George W Mergens Foundation
Milton, VT · EIN 03-0345055. Reported 294 grants totalling $3,284,705 to 154 recipients across tax years 2021-2024. 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 $14,000; the smallest was $800 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. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice Memorial High School | South Burlington, VT | $192,500 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Vermont Youth Conservation Corps | Richmond, VT | $169,650 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Saint Francis Xavier School | Winooski, VT | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| BSA Green Mountain Council | Waterbury, VT | $128,100 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Spectrum Youth & Family Services | Burlington, VT | $85,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Community Sailing Center | Burlington, VT | $80,000 | 3 | 2 | 2024 |
| King Street Center | Burlington, VT | $64,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Saint Paul's Catholic School | Barton, VT | $61,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Greater Burlington YMCA | Burlington, VT | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Resource | Burlington, VT | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Wuku Kawoqmaya Health Alliance | Bethel, VT | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Vermont Food Bank | Barre, VT | $55,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Audubon Vermont | Huntington, VT | $45,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Life House Maine | Brunswick, ME | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Brattleboro Development Credit Corp | Brattleboro, VT | $42,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Vermont Historical Society | Barre, VT | $42,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Bishop John a Marshall School | Morrisville, VT | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Children's Literacy Foundation | Waterbury Center, VT | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Echo Leahy Center for Lake Champlain | Burlington, VT | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Intervale Center | Burlington, VT | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Prevent Child Abuse Vermont | Montpelier, VT | $40,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Pure Water for the World | Rutland, VT | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Vermont State Mathematics Coalition | Underhill Center, VT | $38,300 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium | St Johnsbury, VT | $37,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Burlington | Burlington, VT | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Governors Institute of Vermont | Winooski, VT | $32,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Cornerstone Community Church | Milton, VT | $31,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Bishop John Marshall School | Morrisville, VT | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Brattleboro Museum & Arts Center | Brattleboro, VT | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Essex Chips | Essex Junction, VT | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Green Mountain Farm to School | Newport, VT | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Lake Champlain Maritime Museum | Vergennes, VT | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Lund | Burlington, VT | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Trinity Baptist School | Williston, VT | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Vermont Institute of Natural Science | Quechee, VT | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Vermont Symphony Orchestra | Burlington, VT | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Childrens Literacy Foundation | Waterbury Center, VT | $27,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Saint Ann Church | Milton, VT | $27,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Common Ground Center | Starksboro, VT | $27,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Changing Perspectives | Bradford, VT | $26,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Bennington Museum | Bennington, VT | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| John Graham Housing & Services | Vergennes, VT | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports | Killington, VT | $25,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Azimuth Counseling & Therapeutic Services | Essex Junction, VT | $22,600 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Young Writers Project | Burlington, VT | $22,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Vermont Youth Orchestra Association | Colchester, VT | $22,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Brattleboro | Brattleboro, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Bradford Teen Center | Bradford, VT | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Care Net of Mid-Coast Me | Brunswick, ME | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Fairbanks Museum | Stjohnsbury, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Fej USA | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Flynn Center for the Performing Arts | Burlington, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Generator Inc | Burlington, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Southern Vermont Arts Center | Manchester, VT | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Fold Family Ministries | Milton, VT | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Windsor County Mentors | Windsor, VT | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Wuku Kawoq - Maya Health Alliance | Bethel, VT | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Vermont Energy Education Program | Montpelier, VT | $19,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Catamount Trail Association | Burlington, VT | $17,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Circus Smirkus | Greensboro, VT | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Audubon Center | Huntington, VT | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Burlington City & Lake Semester Co Shelburne Farms | Shelburne, VT | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Finding Our Stride | Norwich, VT | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Hunger Free Vermont | South Burlington, VT | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Kids on the Ball Inc | South Burlington, VT | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center | Burlngton, VT | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Life House Inc | Brunswick, ME | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| New England Youth Theatre | Brattleboro, VT | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| South Hero Library Foundation | South Hero, VT | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Milton Community Youth Coalition | Milton, VT | $14,355 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Up for Learning | Montpelier, VT | $14,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Habitat for Aviation | Swanton, VT | $12,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Shelburne Farms | Shelburne, VT | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lake Paran Recreation | North Bennington, VT | $11,200 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| 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 |
| Barnarts Center for the Arts | Barnard, VT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Brattleboro Museum & Art Center | Brattleboro, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City of Montpelier | Montpelier, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Food Connects | Brattleboro, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Generator Makerspace | Burlington, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Governor's Institute of Vermont | Winooski, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Joseph's House | Burlington, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lake Champlain Museum Maritime | Vergennes, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lund Family Center | Burlington, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mentor Vermont | Burlington, VT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Old Stone House Museum | Brownington, VT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Orange County Parent Child Center | Tunbridge, VT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Our Community Cares Camp | Richmond, VT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Reinbow Riding Center | Shrewsbury, VT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| River Gallery School of Art | Brattleboro, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Salvation Farms | Morristown, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Shelburne Museum | Shelburne, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| 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 Family Place | Norwich, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Upper Valley Haven | White River Junction, VT | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| 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 |
| Winston Prouty Center | Brattleboro, VT | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Vabvi | Burlington, VT | $9,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Aspire Now | Williston, VT | $8,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| In Tandem Arts | Burlington, VT | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Knights of Columbus | Milton, VT | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Salvation Army | Portland, ME | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Janet S Munt Family Room | Burlington, VT | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Poker Hill School Inc | Underhill, VT | $6,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Manchester Community Library | Manchester Center, VT | $6,300 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Birds of Vermont Museum | Huntington, VT | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Association of Africans Living in Vermont | Burlington, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters Vermont | Brattleboro, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Greater Vergennes | Vergennes, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Creamos Norte | Scarborough, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| 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 |
| Girls Empowered Motivated Strengthened Inc | Randolph, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Girls on the Run Vermont | Williston, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity | Williston, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Greater Rutland County Supervisory Union | Rutland, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Howard Center | Burlington, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Makersphere | Waterbury, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Milton Family Community Center | Milton, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Northern Stage | White River Junction, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Northwest Vermont Regional Foundation | St Albans City, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Planting Seeds International | Northbrook, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary | East Barre, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| 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 |
| Slate Valley Union Supervisory District | Fair Haven, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Southern Vermont Natural History Museum | West Marlboro, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Special Needs Support Center of the Upper Valley | White River Junction, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| 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 |
| Upper Valley Trails Alliance | Norwich, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| 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 |
| Vermont Rural Education Collaborative | Holland, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Vermont Works for Women | Winooski, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| White River Valley Elementary | Royalton, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Youth Safety Council of Vermont | Burlington, VT | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Barre Opera House | Barre, VT | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| BSA Boy Scout Troop 635 | Essex Junction, VT | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Seveds | Brattleboro, VT | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| BSA Boy Scout Troop 658 | Winooski, VT | $3,400 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lamoille Health Partners (stowe Teen Center) | Morrisville, VT | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Vermont Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired | Burlington, VT | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Big Heavy World | Burlington, VT | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Seven Miles From Jerusalem | Waltham, MA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Legacy Global Programs | Mesa, AZ | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Waterbury Ambulance Service | Waterbury Center, VT | $800 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
75 of 154 (49%) received money in more than one year over the 4 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 61%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
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 - Vermont Food Bank
VEGGIE VANGO, BACKPACK PROGRAMS/GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT - Life House Maine
CHAPMAN HOUSE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN - Cornerstone Community Church
CAPITAL IMNPROVEMENTS - RECREATION ROOM
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 189 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
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 |
| 2024 | 95 | $1,000,230 | $9,130 |
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
96% of its giving went to organizations in Vermont. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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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 a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $10,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- 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 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
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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