The Mericos Foundation
South Pasadena, California · EIN 953500491 · Private foundation
The Mericos Foundation is a private foundation based in South Pasadena, California. Its most recent IRS Form 990-PF reports $1.8M in grants paid and $50.2M in total assets. Bespoke Grants tracks 476 individual grants from this funder — $14.5M awarded across 2017–2024 — including its support for adult education. Below is its full funding profile.
What The Mericos Foundation funds
The Mericos Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on adult education, arts & culture, civil rights & social justice, community improvement, disability services, and related causes.
Populations it has supported include children, families, homeless population, immigrants & refugees, low-income communities, older adults.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for The Mericos Foundation, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT | Santa Barbara, CA | $400K | 2023 |
| Stanford School of Engineering Graduate Student Fellowship AND GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Stanford, CA | $225K | 2017 |
| United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County CAMP WHITTIER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ($400K OVER 2 YEARS) | Santa Barbara, CA | $200K | 2022 |
| United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT ($400K OVER 2 YEARS) | Santa Barbara, CA | $200K | 2022 |
| Westmont College EQUIPMENT AND PROGRAM START-UP COSTS FOR NEW BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING | South Pasadena, CA | $200K | 2023 |
| Greater Horizons LHAD DAF | Kansas City, MO | $192K | 2023 |
| Midland School MERICOS/WHITTIER SCHOLARSHIP FOR ONE STUDENT/4 YEARS | Los Olivos, CA | $176K | 2019 |
| United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County STRICTLY FOR CAMP WHITTIER EMERGENCY FUND | Santa Barbara, CA | $150K | 2019 |
| Greater Horizons TO SUPPORT VAROUS PUBLIC CHARITIES ON A WIDE VARIETY OF CAUSES. | Kansas City, MO | $150K | 2020 |
| United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND CAPITAL SUPPORT FOR CAMP WHITTIER | Santa Barbara, CA | $150K | 2017 |
| Camp Unalayee CHALLENGE GRANT - GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | South Pasadena, CA | $140K | 2023 |
| United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County CAMP WHITTIER ELECTRICAL UPGRADES | Santa Barbara, CA | $135K | 2024 |
| Garrett's Space GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | Ann Arbor, MI | $130K | 2024 |
| Santa Barbara Zoo MASAI GIRAFFE BREEDING FACILITY CAMPAIGN | Santa Barbara, CA | $125K | 2017 |
| Girls Incorporated of Greater Santa Barbara CHALLENGE GRANT ON CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE | Santa Barbara, CA | $105K | 2017 |
The Mericos Foundation giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from The Mericos Foundation
The Mericos Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal.
Is The Mericos Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?
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Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about The Mericos Foundation
- Does The Mericos Foundation accept grant applications?
- The Mericos Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
- What does The Mericos Foundation fund?
- The Mericos Foundation's grants focus on adult education. Recent recipients include United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County, Stanford School of Engineering, United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does The Mericos Foundation give in grants?
- The Mericos Foundation reported $1.8M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $14.5M over 476 grants.
- Where is The Mericos Foundation located?
- The Mericos Foundation is based in South Pasadena, California. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 953500491.
- How can I find foundations similar to The Mericos Foundation?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like The Mericos 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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