Support the James Merrill House
The James Merrill House and its Writer-in-Residence program are managed by a Director, a Programs and Outreach Consultant, and a free-standing, 16-member volunteer Board of Managers. The Board operates its own annual budget under the umbrella of the James Merrill House Foundation's 501(c)3 umbrella. The EIN is 99-2724941.
To maintain the building and writers program, we rely on a mix of donations from individuals and foundations and rental income from the building’s private and commercial tenants. Your individual donations go directly to supporting James Merrill House writers and public programs and are tax deductible to the fullest extent granted by law.
Now in our 28th year, the James Merrill House has hosted over 100 writers to live and work in Merrill's apartment, which appears much the same as he left it at the time of his death in 1995. JMH Fellows enjoy living and working in Stonington amongst Merrill's collections of art, music, and thousands of books. During their residency, fellows share their writing with the community in free lectures and readings. Please consider making a donation to keep the literary legacy of James Merrill alive. To learn more, please see information on the giving categories below.
SUPPORT OUR WORK
Gifts can be made directly to the Merrill House Program
by personal check made payable to the James Merrill House.
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Checks can be mailed to:
The James Merrill House
107 Water Street
Stonington, CT 06378
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To make a gift from a donor-advised fund, or a gift of appreciated securities or other assets, please contact Ruth Saunders at jamesmerrillhousefoundation@gmail.com
ENDOWMENT GIFTS
Please contact jamesmerrillhousefoundation@gmail.com
Giving Levels
LAUREATE SOCIETY: DONORS OF $5,000+
We are immensely grateful to members of the Laureate Society, who play an important leadership role in supporting the literary and conservation work the James Merrill House provides to the community.
LANDMARK SOCIETY: DONORS OF $2,500+
Members of the Landmark Society play a pivotal role in supporting our community readings, annual lectures, and writer-in-residence program.
107 SOCIETY: DONORS OF $1,000+
The James Merrill House recognizes the generosity of members of the 107 Society, who help maintain the quality of our programs and community offerings.
WRITERS CIRCLE: DONORS OF $500+
Writers Circle Donors help support the mission of the James Merrill House as a destination for renowned and up-and-coming writers.
READERS CIRCLE: DONORS OF $250+
Readers Circle Donors allow us to continue the important work we are doing in Stonington and in the writing community at large.
FRIENDS CIRCLE: DONORS OF $100+
Friends Circle Donors make up our largest group of donors, and we are so grateful for their generosity and support.
SUPPORTERS: DONORS OF <$100
No gift is too small in helping the James Merrill House maintain its programs, community offerings, and National Historic Landmark building.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2022-2023 STATE AND INSTITUTIONAL FUNDERS
The James Merrill House gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the following state and institutional funders in 2022-2023:
CONNECTICUT HUMANITIES
Conservation ConneCTion awarded the James Merrill House a $4,000 Museum Makeover grant to support its upcoming exhibition, “James Merrill’s World: Fans and Clouds and Bats.” Museum Makeover is supported through a partnership with the CT League of History Organizations and funded by a grant from the CTCultural Fund. The CT Cultural Fund is administered by CT Humanities, with funding provided by the Connecticut State Department of Economic and CommunityDevelopment/Connecticut Office of the Arts from the Connecticut State Legislature. CT Humanities awarded the James Merrill House a $10,700 Cultural Fund Operating Support Grant that will help underwrite Visitors Center operations in 2023. This CT Cultural Fund Operating Support Grant is provided to the James Merrill House from CT Humanities, with funding from the Connecticut State Department of Economic and Community Development/Connecticut Office of the Arts from the Connecticut State Legislature. CT Humanities also awarded the James Merrill House a $3,260 Capacity Grant to support our strategic planning process for 2023-2027.
CT STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
CT SHPO awarded the James Merrill House a $9,600 Survey and Planning Grant to complete a master plan for the conservation and preservation of 107 Water Street and the Merrill Apartment. This funding is provided through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development.
ACADEMY OF AMERICAN POETS
The Academy of American Poets awarded the James Merrill House Foundation a $10,000 Capacity-Building Grant to support the Foundation's work in building the first-ever endowment fund for the James Merrill House.
MERRILL FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
We have received generous support from the Merrill Family Charitable Foundation for the James Merrill House's operational expenses and the James Merrill House Foundation.
HELLEN INGRAM PLUMMER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
We have received generous support from the Hellen Ingram Plummer Foundation for the James Merrill House's operational expenses and the James Merrill House Foundation
