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Mercer Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Mercer Family Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$15M
Granted FY2017
37
Grants FY2017
12
States reached
$2.0M
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead

Read this first · the figures below need context

100% of Mercer Family Foundation’s FY2024 grant dollars went to Donors Trust Inc, not to grantees.

Its money now reaches organizations through that sponsor, which does not report who recommended each grant. FY2024 names 0 organizations directly, so a portfolio cannot be read from it. Everything below is therefore FY2017, the last year Mercer Family Foundation named its own grantees at scale: 26 organizations, $15M. It is dated, not current.

Organizations named directly on the return

26
’17
2
’19
1
’20
4
’21
0
’22
0
’23
0
’24

Amber years are those where most dollars went to a sponsor.

01What it funds
0198% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Philanthropy$65MHealth$8.4MPublic Benefit$4.3MArts & Culture$2.8MScience & Tech$1.9MEducation$945kSocial Science$850kCrime & Legal$636kOther$0
02FY2017 · 37 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2017

  • $10k–50k10 grants · $200k
  • $50k–250k9 grants · $1.3M
  • $250k+18 grants · $14M
$200,000
Median grant
12
States reached
$88M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
MEDIA RESERACH CENTER$2,000,000
RECLAIM NEW YORK INC$1,760,000
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY INSTITUTE$1,725,000
HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY$1,000,000
Individual grant recipient$800,000
COLD SPRING HARBOR LAB$750,000
LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION FUND$635,802
MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY$625,000
SUCCESS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLS$550,000
DONORS TRUST$500,000
OISM$500,000
THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY$500,000
SUSAN B ANTHONY LIST INC ED FD$500,000
MANHATTAN INST FOR POLICY RESEARCH$450,000
THE BECKET FUND$400,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Dollar for dollar, its grants (FY17–24) land where the poverty rate runs at 10%, against an area that typically sits at 7%. 96% of its dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 7%UNITED STATES COMMON SENSE: $100k → 8%MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES RESERACH INST: $400k → 10%COLD SPRING HARBOR LAB: $750k → 7%EMPRIE CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY: $100k → 14%WORLD SCIENCE FOUNDATION: $295k → 17%NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN: $10k → 28%VISION MEXICO: $25k → 21%THE ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT LEGAL INST: $200k → 14%GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY INSTITUTE: $1.7M → 19%THE FAMILY LEADER FOUNDATION: $25k → 5%LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION FUND: $636k → 8%OISM: $500k → 18%The Ohio State University: $150k → 15%THE HEARTLAND INSTITUE: $800k → 14%THE ANGLOSPHERE SOCIETY: $25k → 7%MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION: $20k → 6%MEDIA RESERACH CENTER: $2.0M → 6%THE LEADERSHIP INSTITIUTE: $15k → 7%Donors Trust: $31.0M → 9%THE CALVIN COOLIDGE FOUNDATION: $130k → 9%Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America: $100k → 6%THE PECONIC LAND TRUST: $15k → 7%Hospital for Special Surgery: $6.8M → 17%CENTER FOR UNION FACTS: $150k → 14%Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine: $250k → 18%AMERICAN ASSOC FOR AEROSOL RESEACH: $30k → 6%CO2 COALITION: $170k → 7%Donors Trust: $19.3M → 9%HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY: $1.0M → 17%CATO INSTITUTE: $300k → 14%SUSAN B ANTHONY LIST INC ED FD: $500k → 7%Donors Trust: $5.8M → 9%Explorer's Club: $100k → 17%THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY: $500k → 14%AMERICAN PRINCIPALS PROJECT: $25k → 7%Donors Trust: $3.8M → 9%THE FRICK COLLECTION: $20k → 17%THE BECKET FUND: $400k → 14%Donors Trust: $3.5M → 9%FOUNDATION FOR CULTURAL REVIEWING: $150k → 17%DONORS TRUST: $1.4M → 9%SUCCESS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLS: $550k → 17%DONORS TRUST: $500k → 9%RECLAIM NEW YORK INC: $1.8M → 17%MANHATTAN INST FOR POLICY RESEARCH: $450k → 17%MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: $625k → 17%GATESTONE INSTITUTE: $200k → 17%JDRF: $132k → 17%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

VT
IL
MI
NY
OR
IA
OH
NJ
CA
VA
MD
DC
TX
FL
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
United States Naval Institute

Provide an independent forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to global security.

—
2
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Advance science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all. the world's largest multidisciplinary scientific society and a leading publisher of cutting-edge research through its science family of journals,…

Science & Tech
3
Foreign Policy Research Institute

The foreign policy research institute (frpi) is dedicated to producing the highest quality scholarship and nonpartisan policy analysis focused on crucial foreign policy and national security challenges facing the united states. we educate…

International
4
American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research

The american enterprise institute is a community of scholars and supporters committed to expanding liberty, increasing individual opportunity, and strengthening free enterprise. aei pursues these ideals through independent thinking and the…

Social Science
5
Open Markets Institute

The open markets institute works to help people relearn how to use competition policy to build stronger democracies, more just and equitable societies, more innovative and sustainable economies, and a more secure and peaceful world.

Education
6
The International Institute for Strategic Studies - Us

To provide accurate, objective information and analysis on international strategic issues for legislators, diplomats, foreign affairs analysts, international business leaders, economists, the military, defense commentators, journalists,…

International
7
The American Assembly

A national non partisan public policy forum to illuminate issues of public policy.

—
8
Pew Research Center

Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan "fact tank" that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. Pew Research Center generates a foundation of facts that enriches the public dialogue and…

Social Science
9
American Astronomical Society

The american astronomical society (aas), established in 1899, is the major organization of professional astronomers in north america. the basic objective of the aas is to promote the advancement of astronomy and closely related branches of…

Science & Tech
10
Legal Advocates for Safe Science and Technology Inc

Using legal advocacy to make advances in science and technology safer for people and the planet.

Science & Tech
11
National Opinion Research Center

See schedule onorc at the university of chicago conducts research and data science on critical societal issues to guide decision-making and the development of programs and public policy. our experts identify relationships and trends, and…

Social Science
12
Peter G Peterson Institute for International Economics

The peterson institute for international economics (piie) is an independent nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization dedicated to strengthening prosperity and human welfare in the global economy through expert analysis and practical…

Social Science
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies; the most unlike its peers is Breakthrough T1D. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

32 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 32 of the 42 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

6
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
12
Early backer (in before they grew)
30/32
Grantees still filing
26/32
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Donors Trust Inc: $65,200,000 · PhilanthropyDonors Trust IncHospital for Special Surgery: $7,772,269 · OtherHospital for Spe…Individual grant recipient: $800,000 · OtherIndividual grant…LAW ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION FUND: $635,802 · OtherMUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: $625,000 · OtherTHE FEDERALIST SOCIETY FOR LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY STUDIES: $500,000 · OtherSUSAN B ANTHONY LIST INC ED FD: $500,000 · OtherOISM: $500,000 · Other+15 more: $1,586,778 · Other+15 moreRECLAIM NEW YORK INC: $1,760,000 · Civil RightsGOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY INSTITUTE: $1,725,000 · Civil Rights+1 more: $25,000 · Civil RightsMEDIA RESEARCH CENTER: $2,000,000 · Arts & CultureFOUNDATION FOR CULTURAL REVIEW: $150,000 · Arts & CultureCOLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY: $750,000 · Science & TechSIMONS LAUFER MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES INSTITUTE: $400,000 · Science & TechWORLD SCIENCE FOUNDATION: $294,500 · Science & TechOREGON INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE: $250,000 · Science & TechTHE EXPLORERS CLUB: $100,000 · Science & Tech+1 more: $57,000 · Science & TechMANHATTAN INSTITUTE FOR POLICY RESEARCH INC: $450,000 · Public BenefitCATO INSTITUTE: $300,000 · Public BenefitCENTER FOR UNION FACTS: $150,000 · Public Benefit+1 more: $15,000 · Public BenefitSUCCESS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLS INC: $550,000 · EducationGATESTONE INSTITUTE: $200,000 · Education+2 more: $45,000 · Education
Philanthropy$65,200,000Other$12,919,849Civil Rights$3,510,000Arts & Culture$2,150,000Science & Tech$1,851,500Public Benefit$915,000Education$795,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetDonors Trust Inc: $65,200,000 over 7y, 9.6% of budgetMEDIA RESEARCH CENTER: $2,000,000 over 1y, 14% of budgetRECLAIM NEW YORK INC: $1,760,000 over 1y, 95% of budgetGOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY INSTITUTE: $1,725,000 over 1y, 70% of budgetCOLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY: $750,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetSUCCESS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOLS INC: $550,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetTHE FEDERALIST SOCIETY FOR LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY STUDIES: $500,000 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetMANHATTAN INSTITUTE FOR POLICY RESEARCH INC: $450,000 over 1y, 2.4% of budgetSIMONS LAUFER MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES INSTITUTE: $400,000 over 1y, 2.6% of budgetCATO INSTITUTE: $300,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetWORLD SCIENCE FOUNDATION: $294,500 over 1y, 6.0% of budgetGATESTONE INSTITUTE: $200,000 over 1y, 9.1% of budgetENERGY & ENVIRONMENT LEGAL INSTITUTE: $200,000 over 1y, 26% of budgetCO2 COALITION: $170,000 over 1y, 26% of budgetCENTER FOR UNION FACTS: $150,000 over 1y, 53% of budgetBREAKTHROUGH T1D: $132,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetUNITED STATES COMMON SENSE DBA ARGIVE: $100,000 over 1y, 25% of budgetTHE EXPLORERS CLUB: $100,000 over 1y, 2.3% of budgetFederation of Tamil Sangams of North America: $100,000 over 1y, 6.2% of budgetThe American Association for Aerosol Research Inc: $57,000 over 4y, 4.6% of budgetTHE FAMILY LEADER FOUNDATION INC: $25,000 over 1y, 2.4% of budgetAmerican Principles Project: $25,000 over 1y, 3.6% of budgetMARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC: $20,000 over 1y, 1.5% of budgetThe Frick Collection: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPECONIC LAND TRUST INC: $15,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetLeadership Institute: $15,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTEXAS FREEDOM NETWORK: $10,000 over 1y, 1.8% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Donors Trust IncBradley Impact Fund I…The Lynde and Harry B…National Philanthropi…Morgan Stanley Global…Vanguard Charitable E…Natl Christian Charit…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Donors Trust IncVA29.4× affinity12 shared granteesties to 9 of 9Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Donors Trust Inc · Bradley Impact Fund Inc · The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc · National Philanthropic Trust · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Amazonsmile Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Mercer Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Mercer Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 30%6%25%56%100%funder's share of their income ↑0%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    3get no government money at all
    2report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–75%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to Mercer Family Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to Mercer Family Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 42 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2017, released 2017. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Mercer Family’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home