The Merlin Foundation
The Merlin Foundation is a private foundation based in Boulder, Colorado. Established in 1993, it operates as a family foundation with a primary focus on land and wilderness resources conservation and environmental education.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.3M
-21.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.1M
+44.8% YoY
Grant Count
28
+64.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$183K
-12.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Merlin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $628K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities center on:
- Land and wilderness resources
- Environmental education
- Science education and teacher support
- Renewable energy
- Community and school gardens
- Wildlife conservation
Grantmaking
The foundation does not currently maintain active grant opportunities through standard application processes.
Grant Range
$10,000–$2,600,000
How to Apply
es.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in:
- Colorado
- District of Columbia
- New York
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,329,121 |
| Total Annual Giving | $5,110,000 |
| IRS Ruling Year | 1993 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,329,121 | $15,646,516 | $11,755,104 |
| Revenue | $1,852,690 | $7,472,586 | $10,100,928 |
| Expenses | $5,170,085 | $3,581,174 | $7,801,903 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,110,000 | $3,530,000 | $7,800,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,255,282 | $3,897,638 | $3,582,588 |
| Distributable Amount | $627,638 | $652,219 | $421,740 |
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
118 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Earthjustice League Defense Fund ($1,000,000), World Wildlife Fund ($1,000,000), The Wilderness Society ($800,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN RIVERS WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $50,000 |
| ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES ASPEN, CO | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100,000 |
| EARTHJUSTICE LEAGUE DEFENSE FUND SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $1,000,000 |
| HEROES PROJECT WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $175,000 |
| JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE VIENNA, VA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $200,000 |
| MONTEREY BAY ACQUARIUM MONTEREY, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| OCEANA WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $250,000 |
| ONE PERCENT OF THE PLANET BURLINGTON, VT | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
| OPEN SPACE INSTITUTE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $30,000 |
| PALMER LAND TRUST COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
No leadership information was available in the verified sources.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS A BARRON | PRESIDENT | 10 | — |
| CURRIE C BARRON | DIRECTOR | 10 | — |
| JANA LYNN | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: PO Box 18750 Boulder, CO 80308-1750
Telephone: 303-440-8075
EIN: 84-1232001
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Merlin Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities center on: • Land and wilderness resources • Environmental education • Science education and teacher support • Renewable energy • Community and school gardens • Wildlife conservation
How do I apply for a grant from The Merlin Foundation?
**Financial Capacity:** • Total assets: $12,329,121 • Total annual giving: $5,110,000 • Typical grant range: $10,000–$2,600,000 The foundation does not currently maintain active grant opportunities through standard application processes.
Where does The Merlin Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds initiatives in: • Colorado • District of Columbia • New York
What size grants does The Merlin Foundation award?
In 2024, The Merlin Foundation awarded 28 grants totaling $5.1M — an average of about $183K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Merlin Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Merlin Foundation reported a distributable amount of $628K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Merlin Foundation's EIN?
The Merlin Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-1232001. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Merlin 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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