OVERVIEW: The Sue and Eugene Mercy Jr. Foundation is the philanthropic vehicle of former Goldman Sachs veteran Eugene Mercy and family. The foundation’s New York City grantmaking involves a range of causes, including the arts, education, and human services.
FUNDING AREAS: Education & Youth, Health, Human Services, Policy & Humanitarian, Jewish Causes, NYC Community
IP TAKE: The foundation keeps a low profile and does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals. Networking will be key in getting on this funder’s radar.
PROFILE: A Lehigh University graduate, Eugene Mercy Jr. joined Goldman Sachs & Co. in 1964 where he made partner and had a 25 year old career with the firm. In the early 1990s he Granite Capital International Group after leaving Goldman. He and his late wife Sue formed the Sue and Eugene Mercy Jr. Foundation. Eugene continues to steer the foundation with several family members.
Eugene is based in New York City and much of his foundation’s grantmaking is focused on Big Apple institutions as well. The foundation has given away around $500,000 to $600,000 annually of late, but towards a number of organizations and a variety of causes. As a result, it’s not unusual for an individual grant to be below $1,000 and few exceed $25,000.
One interest of this funder in New York is arts and culture. Sue was once an active member of the board of New York Philharmonic, which the family supports. Other grantees have included The Frick Collection, The Met, MoMA, The Guggenheim, American Museum of Natural History, and Lincoln City of the Performing Arts.
The Mercer family also supports education and youth in the city. While some of this work takes place outside of the city, New York City grantees have included John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Big Brothers Big Sisters NY, and Jumpstart.
The Mercer Foundation’s New York City grantmaking also touches health and human services organizations like NY Services for the Handicapped, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Mt. Sinai Medical Center.
The family, via their foundation, also directs assorted sums in New York to Jewish institutions like UJA Federation of New York, The Mercers have also supported Central Park Conservancy.
PEOPLE:
CONTACT:
The The Sue and Eugene Mercy, Jr. Foundation does not provide a clear avenue for getting in touch with Mercy, but below is an address:
The Sue and Eugene Mercy, Jr. Foundation, Inc.
77 Water St., 9th Fl.
New York City, NY 10005