Lauren Merage Foundation
Lauren Merage Foundation is a private foundation, based in Newport Beach, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $2.3M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 2 grants totaling $105K. Net investment income was $92K.
Key facts about Lauren Merage Foundation
In short: Lauren Merage Foundation gave $105K across 2 grants in 2024 (avg $53K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 26-0523106
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $105,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 2
- Average grant
- $52,500
- Median grant
- $52,500
- Total assets
- $2,318,350
- Primary geography
- California (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.3M
-8.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$105K
+0.5% YoY
Grant Count
2
-33.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$53K
+50.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Lauren Merage Foundation reported a distributable amount of $119K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How Lauren Merage Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−13%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 94% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $104K (2023) to $120K (2021). In 2024 it made 2 grants totaling $105K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Simbelle Productions ($80K). Together the top 2 received $105K.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 27 grants of 31 (87%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Simbelle Productions Newport Beach, CA | General Operations | $80,000 |
| The UCLA Foundation Los Angeles, CA | Art Award | $25,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,318,350 | $2,537,278 | $1,731,372 |
| Revenue | $91,597 | $105,988 | $333 |
| Expenses | $113,786 | $111,199 | $129,723 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $111,273 | $110,953 | $127,397 |
| Net Investment Income | $91,571 | $105,707 | $45 |
| Distributable Amount | $118,759 | $108,066 | $118,091 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Lauren Merage Foundation is led by Lauren Merage, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Lauren Merage
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elisabeth Merage
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Merage
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Lauren Merage Foundation
How much does Lauren Merage Foundation give each year?
Lauren Merage Foundation gave $105K across 2 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $104K across 3 grants.
How large is Lauren Merage Foundation?
Lauren Merage Foundation reported $2.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $111K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $119K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
Where does Lauren Merage Foundation operate?
Lauren Merage Foundation has awarded grants in California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Virginia.
What is Lauren Merage Foundation's EIN?
Lauren Merage Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0523106. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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