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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| American Corn Growers Association | |
| Grant | $50,000.00 in 1999 |
| Source | Foundation Annual Report |
| Details | To educate US farmers about marketplace responses to genetically engineered products so that they can make informed decisions about planting and processing these crops |
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| Center for Food Safety | |
| Grant | $97,500.00 in 1999 |
| Source | IRS Form 990 or 990-PF |
| Details | Purpose: 1) To support the Center for Food Safety's legal actions against the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug administration for failures to address adequately public health and ecological concerns stemming from bringing genetically engineered products into the food supply; and 2) to represent the public interest position challenging whether private corporations can hold patents on plant life, in the context of a landmark lawsuit that could have major implications for the genetic engineering industry, and hence for the future of agriculture. This grant was made via the International Center for Technology Assessment |
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| Tides Foundation & Tides Center | |
| Grant | $28,500.00 in 1995 |
| Source | The Foundation Center |
| Details | For media and public education campaigns for reports about pesticides and food safety, including shoppers' guide highlighting safer alternatives to produce with greatest risk of toxic residues. |
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Top Grants Made |
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| Funding To Activist Groups | Total Donated | Time Frame |
| Tides Foundation & Tides Center | $2,089,800.00 | 1989 – 2002 |
| Center for Public Interest Research | $1,050,000.00 | 2001 – 2002 |
| National Environmental Trust | $1,000,000.00 | 1998 – 2002 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council | $998,000.00 | 1989 – 2002 |
| Physicians for Social Responsibility | $872,500.00 | 1998 – 2002 |
| Center for Food Safety | $730,000.00 | 1999 – 2002 |
| Toxics Action Center | $729,000.00 | 1998 – 2002 |
| Union of Concerned Scientists | $664,500.00 | 1998 – 2002 |
| U.S. Public Interest Research Group | $500,000.00 | 1998 – 2002 |
| Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy | $450,000.00 | 1992 – 2000 |
| Environmental Working Group | $423,500.00 | 1992 – 1999 |
| 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.
