Merus Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CINCINNATI, OH. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $8.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 43 grants totaling $313K. Net investment income was $316K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.5M
+32.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$313K
+122.1% YoY
Grant Count
43
+43.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
+55.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Merus Foundation reported a distributable amount of $386K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Merus Foundation
Based on IRS filings
Merus Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CINCINNATI, OH. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $8.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 43 grants totaling $313K. Net investment income was $316K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,513,160 | $6,438,993 | $3,653,956 |
| Revenue | $1,810,880 | $2,501,914 | $3,800,800 |
| Expenses | $347,190 | $160,660 | $97,356 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $316,218 | $142,808 | $89,707 |
| Net Investment Income | $315,533 | $134,062 | $4,007 |
| Distributable Amount | $385,893 | $285,458 | $105,898 |
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
86 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Dan Beard Council Boy Scouts of America ($50,000), Citylink 3cdc ($40,000), Brighton Center Inc ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION HEART MINI PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $1,724 |
| ARTSPACE HAMILTON, OH | GENERAL PURPOSE | $130 |
| ARTSWAVE CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL PURPOSE | $7,527 |
| ARTWORKS CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF GREATER CINCINNATI INC CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL PURPOSE | $250 |
| BREAKTHROUGH T1D PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $500 |
| BRIGHTON CENTER INC NEWPORT, KY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $30,000 |
| CAMP KESEM NATIONAL GRANVILLE, OH | GENERAL PURPOSE | $500 |
| CARE NET PREGNANCY SERVICES OF NKY WILLIAMSTOWN, KY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $102 |
| CARNEGIE MUSEUMS OF PITTSBURGH PITTSBURGH, PA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $50 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOLLY NORTH | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| STEPHANIE GAITHER | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| PAUL MUETHING | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| PATRICK POOLE | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Merus Foundation?
Merus Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in CINCINNATI, OH. It holds $8.5M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Merus Foundation?
As of 2024, Merus Foundation holds $8.5M in total assets with $1.8M in annual revenue. It awarded 43 grants totaling $313K in 2024.
Where does Merus Foundation operate?
Merus Foundation has awarded grants in Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia.
What size grants does Merus Foundation award?
In 2024, Merus Foundation awarded 43 grants totaling $313K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Merus Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Merus Foundation reported a distributable amount of $386K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Merus Foundation's EIN?
Merus Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-1354173. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Merus Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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