The Merrill Foundation gives in a fairly concentrated way, with one very large commitment to Cornell University and a smaller set of recurring bets around the Chesapeake Bay region, especially environmental stewardship and local civic/cultural institutions in the Washington–Maryland area. Their giving also suggests a strong interest in education and intellectual life, spanning universities, museums, historical preservation, and liberal arts-oriented organizations. Alongside that, they support a modest number of human services and democracy-related groups, indicating a blend of place-based philanthropy and values-driven civic support.
Highly concentrated giving with a dominant lead grant, plus a cluster of repeat or thematically related grantees; mix of larger strategic awards and smaller supportive grants to regional nonprofits and institutions.
Cornell University, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Smithsonian Institution Offices, Freedom House, Ford's Theatre
$4.2M
$42.2M
$6.7M
$4.7M
Most grants fall between $6K and $93K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$6K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$93K
About 4% of grants go to recipients in MD.
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2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | $1,520,000 | 2023 | Education Support |
| Chesapeake Bay Foundation | Annapolis, MD | $305,000 | 2023 | Environmental Protection |
| Smithsonian Institution Offices | Washington, DC | $281,500 | 2023 | Museum |
| Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center | Burlington, VT | $245,600 | 2023 | Education Support |
| Ford's Theatre | Washington, DC | $225,000 | 2023 | Historical Preservation |
| Capital Area Food Bank | Washington, DC | $200,000 | 2023 | Community Support |
| Freedom House | Washington, DC | $200,000 | 2023 | Support for democracy |
| Anne Arundel Lodge | Edgewater, MD | $200,000 | 2023 | Social Services |
| Chesapeake Bay Trust | Annapolis, MD | $150,000 | 2023 | Environmental Protection |
| Johns Hopkins University Foundation | Baltimore, MD | $150,000 | 2023 | Education Support |
| Shelburne Farms | Shelburne, VT | $105,000 | 2023 | Environmental Education |
| Trust for National Mall | Washington, DC | $100,000 | 2023 | Preservation of Historic Sites |
| Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay | Annapolis, MD | $100,000 | 2023 | Environmental Protection |
| Potomac Conservancy | Silver Spring, MD | $90,000 | 2023 | Environmental Protection |
| University of Maryland Foundation | College Park, MD | $75,000 | 2023 | Education Support |
| Howard County Autism Society | Columbia, MD | $65,000 | 2023 | Social Services |
| Salvation Army | Washington, DC | $55,000 | 2023 | Support for Underprivileged |
| University of MD Center for the Env Science | College Park, MD | $50,000 | 2023 | Education Support |
| Maryland Food Bank | Baltimore, MD | $50,000 | 2023 | Community Support |
| Chesapeake Legal Alliance | Annapolis, MD | $40,000 | 2023 | Social Services |
| Fair Chance | Washington, DC | $40,000 | 2023 | Civilrights Studies |
| American Council of Trustees & Alumni | Washington, DC | $30,000 | 2023 | Liberal Arts Education Support |
| Chesapeake Conservancy | Annapolis, MD | $30,000 | 2023 | Environmental Protection |
| Severn River Association | Lecanto, FL | $30,000 | 2023 | Education Support |
| Children's National Medical Center | Washington, DC | $30,000 | 2023 | Medical Research |
| News Literacy Project | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 2023 | Education Support |
| McCain Institute | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 2023 | Community Support |
| Fallen Jounalists Memorial Foundation | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 2023 | Historical Preservation |
| Best Buddies | Falls Church, VA | $20,000 | 2023 | Social Services |
| Lighthouse Inc. | Catonsville, MD | $20,000 | 2023 | Community Support |
| Meridian International Center | Washington, DC | $20,000 | 2023 | Education Support |
| Barker Adoption Foundation | Bethesda, MD | $10,000 | 2023 | Adoption Agency |
| Columbia Lighthouse | Silver Spring, MD | $10,000 | 2023 | Rehabilitation Service |
| The Arc Central Chesapeake Region | Severn, MD | $10,000 | 2023 | Mental Illness Support |
| Anne Arundel Medical Center | Annapolis, MD | $10,000 | 2023 | Medical Research |
| Foundation for the National Archives | Washington, DC | $10,000 | 2023 | Historical Preservation |
| Anacostia Watershed Society | Bladensburg, MD | $10,000 | 2023 | Environmental Protection |
| Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park | Annapolis, MD | $10,000 | 2023 | Historical Preservation |
| Friends of Mitchell Park, DC | Washington, DC | $6,000 | 2023 | Park Restoration |
| Maret School | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 2023 | Education Support |
| Recreation Wish List | Washington, DC | $5,000 | 2023 | Education Support |
| Rhino Foods | Burlington, VT | $5,000 | 2023 | Community Support |
| National Association of Black Journalists | College Park, MD | $5,000 | 2023 | Community Support |
| Lake Champlain Lifelong Learning Fund Inc. | Burlington, VT | $5,000 | 2023 | Education Support |
| Upstream Alliance | Annapolis, MD | $5,000 | 2023 | Education Support |
| Federal City Council | Washington, DC | $4,200 | 2023 | Improvement of Transparency |
| International Towing And Recovery Survivors Fund | Chattanooga, TN | $2,500 | 2023 | Support for Survivors |
| The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics | Alexandria, VA | $2,100 | 2023 | Community Support |
| Governor's Institute of Vermont | Winooski, VT | $2,000 | 2023 | Education Support |
| Green Mountain Council | Waterbury, VT | $2,000 | 2023 | Boy Scouts of America Council |
Smithsonian Institution Offices
$281,500Museum
Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center
$245,600Education Support
Ford's Theatre
$225,000Historical Preservation
Community Support
Freedom House
$200,000Support for democracy
Anne Arundel Lodge
$200,000Social Services
Johns Hopkins University Foundation
$150,000Education Support
Howard County Autism Society
$65,000Social Services
Salvation Army
$55,000Support for Underprivileged
University of MD Center for the Env Science
$50,000Education Support
Severn River Association
$30,000Education Support
Children's National Medical Center
$30,000Medical Research
McCain Institute
$25,000Community Support
Fallen Jounalists Memorial Foundation
$25,000Historical Preservation
Best Buddies
$20,000Social Services
Lighthouse Inc.
$20,000Community Support
Columbia Lighthouse
$10,000Rehabilitation Service
The Arc Central Chesapeake Region
$10,000Mental Illness Support
Anne Arundel Medical Center
$10,000Medical Research
Foundation for the National Archives
$10,000Historical Preservation
Friends of Mitchell Park, DC
$6,000Park Restoration
Recreation Wish List
$5,000Education Support
Rhino Foods
$5,000Community Support
Lake Champlain Lifelong Learning Fund Inc.
$5,000Education Support
International Towing And Recovery Survivors Fund
$2,500Support for Survivors
Governor's Institute of Vermont
$2,000Education Support
Green Mountain Council
$2,000Boy Scouts of America Council