The Sherry & Gerald Merfish Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Houston, Texas. Established in 2014, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.5M
-5.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$482K
-3.8% YoY
Grant Count
29
+38.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$17K
-30.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sherry & Gerald Merfish Family reported a distributable amount of $350K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not maintain a published mission statement. However, their grantmaking demonstrates primary focus areas in:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation's giving extends across Texas, the District of Columbia, and Colorado.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates on an invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
$6,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in Texas, the District of Columbia, and Colorado, with notable activity in the Houston area.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $5,466,541
- Total revenues: $200,010
- Total expenses: $504,941
- Investment income and dividends: $218,436
- Total liabilities: $0
- Giving rate: 8.8% of assets
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,466,541 | $5,764,444 | $6,128,815 |
| Revenue | $200,010 | $163,056 | $192,570 |
| Expenses | $504,941 | $532,641 | $529,341 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $488,993 | $512,332 | $443,272 |
| Net Investment Income | $202,907 | $194,825 | $173,552 |
| Distributable Amount | $350,260 | $332,978 | $356,180 |
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
84 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Houston Area Women's Center ($76,640), Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston ($70,500), Boulder Jewish Community Center ($60,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BOULDER JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER BOULDER, CO | GENERAL FUNDS | $60,000 |
| CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL FUNDS | $25,000 |
| CONGREGATION B'NAI VAIL VAIL, CO | GENERAL FUNDS | $650 |
| CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL FUNDS | $3,450 |
| CONGREGATION EMANU EL HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL FUNDS | $5,000 |
| EMERY WIENER SCHOOL HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL FUNDS | $2,000 |
| EVELYN RUBENSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF HOUSTON HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL FUNDS | $70,500 |
| HOUSTON AREA WOMEN'S CENTER DALLAS, TX | GENERAL FUNDS | $76,640 |
| HOUSTON ISD FOUNDATION HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL FUNDS | $5,500 |
| JEWISH FEDERATION-GREATER HOUSTON HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL FUNDS | $27,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Gerald Merfish — President and Co-Founder
Gerald Merfish holds a BBA and MBA from the University of Texas-Austin. He led Merfish Pipe & Supply, the family business, for over 40 years before its sale to Reliance Metals & Aluminum in October 2021. Following his retirement from the business, he established Merfish Advisors to advise small businesses. Gerald has received numerous awards for nonprofit work in the Jewish and greater Houston communities, including the David H. White Award, Ron Herring Award, Knowles-Rubinstein Award, Max H. Nathan Human Relations Award, and induction into the National Multiple Sclerosis Volunteer Hall of Fame. He serves as President of Promise Village Academy.
Sherry Merfish — Co-Founder
Sherry Merfish attended law school at the University of Houston. She and Gerald are committed to a legacy of philanthropy and hope their family members will continue their philanthropic work.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GERALD MERFISH | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SHERALYN M MERFISH | CO-TRUSTEE | — | — |
| BRETT M MERFISH | CO-TRUSTEE | — | — |
| BETH M MERFISH | CO-TRUSTEE | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Merfish family supported the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston's new aquatics complex project. The facility features state-of-the-art pools, an outdoor café, splash pads, and a water slide, serving as a focal point of the J's multimillion-dollar renovation that also includes a new fitness center and Community Pavilion. The indoor pool opened in May 2022, with outdoor pools opening mid- to late-summer 2022.
Merfish family supports J\u2019s new aquatics complexSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Sherry & Gerald Merfish Family fund?
The foundation does not maintain a published mission statement. However, their grantmaking demonstrates primary focus areas in: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation's giving extends across Texas, the District of Columbia, and Colorado.
How do I apply for a grant from Sherry & Gerald Merfish Family?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $482,350 • Number of grants in 2024: 25 • Median grant size: $6,000 • Grant range: $1,000–$77,000 • Typical awards: $50,000–$150,000 **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Houston Area Women's Center: $76,640 • Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston: $70,500 • The Boulder Jewish Community Center: $60,000 **Application Policy:** The foundation operates on an invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Where does Sherry & Gerald Merfish Family make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in Texas, the District of Columbia, and Colorado, with notable activity in the Houston area.
What size grants does Sherry & Gerald Merfish Family award?
In 2024, Sherry & Gerald Merfish Family awarded 29 grants totaling $482K — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Sherry & Gerald Merfish Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Sherry & Gerald Merfish Family reported a distributable amount of $350K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Sherry & Gerald Merfish Family's EIN?
Sherry & Gerald Merfish Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4050182. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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