FundersNew Jersey

Merck Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation

Rahway, NJ · EIN 22-6028476. Reported 151 grants totalling $37.3M to 117 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.

Yesaccepts unsolicited requests
$50,000median grant
$37.3Mgranted, 2021-2024
117organizations funded
33%of grantees funded again the next year
$328.3Massets, latest filing

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. Merck Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.

This is the foundation's own statement to the IRS, not our judgement, and it says nothing about whether they have a form, a deadline, or an appetite for new grantees. Treat it as the reason this foundation is worth your research time, not as an invitation. Many small foundations of this kind have no website and no application process -- a letter of inquiry is the normal first step.

How big are its grants?

The median grant is $50,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $25,000 and $255,499; the smallest was $15,000 and the largest $10.3M. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.

$10,000 - $25,000
2 grants
$25,000 - $50,000
62 grants
$50,000 - $100,000
23 grants
$100,000 and Up
64 grants

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.

OrganizationLocationTotal receivedGrantsYears fundedLast
VariousRahway, NJ$10.3M112024
The Childrens Inn at NihBethesda, Maryland$2,900,000212024
University of New MexicoAlbuquerque, New Mexico$1,723,030112024
Care Resource Community Health Centers Inc Dba Care ResourceMiami, FL$1,050,000332023
United Nations Foundation IncWashington, DC$1,000,000112024
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNew York, NY$800,000222023
Saint Barnabas Health Care System FoundationWest Orange, NJ$800,000222023
University of Kentucky Research FoundationLexington, KY$789,934222023
Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical OncologyAlexandria, VA$778,196222023
Medical College of Virginia FoundationRichmond, VA$657,575112022
Medical College of Virginia FoundationRichmond, VT$657,573112023
Medical College of Virginia FoundationRichmond, Virginia$657,573112024
American National Red CrossWashington, DC$600,000112024
American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and BranchesWashington, DC$600,000112022
American Cancer SocietyWashington, District of Colum$556,303112024
National Comprehensive Cancer Network IncPlymouth Meeting, PA$540,435222023
State of Mississippi - University of Mississippi Medical CenterJackson, MS$525,039332023
The Franklin InstitutePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania$500,000112024
University Physicians & Surgeons IncHuntington, WV$491,760112021
Alzheimers Disease and Related Disorders Association IncWaltham, MA$466,621112021
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center OsbiNew York, New York$400,000112024
Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, Ohio$399,870112024
Boston Medical Center CorporationBoston, Massachusetts$399,821112024
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer CenterBaton Rouge, Louisiana$398,042112024
Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical OncologyAlexandria, Virginia$389,413112024
University of Kentucky Research FoundationLexington, Kentucky$373,651112024
Alameda County Public Health DepartmentSan Leandro, CA$300,000222022
Marshall University Research CorporationHuntington, WV$299,819112021
Providence Health & Services WashingtonRenton, WA$299,074112021
Saint Barnabas Health Care System FoundationWest Orange, New Jersey$298,738112024
Regents of the University of MichiganAnn Arbor, MI$277,234112021
National Comprehensive Cancer Network IncPlymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania$255,499112024
Cornerstone Christian AcademyPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania$250,000112024
New Jersey Performing Arts CenterNewark, New Jersey$250,000112024
New Jersey Performing Arts Center CorporationNewark, NJ$250,000112022
Henry W Grady Health System FoundationAtlanta, GA$237,488112021
Population Services InternationalWashington, District of Colum$205,283112024
Rutgers the State UniversityPiscataway, New Jersey$204,137112024
New Jersey Symphony OrchestraNewark, New Jersey$200,000112024
Project Hope - the People-to-People Health Foundation IncWashington DC, DC$200,000112022
Comie En Union Para Salvadorenos CeusWest New York, NJ$174,504212024
Community Servings IncJamaica Plain, Massachusetts$150,000112024
Foundation for Health Leadership & InnovationCary, NC$150,000112023
Foundation for Health Leadership & InnovationCary, North Carolina$150,000112024
Friends of Huddart & Wunderlich ParksWoodside, CA$150,000332024
Hackensack University Medical CenterEdison, NJ$150,000112023
Hackensack University Medical CenterEdison, New Jersey$150,000112024
Health Promotion Council of Southeastern PaPhiladelphia, PA$150,000112024
Health Promotion Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania IncPhiladelphia, PA$150,000112023
Kimmel Center IncPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania$150,000112024
Valley Youth House Committee IncBethlehem, Pennsylvania$150,000112024
University of Nebraska FoundationLincoln, Nebraska$149,996112024
The Massachusetts General HospitalBoston, Massachusetts$149,707112024
Beebe Medical Center Inc Dba Beebe HealthcareLewes, DE$147,957112024
Western Maryland Health System Corporation Effective 11-21-2009Cumberland, MD$147,771112021
Western Maryland Health System CorporationCumberland, MD$147,770112022
Variety the Childrens Charity of the Delaware ValleyWorcester, PA$100,000442024
Wilson County Interfaith Services IncWilson, NC$100,000222022
Research & Development Council of New JerseyChatham, NJ$95,000332024
Rahway Community Action OrganizationRahway, NJ$88,000332024
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at RahwayRahway, NJ$85,995222023
Mothers 2 Mothers International IncNew York, New York$76,876112024
North Carolina Museum of Life and Science IncDurham, NC$75,000322024
Students 2 Science IncEast Hanover, NJ$75,000112024
Wissahickon Valley Watershed AssociationAmbler, PA$75,000332024
Growth Philanthropy Network IncNew York, New York$55,000112024
Blue Ridge Free Clinic IncHarrisonburg, Virginia$50,600112024
Association for the Preservation of the Eno River Valley IncDurham, NC$50,000222022
Boys & Girls Clubs of Durham and Orange CountiesDurham, NC$50,000222024
Breakthrough Greater BostonCambridge, MA$50,000112024
Cathleen Stone Island Outward Bound SchoolBoston, MA$50,000112024
Eastside College Preparatory School IncEast Palo Alto, CA$50,000222024
Imagine a Center for Coping With LossMountainside, NJ$50,000222022
James Madison University Foundation IncHarrisonburg, VA$50,000112021
Manna on Main StreetLansdale, PA$50,000112024
Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition AlliancePhiladelphia, PA$50,000222022
Mitzvah Circle FoundationNorristown, PA$50,000112024
Saint Francis FoundationSan Francisco, California$50,000112024
Science Club for Girls IncCambridge, MA$50,000112024
Science Is ElementaryLos Altos, CA$50,000112024
Shenandoah National Park TrustCharlottesville, VA$50,000112024
Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center IncBoston, MA$50,000222023
Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers IncDurham, NC$50,000222022
Valley Program for Aging Services IncHarrisonburg, VA$50,000112022
Marine Education Research & Rehabilitation Institute IncLewes, DE$49,934112022
Wesley Shelter IncWilson, North Carolina$47,698112024
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at RahwayRahway, New Jersey$35,230112024
Danafarber Cancer InstituteBoston, MA$35,000112024
Rahway River Watershed AssociationRahway, NJ$35,000112024
Foundation for Morristown Medical CenterMorristown, NJ$30,850112021
All Star Code IncNew York, NY$25,000112024
Athena of the Triangle IncFuquay Varina, NC$25,000112024
Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia IncPhiladelphia, PA$25,000112022
Boys and Girls Clubs of PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, PA$25,000112024
Broad Street MinistryPhiladelphia, PA$25,000112024
Cancer Support Community Central New JerseyBedminster, NJ$25,000112021
Durham Public Schools FoundationDurham, NC$25,000112024
Emerald Necklace ConservancyBoston, MA$25,000112024
Family Promise Montco Pa Formerly Inter-Faith Housing AllianceAmbler, PA$25,000112022
Goodwill Industries of Eastern North Carolina IncDurham, NC$25,000112024
JerseystemFlorham Park, NJ$25,000112024
Keystone Opportunity CenterSouderton, PA$25,000112024
Kits Cubed IncOakland, CA$25,000112024
Life Science Cares IncCambridge, MA$25,000112024
North Carolina State University - ParentRaleigh, NC$25,000112021
North Penn Valley Boys and Girls ClubLansdale, PA$25,000112024
North Penn Young Mens Christian AssociationColmar, PA$25,000112021
Perkiomen Watershed ConservancySchwenksville, PA$25,000112024
Ronald Mcdonald House of Durham and Wake IncDurham, NC$25,000112022
San Bruno Mountain WatchBrisbane, CA$25,000112024
San Francisco Food BankSan Francisco, CA$25,000112024
The Franklin InstitutePhiladelphia, PA$25,000112024
Vision to LearnLos Angeles, CA$25,000112024
Wilson Education PartnershipWilson, NC$25,000112024
Young Mens Christian Assoc North PennColmar, PA$25,000112022
Danville Area Community CenterDanville, PA$15,000112024
The Good Samaritan MissionDanville, PA$15,000112024

23 of 117 (20%) 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 33%, across 3 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.

Plus 187 grants to individuals totalling $59.8M -- scholarships, hardship and emergency assistance. We deliberately do not publish the names of people who received them, even though the filings do.

What kind of organizations it funds

By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 80 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.

Education
11 grants
Environment
11 grants
Health Care
8 grants
Human Services
7 grants
Recreation & Sports
6 grants
Science & Technology
5 grants
Community Improvement
5 grants
Youth Development
5 grants

Giving by year

Tax yearGrantsTotalMedian grant
202124$3,311,200$50,000
202233$5,162,430$50,000
202316$3,497,438$150,000
202478$25.4M$50,000

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. 33% of this one's giving went to organizations in New Jersey. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.

New Jersey
$12.2M
Maryland
$2.9M
District of Columbia
$2.4M
New Mexico
$1.7M
Virginia
$1.6M
Pennsylvania
$1.4M
Pennsylvania
$1.3M
New Jersey
$1.1M

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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.

American Online Giving Foundation Inc44 shared recipientsFidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund43 shared recipientsDonor Advised Charitable Giving Inc36 shared recipientsVanguard Charitable Endowment Program32 shared recipientsCharities Aid Foundation America29 shared recipientsNational Philanthropic Trust28 shared recipients

How to approach this foundation

  1. Check you are its size. The median grant is $50,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
  2. Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in New Jersey.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

Related guides

Foundations funding education in New JerseyEvery funder in this group, rankedFoundations funding human services in New JerseyEvery funder in this group, ranked

Where these numbers come from

Everything above is taken from Merck Foundation a New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.

Address of record on the latest return: 126 E Lincoln Avenue, Rahway, NJ, 07065. 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 22-6028476 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this

This is history, not an open call. Foundation returns are published about a year after the tax year ends. Nothing on this page is a deadline. It is a record of who this foundation has actually funded, which is the best available predictor of who it will fund next -- and a much better basis for deciding whether to write to them than a mission statement.

Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email hello@funderscope.com and we will correct it.