The Mericos Foundation concentrates its giving on sustaining local youth services through an investment in long-term financial stability; its sole recorded grant is a $400,000 scholarship endowment for the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County. This indicates a focus on enabling access to programs for young people in the Santa Barbara region by funding endowment or scholarship vehicles rather than general operating support.
The Mericos Foundation’s clearest pattern is a sustained commitment to building long-term financial support for youth-serving organizations in Santa Barbara County. Its largest recorded grant is a $400,000 scholarship endowment to United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County, and that same organization also received capital support for Camp Whittier and electrical upgrades. The giving history points to a funder that uses endowment, capital, and challenge-grant structures to strengthen local institutions rather than only covering short-term program costs. That approach also appears in grants to Westmont College for equipment and start-up costs for a new Bachelor of Science in Engineering, and to Moxi the Wolf Museum of Exploration Innovation for accessibility programs. Other awards connect to youth development, college access, food and nutritional equity, and community infrastructure across California’s Central Coast and Southern California. In that mix, the foundation supports both direct services and the physical or financial capacity needed to keep programs operating over time. The Mericos Foundation also makes some grants outside California, including support for Garrett's Space in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Greater Horizons in Kansas City, Missouri, through a donor-advised fund.
Youth development is the throughline in several grants. United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County received $200,000 for Camp Whittier capital improvements, followed by $135,000 for Camp Whittier electrical upgrades, showing support for the facilities behind youth programming as well as the programs themselves. The foundation also backs access-oriented education and enrichment. Westmont College received $200,000 for equipment and program start-up costs for a new Bachelor of Science in Engineering, while Moxi the Wolf Museum of Exploration Innovation received $100,000 for accessibility programs for STEAM learning and another $100,000 for general operating support for accessibility programs. Community food systems and basic needs appear as another lane. Foodbank of Santa Barbara County received $100,000 for building readiness capital campaign support and $100,000 for nutritional equity through education. Outside California, Union Rescue Mission received $100,000 for Hope Gardens Family Center - Children & Youth Programs.
$3.1M
$56.3M
$896K
$3.8M
Most grants fall between $10K and $40K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$40K
Top 5 recipient countries by grant volume for Mericos Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 284 | $9.3M | 96.9% |
| 2 | United Kingdom | 4 |
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Highly concentrated: a single, large one-time award targeted to an endowment for a local youth-serving organization rather than many small or diversified grants.
Notable grantees: United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County
The recorded grant sizes cluster around mid-sized awards: p25 is $10,000, the median is $20,000, and p75 is $40,000. Recent activity also shows larger project-based gifts, including $400,000 for a scholarship endowment and multiple $100,000-plus awards tied to capital, challenge, and operating support. The grants list shows repeat support to the same organizations across multiple years, especially United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, Moxi the Wolf Museum of Exploration Innovation, Garrett's Space, Union Rescue Mission, New Village Girls Academy, and Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens. The Mericos Foundation is classified as a regular funder and also funds individuals.
Giving is concentrated in California, which accounts for 62% of grants, and the top city-level locations in the recent grants include Santa Barbara, South Pasadena, Goleta, and Los Angeles. Santa Barbara County organizations appear repeatedly, especially in Santa Barbara and Goleta. Outside California, the recent grants list includes Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Kansas City, Missouri. The recipient country distribution is overwhelmingly U.S.-based, with smaller counts in the UK, EI, CE, and FR.
Its recent grants include scholarship endowment support, capital improvements, challenge grants, general operating support, and program start-up or equipment funding. Examples in the data include a $400,000 scholarship endowment, $200,000 for Camp Whittier capital improvements, and $100,000 for accessibility programs for STEAM learning.
Several grantees appear more than once in the recent grants list, including United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, Moxi the Wolf Museum of Exploration Innovation, Garrett's Space, Union Rescue Mission, New Village Girls Academy, and Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens.
California is the top giving state by grant count, and 62% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Recent California recipients include organizations in Santa Barbara, Goleta, South Pasadena, and Los Angeles.
Yes. The data includes $200,000 to Westmont College for equipment and program start-up costs for a new Bachelor of Science in Engineering, $400,000 in scholarship endowment support for United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County, and $100,000 to Moxi the Wolf Museum of Exploration Innovation for accessibility programs for STEAM learning.
The typical grant size is relatively modest for the foundation’s overall activity: p25 is $10,000, median grant size is $20,000, and p75 is $40,000. The recent grants list also includes a smaller number of much larger awards above $100,000.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| $109K |
1.4% |
| 3 | France | 2 | $167K | 0.7% |
| 4 | Ireland | 2 | $26K | 0.7% |
| 5 | Sri Lanka | 1 | $43K | 0.3% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNITED BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $135,000 | 2025 | CAMP WHITTIER ELECTRICAL UPGRADES |
| GARRETT'S SPACE | ANN ARBOR, MI | $130,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FOODBANK OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY | GOLETA, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | NUTRITIONAL EQUITY THROUGH EDUCATION |
| GARRETT'S SPACE | ANN ARBOR, MI | $100,000 | 2025 | BUILD GARRETT'S SPACE: BRINGING HOPE TO LIFE |
| CENTER FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE AT FAIRVIEW GARDENS | GOLETA, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | THE CENTER FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE AT FAIRVIEW GARDENS RE-DESIGN/RE-BUILD - CHALLENGE GRANT |
| MOXI THE WOLF MUSEUM OF EXPLORATION INNOVATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAMS |
| NEW VILLAGE GIRLS ACADEMY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| UNION RESCUE MISSION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $100,000 | 2025 | HOPE GARDENS FAMILY CENTER - CHILDREN & YOUTH PROGRAMS |
| GREATER HORIZONS | KANSAS CITY, MO | $85,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| GREATER HORIZONS | KANSAS CITY, MO | $85,000 | 2025 | CHARITABLE PURPOSES |
| OUTWARD BOUND ADVENTURES INC | PASADENA, CA | $84,000 | 2025 | OUTWARD BOUND ADVENTURE'S YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL |
| THE TURNER FOUNDATION - SINCE 1958 | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | THE COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS |
| HEAL THE OCEAN | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | CHALLENGE GRANT - SUMMERLAND OIL MITIGATION STUDY (SOMS) |
| INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | NATIONAL CITY, CA | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PASADENA HUMANE SOCIETY & SPCA | PASADENA, CA | $70,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KIDS IN THE SPOTLIGHT INC | BURBANK, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | LOS ANGELES GREEN SCHOOLYARDS PROGRAM |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF LAKE COUNTY | WAUKEGAN, IL | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HEAL THE OCEAN | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | SUMMERLAND OIL MITIGATION STUDY |
| OCEAN CONSERVANCY INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | GLOBAL GHOST GEAR INITIATIVE |
| HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (HRDC) | BOZEMAN, MT | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF ORANGE COUNTY | IRVINE, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | YOUTH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AT HARVEST SOLUTIONS FARM |
| LABELLE FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF METRO LOS ANGELES | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | EXACT PATH AND COLLEGEBOUND/FUTURE PATHWAYS |
| DOOR OF HOPE | PASADENA, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JENESSE CENTER INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORTING SERVICES FOR UNDER-SERVED CHILDREN AND YOUTH OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS |
| FULFILLMENT FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR COLLEGE ACCESS AND SUCCESS |
| MOMS AGAINST FLUORIDATION | ASHEVILLE, NC | $45,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KOHL CHILDRENS MUSEUM OF GREATER CHICAGO INC | GLENVIEW, IL | $45,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| POWER OF POLO | BERKSHIRE | $44,835 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GIRLS GROUP | ANN ARBOR, MI | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $35,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR FIRST TIME COLLEGE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BREAKTHROUGH T1D (FKA JDRF) | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | FOR THE "IMPROVING LIVES" AREA OF CONCERN FOR TYPE ONE DIABETES |
| FRACTURED ATLAS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2025 | CLAPPING HANDS FARM |
| UNION STATION HOMELESS SERVICES | PASADENA, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN INC | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | BOTANIC GARDEN BACK COUNTRY PROJECT ($25K PER YEAR FOR 4 YEARS) |
| HILLSIDES | PASADENA, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CHASE ANIMAL RESCUE AND SANCTUARY INC | WEBSTER, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | TRAIL REHABILITATION AND ACCESS |
| SANTA BARBARA PARTNERS IN EDUCATION | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | JOB READINESS AND TRAINING |
| SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | SCHOOL AND TEACHER SERVICES PROGRAMS FOR TITLE 1 SCHOOLS |
| NATIONAL NETWORK OF ABORTION FUNDS | BEAVERTON, OR | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TRUST WOMEN FOUNDATION INC | WICHITA, KS | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SISTERSONG WOMEN OF COLOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE COLLECTIVE | ATLANTA, GA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PHYSICIANS AND PATIENTS RECLAIMING MEDICINE | BERKELEY, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FLUORIDE ACTION NETWORK | ESSEX JUNCTION, VT | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NORTHWEST ABORTION ACCESS FUND | EUGENE, OR | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BELOVED ASHEVILLE | ASHEVILLE, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF |
| NORTH AMERICAN SOCIETY OF LASER THERAPY APPLICATIONS | CARSBAD, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL LATINA INSTITUTE FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
UNITED BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
$135,000CAMP WHITTIER ELECTRICAL UPGRADES
THE CENTER FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE AT FAIRVIEW GARDENS RE-DESIGN/RE-BUILD - CHALLENGE GRANT
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAMS
HOPE GARDENS FAMILY CENTER - CHILDREN & YOUTH PROGRAMS
PASADENA HUMANE SOCIETY & SPCA
$70,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
KIDS IN THE SPOTLIGHT INC
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
YOUTH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AT HARVEST SOLUTIONS FARM
LABELLE FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
EXACT PATH AND COLLEGEBOUND/FUTURE PATHWAYS
SUPPORTING SERVICES FOR UNDER-SERVED CHILDREN AND YOUTH OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS
MOMS AGAINST FLUORIDATION
$45,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
POWER OF POLO
$44,835GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SANTA BARBARA CITY COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$35,000SUPPORT FOR FIRST TIME COLLEGE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS
BREAKTHROUGH T1D (FKA JDRF)
$30,000FOR THE "IMPROVING LIVES" AREA OF CONCERN FOR TYPE ONE DIABETES
BOTANIC GARDEN BACK COUNTRY PROJECT ($25K PER YEAR FOR 4 YEARS)
CHASE ANIMAL RESCUE AND SANCTUARY INC
$25,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
SANTA BARBARA PARTNERS IN EDUCATION
$25,000JOB READINESS AND TRAINING
SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
$25,000SCHOOL AND TEACHER SERVICES PROGRAMS FOR TITLE 1 SCHOOLS
NATIONAL NETWORK OF ABORTION FUNDS
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PHYSICIANS AND PATIENTS RECLAIMING MEDICINE
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
FLUORIDE ACTION NETWORK
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NORTHWEST ABORTION ACCESS FUND
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NORTH AMERICAN SOCIETY OF LASER THERAPY APPLICATIONS
$20,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT