Merck Family Fund
Boston, MA · EIN 22-6063382. Reported 361 grants totalling $13.0M to 136 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Merck Family Fund did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $30,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $25,000 and $50,000; the smallest was $780 and the largest $150,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Environmental Law Center | Charlottesville, VA | $450,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Tides Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | $370,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Southern Alliance for Clean Energy | Knoxville, TN | $350,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Acadia Center | Rockport, ME | $275,667 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships | Lexington, MA | $256,734 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| American Council for An Energy-Efficient Economy | Washington, DC | $251,558 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| New York Lawyers for the Public Interest | New York, NY | $250,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $235,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance | Atlanta, GA | $230,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Conservation Law Foundation | Boston, MA | $226,156 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Ceres | Boston, MA | $225,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Blueprint Nc | Raleigh, NC | $212,500 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Pennsylvania Voice | Philadelphia, PA | $212,500 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Clean Energy Group Inc | Montpelier, VT | $210,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| National Vote at Home Institute | Washington, DC | $200,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| United Community Centers | Brooklyn, NY | $200,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Dogwood Alliance | Asheville, NC | $180,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Southeast Sustainability Directors Network | Asheville, NC | $180,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| CASA Pennsylvania | Hyattsville, MD | $175,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| El Pueblo | Raleigh, NC | $175,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Farm School Nyc | New York, NY | $175,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Make the Road Pa | Allentown, PA | $175,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| North Carolina Black Alliance | Raleigh, NC | $175,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Power | Philadelphia, PA | $175,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Southern Coalition for Social Justice | Durham, NC | $175,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Ma Food System Collaborative | Boston, MA | $160,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Urban Farming Institute | Mattapan, MA | $157,500 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Coastal Conservation League | Charleston, SC | $155,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Gardening the Community | Springfield, MA | $152,500 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| National Caucus of Environmental Legislators | Washington, DC | $150,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Natural Resources Council of Maine | Augusta, ME | $150,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Regional Environmental Council Inc | Worcester, MA | $150,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Green Guerillas | New York, NY | $147,500 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Food Project | Lincoln, MA | $140,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Equity Advocates | Harrison, NY | $137,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| John Bartram Association | Philadelphia, PA | $130,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Vietlead | Philadelphia, PA | $130,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Groundwork Lawrence | Lawrence, MA | $125,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| American Rivers | Washington, DC | $120,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Groundwork Somerville | Somerville, MA | $120,000 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Our Climate Education Fund | Seattle, WA | $120,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Soil Generation | Philadelphia, PA | $120,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Norris Square Neighborhood Project | Philadelphia, PA | $119,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Environmental Paper Network | Asheville, NC | $115,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Green City Force | Brooklyn, NY | $115,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Campaign Against Hunger Inc | Brooklyn, NY | $115,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Urban Tree Connection | Philadelphia, PA | $115,000 | 4 | 3 | 2023 |
| Greenroots | Chelsea, MA | $110,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Groundwork Southcoast | New Bedford, MA | $110,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Hattie Carthan Community Garden | Brooklyn, NY | $110,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Red Hook Initiative | Brooklyn, NY | $110,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Urban Creators | Philadelphia, PA | $110,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Land Trust Alliance | Washington, DC | $105,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Pennsylvania Horticultural Society | Philadelphia, PA | $105,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Everett Community Growers | Everett, MA | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| North Star Fund | New York, NY | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Organizing Empowerment Fund | Monona, WI | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Soul Fire Farm Institute Inc | Petersburgh, NY | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Boston Farms | Mattapan, MA | $95,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Clean Water Fund | Boston, MA | $95,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Environmental Integrity Project | Washington, DC | $95,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Riseboro Community Partnership | Brooklyn, NY | $95,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Open Space Institute | New York, NY | $92,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Haley House Inc | Boston, MA | $90,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| One Pennsylvania United | Pittsburgh, PA | $90,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Nc Climate Justice Collective | Durham, NC | $85,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| New England Grassroots Environment Fund | Newmarket, NH | $85,000 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| One Art Community Center | Philadelphia, PA | $85,000 | 3 | 2 | 2024 |
| Philadelphia Food Policy Advisory Council | Philadelphia, PA | $81,981 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Majority Action | Silver Spring, MD | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Nrdc | New York, NY | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Standearth | San Francisco, CA | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Neighborhood Gardens Trust | Philadelphia, PA | $75,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Environmental and Energy Study Institute | Washington, DC | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association | Raleigh, NC | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Eastie Farm Inc | Boston, MA | $55,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (nesawg) | Kingston, NY | $55,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Ancient Song | Brooklyn, NY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Black Farmer Fund | Bronx, NY | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Georgetown Climate Center | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Green Energy Consumers Alliance Inc | Boston, MA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Groundwork USA | Yonkers, NY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ma Voter Table | Springfield, MA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mill City Grows | Lowell, MA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Movela | Los Angeles, CA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| North Carolina Clean Energy Fund | Raleigh, NC | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| One Art Community Center (oacc) | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Partnership for Policy Integrity | Pelham, MA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Transitcenter Inc | New York, NY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Transportation for America | Washington, DC | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Union of Concerned Scientists | Cambridge, MA | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Rockaway Youth Task Force | Far Rockaway, NY | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts | Worcester, MA | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Roots Rising | Pittsfield, MA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Chisholm Legacy Project | Burtonsville, MD | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Trust for Public Land | Boston, MA | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Vietnamese American Initiative for Development Inc | Dorchester, MA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Environmental and Energy Study Institite | Washington, DC | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Neighborhood Land Power Project | Philadelphia, PA | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Slingshot Peak Coalition | Boston, MA | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Philanthropy Ma | Boston, MA | $30,275 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Eastern Woodlands Rematriation Collective | New York, NY | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Eastern Woodlands Rematriation Collective | Hull, MA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| George Mason University Foundation | Fairfax, VA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Mill Creek Urban Farm | Philadelphia, PA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Nc Clean Energy Fund | Raleigh, NC | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Republicen | Fairfax, VA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Environmental Advocates | Albany, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group | Providence, RI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Put Nc First Foundation | Raleigh, NC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Civil Eats | Cotati, CA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Dream Corps | Oakland, CA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Harlem Grown | New York, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Niskanen Center | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Environmental Grantmakers Association | New York, NY | $17,030 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Brandeis | Waltham, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Food Policy Advisory Council of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Old-Growth Forest Network | Easton, MD | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Root Catalyst | New York, NY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Urban League of Massachusetts | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Upstate Forever | Greenville, SC | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Community Foundation of Western Nc | Asheville, NC | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lion's Tooth Project | Brooklyn, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Environmental Grantmakers | New York, NY | $8,937 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Funders Network for Smart Growth | Coral Gables, FL | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Funders Network | Coral Gables, FL | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Planned Parenthood | Washington, DC | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Biodiversity Funders Group | San Francisco, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Exponent Philanthropy | Washington, DC | $3,220 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Confluence Philanthropy | New York, NY | $3,150 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Philanthropy Massachusetts | Boston, MA | $3,075 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Neighborhood Funders Group | San Francisco, CA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Philadelphia City Fund | Philadelphia, PA | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| National Center for Family Philanthropy | Washington, DC | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Southern Conservation Partners | Raleigh, NC | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Biodiversity Funders' Climate & Energy Funders Group | San Francisco, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
89 of 136 (65%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 77%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is unusually consistent. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Southern Environmental Law Center
PROMOTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY AS THE FIRST ENERGY RESOURCE OF THE SOUTHEAST - Acadia Center
ADVANCING ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN NEW ENGLAND - Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
PROMOTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE SOUTHEAST - Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
ILLUMINATING INEQUITY IN SOUTHEAST ENERGY POLICY - Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia
GARDEN JUSTICE LEGAL INITIATIVE - Clean Energy Group Inc
PHASING OUT PEAKERS IN MASSACHUSETTS AND PHILADELPHIA
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 252 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 94 | $3,209,580 | $25,000 |
| 2022 | 95 | $3,457,165 | $30,000 |
| 2023 | 85 | $3,120,202 | $30,000 |
| 2024 | 87 | $3,204,836 | $35,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. Merck Family Fund has 80 of them, worth $3,262,000. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back -- and it also tells you how much of the next year's budget is already spoken for.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Environmental Law Center | Charlottesville, VA | $150,000 |
| Southern Alliance for Clean Energy | Knoxville, TN | $100,000 |
| Clean Energy Group Inc | Montpelier, VT | $80,000 |
| New York Lawyers for the Public Interest | New York, NY | $75,000 |
| Ceres | Boston, MA | $75,000 |
| Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA | $70,000 |
| Blueprint Nc | Raleigh, NC | $50,000 |
| CASA Pennsylvania | Hyattsville, MD | $50,000 |
| Dogwood Alliance | Asheville, NC | $50,000 |
| El Pueblo | Raleigh, NC | $50,000 |
| Ma Voter Table | Springfield, MA | $50,000 |
| Make the Road Pa | Allentown, PA | $50,000 |
| Nc Climate Justice Collective | Durham, NC | $50,000 |
| Neighborhood Gardens Trust | Philadelphia, PA | $50,000 |
| North Carolina Black Alliance | Raleigh, NC | $50,000 |
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 22% of this one's giving went to organizations in Massachusetts. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $30,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Massachusetts.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Merck Family Fund's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: 131 Dartmouth Street 301, Boston, MA, 02116. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 22-6063382 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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