Norger Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker New York, NY EIN: 13-3916069

Norger Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. In its 2025 filing, it reported 20 grants totaling $87,100, including support for organizations in Pennsylvania and New York and smaller grants to recipients in other states.

Norger Foundation at a glance

In short: Norger Foundation gave $87K across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$87,100
+131.8% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
20
-37.5% vs 2024
Average grant
$4,355
+270.9% vs 2024
Median grant
$400
Total assets
$2,456,260
+9.3% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
25% first-time grantees (5 of 20, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Pennsylvania (57% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Norger Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation states in its 2023 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: 64 Lincoln Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583-7534
Phone: (914) 725-1451

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Norger Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Lehigh University: $50KLehigh University$50KWestchester Jewish Community Services Inc: $26KWestchester Jewish CommunityServices Inc$26KWhite Plains Hospital Center: $5KWhite Plains Hospital Center$5KBallet Theatre Foundation Inc (American Ballet Theatre): $600Ballet Theatre Foundation Inc(American Ballet Theatre)$600Court Appointed Special Advocates Inc (CASA-NYC): $500Court Appointed SpecialAdvocates Inc (CASA-NYC)$500Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Greater New York Chapter: $500Cystic Fibrosis FoundationGreater New York Chapter$500Greenwich United Way: $500Greenwich United Way$500Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps: $500Scarsdale Volunteer AmbulanceCorps$500UJA Federation of Greenwich Inc: $500UJA Federation of GreenwichInc$500University of Chicago: $500University of Chicago$500

The largest 2025 recipient was Lehigh University ($50K). Together the top 10 received $85K.

Grant Size Distribution

116 grants across all recorded years

113<$50K2$50–100K1$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 113 grants of 116 (97%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2025 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Pennsylvania (57%), New York (39%), Connecticut (2%), Maryland (1%), and Illinois (1%).

Grant Distribution by State

15states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.

Cities

ScarsdaleNew YorkWashingtonGreenwichBronxOld GreenwichBethlehemChicagoAllentownSan RafaelWest PointBethesdaBostonSyracuseTopekaPhoenixRiversideWallingfordMemphisOklahoma City

Is Norger Foundation open to new grantees?

25%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 5 of 20 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $420; repeat grants $6K. How we count

Medians: $500 first-time, $300 repeat.

  • 70% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 314% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 74% 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 (2019–2025). 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

$0$50K$100K$150K28 grants2019 11 grants2020 26 grants2021 17 grants2022 21 grants2023 32 grants2024 20 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $21K (2022) to $127K (2023). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $87K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Lehigh University Bethlehem, PAGeneral Support$50,000
Westchester Jewish Community Services Inc White Plains, NYGeneral Support$26,000
White Plains Hospital Center White Plains, NYGeneral Support$5,000
Ballet Theatre Foundation Inc (American Ballet Theatre) New York, NYGeneral Support$600
Court Appointed Special Advocates Inc (CASA-NYC) New York, NYGeneral Support$500
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Greater New York Chapter Hagerstown, MDGeneral Support$500
Greenwich United Way Greenwich, CTGeneral Support$500
Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps Scarsdale, NYGeneral Support$500
UJA Federation of Greenwich Inc Greenwich, CTGeneral Support$500
University of Chicago Chicago, ILGeneral Support$500
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$2,456,260$320,994$98,579$87,10020$95,950$161,683$129,641
2024$2,247,731$234,070$47,176$37,57532$37,575$148,818$118,403
2023$2,046,951$205,726$134,365$126,53021$126,530$108,581$109,150
2022$1,975,590$152,869$30,232$21,05017$21,050$22,412$106,040
2021$1,852,953$94,328$96,859$90,37526—$88,269$101,552
2020$1,855,484$218,106$82,099$74,45011—$21,961$96,641
2019$1,719,477$31,710$120,277$115,04528—$31,917$92,695

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Norger Foundation reported a distributable amount of $130K 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 went to organizations including universities, healthcare organizations, community services, and cultural and charitable organizations. For example, Lehigh University describes its goal as advancing learning through teaching, research, and service; White Plains Hospital Center is among the healthcare recipients; and Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps describes providing emergency medical services and related community services.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $87,100. Grants ranged from $150 to $50,000, with a median grant of $400. The largest grants were $50,000 to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; $26,000 to Westchester Jewish Community Services in White Plains, New York; and $5,000 to White Plains Hospital Center in White Plains, New York. Each was listed for general support.

Other 2025 recipients included Ballet Theatre Foundation ($600); CASA-NYC, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Greater New York Chapter, Greenwich United Way, Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps, UJA Federation of Greenwich, and University of Chicago ($500 each); and American Cancer Society and American Heart Association ($300 each). The filing also lists grants to West Point Jewish Chapel Fund, Syracuse University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Guide Dogs for the Blind.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Geraldine Merksamer as president until July 8, 2025; Hume R. Steyer as secretary; Gregg D. Merksamer as vice president/president; and Morgan Rutman as chief investment officer.

Norger Foundation is led by Geraldine F. Merksamer, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Geraldine F. Merksamer

    President

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gregg D. Merksamer

    Vice President & President

    Vice President → Vice President & President, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Hume R. Steyer

    Secretary

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Morgan Rutman

    Chief Investment Officer

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Norger Foundation

How much does Norger Foundation give each year?

Norger Foundation gave $87K across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $38K across 32 grants.

What is Norger Foundation's typical grant size?

Norger Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $400, and its average grant was $4,355, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Norger Foundation that year got $420 on average.

Where does Norger Foundation give grants?

Norger Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (39%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants) and Greenwich, CT (2 grants).

Does Norger Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Norger Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Norger Foundation's largest grantees?

Norger Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Lehigh University ($50,000), Westchester Jewish Community Services Inc ($26,000) and White Plains Hospital Center ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Norger Foundation?

Norger Foundation reported $2.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $96K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $130K (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 Norger Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations including universities, healthcare organizations, community services, and cultural and charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Norger Foundation?

The foundation states in its 2023 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Norger Foundation's EIN?

Norger Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3916069. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does Norger 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

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 8, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS January 20, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 7, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 13, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 8, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 1, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 17, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Norger Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/norger-foundation-morg_de60d14128ab40598e53dc95550d85d9

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133916069_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Norger Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/norger-foundation-morg_de60d14128ab40598e53dc95550d85d9},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Norger 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.

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