program is invitation-only, while the Twin Cities program has an application process.
Assets
$18.2M
Grants
87
Total Given
$4.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Minnesota
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mersky Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mersky-family-foundation-morg_bc9d9ee8b76645849064bde10407b97a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_411869152_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mersky Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mersky-family-foundation-morg_bc9d9ee8b76645849064bde10407b97a},
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 Mersky Family 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.
Mersky Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?