Sam & Sara Mermelstein Family Foundation
This organization is a private foundation dedicated to supporting educational, welfare, and religious initiatives. Its mission reflects a commitment to enhancing educational opportunities, particularly within the Jewish community, as evidenced by its funding of various educational institutions and programs. The foundation also provides support to welfare organizations and houses of worship, indicating a broader focus on community welfare and religious engagement. It primarily serves organizations that align with these values, demonstrating a strong emphasis on both educational and social welfare causes.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A small-to-midsize religious or educational nonprofit (often Jewish community organizations) with a clear religious/educational purpose and an existing local or organizational relationship to the foundation's network.
Good Fit
- • Mission clearly framed as religious or educational.
- • Established nonprofit with a local or denominational connection in NY, IL, MA, or WA (based on observed grants).
- • Request sized to match typical awards (many grants under $5k, occasional grants up to ~$20k).
- • Existing relationship or prior contact with a board member or intermediary.
Geography
Grants appear in multiple states (four in the latest year), showing multi-state reach, but one state received roughly 55% of dollars, so giving is regionally concentrated rather than broadly national.
Recipient Variety
The foundation funded about 11–13 distinct recipients per year across the observed years, demonstrating a modestly broad set of independent grantees for a micro foundation despite financial concentration among the top five recipients.
New Applicants
Direct evidence of turnover exists (several new recipients each year), and a written-application postal route is provided, but the funder also declares it only funds preselected organizations and shows a high share to repeat grantees, so newcomer access appears possible but selective.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
