The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16
The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16 is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its 2024 filing reports grants for archaeology fellowships, excavation and research projects, and related work, including post-earthquake remediation.
The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16 at a glance
In short: The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16 gave $604K across 15 grants in 2024 (avg $40K), top state Pennsylvania. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $603,585
- +7.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 15
- +15.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $40,239
- -6.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $33,000
- Total assets
- $9,844,875
- +1.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (34% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: Glenmede Trust Co Na 1650 Mark, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7391
Phone: (215) 419-6000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16 funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American Research Institute in Turkey ($170K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $584K.
Grant Size Distribution
53 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 53 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, recipients in Pennsylvania received 34% of grant dollars, followed by recipients in Michigan (18%), New York (12%), Illinois (8%), and Nebraska (7%). The listed grants also went to recipients in Florida, Kansas, California, and Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16 gives
- 83% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 24% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 109% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2024). 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
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $461K (2020) to $604K (2024). In 2024 it made 15 grants totaling $604K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Research Institute in Turkey Philadelphia, PA | Fellowships in Archaeology | $160,000 |
| Koc Education Culture and Healthcare Foundation New York, NY | Gygaia Projects | $70,000 |
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Notion Archaeological | $60,000 |
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | Notion Archaeological | $50,000 |
| Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska Lincoln Lincoln, NE | Antiochia Ad Cragum | $45,000 |
| University of Central Florida Foundation Inc Orlando, FL | Kerkenes Project | $42,500 |
| University of Chicago Chicago, IL | Post-Earthquake Remediation | $37,235 |
| University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Philadelphia, PA | Gordion Excavation Project | $33,000 |
| The University of Kansas Center for Research Inc Lawrence, KS | Temple of Aphrodite Project | $25,850 |
| University of California Berkeley Foundation Berkeley, CA | Excavation and Conservation | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,844,875 | $1,024,337 | $679,376 | $603,585 | 15 | $632,498 | $970,300 | $579,447 |
| 2023 | $9,682,089 | $545,112 | $628,553 | $559,751 | 13 | $587,095 | $493,935 | $538,624 |
| 2022 | $10,108,691 | $616,392 | $627,908 | $560,000 | 12 | $588,331 | $573,527 | $551,023 |
| 2021 | $10,367,386 | $965,266 | $553,340 | $486,785 | 12 | $516,486 | $926,648 | $597,812 |
| 2020 | $10,000,675 | $226,844 | $549,162 | $460,813 | 1 | — | $160,711 | $515,473 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16 reported a distributable amount of $579K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations including research institutes, universities, and educational and charitable organizations. Grant purposes listed on the filing include archaeological fellowships, excavations, conservation, and remediation.
Among the grantees, the American Research Institute in Turkey says it supports U.S. and Canadian research and exchanges in Turkey, including language study, fellowships, and research centers. The Koç Education Culture and Healthcare Foundation says its principal activity is providing grants to Koç University and other educational and charitable organizations in Turkey and elsewhere. ARTogether says its mission is to provide art programs that foster compassionate communities where refugees and immigrants can flourish.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 15 grants totaling $603,585. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $160,000, with a median of $33,000.
Notable 2024 grants included $160,000 to the American Research Institute in Turkey for fellowships in archaeology; $70,000 to the Koç Education Culture and Healthcare Foundation for Gygaia projects; two grants to the University of Michigan totaling $110,000 for the Notion Archaeological project; and $45,000 to the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska Lincoln for Antiochia ad Cragum. Other reported grants included $42,500 to the University of Central Florida Foundation for the Kerkenes Project, $37,235 to the University of Chicago for post-earthquake remediation, $33,000 to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology for the Gordion Excavation Project, and $15,000 to ARTogether for the Flying Carpet Festival.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists The Glenmede Trust Company N A, David Lammot Greenewalt, Benjamin H Testerman, and Nicholas D Cahill as trustees.
The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
The Glenmede Trust Company N A
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$53K (2020) → $58K (2024)
Benjamin H. Testerman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Lammot Greenewalt
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas D. Cahill
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $58K, to The Glenmede Trust Company N a (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16
How much does The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16 give each year?
The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16 gave $604K across 15 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $560K across 13 grants.
What is The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16's typical grant size?
The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16's median grant in 2024 was $33,000, and its average grant was $40,239, across 15 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16 give grants?
The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16's top state is Pennsylvania, with 34% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Michigan (18%) and New York (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (3 grants), Ann Arbor, MI (2 grants) and Chicago, IL (2 grants).
Does The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16 give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16's largest grantees?
The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16's largest 2024 grantees include American Research Institute in Turkey ($170,000 across 2 grants), University of Michigan ($110,000 across 2 grants) and Koc Education Culture and Healthcare Foundation ($70,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16?
The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16 reported $9.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $632K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $579K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16 fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations including research institutes, universities, and educational and charitable organizations. Grant purposes listed on the filing include archaeological fellowships, excavations, conservation, and remediation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16?
The foundation states 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 The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16's EIN?
The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-6870036. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS October 25, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 20, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16 funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16 funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-merops-foundation-6178-01-16-morg_01aee022c0194ad78806cf8c2b1d1adf
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_456870036_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16 funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-merops-foundation-6178-01-16-morg_01aee022c0194ad78806cf8c2b1d1adf},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 The Merops Foundation 6178-01-16'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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