The Merlin Foundation
Historical funder research: IRS Form 990-PF filings from US private foundations, showing who funded what in past years. This is not a list of currently open grant calls, and we do not track open RFPs from private foundations. From public IRS Form 990-PF filings (latest on file for this funder: tax year 2024). Coverage: tax years 2019–2025. Freshness: the IRS releases these returns 1.5–2+ years after the tax year ends, so 2025 is still partial and a funder's newest grants may not appear yet. Last updated: November 14, 2026. Filings can contain errors, so confirm current priorities and deadlines with the funder before applying.
Year 2025 is still partial because many returns have not been filed or released yet. That is a freshness issue — coverage in our dataset is tax years 2019–2025.
Only 48.9% of this funder's organizational grants could be linked to an IRS cause code.
The foundation checked the box saying it contributes only to preselected organizations and doesn't accept unsolicited requests.
- Form & materials
- Not stated
- Deadlines
- Not stated
- Restrictions
- Not stated
| Recipient | Location | Purpose (as filed) | Amount | Tax yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Wildlife Fund | Washington, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $1,100,000 | 2024 |
| The Nature Conservancy | Los Angeles, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $1,000,000 | 2024 |
| The Wilderness Society | Washington, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $250,000 | 2024 |
| Earthjustice League Defense Fund | San Francisco, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $250,000 | 2024 |
| Heroes Project | Washington, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $180,000 | 2024 |
| Wildlife Conservation Society | Bronx, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100,000 | 2024 |
| Save the Redwoods League | San Francisco, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100,000 | 2024 |
| Outdoor Afro | Oakland, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100,000 | 2024 |
| Oceana | Washington, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100,000 | 2024 |
| Aspen Center for Environmental Studies | Aspen, CO | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100,000 | 2024 |
| Alaska Conservation Foundation | Anchorage, AK | GENERAL PURPOSE | $100,000 | 2024 |
| Wilderness Workshop | Carbondale, CO | GENERAL PURPOSE | $50,000 | 2024 |
| Wilderness Land Trust | Bainbridge Island, WA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $50,000 | 2024 |
| Eo Wilson Biodiversity Foundation | Durham, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $50,000 | 2024 |
| American Rivers | Washington, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $50,000 | 2024 |
| Alaska Wilderness League | Washington, DC | GENERAL PURPOSE | $50,000 | 2024 |
| Yale University | New Haven, CT | GENERAL PURPOSE | $30,000 | 2024 |
| Open Space Institute | New York, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $30,000 | 2024 |
| Thorne Nature Experience | Boulder, CO | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 | 2024 |
| One Percent of the Planet | Burlington, VT | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 | 2024 |
| Natura Argentina | Buenos Aires, Argentina | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 | 2024 |
| Monterey Bay Aquarium | Monterey, CA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 | 2024 |
| Conservacion Amazonica | Lima, Peru | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 | 2024 |
| Colorado Open Lands | Lakewood, CO | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 | 2024 |
| American Friends of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra | New York, NY | GENERAL PURPOSE | $25,000 | 2024 |
Grants to individuals are counted but not named.
The free funder search finds foundations that funded organizations like your client's, by cause and location. Free templates: multi-client grant calendar, grant tracker. GrantCorral is a workspace for grant consultants with several clients; founding members get 60 days free on Consultant, no card required, then 50% off the first year if they stay.