The Bert Foundation concentrates its giving on Baltimore–area community welfare and Chesapeake Bay environmental protection, using large, targeted grants rather than many small awards. Its donations are channeled primarily through repeat grants to intermediary organizations — notably United Way of Central Maryland for local human services and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for regional water quality and habitat work. This indicates a preference for established regional partners that can distribute funds or run programs at scale.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a very small number of repeat grantees (three grants each to two intermediaries), favoring established regional partners over many direct small grants.
The Bert Foundation Inc C/o Donald R Mering shows a clear pattern of large repeat support for two Maryland intermediaries: United Way of Central Maryland and The Chesapeake Bay Foundation. In the recent grants on file, United Way of Central Maryland received $250,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while The Chesapeake Bay Foundation received $150,000 in 2023 and $75,000 in both 2024 and 2025. That mix points to a foundation that backs established organizations with the capacity to distribute funds locally or carry out regional advocacy and environmental work. The grant history aligns with broader support for Baltimore-area community welfare and Chesapeake Bay environmental protection. Rather than making many small awards, the foundation appears to use sizable grants to a small set of recipients that operate at scale. All of the recent grants listed go to Maryland organizations, with Baltimore and Annapolis as the recipient cities shown in the record. The foundation’s annual grantmaking is about $1.05 million, and its recent awards cluster around the $250,000 level, which reinforces the image of a concentrated, relationship-based giving pattern. Its stated purposes remain broad, framed as support for exempt purposes.
Local human services are a major part of the foundation’s activity. In 2025, The Bert Foundation Inc C/o Donald R Mering gave $250,000 to United Way of Central Maryland for support exempt purposes, continuing a three-year sequence of $250,000 grants to the same Baltimore-based intermediary. Environmental work is another visible area. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Annapolis received $150,000 in 2023 and $75,000 in both 2024 and 2025, also for support exempt purposes. That pattern connects the foundation to Chesapeake Bay water quality, habitat restoration, and regional environmental advocacy. The recipient mix suggests a preference for organizations that can coordinate services or operate across a region rather than narrow project-based charities. The grants shown are broad in purpose and directed to tax-exempt organizations in Maryland.
The grant size profile is relatively high and concentrated: p25 is $131,250, median grant size is $200,000, and p75 is $250,000. The recent record also shows repeated awards at the same amount, especially $250,000 grants. This foundation gives through recurring relationships rather than one-off checks. United Way of Central Maryland appears in three consecutive years, and The Chesapeake Bay Foundation appears across 2023, 2024, and 2025 as well. The grant record points to a foundation structure centered on broad support for exempt purposes, with no indication in the data of individual giving or program-related investments.
$1.1M
$2.5M
$267K
$375K
Most grants fall between $131K and $250K, with a median of $200K.
25th Percentile
$131K
Median
$200K
75th Percentile
$250K
About 100% of grants go to recipients in MD.
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Notable grantees: United Way of Central Maryland, The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Baltimore-area social service providers (funded via United Way of Central Maryland)
The foundation gives locally, and the recent grants are entirely in Maryland. Baltimore appears as the recipient city for United Way of Central Maryland, while Annapolis appears for The Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The top state by grant count is MD, and 100% of grants in the recent sample went to recipients in Maryland. The pattern is regional rather than national, with all six grants in the country distribution going to US recipients.
The recent record centers on two Maryland intermediaries: United Way of Central Maryland in Baltimore and The Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Annapolis. Both receive broad support for exempt purposes, suggesting a preference for established organizations that can distribute funds locally or carry out regional environmental work.
Yes. United Way of Central Maryland received $250,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation also appears in three consecutive years, with $150,000 in 2023 and $75,000 in both 2024 and 2025.
The typical grant size is large: p25 is $131,250, the median is $200,000, and p75 is $250,000. The recent grant list shows multiple awards at the $250,000 level.
Its giving is local and entirely Maryland-based in the recent record. Baltimore and Annapolis are the recipient cities shown, and 100% of the grants in the sample went to recipients in Maryland.
Two main areas stand out: Baltimore-area human services through United Way of Central Maryland, and Chesapeake Bay environmental work through The Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The stated purposes are broad support for exempt purposes rather than narrow project labels.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MARYLAND | BALTIMORE, MD | $250,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT EXEMPT PURPOSESSUPPORT EXEMPT PURPOSES |
| THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $75,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT EXEMPT PURPOSES |
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MARYLAND | BALTIMORE, MD | $250,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT EXEMPT PURPOSESSUPPORT EXEMPT PURPOSES |
| THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $75,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT EXEMPT PURPOSES |
| UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MARYLAND | BALTIMORE, MD | $250,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT EXEMPT PURPOSESSUPPORT EXEMPT PURPOSES |
| THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $150,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT EXEMPT PURPOSES |
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MARYLAND
$250,000SUPPORT EXEMPT PURPOSESSUPPORT EXEMPT PURPOSES
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION
$75,000SUPPORT EXEMPT PURPOSES
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MARYLAND
$250,000SUPPORT EXEMPT PURPOSESSUPPORT EXEMPT PURPOSES
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION
$75,000SUPPORT EXEMPT PURPOSES
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL MARYLAND
$250,000SUPPORT EXEMPT PURPOSESSUPPORT EXEMPT PURPOSES
THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION
$150,000SUPPORT EXEMPT PURPOSES