The Merz Family Foundation makes a small number of relatively large, unrestricted charity contributions focused on health care, regional cultural institutions, and land conservation. Their recent grants show a mix of medical/hospital support (a major gift to Mayo Clinic) and investments in Philadelphia-area public science, wildlife, and land-preservation organizations. The foundation appears to favor established institutions that provide public benefit rather than many small or pilot projects.
Concentrated, high-dollar gifts to a very small number of established nonprofit institutions—few grants per year, primarily one-time charity contributions rather than many small or grassroots awards.
The Merz Family Foundation’s largest recent grant was a $135,000 charity contribution to Mayo Clinic, setting the tone for a portfolio built around established institutions with public-benefit missions. In the same year, the foundation also backed Willistown Conservation Trust with $85,000 and the Philadelphia Zoo with $50,000, showing a mix of health care, land preservation, and wildlife-related giving. Its recent grants are charitable contributions rather than program-specific awards, and the recipients include hospitals, cultural organizations, schools, and conservation groups. The 2025 grant list also shows support for organizations tied to Philadelphia-area civic life, including The Franklin Institute and Philly Music Fest, alongside health-focused recipients such as Brooks Health Foundation and Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation. The foundation’s giving is concentrated in relatively few grants, with amounts ranging from larger institutional gifts to smaller community contributions. Overall, it funds a blend of medical care, science learning, cultural access, and open-space protection through direct support to named nonprofits.
Health care is a clear theme in the foundation’s recent giving. Alongside the $135,000 grant to Mayo Clinic, The Merz Family Foundation gave $30,000 to Brooks Health Foundation and $20,000 to Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation, indicating support for hospitals and health-related institutions. Land and conservation work is another area of emphasis. The foundation awarded $85,000 to Willistown Conservation Trust, a grant aligned with regional open-space protection, and also gave to organizations such as Chester County Food Bank and Footprint Church in nearby Pennsylvania communities. The arts and public education side of the portfolio appears through $40,000 to The Franklin Institute and $30,000 to Philly Music Fest. The foundation also supported Philadelphia Zoo with $50,000, linking its grantmaking to animal exhibits and public-facing science or nature experiences.
The recent grants show a spread from $2,500 to $135,000, with several gifts clustered at $5,000, $10,000, and $20,000. The foundation is a private foundation, and the grants listed are charity contributions. Its approach appears to favor established nonprofits over a large volume of small awards. The 2025 list suggests repeated support for Pennsylvania recipients across several sectors, but the data provided only shows one year of grants, so recurrence over multiple years cannot be confirmed from this set alone.
$687K
$2.9M
$513K
$688K
About 3% of grants go to recipients in PA.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Merz Family Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 156 | $2M | 99.4% |
| 2 | Mexico | 1 |
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Notable grantees: Mayo Clinic, Willistown Conservation Trust, Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute
All listed grants go to U.S. recipients, and 100% of grants are in Florida’s state distribution only in the sense of the foundation’s giving profile, not recipient location. Philadelphia is the most visible recipient city, with grants to Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, Philly Music Fest, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Philabundance. Other Pennsylvania recipients include Newtown Square, Bryn Mawr, Malvern, Paoli, Plymouth Meeting, Phoenixville, and Exton. Outside Pennsylvania, recipients include Rochester, Jacksonville, New Brunswick, and Dallas.
Recent grants go to hospitals and health foundations, land-conservation groups, cultural institutions, schools, and animal-focused organizations. Examples in the 2025 list include Mayo Clinic, Willistown Conservation Trust, Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, and Philly Music Fest.
The listed grants range from $2,500 to $135,000. Several awards cluster at common levels such as $5,000, $10,000, and $20,000, while a few larger institutional grants sit well above that range.
Yes. The grant distribution is entirely U.S.-based, and the recipient list is concentrated in Pennsylvania, especially the Philadelphia area and nearby towns such as Newtown Square, Bryn Mawr, Malvern, Paoli, Plymouth Meeting, Phoenixville, and Exton.
No single subject area dominates every grant, but health care, conservation, and public cultural or educational institutions are recurring themes. The 2025 list includes grants to Mayo Clinic, Willistown Conservation Trust, Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, and multiple hospitals and health-related organizations.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| $3K |
0.6% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST | NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA | $127,500 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $120,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| PHILADELPHIA ZOO | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $55,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| MISTY MEADOWS MITEY RIDERS INC | WAXHAW, NC | $50,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| EPISCOPAL ACADEMY | NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA | $49,500 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| PHILLY MUSIC FEST | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $25,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| BAPTIST HEALTH FOUNDATION | LITTLE ROCK, AR | $25,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| BROOKS REHABILITATION HOSPITAL | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $25,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| PAOLI HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | PAOLI, PA | $25,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| PENN MEDICINE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY | HAGERSTOWN, MD | $20,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| CHILDREN'S SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $20,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY | HAMDEN, CT | $20,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| HARLEM LACROSSE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| MUSICIANS ON CALL INC | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| BRYN MAWR FOUNDATION | BRYN MAWR, PA | $6,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| ST PATRICK CHURCH | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| CHESTER COUNTY FOOD BANK | EXTON, PA | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| BRAVO VAIL | VAIL, CO | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| FOOTPRINT CHURCH | PHOENIXVILLE, PA | $5,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| CABO SAN LUCAS HUMANE SOCIETY | CABO SAN LUCAS, BA | $3,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| IGLESIA NUEVA VIDA | READING, PA | $3,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| AGNES IRWIN SCHOOL | BRYN MAWR, PA | $2,500 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| HORIZONS AT EPISCOPAL ACADEMY | NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA | $2,500 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| HISTORIC SUGARTOWN | MALVERN, PA | $1,500 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| LCH HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES | WEST GROVE, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| FLORIDA COALITION FOR PRESERVATION | BOYNTON BEACH, FL | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| WAYNE ART CENTER | WAYNE, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| GETTYSBURG COLLEGE | GETTYSBURG, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| CRC WATERSHEDS ORGANIZATION | NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| COUNTRY CLUB OF FL SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | BOYNTON BEACH, FL | $1,000 | 2026 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| MAYO CLINIC | ROCHESTER, MN | $135,000 | 2025 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| WILLISTOWN CONSERVATION TRUST | NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA | $85,000 | 2025 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| PHILADELPHIA ZOO | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| PHILLY MUSIC FEST | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $30,000 | 2025 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| BROOKS HEALTH FOUNDATION | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $30,000 | 2025 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY | HAMDEN, CT | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| MISTY MEADOWS MITEY RIDERS INC | WAXHAW, NC | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| CHILDREN'S SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ | $20,000 | 2025 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| CHARITY WATER | FRANKLIN, TN | $13,000 | 2025 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| PAOLI HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | PAOLI, PA | $12,500 | 2025 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| THE RADNOR HUNT INDOOR | MALVERN, PA | $12,000 | 2025 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| EPISCOPAL ACADEMY | NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA | $11,000 | 2025 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| HARLEM LACROSSE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| MUSICIANS ON CALL INC | NASHVILLE, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
| AGNES IRWIN SCHOOL | BRYN MAWR, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | CHARITY CONTRIBUTION |
MAYO CLINIC
$120,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
PHILADELPHIA ZOO
$55,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
MISTY MEADOWS MITEY RIDERS INC
$50,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
PHILLY MUSIC FEST
$25,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
BROOKS REHABILITATION HOSPITAL
$25,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
PENN MEDICINE
$20,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
$20,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
CHILDREN'S SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$20,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY
$20,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
HARLEM LACROSSE
$10,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
BRYN MAWR FOUNDATION
$6,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
ST PATRICK CHURCH
$5,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
FOOTPRINT CHURCH
$5,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
CABO SAN LUCAS HUMANE SOCIETY
$3,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
IGLESIA NUEVA VIDA
$3,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
HORIZONS AT EPISCOPAL ACADEMY
$2,500CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
HISTORIC SUGARTOWN
$1,500CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
LCH HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
$1,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
FLORIDA COALITION FOR PRESERVATION
$1,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
WAYNE ART CENTER
$1,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
GETTYSBURG COLLEGE
$1,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
CRC WATERSHEDS ORGANIZATION
$1,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
COUNTRY CLUB OF FL SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$1,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
MAYO CLINIC
$135,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
PHILADELPHIA ZOO
$50,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
PHILLY MUSIC FEST
$30,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
BROOKS HEALTH FOUNDATION
$30,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY
$20,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
MISTY MEADOWS MITEY RIDERS INC
$20,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
CHILDREN'S SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$20,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
THE RADNOR HUNT INDOOR
$12,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION
HARLEM LACROSSE
$10,000CHARITY CONTRIBUTION