John Merck Fund
Background
The John Merck Fund was set up in 1970 by Serena Merck, the widow of Merck Pharmaceuticals CEO GeorgeW. Merck, in honor of their short-lived son John.
Finances for tax year ending 12/31/2002 |
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| Total Assets | $171,123,109.00 | |
| Grants Awarded | $0.00 | |
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Officers and Other Supporters | |
| Name | Position |
| David Altshuler | Trustee |
| Katherine Arthaud | Advisory Trustee |
| Judith M. Buechner | Trustee |
| Olivia H. Farr | Trustee |
| Francis W. Hatch Jr. | Chairman |
| George Hatch | Advisory Trustee |
| Serena M. Hatch | Trustee |
| Huyler C. Held | Treasurer |
| Ruth Hennig | Executive Director |
| Arnold Hiatt | Trustee |
| Robert M. Pennoyer | Trustee |
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Selected Grants |
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| Organic Consumers Association | |
| Grant | $50,000.00 in 2000 |
| Source | IRS Form 990 or 990-PF |
| Details | To expand a nationwide network of consumers who can create market pressure on companies producing genetically engineered foods. |
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| Center for Food Safety | |
| Grant | $210,000.00 in 2005 |
| Source | IRS Form 990 or 990-PF |
| Details | To ensure appropriate safety testing and regulation of all genetically engineered crops and organisms as a condition of their commercialization. |
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| Greenpeace | |
| Grant | $50,000.00 in 2002 |
| Source | IRS Form 990 or 990-PF |
| Details | To build support for mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods, and to build a market for products free of genetically engineered contents by conducting a national campaign to push supermarkets to eliminate them in their store brand lines. |
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Top Grants Made |
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| Funding To Activist Groups | Total Donated | Time Frame |
| Tides Foundation & Tides Center | $2,693,000.00 | 1989 – 2005 |
| Center for Food Safety | $1,305,000.00 | 1999 – 2005 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council | $1,058,000.00 | 1989 – 2005 |
| Center for Public Interest Research | $1,050,000.00 | 2001 – 2002 |
| National Environmental Trust | $1,000,000.00 | 1998 – 2002 |
| Union of Concerned Scientists | $889,500.00 | 1998 – 2004 |
| Physicians for Social Responsibility | $872,500.00 | 1998 – 2002 |
| Toxics Action Center | $729,000.00 | 1998 – 2002 |
| Environmental Working Group | $633,500.00 | 1992 – 2005 |
| U.S. Public Interest Research Group | $500,000.00 | 1998 – 2002 |
| Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy | $490,000.00 | 1992 – 2003 |
| Foundation on Economic Trends | $400,000.00 | 1999 – 2001 |
| Green Corps | $305,300.00 | 1998 – 2002 |
| American Corn Growers Association | $280,000.00 | 1999 – 2002 |
| Environmental Media Services | $280,000.00 | 1996 – 1999 |
| New America Foundation | $265,000.00 | 1998 – 2002 |
| International Center for Technology Assessment | $247,500.00 | 1999 – 1999 |
| American Farmland Trust | $200,000.00 | 1994 – 1999 |
| Organic Consumers Association | $200,000.00 | 1999 – 2002 |
| Earth Island Institute | $172,000.00 | 1998 – 2000 |
| Sierra Club | $145,000.00 | 1992 – 2001 |
| MassPIRG | $115,000.00 | 2000 – 2000 |
| Redefining Progress | $105,000.00 | 1994 – 1996 |
| International Forum on Globalization | $100,000.00 | 1999 – 1999 |
| Center for Science in the Public Interest | $100,000.00 | 2000 – 2002 |
| Consumers Union of the United States | $90,000.00 | 2000 – 2001 |
| Foundation for Global Sustainability | $90,000.00 | 1998 – 2000 |
| Greenpeace | $80,000.00 | 2000 – 2002 |
| Pesticide Action Network North America | $77,850.00 | 2002 – 2002 |
| Rainforest Action Network | $75,000.00 | 1999 – 1999 |
| National Family Farm Coalition | $75,000.00 | 2002 – 2002 |
| Izaak Walton League of America | $75,000.00 | 2001 – 2001 |
| Rainforest Alliance | $75,000.00 | 1990 – 1993 |
| National Wildlife Federation | $70,000.00 | 2001 – 2002 |
| Essential Information | $70,000.00 | 1999 – 2000 |
| League of Conservation Voters | $60,000.00 | 2002 – 2002 |
| Green Guide Institute | $55,000.00 | 1999 – 1999 |
| Environmental Defense | $50,000.00 | 1992 – 1992 |
| Northeast Organic Farming Assoc. of New Jersey | $50,000.00 | 2002 – 2002 |
| Public Media Center | $50,000.00 | 1999 – 1999 |
| John Snow Institute (JSI) | $50,000.00 | 2000 – 2000 |
| Global Exchange | $50,000.00 | 1999 – 2000 |
| Humane Society of the United States | $50,000.00 | 2002 – 2002 |
| Friends of the Earth | $45,000.00 | 1992 – 2000 |
| Southern Environmental Law Center | $40,000.00 | 2001 – 2001 |
| National Religious Partnership for the Environment | $30,000.00 | 1998 – 1998 |
| Council For a Livable World Education Fund | $25,000.00 | 2000 – 2000 |
| Rural Advancement Foundation International | $25,000.00 | 1999 – 1999 |
| Consultative Group on Biological Diversity | $25,000.00 | 2000 – 2002 |
| World Resources Institute | $25,000.00 | 1995 – 1995 |
| Conservation Land Trust | $23,500.00 | 1999 – 1999 |
| Consumer's Choice Council | $15,000.00 | 1999 – 1999 |
| Center for Commercial-Free Public Education | $10,000.00 | 1999 – 1999 |
| Center for Health, Environment and Justice | $10,000.00 | 2000 – 2000 |
| Oregon Natural Resources Council | $10,000.00 | 1999 – 1999 |
| Environmental Grantmakers Association | $8,566.00 | 1998 – 2002 |
| Worldwatch Institute | $8,000.00 | 1999 – 1999 |
Foundations listed on ActivistCash.com may provide funding to a wider variety of nonprofit groups than those profiled here. This website focuses on activist groups that concentrate on food- and beverage-related issues.
