Open Foundations · South Dakota

Esther and Harold Mertz Foundation

Sioux Falls, South Dakota · EIN 137231616. Its Form 990-PF says giving is not restricted to organizations picked in advance, which is how a private foundation files that it accepts unsolicited requests. It paid $53.8M across 9 grants in 2024, a median of $15K each.

All South Dakota foundations · All states

$53.8M
paid in 2024
9
grants paid
$15K
median grant
0%
to first-time recipients
$665.6M
assets on file

How to apply, as filed

Straight off Part XV of the return. Where the foundation left a line blank, this says so rather than guessing.

Send requests to
SEE MERTZFOUNDATIONORG
Address
212 S MAIN AVE STE 133, SIOUX FALLS, SD, 57104
Phone
6052715175
Email
Not stated in the filing
Form the request should take
IN ACCORDANCE WITH WEBSITE
Submission deadline
IN ACCORDANCE WITH WEBSITE
Restrictions on awards
IN ACCORDANCE WITH WEBSITE

As filed on the Form 990-PF for tax year 2024, IRS filing object id 202533219349104398. Printed word for word, including the entries that only say to see a website or an attachment.

What it funds, in its own words

The filing states only a general purpose, with nothing specific enough to pull out as recurring language.

Biggest grants in 2024

All 9 grants paid in 2024, with the purpose the foundation wrote for each.

#RecipientStateAmountPurpose as filed
1Tunnels to TowersNY$52,143,750TO FURTHER THE DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE IN ACCORDANCE WITH DONEE'S MISSION STATEMENT
2Pines FoundationFL$1,000,000GENERAL PURPOSES
3Freedom AllianceVA$400,000$200,000 TO STUDENTS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM; $150,000 TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS PROGRAM; $25,000 TO STUDENT OUTREACH PROJECT; $15,000 TO GIFTS FROM HOME CARE PACKAGES; $10,000 TO PRESENTS FOR PATRIOTS
4Hope for New YorkNY$200,000$20,000 TO AVAIL NYC; $20,000 TO CITY RELIEF; $10,000 TO DON'T WALK BY; $20,000 TO EXPECT HOPE; $10,000 TO HIS TOY STORE; $20,000 TO NEW BEGINNINGS; $10,000 TO OPERATIONS EXODUS; $10,000 TO SHILOH NYC; $20,000 TO THE BOWERY MISSION; $20,000 TO THE FATHER'S HEART MINISTRIES; $10,000 TO YOUTH FOR CHRI
5America's VetdogsNY$15,000GENERAL PURPOSES
6Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind IncNY$15,000GENERAL PURPOSES
7Back on My FeetNY$10,000TO PROVIDE SUPPORTS FOR HOMELESS INVIDUALS
8Sioux Falls Area Community FoundationSD$10,000$5,000 TO SOUTH DAKOTA TRUST COMPANY CHARITABLE FUND & $5,000 TO SOUTH DAKOTA TRUST COMPANY FOUNDATION ENDOWMENT FUND
9The BanquetSD$10,000GENERAL PURPOSES

Giving by year, and who received it

Grants paid by year

Every year of this foundation's grants that Civly holds
Tax yearGrantsPaid
202012$57.4M
202112$10.6M
202211$1.1M
202313$2.0M
20249$53.8M

Where the money went

Share of 2024 grant dollars by recipient state
New York56%
South Dakota22%
Florida11%
Virginia11%

Who decides

Officers, directors and trustees as filed, with the year of the return they appeared on.

Lavender Trust Company IncTRUSTEE · 2024
Nancy L CloseDIRECTION ADVISOR · 2024

Every figure on this page is that foundation's own latest filed year, which is 2022 or later. This foundation is listed because its Form 990-PF says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and it paid at least 5 grants totaling $100K or more that year. Latest-year grants and terms per foundation from IRS 990-PF e-file returns; the newest tax year is partial until the IRS finishes releasing it. Grants are de-duplicated on funder, year, recipient and amount, so identical repeat grants collapse into one and totals can run low. Full method.

Source: IRS Form 990-PF e-file releases (public domain). Analysis: Civly.

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