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· Private foundation

Merjent Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$40k
Granted FY2025still arriving
18
Grants FY2025still arriving
9
States reached
$8k
Largest
01What it funds
0194% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2019 to 2025.

Food & Nutrition$52kEducation$47kHuman Services$30kPublic Safety & Disaster$22kHousing & Shelter$22kEmployment$11kPhilanthropy$8kHealth$7kOther$0
02FY2025 · 18 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$2,000
Median grant
9
States reached
$84k
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
FOOD BANK OF ALASKA$8,000
2025 - SCHOLARSHIP UNIV OF MARYLND$3,500
2025 - SCHOLARSHIP UW STEVEN PT$2,500
2025 - SCHOLARSHIP UNIV OF ARIZONA$2,500
DOWNTOWN DAILY BREAD$2,000
THE GATHERING SOURCE$2,000
SOUTH KITSAP HELPLINE$2,000
KINSHIP COMMUNITY FOOD CENTER$2,000
TEMPE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY$2,000
WELD FOOD BANK$2,000
NATIVE HEALTH FOOD PANTRY$2,000
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY ASST PROG$2,000
PRISM$2,000
Individual grant recipient$2,000
NAVAJO RELIEF FUND$2,000
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:

Its human-services grants (FY19–25, $48k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 85% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%PREPARE PROSPER: $500 → 14%DOWNTOWN DAILY BREAD: $2k → 12%KIDS MEALS INC: $8k → 16%GOLDEN HOUSE: $3k → 10%SAFE HOUSE DENVER: $3k → 12%SOUTH KITSAP HELPLINE: $2k → 10%KAITLYN'S KLOSET: $2k → 6%GREATER MINNEAPOLIS CRISIS NURSERY: $3k → 11%AMERICAN RED CROSS: $10k → 14%CARLY MAY FOUNDATION: $500 → 6%THE LINK: $5k → 11%REDEEMER CENTER FOR LIFE: $1k → 11%FAITH'S LODGE: $1k → 11%FAITH'S LODGE: $1k → 11%PRISM: $2k → 11%AVIVO: $5k → 11%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

AK
WA
ND
MN
WI
MI
SD
IA
IN
PA
NJ
CA
CO
NE
MD
AZ
DC
LA
GA
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
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

13%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$29k · 9 repeat orgs$200k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +95% since the first grant, against +14% for those funded once.

9 repeat relationships: 2 still active in FY2025, 7 since wound down; 16 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

9
63

Total granted

$29k
$160k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+95%
+14%

Still filing today

78%
48%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 1% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $40k went to new ones.

50%100%’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Human ServicesFood & NutritionHousing & ShelterEmploymentHealthCrime & LegalOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • TL
    The Lift Garage
    2× · 2020–2021 · $11k · revenue +95%
  • EM
    EVERY MEAL
    2× · 2020–2023 · $4k · revenue +558%
  • PS
    PEOPLE SERVING PEOPLE INC
    2× · 2019–2020 · $3k · revenue +318%

Funded once

  • AN
    American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches
    one grant, 2024 · $10k · revenue +3%
  • 23
    2022 - 3 SCHOLARSHIPS - UMTC
    one grant, 2022 · $9k
  • KM
    KIDS' MEALS INC
    one grant, 2023 · $8k · revenue +17%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

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
Great Plains Food Bank

End hunger together.

Food & Nutrition
2
Nourishing Hope

Nourishing hope provides food, mental health support, and social services to help all our neighbors thrive.

—
3
Second Harvest North Central Food Bank

Engaging the community to end hunger

—
4
The Open Door

The open door is a leading hunger-relief organization serving dakota county, minnesota, where food insecurity is a growing challenge. the open door is dedicated to ending local hunger by providing access to healthy, fresh, and nutritious…

Food & Nutrition
5
Second Harvest Northland

End hunger together in NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin.

—
6
The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri

The food bank for central & northeast missouri is a regional disaster and hunger relief network that acquires and distributes millions of meals each year to help neighbors get the food they need to thrive. (continued on schedule o)the…

Food & Nutrition
7
Family Pathways

Family Pathways works alongside people to enhance lives through a continuum of essential services and, together with community, champions positive social change.

Human Services
8
United Food Bank

United Food Bank unites communities to alleviate hunger.

Food & Nutrition
9
Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless

Since 1986, open your heart to the hungry and homeless has worked to ensureevery minnesotan is free from hunger and homelessness. by partnering with organizations serving those in need, we grow donor engagement and raise awareness to…

—
10
The Food Bank for Larimer County

To provide food to all in need through community partnerships and hunger relief programs. Our vision is a hunger-free Larimer County.

Food & Nutrition
11
Coralville Community Food Pantry

We believe that food is a human right and that food has the power to bring people together. Our vision is to build a stronger, healthier, and hunger-free Coralville community. Powered by community support, the Coralville Community Food…

Food & Nutrition
12
Veap Inc

VEAP is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, multi-service, human service organization with the mission of "Together, we create pathways to stronger, more hopeful, communities through access to healthy food, housing stability and supportive services."

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is People Serving People Inc; the most unlike its peers is Redeemer Center for Life Inc. 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

45 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. 45 of the 88 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.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
8
Early backer (in before they grew)
45/45
Grantees still filing
28/45
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

2022 - 3 SCHOLARSHIPS - UMTC: $8,500 · Other2022 - 3 SCHOLARSHIPS - UMTCSHARE OUR STRENGTH: $7,000 · OtherSHARE OUR STRENGTHNORTHERN MICHIGAN SUPPORTIVE HOUSIN: $5,000 · Other+51 more: $102,400 · Other+51 moreAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $10,000 · Human ServicesAmerican National Red C…KIDS' MEALS INC: $8,000 · Human ServicesKIDS' MEALS INCAVIVO: $5,000 · Human ServicesAVIVOTHE LINK: $5,000 · Human ServicesTHE LINKSAFEHOUSE DENVER INC: $2,500 · Human ServicesGREATER MINNEAPOLIS CRISIS NURSERY: $2,500 · Human ServicesGOLDEN HOUSE INC: $2,500 · Human ServicesDOWNTOWN DAILY BREAD: $2,000 · Human ServicesCHILD LOSS FOUNDATION: $2,000 · Human ServicesPEOPLE RESPONDING IN SOCIAL MINISTRY: $2,000 · Human ServicesKAITLYNS KLOSET MN: $2,000 · Human ServicesSOUTH KITSAP HELPLINE: $2,000 · Human Services+3 more: $2,000 · Human ServicesFood Bank of Alaska: $8,000 · Food & NutritionFood Bank of…EVERY MEAL: $3,500 · Food & NutritionEVERY MEALSECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND: $2,350 · Food & NutritionSECOND HARVE…The Gathering Source Inc: $2,000 · Food & NutritionThe Gatherin…FOOD GROUP MINNESOTA INC THE: $2,000 · Food & NutritionFOOD GROUP M…WELD FOOD BANK: $2,000 · Food & NutritionWELD FOOD BA…HUNGER IMPACT PARTNERS: $2,000 · Food & NutritionHUNGER IMPAC…FOOD FOR THOUGHT: $1,000 · Food & NutritionPAUL'S PANTRY INC: $1,000 · Food & NutritionNORTH COUNTRY FOOD ALLIANCE: $1,000 · Food & NutritionThe Lift Garage: $10,500 · EmploymentMINNESOTA ASSISTANCE COUNCIL FOR VETERANS: $5,000 · EmploymentTUBMAN: $5,500 · HealthHouse of Hope Inc: $1,000 · HealthPEOPLE SERVING PEOPLE INC: $3,000 · Housing & ShelterCOTS INC: $2,500 · Housing & ShelterPILLARS INC: $1,000 · Housing & ShelterNative American Heritage Association: $2,500 · Crime & LegalNORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE: $2,000 · Crime & Legal
Other$122,900Human Services$47,500Food & Nutrition$24,850Employment$15,500Health$6,500Housing & Shelter$6,500Crime & Legal$4,500

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 budgetThe Lift Garage: $10,500 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFood Bank of Alaska: $8,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetKIDS' MEALS INC: $8,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSHARE OUR STRENGTH: $7,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTUBMAN: $5,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetAVIVO: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMINNESOTA ASSISTANCE COUNCIL FOR VETERANS: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE LINK: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTEAM RUBICON INC: $4,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetEVERY MEAL: $3,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetPEOPLE SERVING PEOPLE INC: $3,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetNative American Heritage Association: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSAFEHOUSE DENVER INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCOTS INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetGREATER MINNEAPOLIS CRISIS NURSERY: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetGOLDEN HOUSE INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND: $2,350 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetCHILD LOSS FOUNDATION: $2,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetNORTHSIDE ACHIEVEMENT ZONE: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetThe Gathering Source Inc: $2,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetFOOD GROUP MINNESOTA INC THE: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPEOPLE RESPONDING IN SOCIAL MINISTRY: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetKAITLYNS KLOSET MN: $2,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetSPRINGBOARD FOR THE ARTS: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetWELD FOOD BANK: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHUNGER IMPACT PARTNERS: $2,000 over 1y, 0.7% of budgetSOUTH KITSAP HELPLINE: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTempe Community Action Agency Inc: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTREES FOR TOMORROW INC: $1,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetWILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER OF MINNESOTA: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budget180 DEGREES INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetKIDS IN NEED FOUNDATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetARROWHEAD ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AGENCY INCORPORATED: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPILLARS INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetRedeemer Center for Life Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetPAUL'S PANTRY INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHouse of Hope Inc: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNORTH COUNTRY FOOD ALLIANCE: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetDRAVET SYNDROME FOUNDATION INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCARLY MAY FOUNDATION: $500 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetPrepare and Prosper: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAnimal Humane Society: $50 over 1y, 0.0% 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.

  • Who funds The Lift Garage ↗
  • Who funds American National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches ↗
  • Who funds Food Bank of Alaska ↗
  • Who funds KIDS' MEALS INC ↗
  • Who funds SHARE OUR STRENGTH ↗
  • Who funds TUBMAN ↗
  • Who funds AVIVO ↗
  • Who funds MINNESOTA ASSISTANCE COUNCIL FOR VETERANS ↗
  • Who funds THE LINK ↗
  • Who funds TEAM RUBICON INC ↗
  • Who funds EVERY MEAL ↗
  • Who funds PEOPLE SERVING PEOPLE INC ↗
  • Who funds Native American Heritage Association ↗
  • Who funds SAFEHOUSE DENVER INC ↗
  • Who funds COTS INC ↗
  • Who funds GREATER MINNEAPOLIS CRISIS NURSERY ↗
  • Who funds GOLDEN HOUSE INC ↗

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.

Saint Paul & Minnesota FoundationMN26.7× affinity12 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation · Mightycause Charitable Foundation · Otto Bremer Trust · The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation · The Minneapolis Foundation · Xcel Energy Foundation · Ch Robinson Worldwide Foundation · Pentair Foundation · Greater Green Bay Community Foundation Inc · Green Bay Packers Foundation · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Charities Aid Foundation America

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 Merjent Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Merjent Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    1get no government money at all
    13report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    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.

    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 88 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 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

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