Funding search
Find who already funds work like yours.
Private foundations don’t post open calls, so nobody can search them. We read IRS filings instead — 9.6 million grants from 174,053 foundations and grantmaking charities, searchable by what the money was actually for.
12 funders with a record of paying for “merit”
Where the money went
Largest: $15,000 to JACK STILLINGTON- DR CLAIRE TREMAIN — the purpose of the dr. claire tremaine & george mentas scholarship is to provide financial assistance to high school students who demonstrate merit, potential and financial need an…
Robert Mammano Frezza Memorial Scholarship FundSarasota, FL
17 matching grants · $105,000 · through 2025Largest: $12,000 to Duke University — merit scholarship grant to jane atkinson
The Carls FoundationBloomfield Hills, MI
13 matching grants · $123,401 · through 2024Largest: $32,976 to UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN - ANN ARBOR — annual merit & financial needs for carls scholarship students
The Chicago Community TrustChicago, ILCharity · may take applications
10 matching grants · $15.6M · through 2023Largest: $130,000 to Ballet Chicago Company — general operating support, $80,000: dowd merit scholarship fund for fiscal year 2024; $45,000: matching contribution for fiscal year 2023
Largest: $9,000 to MUHLENBERG COLLEGE — 2021-2024 baker merit scholars, class of 2025
Largest: $117,260 to NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP CORPORATION - JUNKINS SCHOLARS 2020 — educational institutions-operation funds, building funds, and scholarships.dallas, tx
Charlottesville Area CommunityCharlottesville, VACharity · may take applications
5 matching grants · $135,500 · through 2023Largest: $30,000 to MEDICAL COLLEGE OF VIRGINIA FOUNDATION — $10,000 nursing lois parker henley endowed merit scholarship, $2,500 nursing lois parker henley annual merit scholarship and $2,500 nursing dean jean giddens annual merit scholarsh…
Robert a Toigo FoundationOakland, CACharity · may take applications
11 matching grants · $261,500 · through 2024Largest: $67,000 to HARVARD UNIVERSITY BUSINESS SCHOOL — fellow merit award
Largest: $40,000 to MERIT SCHOOL OF MUSIC — for merit music in communities (mmic)
Largest: $180,000 to GIVE MERIT INC — deepening give merit's impact
University of Oregon FoundationEugene, ORCharity · may take applications
4 matching grants · $81.6M · through 2024Largest: $22.6M to UNIVERSITY OF OREGON — student aid, academic merit and needs scholarships, student athletic scholarships
Georgia Gwinnett College FoundationLawrenceville, GACharity · may take applications
5 matching grants · $2.8M · through 2024Largest: $956,510 to GEORGIA GWINNETT COLLEGE — need & merit based scholarships approved by the college & funded by the foundation
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Source: IRS Form 990-PF Part XV and Form 990 Schedule I, tax years 2019–2025. These are grants already paid, a record of what an organization funds rather than an open call. Private foundations rarely accept unsolicited applications and the route in is usually a program officer; grantmaking charities and associations more often run real application cycles, so check their website. How this data is built, and its limits →