Merwin Foundation
The Merwin Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in Pennsylvania and designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation has been tax-exempt since August 1957 and is located in Erie, PA at 2200 Asbury Road.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.5M
+3.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$399K
+5.3% YoY
Grant Count
16
-20.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
+31.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Merwin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $399K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
The foundation distributed $378,500 in grants during 2023. The foundation operates as a private grantmaking foundation and maintains an active grantmaking program.
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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
Based on the most recent 2023 IRS Form 990 filing:
- Total Assets: $6,252,808
- Total Giving: $378,500
- Annual Revenue: $391,000
- Annual Expenses: $434,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,496,853 | $6,252,808 | $6,295,560 |
| Revenue | $697,753 | $391,344 | $401,256 |
| Expenses | $453,708 | $434,096 | $182,616 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $398,500 | $378,500 | $118,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $630,731 | $356,689 | $352,860 |
| Distributable Amount | $399,218 | $344,849 | $347,281 |
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
75 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Erie Zoological Society ($100,000), Success Through Sport ($60,000), Erie Philharmonic ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ERIE PHILHARMONIC ERIE, PA | UNRESTRICTED | $40,000 |
| WEST LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT ERIE, PA | UNRESTRICTED | $1,500 |
| ACES ERIE, PA | UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION ERIE, PA | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB ERIE, PA | UNRESTRICTED | $30,000 |
| CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER ERIE, PA | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| ERIE CITY MISSION ERIE, PA | UNRESTRICTED | $30,000 |
| MEALS ON WHEELS ERIE ERIE, PA | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
| NEIGHBORHOOD ART HOUSE ERIE, PA | UNRESTRICTED | $15,000 |
| SIGHT CENTER OF NW PA ERIE, PA | UNRESTRICTED | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD A MERWIN | PRES./TREAS/ | 1 | — |
| JAMES R WALCZAK | ASST SEC/DIR | 0.5 | — |
| JAMES E SPODEN | SEC/DIR | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Phone: 814-833-9881
Address: 2200 Asbury Road, Erie, PA 16506
EIN: 25-6060860
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Merwin Foundation?
The foundation distributed $378,500 in grants during 2023. The foundation operates as a private grantmaking foundation and maintains an active grantmaking program.
What size grants does Merwin Foundation award?
In 2024, Merwin Foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $399K — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Merwin Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Merwin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $399K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Merwin Foundation's EIN?
Merwin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6060860. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Merwin Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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