The Merz Family Foundation
The Merz Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Delray Beach, Florida. Its 2025 grants supported charitable organizations working in areas including conservation, health, education, therapeutic riding, science and technology, and cancer support.
The Merz Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Merz Family Foundation gave $687K across 33 grants in 2025 (avg $21K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 18% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $686,500
- +18.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 33
- -2.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $20,803
- +22.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $2,890,606
- -5.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (6 of 33, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (55% 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 The Merz Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 200 No Ocean Blvd 10 South, Delray Beach, FL 33483
Phone: (484) 318-1073
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Merz Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Willistown Conservation Trust ($128K). Together the top 10 received $522K.
Grant Size Distribution
193 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 182 grants of 193 (94%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Florida. Its 2025 grants went to organizations in multiple states; by share of grant dollars, Pennsylvania received 55%, Minnesota 17%, North Carolina 7%, Florida 4%, and Arkansas 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Merz Family Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 33 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $24K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 77% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 117% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $290K (2020) to $687K (2025). In 2025 it made 33 grants totaling $687K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Willistown Conservation Trust Newtown Square, PA | Charity Contribution | $127,500 |
| Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN | Charity Contribution | $120,000 |
| Philadelphia Zoo Philadelphia, PA | Charity Contribution | $55,000 |
| Misty Meadows Mitey Riders Inc Waxhaw, NC | Charity Contribution | $50,000 |
| Episcopal Academy Newtown Square, PA | Charity Contribution | $49,500 |
| Baptist Health Foundation Little Rock, AR | Charity Contribution | $25,000 |
| Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital Jacksonville, FL | Charity Contribution | $25,000 |
| Paoli Hospital Foundation Paoli, PA | Charity Contribution | $25,000 |
| Philly Music Fest Philadelphia, PA | Charity Contribution | $25,000 |
| American Cancer Society Hagerstown, MD | Charity Contribution | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,890,606 | $513,284 | $688,234 | $686,500 | 33 | $686,500 | $506,098 | $584,694 |
| 2024 | $3,065,556 | $16,463 | $579,474 | $578,800 | 34 | $578,800 | $150,542 | $552,951 |
| 2023 | $3,732,312 | $500,810 | $362,544 | $360,500 | 36 | $360,500 | $260,201 | $481,592 |
| 2022 | $3,546,431 | $450,890 | $389,363 | $388,800 | 54 | $388,800 | $156,180 | $406,785 |
| 2021 | $3,730,031 | $510,181 | $421,538 | $419,700 | 36 | $419,700 | $102,586 | $421,818 |
| 2020 | $3,707,354 | $925,011 | $290,250 | $289,800 | 47 | — | $95,020 | $300,905 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Merz Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $585K 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 included conservation, healthcare, education, therapeutic riding, science and technology, and cancer-related organizations. For example, Willistown Conservation Trust describes its mission as preserving and managing open land and natural resources in its area and inspiring people to care for the land. Mayo Clinic says it aims to contribute to health and well-being through patient care, education, and research. Misty Meadows Mitey Riders says it offers therapeutic horseback riding to children with special needs. The Episcopal Academy describes its mission as nurturing and challenging students to lead lives of purpose, faith, and integrity.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 33 grants totaling $686,500. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $127,500, with a median of $10,000.
The largest reported grants included $127,500 to Willistown Conservation Trust, $120,000 to Mayo Clinic, $55,000 to Philadelphia Zoo, $50,000 to Misty Meadows Mitey Riders, and $49,500 to Episcopal Academy. Other reported grants included $25,000 each to Baptist Health Foundation, Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, Paoli Hospital Foundation, and Philly Music Fest.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists J Frederick Merz Jr and Lynne Merz as trustees.
The Merz Family Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
J. Frederick Merz Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lynne Merz
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 The Merz Family Foundation
How much does The Merz Family Foundation give each year?
The Merz Family Foundation gave $687K across 33 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $579K across 34 grants.
What is The Merz Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Merz Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $20,803, across 33 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Merz Family Foundation that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Merz Family Foundation give grants?
The Merz Family Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Minnesota (17%) and North Carolina (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (6 grants), Newtown Square, PA (4 grants), Bryn Mawr, PA (2 grants) and Boynton Beach, FL (2 grants).
Does The Merz Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 33 grants with a stated purpose on The Merz Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charity Contribution" (33 grants).
Who are The Merz Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Merz Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Willistown Conservation Trust ($127,500), Mayo Clinic ($120,000) and Philadelphia Zoo ($55,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Merz Family Foundation?
The Merz Family Foundation reported $2.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $687K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $585K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Merz Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included conservation, healthcare, education, therapeutic riding, science and technology, and cancer-related organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Merz Family Foundation?
The foundation 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 Merz Family Foundation's EIN?
The Merz Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-3023616. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Merz Family 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 3, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 7, 2026)
Live grants for the work The Merz Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Merz Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Merz Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 23, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-merz-family-foundation-morg_e99df5b253b74903b939a6308393a3ac
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_233023616_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Merz Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-merz-family-foundation-morg_e99df5b253b74903b939a6308393a3ac},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-23. 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 Merz Family 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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