The John Merck Fund
The John Merck Fund was a private charitable foundation established in 1970 and based in Harrison, New York (with Boston, Massachusetts also listed as a location). The foundation closed its doors in 2022 after a 52-year history of grantmaking. It was designated as a 501(c)(3) organization and operated as a New York charitable trust. The foundation filed a final return in 2022.
Financial Overview
From 2022 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.9M
-68.6% YoY
Grant Count
2
-97.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$944K
+1217.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The John Merck Fund reported a distributable amount of $110K for 2022 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The John Merck Fund was founded by Serena Merck in 1970 to improve the care of those living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, inspired by her son John Merck who lived with such disabilities.
Over its history, the foundation evolved through three distinct grantmaking chapters:
Initial Phase (1970–1985): Exclusive focus on medical research into the causes of developmental disabilities in children.
Expansion Phase (1986–2011): Following Serena Merck's death in 1985, the foundation broadened its scope to include additional issue areas of concern to Mrs. Merck and her late husband, George W. Merck. These included human rights, reproductive rights, disarmament, and job opportunities.
Final Phase (2012–2022): A 10-year spendout focused on four core areas:
- Developmental disabilities
- Climate and clean energy
- Environmental health
- New England regional food system development
Within these areas, the foundation supported specific objectives including building supply and demand for renewable energy and reducing reliance on coal-fired power plants; improving the health and vitality of rural communities in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont through sustainable food systems development; and eliminating persistent bioaccumulative toxic chemicals while encouraging comprehensive precaution-based chemicals policy reforms at the state level.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards ranged from $2,375 to $1,862,165.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking was primarily concentrated in Massachusetts and New England, with specific emphasis on Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont for food systems development work.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $0 as of 2022 (reflecting the foundation's complete spendout); $9,250,212 as of 2020
Total Giving (2022): $1,888,165
Revenue (2022): $60.8k
Expenses (2022): $2.6M
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since September 1970; EIN 23-7082558
| Metric | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $2,665,462 | $9,250,212 |
| Revenue | $60,768 | $1,331,718 | $3,400,932 |
| Expenses | $2,603,301 | $6,972,496 | $12,078,376 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,511,802 | $6,938,434 | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | $1,274,970 | $2,877,828 |
| Distributable Amount | $109,840 | $349,071 | $740,551 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2022
Grant Size Distribution
102 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2022 grants, the largest include Merck Family Fund ($1,862,165), Conservation Law Foundation ($26,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CONSERVATION LAW FOUNDATION BOSTON, MA | TO ENABLE SLINGSHOT TO BUILD PEOPLE POWER, WORKING SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO TACKLE LOCAL POLLUTION THREATS WHILE BUILDING LONG-TERM LEADERS FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL JUST MOVEMENTS | $26,000 |
| MERCK FAMILY FUND BOSTON, MA | TO SUPPORT CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES. | $1,862,165 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founder: Serena S. Merck (established the fund in 1970; died in 1985)
Board Leadership: Frank Hatch served as board chair from 1987 to 2006 and led the foundation into its expansion phase following Serena Merck's death.
Executive Director: Christine H. James (as of 2020)
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
From 2022 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| OLIVIA H FARR | TRUSTEE - THROUGH 1/2022 | 2.5 | — |
| ROBERT H GARDINER | TRUSTEE - THROUGH 1/2022 | 2.5 | — |
| FRANCIS W HATCH III | TRUSTEE/CHAIR | 5 | — |
| GEORGE HATCH | TRUSTEE - THROUGH 1/2022 | 2.5 | — |
| RUTH HENNIG | TRUSTEE - THROUGH 1/2022 | 2.5 | — |
| ROGER MCFADDEN | TRUSTEE - THROUGH 1/2022 | 2.5 | — |
| FREDERICA PERERA | TRUSTEE - THROUGH 1/2022 | 2.5 | — |
| WILLIAM ROBERTS | TRUSTEE - THROUGH 1/2022 | 2.5 | — |
| ANNE STETSON | TRUSTEE/TREASURER - THROUGH 1/2022 | 2.5 | — |
| SERENA WHITRIDGE | TRUSTEE/TREASURER&SEC. | 2.5 | — |
| CHRISTINE JAMES SEE STATEMENT | FORMER SECRETARY/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | — | $72,250 |
| NANCY STOCKFORD - DIR OF OPERATIONS | ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 35 | $274,375 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The John Merck Fund announced in October 2011 that it would spend all of its assets over the following ten years to spur progress in clean energy, environmental health, development of a New England food system, and continued work in developmental disabilities.
Climate and Clean Energy Grantmaking - The John Merck FundThe foundation made its final grant in 2022 and closed operations that year. The foundation's website was subsequently created to mark the closing of the charitable foundation and to celebrate the changemakers supported during its 52 years of grantmaking.
The foundation's legacy includes contributions to several fields: greater expertise and experimentation in developmental disabilities; critical strides in New England's energy conversion; foundational efforts to revitalize the region's food system; and development of a national movement to reduce toxic-chemical exposures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The John Merck Fund fund?
The John Merck Fund was founded by Serena Merck in 1970 to improve the care of those living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, inspired by her son John Merck who lived with such disabilities. Over its history, the foundation evolved through three distinct grantmaking chapters: **Initial Phase (1970–1985):** Exclusive focus on medical research into the causes of developmental disabilities in children. **Expansion Phase (1986–2011):** Following Serena Merck's death in 1985, the fou…
How do I apply for a grant from The John Merck Fund?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards ranged from $2,375 to $1,862,165. **Total Giving:** The foundation distributed $1,888,165 in grants in 2022, its final year of operation. **Approach:** The John Merck Fund positioned itself as a relatively small foundation that served as a provider of speedy and nimble support for potentially groundbreaking initiatives. The foundation emphasized working with grantee partners described as an "extraordinary array of talented leaders." **Notable Grantees:** The foun…
Where does The John Merck Fund make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking was primarily concentrated in Massachusetts and New England, with specific emphasis on Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont for food systems development work.
What size grants does The John Merck Fund award?
In 2022, The John Merck Fund awarded 2 grants totaling $1.9M — an average of about $944K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The John Merck Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2022, The John Merck Fund reported a distributable amount of $110K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The John Merck Fund's EIN?
The John Merck Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7082558. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2022.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The John Merck Fund'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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