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THE JOHN MERCK FUND TO SPEND OUT, REFOCUS PROGRAMS

October 17, 2011

The John Merck Fund has announced it will spend all of its assets over the next ten years to spur progress in clean energy, environmental health, development of a New England regional food system, and treatment of developmental disabilities.

The Boston-based foundation, established in 1970 by the late Serena Merck and now in its third generation of family leadership, currently holds $80 million in assets. Under a plan approved by its board of trustees, The John Merck Fund will begin the spendout in January 2012, award its last grants in 2021 and close its doors in 2022. Allowing for investment income earned during the ten-year period, the foundation estimates that total grantmaking could approach $100 million.

“The challenges posed by oil dependence, exposure to chemicals, unhealthy foods and developmental disabilities are enormous, but so are the opportunities for progress,” said George Hatch, The John Merck Fund’s board chair and a grandson of the founding donor. “Our board feels the Fund should contribute all it can to help propel extraordinary initiatives taking shape in these issue areas. We believe extra effort today will boost the odds of dramatic improvement down the road.”

In conjunction with its spendout plan, The John Merck Fund is revamping its four grant programs, developing cross-program synergies, and preparing to make complementary mission-related investments in order to achieve maximum impact during the next decade.

Two of the programs, Clean Energy and Regional Food Systems, will focus exclusively on New England, while the Environmental Health and Developmental Disabilities programs will remain national in scope.

Clean Energy Program grants will promote the development of a clean-energy economy in the six-state New England region. Specifically, the program will seek improved air quality and a ten-year, region-wide greenhouse-gas emissions reduction of 20 percent by supporting projects to boost energy efficiency, reduce use of coal and other fossil fuels, and expand the New England’s clean energy market. One of the Fund’s objectives is that the region becomes coal-free within ten years.

Regional Food Systems Program grants will help strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship in New England’s expanding market for regionally and sustainably grown food by funding initiatives to develop institutional demand and the regional supply network.

Environmental Health Program grants will support development and implementation of market signals and government policies that encourage a transition away from petroleum-based chemicals linked to preventable diseases.

The Developmental Disabilities Program, the Fund’s original grantmaking area, will shift its focus from basic research to clinical and translational research, with primary emphasis on children who have Fragile X or Down syndromes. The goal is to help these children and their families by encouraging research collaborations that bridge basic and clinical science, more rapid translation of findings into treatment settings, and promulgation of best clinical practices.

“The board and staff of The John Merck Fund have spent almost a year developing what we believe to be an ambitious yet realistic set of goals and funding strategies,” said Ruth Hennig, the foundation’s executive director. “We are all excited about embarking on the next decade with a sharpened purpose and focus.”

Coal and Health Report Available

The John Merck Fund and the Growald Family Fund commissioned the Environmental Health Fund and Coming Clean to prepare a report, "Health Messengers and Coal Plant Campaigns: New Investment Opportunities and Lessons Learned from the Chemicals Reform Movement." Click here coal%20and%20health%20report%2010-2011%5B1%5D for a PDF copy of the report.

The Frank Hatch Award for Enlightened Public Service

The Frank Hatch Award for Enlightened Public Service honors outstanding John Merck Fund grantees whose work embodies the extraordinary creativity, dedication and foresight that marked Frank Hatch's leadership of the fund from 1987 to 2006.

The award is made in the form of a $50,000 grant, given annually, to an individual at a current or former JMF grantee organization. The individual can be at any stage of their career, from formative to mature. The recipient is given the discretion to decide, with JMF consultation, whether the award will be made to his/her organization, to the individual directly, or to both in combination. If the award is made directly to an individual, JMF takes the responsibility for apprising them of potential tax consequences.

2011 Award Recipient

The JMF board awarded the 2011 Sparkplug Award to Mindy Lubber, president of Ceres, at its June meeting. Ceres is the leading coalition of investors, environmental organizations and other public interest groups working with companies and investors to build sustainability into the capital markets and address sustainability challenges such as global climate change. Ms. Lubber also directs the Investor Network on Climate Risk, a network of more than 90 investors representing approximately $10 trillion in assets that coordinates US investor responses to the financial risks and opportunities of climate change.

In addition to her Sparkplug Award, Ms. Lubber is the recipient of the Skoll Social Entrepreneur Award and under her leadership, Ceres has been awarded Global Green USA’s 2009 Organizational Design Award and Fast Company Social Capitalist Awards in 2007 and 2008. She was recently voted one of “The 100 Most Influential People in Corporate Governance” by Directorship Magazine, who noted Ceres’ substantial influence in its field.

Before coming to Ceres, Ms. Lubber was the Regional Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Founder/CEO of Green Century Capital Management, an investment firm managing environmentally screened mutual funds.

The Sparkplug Award will enable Ceres to create a training, education and recognition program for its 60-member staff.

2009 Award Recipient

Michael Belliveau is the Executive Director of the Environmental Health Strategy Center, a nonprofit public health organization that promotes human health, safer chemicals and a sustainable economy based in Maine and working nationwide.

Mike is a public policy expert and social entrepreneur who’s recognized nationally for promoting environmental public health and green chemistry. For thirty years, he has advanced innovative policies and strategic organizing to prevent harm and develop a sustainable economy. Through Mike’s leadership of the Environmental Health Strategy Center, the State of Maine has set the national pace for protecting human health from unnecessary dangerous chemicals. He co-founded the Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine, which led the campaign that passed a landmark state law that requires safer chemicals in everyday products. Mike’s also a co-founder and policy coordinator of SAFER, the State Alliance for Federal Reform, a multi-state coalition working to overhaul chemical policy throughout the United States.

At the Strategy Center, Mike co-launched a model regional economic development strategy through the Sustainable Bioplastics Council of Maine. This innovative business-university-nonprofit consortium works to research, develop and commercialize production of bio-based plastics made from Maine potatoes. The manufacturing of this non-toxic, petroleum-free, and bio-compostable material will create good green jobs and boost Maine’s rural economy.

Previously, he led the most comprehensive mercury reduction campaign in the nation for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. In California, Mike directed Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), which he built into a powerful voice for urban environmental health and justice, and industrial pollution prevention. He was named by California Magazine as one of the people most likely to have a major impact on that state. He was appointed by then-Governor Jerry Brown to the California Hazardous Waste Management Council.

Mike grew up in New England and graduated from MIT with an environmental science degree. He lives with his family on Pushaw Lake in Maine on the edge of l’Acadie, the homeland to ten generations of his Acadian ancestors. When he’s not on the road, Mike loves to paddle or ski from his back door, or wander round the garden.

2008 Award Recipient

Rosanne Haggerty, founder and executive director of Common Ground in New York, is the third recipient of the Frank Hatch Award for Enlightened Public Service.

In 1990 Ms. Haggerty established Common Ground, a nonprofit housing development organization that provides innovative housing opportunities and community support for the homeless, disabled, and other marginalized groups. Common Ground has since become the preeminent supportive housing provider in the country, as well as a leading consultant on the problem of homelessness internationally.

Ms. Haggerty plans to use the award to advance the work of Common Ground, as well as that of Safe Harbors of the Hudson, a partner organization that enriches lives through the combination of affordable housing and arts-related community-building activities.

2007 Award Recipient

Gary Cohen, executive director of Environmental Health Fund and Health Care Without Harm in Boston is the second recipient of the Frank Hatch Award for Enlightened Public Service.

Mr. Cohen plans to use the award to advance the work at several of the organizations with which he is associated, including Health Care Without Harm and the Environmental Health Fund. In addition, the new startup firm Green Harvest Technologies, which is designed to create a market for plant-based plastics, will receive some assistance through the award.

“We are awakening to the reality that it is getting harder to support healthy people on a sick planet. We are also realizing there is no conflict between the environment and the economy – in fact, the economy of the 21st century needs to be a green economy,” Mr. Cohen said. “Over the next decade, we will need to transition from a petro-chemically based economy to one that is based on green chemistry, sustainable agriculture and global consciousness. I am happy to be a part of this life affirming transformation.”

2006 Award Recipient

Tiffany Bluemle, executive director of Vermont Works for Women in Essex Junction, has been named the first winner of the Frank Hatch Award for Enlightened Public Service by The John Merck Fund. Ms. Bluemle received the award at a June 6 ceremony in Boston to honor Mr. Hatch, who retired after nineteen years as the foundation's chairman.

Ms. Bluemle plans to apply the award to research and advocacy related to the Vermont Works for Women's programs with incarcerated women. "This award gives us an unusual opportunity to reflect and build on our work in strategic and creative ways, an unthinkable luxury for most nonprofits," she said.