What Mertz Gilmore Foundation does

Mertz Gilmore Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation founded in 1959 by Joyce Mertz and her parents using proceeds from the family's Publishers Clearing House business. The foundation provides grants and mission-aligned investments to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations working on democracy, community power, and the New York dance ecosystem. Beginning 2026, it operates two grantmaking programs: Democracy & Power (a national program integrating prior climate, democratic values, and NYC communities portfolios) and New York Dance (a regional program supporting presenters, smaller dance companies, and field service organizations). The foundation operates a field-responsive grantmaking model, having conducted over 120 consultations with grantees and partners to inform 2026 priorities, and is in the process of aligning 100% of its endowment with its mission.

The foundation's business model is endowment-funded rather than revenue-generating. Following the 2023 loss of income from Publishers Clearing House trusts and PCH's 2025 bankruptcy filing, Mertz Gilmore restructured, reducing grantmaking from approximately $12 million in 2023 to $7 million in 2024 and 2025. The foundation has elected not to spend down its endowment, instead committing to a 9% payout rate in 2026 to sustain long-term grantmaking. Distribution occurs through direct field engagement — the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals — supported by general operating support grants with simplified application requirements (no narrative proposals or budgets).

Operationally, Mertz Gilmore is led by President Aditi Vaidya (appointed December 2022) with a recently refreshed board chaired by Surina Khan as of December 2025. The foundation has trimmed staffing to preserve grantmaking capacity, joined the Level Up Philanthropy funder initiative, and expanded its deployment model beyond grants toward catalytic mission-aligned investment capital. Notable grantees span Gulf South for a Green New Deal (climate justice), Ballot Initiative Strategy Center Foundation (democracy), Community Voices Heard (community organizing), and 651 ARTS (African Diasporic dance).

Name

Mertz Gilmore Foundation

Legal name

Mertz Gilmore Foundation

Website

https://mertzgilmore.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Mertz Gilmore Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation providing grants and mission-aligned investments to U.S. nonprofits advancing democracy, community power, and the New York dance ecosystem, operating two programs beginning 2026: Democracy & Power (national) and New York Dance (regional).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Grantmaking Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Philanthropic grantmaking
• Nonprofit foundation
• Community empowerment grants
• Democracy funding
• Arts grantmaking

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grantmaking (Endowment): The foundation operates from its endowment and previously received income from trusts established by the family associated with Publishers Clearing House (PCH). In 2023, the Foundation learned it would no longer be receiving income from these trusts. In 2025, PCH filed for bankruptcy. The foundation also works to align 100% of its endowment with its mission.
2. Mission-Aligned Investments: The foundation is in the process of aligning 100% of its endowment with its mission and increasingly seeks to move investment capital, in addition to grants, to catalyze change and support communities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Mertz Gilmore Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation that provides grants and meeting space to nonprofit organizations working on democracy, community power, and New York dance ecosystem initiatives. For 2026, it operates two named programs: a national Democracy & Power program (integrating climate, democratic values, and NYC community work) and a regional New York Dance program. Grants are funded by the foundation's endowment and mission-aligned investments and are awarded only to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations.

Product overview

The Mertz Gilmore Foundation is a philanthropic organization that offers two primary grantmaking programs: Democracy & Power (a national program integrating climate, democratic values, and NYC community work) and New York Dance (supporting the NYC dance ecosystem). These programs are funded through grants from the Foundation's endowment and represent the Foundation's core offerings as a philanthropic foundation, not a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Democracy & Power Program National grantmaking program that invests in U.S.-based nonprofit organizations and strategies working to safeguard and support vulnerable communities while building the long-term conditions necessary for a thriving, engaged multiracial democracy. Integrates former program areas on climate change solutions, democratic values, and NYC communities.
• New York Dance Program Regional grantmaking program investing in the resilience and equity of the New York dance ecosystem, supporting presenters of marginalized and emerging artists and smaller dance companies, as well as service organizations that connect and advocate for the dance field.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced grantmaking from approximately $12 million in 2023 to $7 million in 2024 and 2025 due to PCH income loss
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Level Up PhilanthropyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMertz Gilmore joined other funders in committing to Level Up's initiative to streamline grantmaking systems while maintaining a 9% payout in 2026.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Andrew W. Mellon Foundation: Largest arts-focused US foundation with significant NY dance ecosystem investments; major funder of overlapping dance field partners like 651 ARTS.
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Major health-focused foundation where Mertz Gilmore President Aditi Vaidya previously served; comparable community power-building grantmaking approach.
• Ford Foundation: Largest US private foundation with comparable democracy, equity, and arts grantmaking programs; operates at far greater scale but serves overlapping grantees and field networks.
• Open Society Foundations: Major US-based private foundation funding democracy, human rights, and racial justice work globally; direct overlap with Mertz Gilmore's Democracy & Power thematic focus.
• William and Flora Hewlett Foundation: Large private foundation with aligned democracy, climate, and performing arts programs; competing for many of the same national grantees.

Direct peers

• Surdna Foundation: Family-founded private foundation with similar grantmaking in arts, democracy, and equitable economies; closest comparable in scale, structure, and program mix.
• Nathan Cummings Foundation: Private foundation with aligned climate, democracy, and racial justice programs at similar scale; directly comparable thematic portfolio and grantmaking approach.
• Doris Duke Foundation: Private foundation with major arts (contemporary dance/theater) and climate grantmaking; shares New Mertz Gilmore board member Maurine Knighton as CPO and overlapping NY dance portfolio.
• New York Foundation: NYC-based private foundation with similar grassroots organizing and community power grantmaking focus; directly comparable scale and mission.

Emerging players

• Solidaire Network: Donor collective focused on movement-building and racial justice; Aditi Vaidya held board/staff roles there and represents an emerging model of pooled progressive philanthropy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MertzGilmoreFoundation
• Xtwitter.com/MertzGilmoreFound

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mertz Gilmore Foundation