I Am Mercy Foundation

• I Am Mercy Foundation funds work in higher learning, breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty in Philadelphia, academic and pastoral programmes for priests, deacons, religious and laity, and religious activities more broadly, along with support for Catholic elementary schools, neurological disorders, children's health and development, and food, shelter, medical care and education for children in need internationally.
• It operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a speculative approach without prior contact is unlikely to work.
• Typical grants to organisations run from $5,000 to $1,950,000, with a median of $100,000, so a modest request in that range is realistic, though it has made grants as large as $7,550,000.
• Over half of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded before, suggesting it leans towards continuing relationships rather than funding newcomers purely through open calls.
• No geographic focus is stated, so treat any apparent regional pattern in its grants as just that, not a rule about who may apply.

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

• Franciscan University of Steubenville · To fund franciscan university mission for students in washington dc.
  $3,500,0002024 tax year
• Saint Denis Catholic Church · To support religious activities.
  $2,156,6662024 tax year
• Project HOME · To break the cycle of homelessness and poverty in philadelphia.
  $1,709,2392024 tax year
• Thomas Jefferson University - Raphael Center for Neurorestoration · To restore, promote, maintain, and improve function caused by neurological disorders.
  $1,666,6682024 tax year
• Philadelphia Independence Mission Schools · To provide support to a network of catholic elementary schools in philadelphia.
  $1,000,0002024 tax year
• Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary · To support ongoing academic and pastoral programs to priests, deacons, religious and laity.
  $1,000,0002024 tax year
• Congregation Of Holy Cross Us Province · To support educators of faith in the fields of education, parish and mission.
  $500,0002024 tax year
• Becket Fund for Religious Liberty · To support legal activities in defense of religious liberty.
  $500,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

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.