The Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, with flags on its roof
Foundation Lookup

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 87-1354173

Merus Foundation

A private foundation in Cincinnati, OH. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 56 grants and $375,964 paid in grants.

See which foundations fund work like yours Matching by cause, place and grant size

Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Preselected only

The return checks the box saying the foundation gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.

Assets and giving by year

5 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2025

    $375,964

    Grants listed
    56
    Assets, end of year
    $10,168,718

  • Tax year 2024

    $313,459

    Grants listed
    43
    Assets, end of year
    $8,513,160

  • Tax year 2023

    $141,129

    Grants listed
    30
    Assets, end of year
    $6,438,993

  • Tax year 2022

    $82,060

    Grants listed
    13
    Assets, end of year
    $3,653,956

  • Tax year 2021

    $0

    Grants listed
    0
    Assets, end of year
    $0

Grants paid in 2025

56 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. America's River Roots' FestivalCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $50,000
  2. Corporation of Findlay MarketCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $50,000
  3. Keep Cincinnati BeautifulCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $50,000
  4. Brighton Center IncNewport, KY

    General purpose

    $30,250
  5. Project DestinedWashington, DC

    General purpose

    $30,000
  6. ArtworksCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $25,000
  7. Tennessee Performing Arts CenterNashville, TN

    General purpose

    $25,000
  8. United Way of Greater CincinnatiCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $19,685
  9. Cincinnati Playhouse in the ParkCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $10,250
  10. Cincinnati Museum CenterCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $10,000
  11. Civic Design CenterNashville, TN

    General purpose

    $10,000
  12. Pittsburgh Parks ConservancyPittsburgh, PA

    General purpose

    $10,000
  13. Urban Green LabNashville, TN

    General purpose

    $10,000
  14. Walk Bike NashvilleNashville, TN

    General purpose

    $10,000
  15. YWCA Greater CincinnatiCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $10,000
  16. ArtswaveCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $6,329
  17. Talbert HouseCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $1,500
  18. Freestore FoodbankCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $1,400
  19. American Heart Association Heart MiniPittsburgh, PA

    General purpose

    $1,057
  20. Leukemia & Lymphona Society IncRye Brook, NY

    General purpose

    $1,000
  21. ProkidsCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $1,000
  22. Rock Solid FamiliesWest Harrison, IN

    General purpose

    $1,000
  23. Sowa Goat SanctuaryHarvard, MA

    General purpose

    $1,000
  24. St Matthew SchoolFranklin, TN

    General purpose

    $1,000
  25. Cincinnati Arts AssociationCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $900
  26. Camp Kesem NationalCovina, CA

    General purpose

    $800
  27. Matthew 25 MinistriesBlue Ash, OH

    General purpose

    $750
  28. Northern Kentucky Children's Advocacy CenterFlorence, KY

    General purpose

    $645
  29. Cornerstone Renter EquityCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $518
  30. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati IncCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $500
  31. Dixie Heights Colonels ClubEdgewood, KY

    General purpose

    $500
  32. Fairhaven Rescue MissionBromley, KY

    General purpose

    $500
  33. Make-A-WishPhoenix, AZ

    General purpose

    $500
  34. Xavier UniversityCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $500
  35. Welcome House of Northern Kentucky IncCovington, KY

    General purpose

    $355
  36. Fairfield Food PantryFairfield, OH

    General purpose

    $350
  37. Cincinnati Public RadioCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $250
  38. DCCH Center for Children and FamiliesFor Mitchell, KY

    General purpose

    $250
  39. Epilepsy Alliance of OhioCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $250
  40. Gigi's PlayhouseLoveland, OH

    General purpose

    $250
  41. Inner City Youth OpportunitiesCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $250
  42. La SoupeCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $250
  43. Pathway to Hope Pregnancy Care CenterHamilton, OH

    General purpose

    $250
  44. Reach Out LakotaWest Chester Township, OH

    General purpose

    $250
  45. South Hills Interfaith MovementBethel Park, PA

    General purpose

    $250
  46. The Care Center of LovelandLoveland, OH

    General purpose

    $250
  47. The Healing CenterCincinnati, OH

    General purpose

    $250
  48. Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TennesseeNashville, TN

    General purpose

    $200
  49. Be Concerned IncCovington, KY

    General purpose

    $100
  50. Care Net Pregnancy Services of NkyWilliamstown, KY

    General purpose

    $100
  51. Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky IncCovington, KY

    General purpose

    $100
  52. St Elizabeth FoundationEdgewood, KY

    General purpose

    $100
  53. Stepup MinistryRaleigh, NC

    General purpose

    $100
  54. Wish of Rockaway IncBelle Harbor, NY

    General purpose

    $100
  55. Frist Art MuseumNashville, TN

    General purpose

    $75
  56. Franklin TheaterFranklin, TN

    General purpose

    $50

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Environment2 grants $60,00038% of the total
  2. Education2 grants $30,50019% of the total
  3. Arts and culture6 grants $27,80418% of the total
  4. Community development2 grants $10,1006% of the total
  5. Disaster relief and public safety1 grant $10,0006% of the total
  6. Sports and recreation1 grant $10,0006% of the total
  7. 9 other causes20 grants $10,0506% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Ohio28 grants $241,732
  2. Tennessee8 grants $56,325
  3. Kentucky10 grants $32,900
  4. District of Columbia1 grant $30,000
  5. Pennsylvania3 grants $11,307
  6. New York2 grants $1,100
  7. Indiana1 grant $1,000
  8. Massachusetts1 grant $1,000
  9. Arizona1 grant $500
  10. North Carolina1 grant $100

Officers, directors and trustees

4 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Molly NorthPRESIDENT Hours 1Pay $0
  • Stephanie GaitherSECRETARY/TREASURER Hours 1Pay $0
  • Paul MuethingBOARD MEMBER Hours 1Pay $0
  • Patrick PooleBOARD MEMBER Hours 1Pay $0

The return

More foundations

Similar foundations

Same main cause (environment), giving between a quarter and four times this foundation’s where possible, nearby first.

  1. The Bell Charitable FoundationCincinnati, OH 27 grants Preselected only $591,016 giving
  2. Morse and Betty Johnson Family FoundationCincinnati, OH 23 grants Preselected only $210,000 giving
  3. Margo Simons Family FoundationCincinnati, OH 9 grants Preselected only $210,000 giving
  4. Meshewa Farm FoundationCincinnati, OH 31 grants Preselected only $729,400 giving
  5. Bob & Jeanne Coughlin FoundationCincinnati, OH 10 grants Preselected only $815,000 giving