Foundations that fund organizations in Merced, California
Worked out from where the grants went, not where the foundations sit.
Funding landscape for Merced nonprofits
64 private foundations gave $5.5M to Merced organizations in their latest filings; 27 of the 64 that say either way accept applications.
112 grants in total, with a typical foundation's median grant to Merced around $14K. 35 of these funders are based in California; the rest give here from elsewhere.
- Foundations giving here
- 64
- Accept applications
- 27
- of 64 that state a policy
- Dollars to Merced
- $5.5M
- latest filings
- Grants
- 112
- Typical median grant
- $14K
- Based in CA
- 55%
- of funders listed
Funders, by dollars given to Merced organizations
| Foundation | Based in | Grants here | Dollars here | Median | Accepts applications | Typical purposes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Andrew W Mellon Foundation | New York, NY | 2 | $983K | $492K | Yes | To support a new directions fellowship; To support the university's center for the humanities |
| Sunlight Giving | Palo Alto, CA | 6 | $580K | $63K | Preselected only | General support, $235,000 in 2024, $240,000 in 2025, and $2…; General support, $35,000 per year for three years; General support, $150,000 per year for three years |
| Bloss Christine T Tuw-Main | St Louis, MO | 1 | $556K | $556K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Walton Family Foundation Inc | Bentonville, AR | 2 | $555K | $278K | Preselected only | To support Gateway Scholars Programming.; To support expanding the Gateway Scholars Program to the co… |
| The California Endowment | Los Angeles, CA | 2 | $390K | $195K | Preselected only | Promoting health and belonging in lgbtq+ communities in mer…; General operating support |
| The Roots and Wings Foundation Inc | Seattle, WA | 2 | $360K | $180K | Preselected only | Site visit honorarium; Unrestricted grant |
| The James Irvine Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $350K | $350K | Preselected only | To support Better Careers in California |
| Lumina Foundation for Education Inc | Indianapolis, IN | 1 | $300K | $300K | Yes | To conduct an analysis of student family wealth and existin… |
| John Templeton Foundation | West Conshohocken, PA | 1 | $233K | $233K | Yes | Building a science of cultural evolution for the 21st centu… |
| Smith Richardson Foundation Inc | Greensboro, NC | 1 | $125K | $125K | Yes | General operating support |
| College Futures Foundation | Oakland, CA | 2 | $103K | $51K | Preselected only | Program grant; Director donations |
| Legacy Health Endowment | Turlock, CA | 1 | $100K | $100K | Preselected only | Tony weber registered nurse educational support program |
| The Schmidt Family Foundation | Palo Alto, CA | 1 | $90K | $90K | Yes | Working towards a resilient and equitable food system |
| The Henry Luce Foundation Inc | New York, NY | 1 | $75K | $75K | Yes | Support for documentary film production and distribution |
| William T Grant Foundation Inc | New York, NY | 1 | $68K | $68K | Yes | Assessing the effectiveness of school district safe-zone po… |
| Mary Stuart Rogers Foundation | Modesto, CA | 1 | $50K | $50K | Preselected only | General charitable purpose |
| The Spencer Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $50K | $50K | Yes | The effects of special education on crime |
| Elks Park Scholarship & Charity Fun | Merced, CA | 28 | $43K | $1,000 | Preselected only | Donation |
| The Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation C/O Kramer Blum and Associates Inc | San Rafael, CA | 1 | $43K | $43K | Yes | To offer college students and middle school students a prog… |
| Daniel R Martin Family Foundation | Fresno, CA | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | General |
| The Joyce Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $40K | $40K | Yes | Education & economic mobility |
| The Blackstone Charitable Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | Programmatic support for launchpad |
| Sandberg Goldberg Bernthal Family Charitable Foundation | San Francisco, CA | 1 | $40K | $40K | Preselected only | Support the distribution of food to local residents |
| Robert C & Jane E Holder Foundation | Fort Meyers, FL | 1 | $25K | $25K | Preselected only | General |
| Alphawood Foundation | Chicago, IL | 1 | $24K | $24K | Yes | Support for archaeological research and fieldwork of dr. ho… |
| Resnick Family Community Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | 1 | $23K | $23K | Preselected only | Donee's tax exempt purpose |
| The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | Princeton, NJ | 1 | $20K | $20K | Yes | 79627 examining policy options for expanding medicaid cover… |
| Tremont Charitable Foundation | Wilmington, DE | 1 | $20K | $20K | Preselected only | General & Unrestricted |
| Frances Saunders Foundation | Merced, CA | 5 | $19K | $2,500 | Preselected only | Support for pro-life education; Education of needy children; Support for home for pregnant women |
| Peter Gallo Memorial Foundation | Atwater, CA | 2 | $18K | $8,750 | Preselected only | Sponsorship for the field of honor by rotary international; Sponsorship for the wall that heals by rotary international |
| The Antone and Marie Raymus Foundation | Manteca, CA | 1 | $17K | $17K | Yes | Funding for STEM initiatives and field trips |
| The McConnell Foundation | Redding, CA | 1 | $16K | $16K | Yes | 2022 ($7,500) & 2023 McConnell Scholars ($8,609) |
| Russell Sage Foundation | New York, NY | 1 | $15K | $15K | Yes | Same as it ever was |
| Sieg & Doris Fischer Fdn-Agy-Main | Fresno, CA | 1 | $14K | $14K | Preselected only | General operating |
| Tua Rebecca M Roveto Charitable | Dallas, TX | 1 | $14K | $14K | Preselected only | Scholarships |
| Tan Family Education Foundation | Lincoln, MA | 1 | $12K | $12K | Yes | Unrestricted contribution |
| The Henry M Paulson Jr Institute | Chicago, IL | 1 | $11K | $11K | Preselected only | Leadership training program for national parks |
| Trust for Mutual Understanding | New York, NY | 1 | $11K | $11K | Yes | General support |
| The Smidt Foundation | Beverly Hills, CA | 1 | $9,500 | $9,500 | Preselected only | Advancing skilled trades education |
| Barton and Terry Shigemura Family Founda | Danville, CA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | To further promote the goals of the organization |
| Vituity Cares Foundation Inc | Emeryville, CA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | Scholarship for tuition |
| Lopker Family Foundation | Santa Barbara, CA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | In furtherance of section 501 (c)(3) exempt purpose |
| Teichert Foundation | Sacramento, CA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | Support public charity programs |
| Weingart Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Yes | General support of service programs |
| Adams Cowan Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | Educational |
| John and Linda Muckel Foundation | Rancho Palos Verdes, CA | 1 | $5,000 | $5,000 | Preselected only | To promote education |
| De LA Luz Family Foundation | Fresno, CA | 2 | $4,400 | $2,200 | Preselected only | Operating expenses |
| The Campos Epc Foundation | Denver, CO | 1 | $4,000 | $4,000 | Preselected only | Scholarship support |
| H & H van Klaveren Family Foundation | Modesto, CA | 2 | $3,250 | $1,625 | Preselected only | To further organizations purpose; To further organizational purpose |
| Thornton S Jr and Katrina D Glide Foundation | Davis, CA | 1 | $3,000 | $3,000 | Yes | Provide tnr program services and care for 200 cats and kitt… |
| Bella Charitable Foundation | Hillsborough, CA | 2 | $2,616 | $1,308 | Preselected only | Scholarships |
| Stewart Family Foundation | Ketchum, ID | 2 | $2,100 | $1,050 | Preselected only | Unrestricted use by exempt org. |
| Easton Sports Development Foundation II | Van Nuys, CA | 1 | $1,560 | $1,560 | Yes | Youth sports |
| California Lions Youth and Camp Foundati | Merced, CA | 2 | $1,150 | $575 | Yes | Youth leadership opportunities; Youth leadership opportunities - to be used for scholarships |
| Be U | Merced, CA | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | Sports Fundraiser |
| Simplot Company Foundation Inc | Boise, ID | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | Education |
| The Lorraine Beckhamashe Foundation | Provo, UT | 1 | $1,000 | $1,000 | Preselected only | General |
| Gaf Foundation | Scottsdale, AZ | 1 | $900 | $900 | Preselected only | General support |
| Regal Foundation | Knoxville, TN | 1 | $718 | $718 | Yes | Education |
| Qiang & Ye Li Family Foundation | Saratoga, CA | 1 | $500 | $500 | Preselected only | Charity |
| Reed Foundation | Modesto, CA | 1 | $500 | $500 | Yes | Charitable operations |
| Carris Corporation Foundation | Proctor, VT | 1 | $500 | $500 | Preselected only | To sponsor a childrens camp, food giveaways, or clothing fo… |
| Tractor Supply Company Foundation | Brentwood, TN | 2 | $500 | $250 | Yes | Hometown heroes donation |
| The California Wellness Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | 1 | $429 | $429 | Yes | Core operating support |
Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV, latest electronic return per foundation (2026-10-28). "Accepts applications" reflects the foundation's own checkbox on Part XV line 2. Grants to individuals excluded.
Common questions
Which foundations give to nonprofits in Merced, California?
The Andrew W Mellon Foundation, Sunlight Giving, Bloss Christine T Tuw-Main, Walton Family Foundation Inc, The California Endowment and 59 others reported grants to Merced organizations on their latest Form 990-PF.
How do I approach a foundation that doesn't accept applications?
A foundation that checks "contributes only to preselected organizations" on its 990-PF won't review a cold proposal. Look at who it funds, find a shared board member, grantee or advisor, and ask for an introduction. Foundations that accept applications usually list a contact and deadlines in Part XV; we show that text on each foundation's page.
Is this list complete?
No. It covers private foundations (Form 990-PF filers) whose latest electronic return lists at least one grant to an organization in Merced. Community foundations and corporate giving programs file different forms and are not included yet.