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 indexed IRS Form 990-PF summary (FY2020) 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. This public overview includes selected grant examples.
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.
Selected grant examples
Up to three historical grant examples from public IRS filings are shown below, ordered by amount. This sample is not a complete funding history.
| 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 |
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.
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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. Example recipients include Tunnels to Towers, Southwest Florida Water Management District, Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Up to three historical grant examples appear above. Full indexed grant histories require All access at $19/month.
- How much does Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation give in grants?
- Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation reported $57.4M in grants in an indexed 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?
- Compare priorities, past recipients, and grant sizes with your program. Bespoke Grants includes one free successful search per account, for life, with up to three sourced matches. No card. Further searches and full research cost $19/month.
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