Merkin Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations, so a small charity should not send it a cold proposal; the only route stated is by invitation.
- Its stated themes are biomedical technology, research and education, and its recipients include educational institutions and other public charities, so work well outside those areas is a weaker fit.
- Across its two most recent filings, half of its 31 grants to organisations were $60,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $10,000 and $2,000,000, so a modest request is in line with most of its giving, though that band is typical rather than a limit, as its largest grant was $5,600,000.
- In its most recent filing, 69% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had funded before, so a charity new to the foundation would be competing with groups it already supports.
- The filings show grants mainly in California, Massachusetts and Maryland, but no geographic focus is stated, so that pattern is not a rule about who may apply.
Overview
Merkin Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Marina Del Rey, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (heritageprovidernetwork.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation states that it supports biomedical technology, research, education and the institutions doing that work. Its filings show substantial support for education and medical research, including grants to universities and research institutes. They also record smaller grants for telehealth, arts and education, foster-youth support and life-skills programmes. Its recipients include educational institutions and other public charities. The filing limits contributions to preselected charitable organisations and says unsolicited requests are not accepted. The stated approach is institutional support for organisations working across scientific and educational fields.
Themes
- Biomedical technology
- Research
- Education
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California, Massachusetts and Maryland.
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2023 filing, 69% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2023 filings, half of its 31 grants to organisations were $60,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2023.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 31% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2023, 69% of grant dollars went to organisations Merkin Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 14 grants in tax year 2023 by size
Median $55,000 (tax year 2023)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Milken Institute · Education$5,600,0002023 tax year
- Johns Hopkins University · Medical research$2,000,0002023 tax year
- University of California San Diego · Education$500,0002023 tax year
- California Institute of Technology · Education$400,0002023 tax year
- Maven Project · Telehealth$300,0002023 tax year
- Regents of the University of California · Education$150,0002023 tax year
- Prostate Cancer Foundation · Medical and cancer research$60,0002023 tax year
- Harold & Carole Pump Foundation · Medical research$50,0002023 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Anne Wymer — Secretary / Treasurer
- Richard Merkin — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $12,323,764 | $11,734,000 | $268,637,437 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $11,269,010 | $9,180,000 | $309,793,991 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to Merkin Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Marina Del Rey, CA
Applying to Merkin Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Marina Del Rey, CA