Mertz Gilmore Foundation
Mertz Gilmore Foundation consistently deploys significant assets for grantmaking, with zero reported officer compensation.
EIN: 132872722 · New York, NY · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $18.7M |
| Total Expenses | $16.8M |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| CEO/Top Officer Pay | $86,201,106. |
| Net Assets | $101.0M |
| Transparency Score | 92/100 |
Is Mertz Gilmore Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Mertz Gilmore Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Mertz Gilmore Foundation
Mertz Gilmore Foundation (EIN: 132872722) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY. The organization reported total revenue of $18.7M and total assets of $86.2M according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Mertz Gilmore Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Mertz Gilmore Foundation is a large nonprofit that has been operating for 63 years, with 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2022). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 2.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2022)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $10.8M |
| Total Expenses | $16.8M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-6,002,166 |
| Total Assets | $101.0M |
| Total Liabilities | $1 |
| Net Assets | $101.0M |
| Operating Margin | -55.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 0.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 72.1 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2022, Mertz Gilmore Foundation reported a deficit of $6.0M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 72.1 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 0.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 9 years of filings (2011–2022), Mertz Gilmore Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | -27.9% | +7.9% | -5.6% |
| 2021 | +44.8% | +8.2% | -0.5% |
| 2020 | -19.5% | +15.8% | -3.7% |
| 2019 | -24.0% | +8.8% | +8.0% |
| 2015 | +5.6% | +8.7% | +5.5% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1963 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Mertz Gilmore Foundation with a Mission Score of 92 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 8%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 2%
According to IRS 990 filings, Mertz Gilmore Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 8%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 2%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2022)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $6.0M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The Mertz Gilmore Foundation consistently reports 0% officer compensation across all available filings. This indicates either a volunteer leadership structure, compensation being handled by an affiliated entity, or a highly efficient operational model where executive salaries are not a direct expense on the 990, which is a positive sign for resource allocation relative to its substantial asset base of $86,201,106.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Mertz Gilmore Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Periods of expenses exceeding revenue (e.g., 2022: $16.8M expenses vs. $10.8M revenue), indicating reliance on endowment drawdowns.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Mertz Gilmore Foundation:
- Substantial and stable asset base (e.g., $86,201,106 latest assets), providing long-term financial security.
- Consistently low liabilities (often $1), indicating strong financial management and minimal debt.
- Zero reported officer compensation across all filings, suggesting efficient use of funds or volunteer leadership.
- Consistent grantmaking activity, as evidenced by significant annual expenses (e.g., $16,815,863 in 2022).
Frequently Asked Questions about Mertz Gilmore Foundation
Is Mertz Gilmore Foundation a legitimate charity?
Mertz Gilmore Foundation (EIN: 132872722) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in New York. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 92/100. It has 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record. Total revenue: $18.7M. 1 red flag identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Mertz Gilmore Foundation spend its money?
Mertz Gilmore Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. Fundraising costs 2%. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Mertz Gilmore Foundation tax-deductible?
Mertz Gilmore Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 132872722). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How much does the Mertz Gilmore Foundation CEO make?
Mertz Gilmore Foundation's highest-compensated officer earns $86,201,106. annually. The organization reported $18.7M in total revenue. Executive compensation data is disclosed in IRS 990 filings.
What percentage of Mertz Gilmore Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Mertz Gilmore Foundation directs 90% to programs, 2% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
Where is Mertz Gilmore Foundation located?
Mertz Gilmore Foundation is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 132872722.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Mertz Gilmore Foundation have?
Mertz Gilmore Foundation has 9 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $18.7M in total revenue.
How does Mertz Gilmore Foundation sustain its operations given periods where expenses exceed revenue?
As a private foundation with substantial assets (e.g., $86,201,106 in latest assets), the Mertz Gilmore Foundation likely draws from its endowment to cover expenses, particularly in years where grantmaking and operational costs exceed annual investment income or contributions. This is a common and sustainable practice for foundations.
What is the nature of the 'Officer Comp=0%' reported in all filings?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation suggests that the foundation's leadership may be uncompensated, compensated through a related entity, or that the compensation is not reported in this specific line item on the 990. Further investigation into the full 990 forms would clarify this, but on its face, it indicates a low overhead for executive salaries.
What are the primary program areas supported by the Mertz Gilmore Foundation?
While the NTEE code is unknown from the provided data, the foundation's name and typical structure of private foundations suggest it engages in grantmaking across specific philanthropic areas. A review of their website or full 990 filings would detail their specific program initiatives.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Mertz Gilmore Foundation showing financial trends over 9 years of public records:
Over 9 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2022), Mertz Gilmore Foundation's revenue has grown by 28.7%, moving from $8.4M to $10.8M. Total assets increased by 14% over the same period, from $88.6M to $101.0M. Total functional expenses rose by 101.8%, from $8.3M to $16.8M. In its most recent filing year (2022), Mertz Gilmore Foundation reported a deficit of $6.0M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $1 in liabilities against $101.0M in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 0.0%), resulting in net assets of $101.0M.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $10.8M | $16.8M | $101.0M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $15.0M | $15.6M | $107.0M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $10.4M | $14.4M | $107.6M | $1 | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $12.9M | $12.4M | $111.7M | $3K | — | View 990 |
| 2015 | $16.9M | $11.4M | $103.4M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $16.0M | $10.5M | $98.0M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $10.4M | $8.5M | $92.5M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $9.8M | $8.0M | $90.4M | $0 | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $8.4M | $8.3M | $88.6M | $0 | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2022: Revenue of $10.8M, expenses of $16.8M, and assets of $101.0M (revenue -27.9% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $15.0M, expenses of $15.6M, and assets of $107.0M (revenue +44.8% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $10.4M, expenses of $14.4M, and assets of $107.6M (revenue -19.5% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $12.9M, expenses of $12.4M, and assets of $111.7M (revenue -24.0% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $16.9M, expenses of $11.4M, and assets of $103.4M (revenue +5.6% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $16.0M, expenses of $10.5M, and assets of $98.0M (revenue +53.7% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $10.4M, expenses of $8.5M, and assets of $92.5M (revenue +6.8% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $9.8M, expenses of $8.0M, and assets of $90.4M (revenue +16.3% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $8.4M, expenses of $8.3M, and assets of $88.6M.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Mertz Gilmore Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Mertz Gilmore Foundation is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.