Arlene & Joseph Meraux Charitable
The Arlene & Joseph Meraux Charitable Foundation is a private family foundation based in Violet, Louisiana. Established by Arlene Meraux, the foundation operates with a clear mission centered on improving the quality of life in St. Bernard Parish. The foundation maintains its home base at Docville Farm, which serves as a center for charitable programs.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$96.9M
+2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.1M
+18.8% YoY
Grant Count
47
-19.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$66K
+46.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Arlene & Joseph Meraux Charitable reported a distributable amount of $4.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission is to improve the quality of life for residents of St. Bernard Parish. This mission guides all grantmaking decisions and strategic initiatives.
The foundation focuses on six key program areas:
- Education — Including scholarships and support for public schools
- Environment — Protection and restoration of natural resources
- Arts and Culture — Support for cultural institutions and creative programs
- Economic Development — Initiatives to retain and create jobs
- Community Resilience — Programs that strengthen community capacity
- Land Use — Strategic use of foundation-owned property for public benefit
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grants are awarded by invitation only.
Grant Range
$6,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. However, it also funds initiatives in multiple states including California, Louisiana, and New York, and supports various cities including Arabi, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $94,413,235 (as of 2023)
- Total Giving (2023): $2,598,286
- Total Giving (2022): $1,200,000
- Reported Expenses: $5,721,872
- Reported Revenue: $4,666,720
- Giving Rate: 2.7% of assets
- Tax-Exempt Status: 501(c)(3), tax-exempt since March 1999
- EIN: 72-1400981
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $96,866,240 | $94,413,235 | $95,293,815 |
| Revenue | $9,077,354 | $4,666,720 | $4,077,817 |
| Expenses | $6,448,128 | $5,721,872 | $5,034,483 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,995,492 | $4,396,184 | $3,514,294 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,745,186 | $3,292,850 | $2,580,520 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,440,595 | $4,315,403 | $4,351,550 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
228 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Glassroots ($2,000,000), Scholarships ($202,000), St Bernard School Board ($144,169).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CASA NEW ORLEANS NEW ORLEANS, LA | DONATION | $33,333 |
| CHALMETTE HIGH SCHOOL CHALMETTE, LA | SUPPORT THE PERFORMING ARTS ACADEMY | $18,450 |
| CHALMETTE TRACK CLUB CHALMETTE, LA | DONATION | $2,500 |
| COALITION TO RESTORE COASTAL LOUISIANA BATON ROUGE, LA | DONATION | $1,000 |
| COMMUNITY CENTER OF ST BERNARD CHALMETTE, LA | DONATION | $94,100 |
| DUCKS UNLIMITED INC NEW YORK, NY | DONATION | $750 |
| FAMILY VIOLENCE PROGRAM OF ST BERNARD CHALMETTE, LA | DONATION | $900 |
| FLYSPACE PERFORMING ARTS ACADEMY INC ARABI, LA | DONATION | $15,000 |
| FRIENDS OF A STUDIO IN THE WOODS NEW ORLEANS, LA | DONATION | $1,000 |
| GOAT IN THE ROAD PRODUCTIONS NEW ORLEANS, LA | DONATION | $65,533 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Rita Gue — President and Chairwoman
- Floyd Gue — Senior Vice-President and Board Director
- Bill Haines — Board Director
- Chris Haines — Treasurer and Board Director
- Sidney Torres III — Board Director
The foundation employs 4 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RITA GUE | PRESIDENT/CHAIRWOMAN | 35 | $162,033 |
| FLOYD GUE | SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT | 35 | $137,032 |
| SIDNEY D TORRES III | SECRETARY | 25 | — |
| ERICA BECK | RECORDING SECRETARY | 25 | — |
| WILLIAM HAINES | VICE-PRESIDENT | 40 | $132,032 |
| CHRISTOPHER HAINES | TREASURER | 40 | $132,032 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to execute its strategic vision across multiple program areas:
**Education:** The foundation awards 75 scholarships annually to students in St. Bernard Parish Public Schools. It also donated land for Arlene Meraux Elementary School and contributed $1.8 million to build the Cultural Arts Center at Chalmette High School.
Arlene And Joseph Meraux Charitable Foundation - Full Filing**Arts & Culture:** The foundation sponsors the St. Bernard Performing Arts Academy to support young people in developing creative talents.
**Community Support:** Recent grant rounds have distributed over $150,000 across more than 30 donations to nonprofits with proven track records in education, environment, and community resilience.
**Land Stewardship:** The foundation has donated land for public needs including a parish hospital and sheriff's substation, and uses its property portfolio to fund scholarships and community programs.
Meraux Foundation Meraux Foundation Announces 2024 Scholarships \u2014 Meraux\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Arlene & Joseph Meraux Charitable fund?
The foundation's primary mission is to improve the quality of life for residents of St. Bernard Parish. This mission guides all grantmaking decisions and strategic initiatives. The foundation focuses on six key program areas: • **Education** — Including scholarships and support for public schools • **Environment** — Protection and restoration of natural resources • **Arts and Culture** — Support for cultural institutions and creative programs • **Economic Development** — Initiatives to retain a…
How do I apply for a grant from Arlene & Joseph Meraux Charitable?
**Grant Activity:** • In 2023, the foundation awarded $2,598,286 through 54 grants • In 2022, the foundation awarded $1,200,000 through 43 grants • Median grant size: $6,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $1,500,000 **Recent Grant Examples:** • Community Center of St. Bernard: $30,000 (for food pantry and backpack program) • St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation: $20,000 (for job creation and economic development) • Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts: Grant for environmental protec…
Where does Arlene & Joseph Meraux Charitable make grants?
The foundation primarily supports St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. However, it also funds initiatives in multiple states including California, Louisiana, and New York, and supports various cities including Arabi, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and New York.
What size grants does Arlene & Joseph Meraux Charitable award?
In 2024, Arlene & Joseph Meraux Charitable awarded 47 grants totaling $3.1M — an average of about $66K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Arlene & Joseph Meraux Charitable required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Arlene & Joseph Meraux Charitable reported a distributable amount of $4.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Arlene & Joseph Meraux Charitable's EIN?
Arlene & Joseph Meraux Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 72-1400981. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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