Merck Company Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $24.3 million (2023)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Varies by program; invitation-only process
Grant Range: $50,000 - $22,000,000 (varies significantly by program type)
Geographic Focus: National (U.S.) and international, with priority for communities near Merck facilities

Contact Details

Address: 126 E Lincoln Ave, Rahway, NJ 07065-4607
EIN: 22-6028476
Website: www.merck.com/company-overview/sustainability/philanthropy/merck-foundation/
Established: 1957

Overview

The Merck Company Foundation is a private charitable organization established in 1957 by Merck & Co., Inc., and serves as the company's chief source of financial support for eligible nonprofit organizations. The Foundation has contributed nearly $1 billion to support innovative programs and partnerships addressing important global health and societal needs. In 2023, the Foundation distributed $24,333,666 across 55 grants, with total assets exceeding $371 million. The Foundation operates under the vision that all people should have access to the high-quality healthcare they need and deserve, working to reduce health disparities through strategic philanthropic programs and partnerships. President Allison Goldberg leads the Foundation, aligning its corporate giving strategy with Merck's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) priorities, specifically focusing on expanding global access to health.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Major Multi-Year Initiatives (Invitation-Only):

Collaborative for Equity in Cardiac Care: $22 million over five years supporting 11 organizations
Alliance for Equity in Cancer Care: $20 million over five years
HIV Care Connect: $4.7 million over five years for multi-site initiatives in the Southeastern U.S.
Bridging the Gap: Reducing Disparities in Diabetes Care: Five-year initiative supporting eight program grantees

Solutions for Healthy Communities Grant Program (Application-Based):

Grant Range: $50,000 - $300,000 over two years
Focus: Locally-led solutions to advance equitable access to healthcare for underserved populations
Eligibility: Non-profit organizations supporting communities within 50 miles of a U.S. Merck site
2024 Results: 36 projects from 24 countries received $7 million collectively
Application Method: Application template required; deadline typically in February

Employee Matching Gifts Program:

Match Ratio: 1:1 (dollar-for-dollar)
Minimum: $25 per organization
Maximum: $30,000 per eligible donor per calendar year
Eligible Categories: Arts and culture, education, environment, animal welfare, health, and human services
Volunteer Grants: $500 for 40 hours volunteered; $1,000 for 80 hours

Priority Areas

The Foundation focuses on two primary areas: health and community, with special emphasis on:

Improving healthcare quality and capacity in underserved populations
Reducing health disparities for people living with cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS
Advancing equitable access to health care through sustainable solutions
Strengthening health systems to improve delivery of high-quality care
Empowering patients as active participants in managing their health
Supporting maternal health outcomes globally (through Merck for Mothers initiative)
Promoting cross-cutting interventions at patient, provider, and health system levels
Building meaningful collaborations with community partners for sustainable improvements
Supporting health and disaster response priorities in communities where employees live and work

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation explicitly excludes:

Organizations that discriminate based on race, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, national origin, veteran status, or disability
Gifts to educational or community organizations for purposes specifically related to an employee's child's class or team (fundraisers, field trips)
Gifts that derive any form of benefit for the employee or family member (tuition, dues, fees, tickets, raffle tickets, auction items, membership, magazine subscriptions, athletic event participation)
Organizations that advance efforts that are strictly sectarian, political, lobbying, labor, or fraternal in nature
Organizations deemed not appropriate recipients for charitable funds (at Foundation's discretion)

Governance and Leadership

President: Allison Goldberg, who also serves as Executive Director of Charitable Contributions at Merck. Goldberg brings over 15 years of experience driving public health and business outcomes and holds a Ph.D. in Public Health and Political Science from Columbia University. As a recognized expert in corporate philanthropy, she has aligned the Foundation's giving strategy with Merck's ESG priorities.

Quote from Leadership: Allison Goldberg stated, "I am so proud of our company's long-standing commitment to our Merck for Mothers initiative, which is dedicated to improving maternal health outcomes around the world."

Organizational Statement: The Foundation emphasizes, "No one strategy is sufficient to reach people from underserved communities who are living with diseases like cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS with the high-quality health care they deserve."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: The Merck Foundation and Social Impact and Sustainability division do not accept unsolicited proposals for most grant programs. The Foundation primarily operates on an invitation-only basis.

Exceptions - Programs with Application Processes:

Solutions for Healthy Communities: Organizations can apply through an official application template. Applications typically due in February for the following grant cycle.
Specific Initiatives with Open Calls: Periodically, the Foundation announces specific initiatives (such as the Collaborative for Equity in Cardiac Care) that use a two-stage process:
- Stage 1: Letter of Intent (LOI) submission
- Stage 2: Select organizations invited to submit full proposals after LOI review

Application Requirements (when applicable):

Submit proposals through the online grants management system
Complete official application template
Include project abstract (no more than one paragraph)
Define measurable and realistic project objectives
Provide project implementation timetable with major milestones
Demonstrate alignment with Foundation's funding priorities

Eligibility:

Designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
Public charities located in the United States or Puerto Rico holding tax-exempt status
Instrumentalities of federal, state, or local government as provided by section 170(c)(1)
Organizations with interests and experience aligned with Foundation's giving priorities

Getting on Their Radar

The Merck Company Foundation operates primarily through strategic partnerships and invitation-only processes. Based on documented approaches:

For U.S.-Based Organizations:

Geographic proximity: Priority given to organizations within 50 miles of Merck sites (for community programs like Solutions for Healthy Communities)
Monitor specific program announcements: The Foundation periodically announces targeted initiatives with open application periods
Institutional partnerships: The Foundation values collaboration with government health agencies, medical societies, and established healthcare organizations

For International Organizations:

Work through official channels: Requests from Ministries of Health or First Ladies' offices are preferable for international programs
Recommendation letters: Individual requests should include recommendations from MOH or First Lady offices

Strategic Alignment Factors:

Demonstrated focus on underserved populations in Foundation's priority disease areas
Evidence-based or promising practices in healthcare delivery
Multi-level interventions addressing patient, provider, and health system challenges
Strong community partnerships demonstrating potential for sustainable impact
Regional stakeholder collaboration approaches

Decision Timeline

For Targeted Programs:

Collaborative for Equity in Cardiac Care (2025): Notification by March 7, 2025; awards announced Q2 2025
Solutions for Healthy Communities: Applications due February; awards announced later in the year
Processing varies by program and initiative

General Process:

Matching gifts processed monthly (can take up to three weeks following month end)
Match requests must be submitted within 180 days of donation date
Upon completion of review processes, applicants are notified regarding outcomes
Unsuccessful applicants notified by email; detailed feedback not provided at abstract submission stage due to high volume

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly disclosed. Grant activity shows:

55 awards in 2023
98 awards in 2022
101 awards in 2021

Average grant size approximately $50,000, though this varies dramatically between small community grants and large multi-year initiatives ranging into millions of dollars.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly documented. Given the invitation-only nature of most programs, unsuccessful applicants should focus on building strategic alignment and partnerships rather than immediate resubmission.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Priorities

Multi-Level Interventions: The Foundation prioritizes programs that implement cross-cutting interventions addressing multiple disease types and integrate intervention components at different levels of the healthcare ecosystem: patient, provider/healthcare team, and health system.

Evidence-Based Approaches: Proposals should incorporate scientific evidence-based or promising practices, demonstrating how interventions are grounded in research.

Sustainability Through Partnerships: The Foundation emphasizes "building meaningful collaborations with community partners to promote sustainable improvements in care delivery and quality." Projects should demonstrate how they will create lasting change beyond the grant period.

Health Equity Focus: Successful applications address health disparities in underserved communities. The Foundation seeks programs that advance equitable access to health for populations facing barriers to care.

Regional Collaboration: The Foundation "tends to fund projects that get regional stakeholders to collaborate on improving healthcare for many people," favoring approaches that bring together governmental and civil society actors.

Examples of Funded Projects

Cancer Care:

Alliance to Advance Patient-Centered Cancer Care received up to $15 million to improve access to high-quality cancer care in underserved communities through programs that integrate interventions across patient, provider, and system levels

Cardiovascular Care:

11 organizations funded through $22 million Collaborative for Equity in Cardiac Care initiative

HIV/AIDS:

HIV Care Connect: $4.7 million supporting multi-site initiatives in Southeastern U.S., reaching populations with HIV/AIDS in underserved communities
Enhancing HIV Care and Treatment in South Africa: $2 million

Diabetes:

Eight program grantees supported through the five-year "Bridging the Gap: Reducing Disparities in Diabetes Care" initiative

Solutions for Healthy Communities (2024):

36 projects from 24 countries spanning oncology, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sexual and reproductive health, and maternal and child health

Key Grant Recipient Examples (2024)

Based on transparency data, recent recipients include:

International AIDS Society-USA: $324,000 for HIV Disease National Program
International Papillomavirus Society: $20,000 for Maurice Hilleman Award
Johns Hopkins University: Healthcare-related programs
American Society of Clinical Oncology: Professional education and care quality
National Foundation for Infectious Diseases: $50,000 for Immunization Webinars
North American Thrombosis Forum: $5,000

What the Foundation Values

From Foundation Principles: "Addressing global health needs where they can have a substantial impact; addressing health disparities in underserved communities; collaborating with diverse partners to build healthier, stronger communities; and leveraging their resources — financial, product and expertise — to achieve greater positive impact on health outcomes."

Capacity Building: The Foundation values long-term partnerships that build institutional capacity, as demonstrated through multi-year commitments and capacity advancement programs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Invitation-only for most programs: Do not submit unsolicited proposals. Instead, monitor the Foundation's website for specific program announcements with open application processes like Solutions for Healthy Communities.
Geographic strategy matters: Organizations within 50 miles of Merck sites have access to community-focused grant programs; proximity to Merck facilities increases funding opportunities.
Think big and multi-year: The Foundation favors comprehensive, multi-year initiatives ($4.7M - $22M range) that address health disparities at multiple levels of the healthcare system rather than single interventions.
Evidence and sustainability are critical: Proposals must incorporate evidence-based practices and demonstrate sustainable impact through meaningful community partnerships beyond the grant period.
Multi-stakeholder collaboration: Successful projects bring together diverse partners including government agencies, healthcare providers, community organizations, and civil society actors to create regional solutions.
Focus on underserved populations: All proposals should clearly articulate how they reduce health disparities and improve access to quality healthcare for underserved communities in the Foundation's priority disease areas (cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS).
Employee matching gifts offer alternative entry point: While major grants are invitation-only, organizations can benefit from Merck's generous matching gift program ($30,000 annual maximum per employee) and volunteer grants ($500-$1,000), which may help build awareness.

References

All references accessed December 2024