Mertz Gilmore Foundation
The Mertz Gilmore Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its mission is to amplify the power and creativity of communities working to build a more just, engaged, and vibrant society. Beginning in 2026, it is prioritizing two program areas: Democracy & Power, a national program, and New York Dance.
Mertz Gilmore Foundation at a glance
In short: Mertz Gilmore Foundation gave $7.5M across 285 grants in 2024 (avg $26K), mostly in New York. 15% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $7,509,250
- -29.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 285
- -11.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $26,348
- -20.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $86,201,106
- -4.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (34 of 222, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (50% 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 Mertz Gilmore Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its filing says eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations or fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3), and that all funded work must be conducted in the United States. It does not fund individuals, endowments, or religious concerns.
- Review Cycle
- None stated on the 2024 filing.
- Deadline
- None stated on the 2024 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Co Mertz Gilmore Foundation
Mailing address: 218 East 18Th Street, New York, NY 10003
Phone: (212) 475-1137
Website: https://mertzgilmore.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Mertz Gilmore Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Opensecrets ($200K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,682 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,194 grants of 1,682 (71%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it funds organizations based in and working in the United States. In 2024, half of its grant dollars went to recipients in New York, followed by recipients in Washington, DC (11%), California (10%), Virginia (7%), and Massachusetts (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 285 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Mertz Gilmore Foundation open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 34 of 222 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $36K. How we count
Medians: $22K first-time, $30K repeat.
- 81% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 37% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 196% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $7.5M (2024) to $12.8M (2022). In 2024 it made 285 grants totaling $7.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Opensecrets Washington, DC | General Support | $200,000 |
| Proteus Fund Waltham, MA | Piper Fund | $135,000 |
| Appalachian Voices Boone, NC | General Support | $100,000 |
| Color of Change Education Fund Oakland, CA | General Support | $100,000 |
| New York Foundation for the Arts New York, NY | Dance Award Program | $98,000 |
| 9 to 5 National Association of Working Women Milwaukee, WI | General Support | $75,000 |
| BVM Capacity Building Institute Atlanta, GA | General Support | $75,000 |
| Center for Popular Democracy Brooklyn, NY | General Support | $75,000 |
| Chesapeake Climate Action Network Takoma Park, MD | General Support | $75,000 |
| Climate Justice Alliance Berkeley, CA | General Support | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Mertz Gilmore 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $86,201,106 | $8,640,036 | $12,299,472 | $7,509,250 | 285 | $10,931,285 | $7,811,047 | $5,590,800 |
| 2023 | $89,860,542 | $3,696,086 | $14,861,372 | $10,670,350 | 322 | $13,492,668 | $2,950,261 | $5,535,270 |
| 2022 | $101,025,828 | $10,813,697 | $16,815,863 | $12,816,650 | 380 | $15,292,759 | $5,124,659 | $5,863,490 |
| 2021 | $107,027,994 | $15,000,621 | $15,586,243 | $11,933,150 | 356 | $14,280,391 | $10,742,612 | $6,892,327 |
| 2020 | $107,613,616 | $10,360,666 | $14,400,364 | $10,801,650 | 339 | — | $5,467,771 | $5,928,409 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mertz Gilmore Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s vision is a future where people can shape their communities and society, creative expression is embraced and protected, and civic life is rooted in justice and solidarity. Its stated values include justice, community, solidarity, and creativity and experimentation.
Democracy & Power brings together work previously covered by Climate Change Solutions, Democratic Values, and New York City Communities. The foundation says this national program supports organizations and strategies that safeguard and support vulnerable communities and build the conditions for a thriving, engaged multiracial democracy. New York Dance aims to strengthen the resilience and equity of the dance ecosystem, including by supporting presenters of marginalized and emerging artists, smaller dance companies, and service organizations that connect and advocate for the field.
The foundation’s grantmaking rules state that it funds organizations with 501(c)(3) status or organizations fiscally sponsored by 501(c)(3) organizations, for work conducted in the United States. It does not fund individuals, endowments, or religious concerns. Among its 2024 grantees, Proteus Fund described its work as connecting philanthropy to social-justice frontlines, while Appalachian Voices described its work as protecting Central and Southern Appalachian land, air, and water and advancing an equitable clean-energy transition. New York Foundation for the Arts described its mission as supporting artists and cultural workers with resources and opportunities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 285 grants totaling $7,509,250. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $200,000, with a median of $25,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $200,000 to OpenSecrets for general support; $135,000 to Proteus Fund for the Piper Fund; $100,000 each to Appalachian Voices and Color of Change Education Fund for general support; and $98,000 to New York Foundation for the Arts for its Dance Award Program. Other grants of $75,000 included awards to BVM Capacity Building Institute, Center for Popular Democracy, Climate Justice Alliance, and Demos, among others.
The foundation’s website says it no longer requires narrative proposals or budgets for general operating support applications. It also says narrative and financial reports are no longer required at the end of the grant period for general operating support; financial reports are required for project grants or fiscally sponsored work.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Andrea Sholler as chairperson, Ciara Torres-Spelliscy as vice chairperson, Rini Banerjee as treasurer, and Robin Krause as secretary. It lists Surina Khan, Mikki Shepard, George Suttles, and Aaron Tanaka as directors; Aditi Vaidya as president; and Marion Cappiello as chief financial officer.
Mertz Gilmore Foundation is led by Aditi Vaidya, President on every filing since 2022; 9 of 10 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Aditi Vaidya
President
On filings since 2022
35 hrs/week
$16K (2022) → $328K (2024)
Andrea Sholler
Chairperson
Vice Chairperson → Chairperson, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$9K (2020) → $25K (2024)
Mikki Shepard
Director
Chairperson → Vice Chairperson, 2021
Vice Chairperson → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$20K (2020) → $16K (2024)
Aaron Tanaka
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$12K (2023) → $12K (2024)
George Suttles
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$15K (2023) → $15K (2024)
Surina Khan
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$10K (2023) → $12K (2024)
Ciara Torres-Spelliscy
Vice Chairperson
Director → Vice Chairperson, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$8K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Marion Cappiello
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Financial & Administrator Officer → Chief Financial Officer, 2023
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$197K (2020) → $228K (2024)
Rini Banerjee
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$9K (2020) → $21K (2024)
Robin Krause
Secretary
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Golden Beckner Jr. (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Phil Radford (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Laura Butzel (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Jared Bernstein (2020) — Director
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $328K, to Aditi Vaidya (President). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Mertz Gilmore Foundation
How much does Mertz Gilmore Foundation give each year?
Mertz Gilmore Foundation gave $7.5M across 285 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $10.7M across 322 grants.
What is Mertz Gilmore Foundation's typical grant size?
Mertz Gilmore Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $26,348, across 285 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mertz Gilmore Foundation that year got $22K on average.
Where does Mertz Gilmore Foundation give grants?
Mertz Gilmore Foundation gives mostly in New York: 50% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (11%) and California (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (97 grants), Brooklyn, NY (46 grants), Washington, DC (19 grants) and Oakland, CA (9 grants).
Does Mertz Gilmore Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 50% of Mertz Gilmore Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (143 of 285) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Late-Stage Stipend" (25 grants), "Dance Programming" (18 grants) and "Rehearsal Space Subsidy" (17 grants).
Who are Mertz Gilmore Foundation's largest grantees?
Mertz Gilmore Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Opensecrets ($200,000), Proteus Fund ($138,500 across 3 grants) and Virginia Organizing ($135,000 across 3 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 6% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Mertz Gilmore Foundation?
Mertz Gilmore Foundation reported $86.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $10.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Mertz Gilmore Foundation fund?
The foundation’s vision is a future where people can shape their communities and society, creative expression is embraced and protected, and civic life is rooted in justice and solidarity. Its stated values include justice, community, solidarity, and creativity and experimentation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mertz Gilmore Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Mertz Gilmore Foundation's EIN?
Mertz Gilmore Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-2872722. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Mertz Gilmore 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
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 November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 20, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Mertz Gilmore Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/mertz-gilmore-foundation-morg_c8dc10c615fe4033a896d4db09e44d6c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_132872722_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Mertz Gilmore Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/mertz-gilmore-foundation-morg_c8dc10c615fe4033a896d4db09e44d6c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Mertz Gilmore 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.
Mertz Gilmore Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?