Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation
Sioux Falls, South Dakota · EIN 137231616 · Private foundation
Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation is a private foundation based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Its most recent IRS Form 990-PF reports $57.4M in grants paid and $662.7M in total assets. Bespoke Grants tracks 45 individual grants from this funder — $114.4M awarded across 2020–2024 — including its support for arts & culture. Below is its full funding profile.
What Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation funds
Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on arts & culture, higher education, housing & homelessness, youth development.
Populations it has supported include homeless population, low-income communities, veterans, youth pop.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tunnels to Towers TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE IN ACCORDANCE WITH DONEE'S MISSION STATEMENT | Staten Island, NY | $52.1M | 2024 |
| Southwest Florida Water Management District DONATION OF LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION OF WATER RESOURCES IN WEST-CENTRAL FLORIDA | Brooksville, FL | $47.7M | 2020 |
| Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation TO HONOR THE SACRIFICE OF FIREFIGHTER STEPHEN SILLER WHO LAID DOWN HIS LIFE TO SAVE OTHERS ON 9/11 | Staten Island, NY | $8.7M | 2020 |
| Pines Foundation GENERAL PURPOSES | Sarasota, FL | $1.0M | 2024 |
| Pines Foundation GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Sarasota, FL | $1.0M | 2023 |
| Hope for New York TO SERVE NEW YORK'S MOST MARGINALIZED RESIDENTS INCLUDING AT RISK YOUTH AND THE HOMELESS | New York, NY | $500K | 2020 |
| Hope for New York TO SERVE NEW YORK'S MOST MARGINALIZED RESIDENTS INCLUDING AT RISK YOUTH AND THE HOMELESS | New York, NY | $500K | 2022 |
| Freedom Alliance $200,000 TO STUDENTS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM; $150,000 TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS PROGRAM; $25,000 TO STUDENT OUTREACH PROJECT; $15,000 TO GIFTS FROM | Winchester, VA | $400K | 2024 |
| Freedom Alliance TO ADVANCE THE AMERICAN HERITAGE OF FREEDOM BY HONORING MILITARY SERVICE | Dulles, VA | $400K | 2023 |
| Freedom Alliance TO ADVANCE THE AMERICAN HERITAGE OF FREEDOM BY HONORING MILITARY SERVICE | Dulles, VA | $350K | 2022 |
| Freedom Alliance TO ADVANCE THE AMERICAN HERITAGE OF FREEDOM BY HONORING MILITARY SERVICE | Dulles, VA | $300K | 2020 |
| Hope for New York TO SERVE NEW YORK'S MOST MARGINALIZED RESIDENTS INCLUDING AT RISK YOUTH AND THE HOMELESS | New York, NY | $250K | 2023 |
| Tunnels to Towers TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE IN ACCORDANCE WITH DONEE'S MISSION STATEMENT. | Staten Island, NY | $200K | 2023 |
| Hope for New York $20,000 TO AVAIL NYC; $20,000 TO CITY RELIEF; $10,000 TO DON'T WALK BY; $20,000 TO EXPECT HOPE; $10,000 TO HIS TOY STORE; $20,000 TO NEW BEG | New York, NY | $200K | 2024 |
| Tunnels to Towers TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE IN ACCORDANCE WITH DONEE'S MISSION STATEMENT. | Staten Island, NY | $120K | 2022 |
Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation
From Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation's IRS Form 990-PF, on how it handles applications:
Verify the current process on the foundation's own materials before sending anything. You can review the foundation directly at mertzfoundation.org.
Is Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?
This page shows what Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.
Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation
- Does Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation accept grant applications?
- Yes — Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation's IRS filing describes an application process. Confirm the current details directly with the foundation before applying.
- What does Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation fund?
- Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation's grants focus on arts & culture. Recent recipients include Tunnels to Towers, Southwest Florida Water Management District, Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation give in grants?
- Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation reported $57.4M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $114.4M over 45 grants.
- Where is Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation located?
- Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation is based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 137231616.
- How can I find foundations similar to Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.
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