Merakey Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 34% of its spending went to programs.
- Raising each dollar of donations cost 57 cents.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
TO CONDUCT FUNDRAISING EVENTS AND SOLICIT DONATIONS TO SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS OF ITS AFFILIATES.
- Income
- $1.9 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 34%
- Reserves
- Over 10 years of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 62%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $1.4 million, president/ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 44% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1534% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 57 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (health care, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 13 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $355,093 spent. THE MERAKEY FOUNDATION IS A FUNDRAISING ENTITY WITH A MISSION TO ALIGN DONOR GENEROSITY WITH MERAKEY'S COMMITMENT TO WHOLE PERSON CARE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1999, THE MERAKEY FOUNDATION HAS RAISED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THROUGH GRANTS, FUNDRAISING EVENTS, AND PRIVATE DONATIONS FOR MERAKEY PROGRAMS. THE MERAKEY FOUNDATION IS GROUNDED IN MERAKEY'S PURPOSE, VISION AND CORE VALUES: OUR PURPOSE: PUTTING OUR HEART AND SOUL INTO EXCEPTIONAL CARE. OUR VISION: TO BE A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROVIDER OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. OUR CORE VALUES: COMPASSION, DIVERSITY, INTEGRITY, SAFETY, TRUST, AND QUALITYHIGHLIGHTS OF THE FOUNDATION'S YEAR INCLUDE:THE MERAKEY FOUNDATION RAISED $55,750 FOR MERAKEY'S PARKSIDE MOBILE UNIT AT ITS ANNUAL LEADING THE WAY GALA IN OCTOBER 2024. THESE FUNDS ARE RESTRICTED TO THE PARKSIDE MOBILE UNIT TO SUPPORT THEIR WORK AS THEY SUPPORT THOSE STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, AND OTHER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES WITHIN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.THE FOUNDATION ORGANIZED ITS ANNUAL TOY DRIVE TO HELP OFFSET THE EXPENSES OF HOLIDAY GIVING FOR OUR FOSTER CARE FAMILIES. IN FY25, SOME 200+ CHILDREN IN MERAKEY'S FOSTER CARE RECEIVED GIFTS AND FAMILY EXPERIENCES FOR THE HOLIDAYS. THE FOUNDATION PURCHASED GIFTS AND EXPERIENCES FOR THE FAMILIES IN OUR PROGRAMS WORTH $6,650. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION ORGANIZED AMAZON WISH LISTS FOR DONORS TO PURCHASE TOYS AND SHIP THEM DIRECTLY TO PROGRAMS.THE MERAKEY FOUNDATION TEAMED UP WITH PACIFICO AUTO GROUP'S DRIVING AWAY THE COLD PROGRAM FOR ITS ANNUAL COAT GIVEAWAY IN PHILADELPHIA'S KENSINGTON NEIGHBORHOOD. OVER 200 COATS WERE DONATED BY PACIFICO AND, WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE MERAKEY FOUNDATION, WERE GIVEN TO CHILDREN IN MERAKEY'S PROGRAMS. THE MERAKEY FOUNDATION HELD ITS ANNUAL CARE KIT DRIVE, FOR WHICH ALL DONATIONS GO TOWARD HELPING INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH HOMELESSNESS, MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. CARE KITS WERE ASSEMBLED AND HAND-DELIVERED BY THE DEDICATED STAFF IN MERAKEY'S ADULT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIVISION. EACH KIT INCLUDES HYGIENE AND TOILETRY ITEMS, AS WELL AS INFORMATION ON HOW TO GET HELP. IN FY25, $3,937 WORTH OF ITEMS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO THOSE IN NEED.IN MARCH 2025, THE FOUNDATION HOSTED ITS BOWLING TOURNAMENT. A COMPANY FAVORITE, THIS EVENT WAS HELD IN 7 LOCATIONS IN 4 STATES. PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED MERAKEY CONSUMERS, DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, EMPLOYEES, AND FRIENDS OF THE ORGANIZATION. THE MERAKEY FOUNDATION RAISED $18,890 FOR MERAKEY'S FRESH START RECOVERY BEDS AT ITS ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC IN JUNE 2025. THESE FUNDS ARE RESTRICTED TO FRESH START RECOVERY BEDS, A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA THAT PROVIDES MEN AND WOMEN IN ADDICTION RECOVERY WITH 6-MONTHS OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, THERAPY, AND CASE MANAGEMENT. IN FY25, THE MERAKEY FOUNDATION PROVIDED A TOTAL OF $317,528 IN IMPACT GRANT SUPPORT TO SEVERAL PROJECTS WITHIN ITS 3 DIVISIONS: ADULT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, INTELLECTUAL & DEVELOPMENT DISABILITIES, AND CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES. THE FOUNDATION'S IMPACT GRANTS INVEST IN TRANSFORMATIVE IDEAS AND SCALABLE SOLUTIONS THAT SUPPORT MERAKEY'S STRATEGIC INITIATIVES. ABH IMPACT GRANT RECIPIENTS:- PHILADELPHIA, PA FRESH START RECOVERY BEDS TO OFFER TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR THOSE IN RECOVERY- BATON ROUGE, LA TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE SYSTEM OF CARE BUILD IN LOUISIANA- PHILADELPHIA, PA RESTORE THE FLOWER BEDS TO ENHANCE GARDENING THERAPY FOR RESIDENTS AT HARMONY HOUSE- WARMINSTER, PA SOCIAL EVENTS FOR TRANSITION-AGED ADULTSIDD IMPACT GRANT RECIPIENTS:- PORTAGE, PA TICKETS AND PASSES TO LOCAL PARKS, MUSEUMS, AND A GYM TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY ACCESS, AS WELL AS SUPPLIES FOR A SUMMER CARNIVAL- YUBA CITY, CA OUTDOOR GLIDER BENCHES TO ASSIST RESIDENTS IN ACHIEVING THEIR SOCIALIZATION GOALS- SAN JOAQUIN, CA SENSORY ITEMS TO ASSIST WITH MUSIC, PHYSICAL, AND RECREATIONAL THERAPY AND ACTIVITY GOALS- ORWIGSBURG, PA OUTDOOR AWNING TO INCREASE OUTDOOR SOCIALIZATION TIME- SLATINGTON, PA OUTDOOR AWNING TO INCREASE OUTDOOR SOCIALIZATION TIME- DUBOIS, PA MATERIALS TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF THE CONSUMER ADVISORY GROUP- PITTSBURGH, PA MATERIALS FOR A GARDEN, AS WELL AS SEASON PASSES TO VARIOUS LOCAL ATTRACTIONS- PITTSBURGH, PA ART AND SENSORY SUPPLIES FOR GROUP THERAPY- ESCONDIDO, CA SWING SET FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION- RAMONA, CA WELLNESS EQUIPMENT FOR PHYSICAL FITNESS GOALS- SUNBURY, PA SEASON PASSES TO LOCATION ATTRACTIONS FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTCFS IMPACT GRANT RECIPIENTS:- DEARBORN, MI THERAPEUTIC SENSORY ITEMS AND ITEMS TO MIMIC A BEDROOM FOR LIFE SKILLS TRAINING- SCRANTON, PA HEAT PRESSES TO SET UP A TRANSITION PROGRAM TO SUPPORT A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OFFICE OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION- ENOLA, PA KITCHEN AND HOME ITEMS TO MIMIC AN APARTMENT FOR LIFE SKILLS TRAINING- WILKES-BARRE, PA THERAPEUTIC SUPPLIES FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS HEALTHY FAMILIES AMERICA PROGRAM- NEWBURGH, NY SOAP SUPPLIES FOR AN ENTREPRENEURIAL WORKSHOP FOR AT-RISK TEENS AND ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR PREVENTATIVE PROGRAM CLIENTS- FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT PA YEARLY RECREATIONAL MEMBERSHIPS FOR FOSTER CARE FAMILIES - CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES THROUGHOUT PA HIRING OF A FULL-TIME THERAPIST EXPERIENCED IN TELEHEALTH
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 1999.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.