Announcing 2026 priorities: Democracy & Power and New York Dance

Here at Mertz Gilmore, we remain committed to investing in the power and creativity of communities working to build a more just, engaged and vibrant society. 

In 2025, we completed a strategic refresh and continue to be driven by long-held values: justice to advance, protect and defend rights; community to build and strengthen relationships; solidarity rooted in humility and toward action; and creativity and experimentation in the arts and dance, organizing and resistance. As we shared in 2024, the foundation experienced a significant financial shift due to the loss of income from the founders’ company, Publishers Clearing House. While adjusting to this shift, Mertz Gilmore updated our vision and mission to reflect our new financial reality–recommitting our support to grassroots communities across the country through grants and mission-aligned investments. We are also proud to have joined other funders in committing to level up by streamlining our grantmaking systems, while maintaining a 9% payout in 2026. 

MGF Program Areas: Democracy & Power and New York Dance

Our new program areas are rooted in insights and recommendations from our grantees, partners and leaders in the field. Through program reviews conducted in 2025, we worked to get clear about how our programmatic grantmaking can support organizations that continue to have critical impact in advancing justice, community, solidarity and creativity in these ever-challenging times.

Beginning in 2026, the Mertz Gilmore Foundation is prioritizing our work under the following program areas: New York Dance, and a new national program: Democracy & Power, which integrates three former program areas–Climate Change Solutions, Democratic Values and New York City Communities.

Rather than supporting separate national programs, we focused on the key factors that help communities build and wield power through our new program: Democracy & Power. This program affirms that advancing a community-driven vision on any issue— from climate and environmental justice to housing, healthcare and immigration— requires functioning democratic systems, and an engaged populace. Also, as has been core to the Foundation’s efforts since our inception, we are committed to supporting the vitality and creative wellbeing of New Yorkers through the New York Dance program area. Even amidst the devastating impact of federal cuts, as well as changes to giving from the philanthropic sector, we know that when people come together, organize and build power, communities can catalyze and realize change.