The California State Capitol

Form 990-PFTax year 2024EIN 95-3500491

The Mericos Foundation

A private foundation in Pasadena, CA. Its return for tax year 2024 lists 100 grants and $3.1 million paid in grants.

Tax year 2024 (period ending Dec 31, 2024), 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

7 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.
  • Tax year 2024

    $3,098,250

    Grants listed
    100
    Assets, end of year
    $56,321,023
  • Tax year 2023

    $3,389,750

    Grants listed
    83
    Assets, end of year
    $50,562,944
  • Tax year 2022

    $2,998,500

    Grants listed
    107
    Assets, end of year
    $44,732,372
  • Tax year 2021

    $2,275,000

    Grants listed
    91
    Assets, end of year
    $58,076,767
  • Tax year 2020

    $1,784,613

    Grants listed
    80
    Assets, end of year
    $50,188,747
  • Tax year 2019

    $1,775,800

    Grants listed
    61
    Assets, end of year
    $45,459,648
  • Tax year 2018

    $1,868,600

    Grants listed
    68
    Assets, end of year
    $38,908,226

Grants paid in 2024

100 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara CountySanta Barbara, CA

    Camp whittier electrical upgrades

    $135,000
  2. Garrett's SpaceAnn Arbor, MI

    General operating support

    $130,000
  3. Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview GardensGoleta, CA

    The center for urban agriculture at fairview gardens re-design/re-build - challenge grant

    $100,000
  4. Foodbank of Santa Barbara CountyGoleta, CA

    Nutritional equity through education

    $100,000
  5. Garrett's SpaceAnn Arbor, MI

    Build garrett's space: bringing hope to life

    $100,000
  6. Moxi the Wolf Museum of Exploration InnovationSanta Barbara, CA

    General operating support for accessibility programs

    $100,000
  7. New Village Girls AcademyLos Angeles, CA

    General operating support

    $100,000
  8. Union Rescue MissionLos Angeles, CA

    Hope gardens family center - children & youth programs

    $100,000
  9. Greater HorizonsKansas City, MO

    Charitable purposes

    $85,000
  10. Greater HorizonsKansas City, MO

    Charitable purposes

    $85,000
  11. Outward Bound Adventures IncPasadena, CA

    Outward bound adventure's youth advisory council

    $84,000
  12. Heal the OceanSanta Barbara, CA

    Challenge grant - summerland oil mitigation study (soms)

    $75,000
  13. International Community FoundationNational City, CA

    General operating support

    $75,000
  14. The Turner Foundation - Since 1958Santa Barbara, CA

    The community learning centers

    $75,000
  15. Pasadena Humane Society & SPCAPasadena, CA

    General operating support

    $70,000
  16. Boys & Girls Club of Lake CountyWaukegan, IL

    General operating support

    $50,000
  17. Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA

    Exact path and collegebound/future pathways

    $50,000
  18. Door of HopePasadena, CA

    General operating support

    $50,000
  19. Fulfillment FundLos Angeles, CA

    Program support for college access and success

    $50,000
  20. Heal the OceanSanta Barbara, CA

    Summerland oil mitigation study

    $50,000
  21. Human Resource Development Council (HRDC)Bozeman, MT

    General operating support

    $50,000
  22. Jenesse Center IncLos Angeles, CA

    Supporting services for under-served children and youth of domestic violence victims and survivors

    $50,000
  23. Kids in the Spotlight IncBurbank, CA

    General operating support

    $50,000
  24. Labelle FoundationLos Angeles, CA

    General operating support

    $50,000
  25. Ocean Conservancy IncWashington, DC

    Global ghost gear initiative

    $50,000
  26. Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange CountyIrvine, CA

    Youth educational programming at harvest solutions farm

    $50,000
  27. The Trust for Public LandLos Angeles, CA

    Los angeles green schoolyards program

    $50,000
  28. Kohl Childrens Museum of Greater Chicago IncGlenview, IL

    General operating support

    $45,000
  29. Moms Against FluoridationAsheville, NC

    General operating support

    $45,000
  30. Power of PoloBerkshire, United Kingdom

    General operating support

    $44,835
  31. Girls GroupAnn Arbor, MI

    General operating support

    $40,000
  32. Santa Barbara City College FoundationSanta Barbara, CA

    Support for first time college student scholarships

    $35,000
  33. Breakthrough T1D (fka JDRF)Hagerstown, MD

    For the "improving lives" area of concern for type one diabetes

    $30,000
  34. Fractured Atlas IncNew York, NY

    Clapping hands farm

    $30,000
  35. Union Station Homeless ServicesPasadena, CA

    General operating support

    $30,000
  36. Chase Animal Rescue and Sanctuary IncWebster, FL

    General operating support

    $25,000
  37. HillsidesPasadena, CA

    General operating support

    $25,000
  38. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden IncSanta Barbara, CA

    Botanic garden back country project ($25k per year for 4 years)

    $25,000
  39. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural HistorySanta Barbara, CA

    School and teacher services programs for title 1 schools

    $25,000
  40. Santa Barbara Partners in EducationSanta Barbara, CA

    Job readiness and training

    $25,000
  41. Yosemite ConservancySan Francisco, CA

    Trail rehabilitation and access

    $25,000
  42. Beloved AshevilleAsheville, NC

    Hurricane helene relief

    $20,000
  43. Fluoride Action NetworkEssex JCT, VT

    General operating support

    $20,000
  44. National Latina Institute for Reproductive HealthNew York, NY

    General operating support

    $20,000
  45. National Network of Abortion FundsBeaverton, OR

    General operating support

    $20,000
  46. North American Society of Laser Therapy ApplicationsCarsbad, CA

    General operating support

    $20,000
  47. Northwest Abortion Access FundPortland, OR

    General operating support

    $20,000
  48. Physicians and Patients Reclaiming MedicineBerkeley, CA

    General operating support

    $20,000
  49. Sistersong Women of Color Reproductive Justice CollectiveAtlanta, GA

    General operating support

    $20,000
  50. Trust Women Foundation IncWichita, KS

    General operating support

    $20,000
  51. Porch Chapel Hill-CarrboroChapel Hill, NC

    General operating support

    $17,000
  52. American Red CrossBoone, IA

    Hurricane helene relief

    $15,000
  53. Arctic Ice ProjectMenlo Park, CA

    General operating support

    $15,000
  54. Camp UnalayeePalo Alto, CA

    Governance training

    $15,000
  55. Cartoon Art MuseumSan Francisco, CA

    General operating support

    $15,000
  56. Chapman UniversityOrange, CA

    Women of chapman - christmas at the ritz program

    $15,000
  57. Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin IncWausau, WI

    Coffin family donor advised fund

    $15,000
  58. Home Grown Community (aka Many Hands Lifesharing Community)Ypsilanti, MI

    General operating support

    $15,000
  59. Marine Conservation Biology InstituteGlen Ellen, CA

    General operating support

    $15,000
  60. Schwab Charitable FundLone Tree, CO

    Charitable purposes

    $15,000
  61. Wu Project IncMiami Beach, FL

    General operating support

    $15,000
  62. Rebuilding Sri LankaSalisbury, United Kingdom

    General operating support

    $14,330
  63. Guth Gafa Cuideachta Faoi Theorainn RathaiochtaDonegal, Ireland

    Thinking changes' project

    $13,000
  64. Aid Still RequiredSanta Monica, CA

    Educational programs in haiti

    $10,000
  65. Altasea at the Port of Los AngelesSan Pedro, CA

    General operating support

    $10,000
  66. Book HarvestDurham, NC

    General operating support

    $10,000
  67. Brigham Young UniversityProvo, UT

    Men's baseball ($4,000), girls softball ($4,000), cheer squad ($2,000)

    $10,000
  68. Caribou Historical SocietyCaribou, ME

    Maintenance of the whittier memorial museum in memory of max whittier and to assist with fundraising and capacity building

    $10,000
  69. History Center Lake Forest-Lake BluffLake Forest, IL

    Property improvements and the endowment fund

    $10,000
  70. Kamins Farm SanctuaryGrayslake, IL

    General operating support

    $10,000
  71. Lake Forest Open LandsLake Forest, IL

    General operating support

    $10,000
  72. Peninsula Education FoundationPalos Verdes Peninsula, CA

    General operating support

    $10,000
  73. Road Dogs & RescueLomita, CA

    General operating support

    $10,000
  74. Samueli AcademySanta Ana, CA

    Samueli academy endowment fund

    $10,000
  75. Schoolhouse of WonderDurham, NC

    Scholarship programs

    $10,000
  76. Segerstrom Center for the ArtsCosta Mesa, CA

    General operating support

    $10,000
  77. The Friends of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation FoundationLake Forest, IL

    Forest park beach pathway project

    $10,000
  78. The Trevor ProjectW Hollywood, CA

    General operating support

    $10,000
  79. The Giving Back FundBoston, MA

    Nexus

    $8,500
  80. SchoolreadersBedford, United Kingdom

    General operating support

    $7,085
  81. University of Maryland Foundation IncBaltimore, MD

    Goddard planetary heliophysics institute

    $6,500
  82. I Have A Dream Foundation - Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA

    General operating support

    $5,000
  83. Chapman UniversityOrange, CA

    For undergraduate students scholarships in accounting

    $5,000
  84. Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish CommissionPortland, OR

    General operating support

    $5,000
  85. International Chamber ArtistsLake Bluff, IL

    General operating support

    $5,000
  86. Little Warrior Foundation IncBrookfield, WI

    General operating support

    $5,000
  87. Los Angeles Maritime InstituteSan Pedro, CA

    General operating support

    $5,000
  88. McKinley Children's Center IncSan Dimas, CA

    Recreation room and general operating support

    $5,000
  89. Mesa FarmOjai, CA

    General operating support

    $5,000
  90. Opendoors of AshevilleAsheville, NC

    Hurricane helene relief

    $5,000
  91. Palos Verdes Estates FoundationPLS VRDS Est, CA

    For beautification projects in the city of palos verdes estates

    $5,000
  92. Partners for A Hunger-Free OregonPortland, OR

    General operating support

    $5,000
  93. Peninsula SeniorsRLLNG HLS Est, CA

    Volunteers recognition

    $5,000
  94. Sisters of the RoadPortland, OR

    General operating support

    $5,000
  95. The Gentle Barn FoundationSanta Clarita, CA

    General operating support

    $5,000
  96. The Los Angeles LGBT CenterLos Angeles, CA

    General operating support

    $5,000
  97. Youth Outright WNC IncAsheville, NC

    For pansy collective for hurricane helene relief

    $5,000
  98. Carolina Friends SchoolDurham, NC

    For the 2025 world of dance teaching program

    $3,000
  99. Partners for Pediatric VisionLong Beach, CA

    General operating support

    $2,500
  100. Shelters for IsraelBeverly Hills, CA

    General operating support

    $2,500

Approved for future payment

2 grants

Approved in 2024 and not yet paid.

  1. Outward Bound Adventures IncPasadena, CA

    Outward bound adventure's youth advisory council

    $168,000
  2. E3MMonprimblanc, France

    To support research on ai adjuvant exposure and autophagy impairment

    $47,670

Where the money goes

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

  1. Environment11 grants $374,00017% of the total
  2. Philanthropy and grantmaking8 grants $293,50013% of the total
  3. Food and agriculture5 grants $272,00012% of the total
  4. Human services5 grants $255,00011% of the total
  5. Mental health3 grants $235,00010% of the total
  6. Youth development4 grants $190,0008% of the total
  7. 11 other causes30 grants $637,50028% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. California53 grants $1,897,500
  2. Michigan4 grants $285,000
  3. Missouri2 grants $170,000
  4. Illinois7 grants $140,000
  5. North Carolina8 grants $115,000
  6. Oregon5 grants $55,000
  7. District of Columbia1 grant $50,000
  8. Montana1 grant $50,000
  9. New York2 grants $50,000
  10. Florida2 grants $40,000

Officers, directors and trustees

13 people as filed

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

  • Donna CoffinPRESIDENT Hours 2Pay $0
  • Pegine GraysonSECRETARY/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Hours 2Pay $0
  • David DahlCHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Hours 2Pay $0
  • Arlo G SorensenDIRECTOR Hours 2Pay $0
  • Linda J BlinkenbergDIRECTOR Hours 2Pay $0
  • Michael J CaseyDIRECTOR Hours 2Pay $0
  • Joanie SolainiDIRECTOR Hours 2Pay $0
  • Brian WhittierDIRECTOR Hours 2Pay $0
  • Donald WhittierDIRECTOR (BEGIN 1/1/24) Hours 2Pay $0
  • Dominique BlokkerDIRECTOR (BEGIN 1/1/24) Hours 2Pay $0
  • Emily DalquistDIRECTOR (BEGIN 1/1/24) Hours 2Pay $0
  • Margaret Whittier-FergusonDIRECTOR (BEGIN 1/1/24) Hours 2Pay $0
  • Amelia BabcockDIRECTOR (BEGIN 1/1/24) Hours 2Pay $0

The return

This is an amended return.

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