George W Mergens Foundation
Milton, VT · EIN 03-0345055. Reported 199 grants totalling $2,284,475 to 119 organizations across tax years 2021-2023. 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. George W Mergens Foundation 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 $10,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $15,000; the smallest was $2,000 and the largest $50,000. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice Memorial High School | South Burlington, VT | $147,500 | 4 | 3 | 2023 |
| Saint Francis Xavier School | Winooski, VT | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Vermont Youth Conservation Corps | Richmond, VT | $95,520 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| BSA Green Mountain Council | Waterbury, VT | $93,100 | 4 | 3 | 2023 |
| Community Sailing Center | Burlington, VT | $65,000 | 2 | 1 | 2021 |
| Spectrum Youth & Family Services | Burlington, VT | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| King Street Center | Burlington, VT | $46,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Life House Maine | Brunswick, ME | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Resource | Burlington, VT | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Bishop John a Marshall School | Morrisville, VT | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Greater Burlington YMCA | Burlington, VT | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Pure Water for the World | Rutland, VT | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Wuku Kawoqmaya Health Alliance | Bethel, VT | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Prevent Child Abuse Vermont | Montpelier, VT | $35,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Saint Paul's Catholic School | Barton, VT | $31,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Vermont State Mathematics Coalition | Underhill Center, VT | $30,300 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Audubon Vermont | Huntington, VT | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Bishop John Marshall School | Morrisville, VT | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Brattleboro Development Credit Corp | Brattleboro, VT | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Echo Leahy Center for Lake Champlain | Burlington, VT | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Essex Chips | Essex Junction, VT | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Intervale Center | Burlington, VT | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Trinity Baptist School | Williston, VT | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Vermont Food Bank | Barre, VT | $30,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Vermont Historical Society | Barre, VT | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Childrens Literacy Foundation | Waterbury Center, VT | $27,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Children's Literacy Foundation | Waterbury Center, VT | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium | St Johnsbury, VT | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Vermont Youth Orchestra Association | Colchester, VT | $22,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Cornerstone Community Church | Milton, VT | $21,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Brattleboro Museum & Arts Center | Brattleboro, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Common Ground Center | Starksboro, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Care Net of Mid-Coast Me | Brunswick, ME | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fairbanks Museum | Stjohnsbury, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Governors Institute of Vermont | Winooski, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Green Mountain Farm to School | Newport, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Generator Inc | Burlington, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Lake Champlain Maritime Museum | Vergennes, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Lund | Burlington, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports | Killington, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Vermont Institute of Natural Science | Quechee, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Vermont Symphony Orchestra | Burlington, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Wuku Kawoq - Maya Health Alliance | Bethel, VT | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Young Writers Project | Burlington, VT | $17,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Changing Perspectives | Bradford, VT | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Audubon Center | Huntington, VT | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Burlington | Burlington, VT | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bradford Teen Center | Bradford, VT | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Burlington City & Lake Semester Co Shelburne Farms | Shelburne, VT | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bennington Museum | Bennington, VT | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fej USA | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| John Graham Housing & Services | Vergennes, VT | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center | Burlngton, VT | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Southern Vermont Arts Center | Manchester, VT | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| South Hero Library Foundation | South Hero, VT | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Windsor County Mentors | Windsor, VT | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Milton Community Youth Coalition | Milton, VT | $14,355 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Up for Learning | Montpelier, VT | $14,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Saint Ann Church | Milton, VT | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Vermont Energy Education Program | Montpelier, VT | $12,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Lake Paran Recreation | North Bennington, VT | $11,200 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Azimuth Counseling & Therapeutic Services | Essex Junction, VT | $10,800 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Aspire Together | Williston, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Azimuth Counseling & Therapeutics Service | Essex Junction, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Barn Arts | Barnet, VT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro | Brattleboro, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Brattleboro Museum & Art Center | Brattleboro, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Catamount Trail Association | Burlington, VT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| City of Montpelier | Montpelier, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Finding Our Stride | Norwich, VT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Flynn Center for the Performing Arts | Burlington, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Governor's Institute of Vermont | Winooski, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hunger Free Vermont | South Burlington, VT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Kids on the Ball Inc | South Burlington, VT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Lake Champlain Museum Maritime | Vergennes, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lund Family Center | Burlington, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| New England Youth Theatre | Brattleboro, VT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Old Stone House Museum | Brownington, VT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Our Community Cares Camp | Richmond, VT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Reinbow Riding Center | Shrewsbury, VT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Special Needs Support Center | White River Junction, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Steps to End Domestic Violence | Burlington, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| The Fold Family Ministries | Milton, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants | Colchester, VT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Vermont Huts Association | Stowe, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Vermont Patriots | South Burlington, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Vabvi | Burlington, VT | $9,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Circus Smirkus | Greensboro, VT | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| In Tandem Arts | Burlington, VT | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Manchester Community Library | Manchester Center, VT | $6,300 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Birds of Vermont Museum | Huntington, VT | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Greater Vergennes | Vergennes, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Barnarts Center for the Arts | Barnard, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cancer Patient Support Foundation | Williston, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Friar Suppliers | Lindenhurst, NY | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Future Genius Inc | Colchester, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Greater Rutland County Supervisory Union | Rutland, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Habitat for Aviation | Swanton, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Makersphere | Waterbury, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mentor Vermont | Burlington, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Milton Family Community Center | Milton, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Northwest Vermont Regional Foundation | St Albans City, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Orange County Parent Child Center | Tunbridge, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Slate Valley Trails | Poultney, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Slate Valley Union | Fair Haven, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Slate Valley Union School District | Fair Haven, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Southern Vermont Natural History Museum | West Marlboro, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Stowe Teen Center Co Essex Chips | Essex Junction, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Slate Valley Unified School District | Fair Haven, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| United States Committee for Refugees and Immigrants | Colchester, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Vermont Commons School | South Burlington, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| White River Valley Elementary | Royalton, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Winston Prouty Center | Brattleboro, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Youth Safety Council of Vermont | Burlington, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Seveds | Brattleboro, VT | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| BSA Boy Scout Troop 658 | Winooski, VT | $3,400 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Knights of Columbus | Milton, VT | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Big Heavy World | Burlington, VT | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Seven Miles From Jerusalem | Waltham, MA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
58 of 119 (49%) received money in more than one year over the 3 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 52%, across 2 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. 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.
- Bishop John a Marshall School
Early EducationProgram / PlaygroundRenovation - BSA Green Mountain Council
2024 FRIENDS OF SCOUTING, CAMP NORRIS & PHILMONT EXCURSION - Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium
Science AnnexChallenge Fundraiser - Life House Maine
CHAPMAN HOUSE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN - Cornerstone Community Church
CAPITAL IMNPROVEMENTS - RECREATION ROOM - Greater Burlington YMCA
CAMP ABNAKI/MEMBERSHIP SUBSIDIES
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 119 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 71 | $836,555 | $10,000 |
| 2022 | 61 | $746,473 | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 67 | $701,447 | $10,000 |
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.
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 96% of this one's giving went to organizations in Vermont. 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 $10,000. 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 Vermont.
- 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.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from George W Mergens Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 3 returns (tax years 2021-2023). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: Po Box 633, Milton, VT, 05468. 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 03-0345055 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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