How and Where the Merkin Family Foundation Gives in Southern California

Richard Merkin, founder and CEO of the Heritage Group, established a philanthropic foundation following his success in the healthcare delivery system business. He has served on many institutional boards focused on healthcare, science and finance, and has been involved with clinician reform, predicting future hospitalization and stem cell research initiatives.

Here’s a look at the activities of his private philanthropic vehicle, the Merkin Family Foundation (MFF), which gives preference to organizations in Southern California.

A Southern California focus

Even though some MFF grants go to groups on the east coast due to Merkin’s connections to Harvard University and MIT, most funding is centered in and around Los Angeles. The foundation is based in Marina Del Rey, and recent grantees are based in Pasadena, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Playa Vista and Los Angeles.

Three main giving areas

MFF does not have a website, which limits transparency around the funder’s giving preferences and priorities. However, past tax records reveal that the foundation’s grants typically fall into one of three categories: education, health or the arts.

MFF education grants have supported free public charter schools, foster youth and opportunities for diverse students. Health and medical research funding are significant parts of MFF’s giving strategy, with grants going to support research and care related to brain diseases, lupus and prostate cancer. Health-related grantees include Faster Cures, Keep Memory Alive and the UCLA Foundation. Merkin shows his support for the arts through local grants to the Los Angeles Ballet, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association.

Other forms of giving

Richard Merkin’s philanthropy goes beyond traditional grantmaking and extends to unique prizes and competitions. For example, Merkin created the Heritage Health Prize, a “$3 million global incentivized competition seeking to achieve a fundamental breakthrough in our ability to predict future hospitalization.” He was inspired by the work of the XPRIZE Foundation, which acts as a platform to host competitions, spark innovations and incentivize radical breakthroughs. MFF also announced a gift that established the Merkin Peripheral Neuropathy and Nerve Regeneration Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine to help expedite nerve generation research and develop new regenerative therapies.

Applying for a Merkin grant

MFF uses the Santa Monica-based JSL Corporation for investment advisory purposes, but does not otherwise employ a staff or have paid employees. Tax records indicate that MFF does not accept unsolicited grant proposals and only makes contributions to preselected organizations. The foundation does not provide a clear way to get in touch with funding inquiries, although a phone number is listed to request general information.

Read more about this funder in IP’s full profile of the Merkin Family Foundation, which is part of our Los Angeles and Southern California funding guide.

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